[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 277 August Oxford’s Music Magazine 2018 photo: Helen Messenger

“The great thing about not having a vocalist is the listener has to think for themselves: they take away whatever the music has made them feel, not what someone has told them to feel.” Ghosts in the Photographs Oxford’s post-rock sound explorers talk terrifying auditions, music from outer space and playing in the dark. Also in this issue: THE CELLAR under threat again. ALPHABET BACKWARDS return. Introducing THE DOLLYMOPS CORNBURY reviewed. plus All your Oxford music news, reviews and gigs for August NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshiftmag.co.uk

old self. “This past week Joe has been under general anaesthetic twice: first for neurosurgery and second THE CELLAR faces another fight for its survival following a severe for his leg. The neurosurgery reduction of its capacity last month. consisted of reshaping part of his 15,000 signed a petition to save the venue from closure last year when skull that had collapsed and been the building’s owners, the St Michael’s and All Saints charities put in an compressed into the brain by the application to change the use of the building to retail storage. The plans, weight of the truck’s trailer. The which would have ended live music at The Cellar after 40 years, were operation was successful, but the thrown out by Oxford City Council planning officers. collapsed skull had bruised and After the verdict the owners vowed to “consider their options” and a fire damaged the area of the brain and safety inspection at the end of June decided the venue’s fire escape responsible for speech. As far as door was 30cm too narrow and reduced its capacity to just 60. Taking we know, no other areas of his into account staff numbers, this meant gigs and club nights at the Cellar brain are severely damaged like could only host 50 customers, making it financially unviable. GLASS ANIMALS have been this. He can still wiggle his fingers While no-one would deny the importance of safety limits, the timing of forced to cancel all shows and he still laughs at all my shit this inspection so soon after the verdict might be considered suspicious, planned for the rest of this year jokes. It wasn’t safe for him to go especially as the venue has operated safely for so many years. after drummer Joe Seaward was directly into his leg surgery after While the threat to The Cellar’s future is possibly even more severe than hospitalised with brain damage his brain op, but a couple days before, manager Tim Hopkins is hoping potential plans to turn the shop following a bike accident last ago he was given the go-ahead above the venue into a café and bar might help secure the venue’s future. month. The band announced the by the consultants. He now has a Speaking to Nightshift at the end of July he said: “We’re trying to write a news on their Facebook page on titanium pin holding two halves of business plan at the moment. I haven’t yet got the final price for the shop the 12th July with singer Dave his femur together... basically he is or the rates on it. I’ve had a structural engineer down to look at widening Bayley posting: “last Monday my now wolverine. the existing fire exit stairs. It’s a really big job and not even 100% best friend and our drummer Joe “We are very sorry to say that, possible. Basically it’s just not a viable option. was hit by a truck while on his bike because of all of this, we will be “The plan is to submit a business proposal to the landlords to have the here in Dublin. His leg was broken cancelling our remaining shows shop above The Cellar as a café in the day and bar in the evening. This on impact and he became tangled this year. Joe’s injuries are highly would give The Cellar a presence on Cornmarket Street, and add another in the truck’s trailer where his unlikely to heal in time to make fire exit, making our fire regs problem disappear in the process. We hope skull suffered a complex fracture. any of them.” to raise money through a crowdfunding campaign. We think we would Miraculously, and thankfully, he Glass Animals, whose second run it as a not-for-profit organisation, and any profits we make will go is alive. After a couple of long album, 2016’s `How To Be A back into the business. operations he is now on the road Human being’ was shortlisted for “The centre of Oxford clearly needs to evolve now that the Westgate to recovery. It’s going to be a long, the Mercury Prize, were in the Shopping Centre has opened. There are a lot of hurdles: the landlords difficult, and winding road, but middle of a world tour with festival need to approve the idea, and we will also need to get change of usage knowing how determined Joe is, dates in the States and mainland approved. We need to raise the funds to make the venture a reality. It’s and seeing how much his body Europe planned for the rest of the going to be a challenge but I still feel this could be possible.” has recovered already in the past summer. Nightshift sends our best Stay updated on this story via Nightshift’s Facebook page – ten days, I am so optimistic that wishes to Joe for a full and speedy facebook.com/nightshiftmag he will make it back to his cheeky recovery.

GAZ COOMBES has been announced as one of the co-headiners for this year’s Ritual Union. The Oxford star will play his only full-band hometown show of 2018 at the one-day, multi-venue festival on Cowley Road in October. Gaz joins Ghost Poet, Jane Weaver and Nadine Shah at the event on Saturday 20th October. Kiran Leonard and Madonnatron have also been added to the line-up. The one-day festival, organised by Future Perfect will takeover both rooms at the O2 Academy, plus The Bullingdon, The Library and Truck Store. Other acts confirmed include Suuns; The Lovely Eggs; Gnod; Boy Azooga; Warmduscher; Lice; Fontaines DC; The Homesick; Moon Duo’s Vive la Void; Cassels; Self Help; Haze; John; Lacuna Common Le Feye; Catgod; Ghosts in the Photographs and Easter Island Statues. Meanwhile, snooker legend Steve Davis will be playing a DJ set Last year’s inaugural event featured sets from Peace, Black Honey and Bo Ningen. Tickets for Ritual Union are on sale now, priced £25 from Seetickets and Truck Store. Follow all the latest news on Facebook at Ritual Union 2018. Bristol retro band The Hawkmen; The John Fletcher Trio; The Idle Women and The Jericho Singers. MARTIN As well as the Saturday events, th HORSFALL NEWS Friday night (7 ) sees the festival launched with a jam session at you down, but we simply cannot The White Hart, led by local (1964-2017) Tributes have been paid to Martin continue this year. There is no musician Ben Avison, while Horsfall, trumpeter with The blame being dealt to anyone at all, on Sunday evening (9th) Steph Original Rabbit foot Spasm Band, other than ourselves and we accept Pirrie, who heads The Jericho who has died following a battle full responsibility. Singers has assembled a special with cancer. He was 53. “Secondly, Mark G, Mark C and I, band of canal musicians for a Martin, who was originally from along with our team, have put our ALPHABET BACKWARDS singer James Hitchman has been talking to Big Canal Ceilidh in St Barnabas Huddersfield, lived in Blewbury, heart, soul and life into Rabidfest. Nightshift about his band’s new album. `Friends, Lovers & Empty Beds’ Church. Full festival details at near Didcot and joined the local This is a decision that we have is Alphabet Backwards’ second album and is released six years after their www.oxfordcanalheritage.org jazz and r’n’b stars after meeting OXJAM returns for a full Oxford not taken lightly, but have had debut. frontman Stuart Macbeth in 2007. takeover this autumn, with a host no choice but to take. Our main “We’ve had a few health issues in the band including a diagnosis of epilepsy RABBIT HOLE FESTIVAL Talking about his friend and band of local acts announced. reason for our decision is a lack of for me but two other members were also affected by different issues with returns on Saturday 1st mate, Stuart said: “Martin was “Martin wasn’t your conservatoire and punk that made him such a Oxjam Oxford takes place on pre-sales, we simply do not have their health,” said James. “This meant we had to take a little time away September. The annual family- th a hard-nosed Yorkshireman but kind of trumpeter but he always kept wonder, because traditional jazz Saturday 27 October with a enough to proceed. Rabidfest, as before getting back into playing live and starting to write for the EPs we put friendly mini-fest takes place his heart was never at home in pace with the best. He’d learned his takes attitude. Martin probably full day of live music at The an event, receives very little funds out in 2016. at The Victoria Arms in Old Huddersfield. It was firmly placed craft the hard way: in northern brass should have played his last gig at Bullingdon; The Library; Truck outside of ticket sales, and whilst “The new album was written and recorded during 2017 with the majority of Marston, with a full day of in New Orleans. That much was bands. It’s a coincidence but this just the Royal Albert Hall or Ronnie Store; Café Tarifa; The James the two Marks and I are willing the writing being completed at the recording stage. We had the bare bones live music, featuring sets from obvious as soon as I heard him happens to have been the way Louis Scott’s; the reason he didn’t was Street Tavern and East Oxford to bear some financial loss on this of all the songs but as we were self-recording and producing this album we Lightspill; The Shapes; Oakland play trumpet at Gladiator’s Hall Armstrong and Nat Gonella learned that he had faith in our mission to Community Centre. venture, our personal funds are were able to give ourselves a little more time to write. Road; Phoebe Rose; The Brass off Iffley Road in September 2007. their craft too. bring trad back to life: a deeply Acts confirmed include Inner not limitless. We have faced other “For the studio we stumbled across a converted barn in Devon on a working Funkeys; Zhana & Jane; Riaz Sneaking up to share a fag with “Last October we put on an Italian unfashionable idea. Peace Records; Lucy Leave; issues along the way, but these are farm; you can see it on our `Fingertips’ video on Youtube. It allowed us to Ahmad; Full Circle Blues and this unexpected hero I couldn’t themed gig and we asked Martin to “We Rabbits are a band of Flatlands; Flights of Helios; modest in comparison. live there, and with the kitchen and living area where we set up everything, more. The day runs from 1.30 quite believe my ears. Because this play `Buona Sera’, a tune played brothers; what’s missing now is MSRY; Drore (pictured); Ghosts in “Any existing ticket or merch we could also eat and drink together and bedrooms downstairs enabled us to through to 10.45pm, followed by a absolute vandal on his instrument by Louis Prima and Acker Bilk. No Martin. We could throw in the the Photographs; Little Red; The purchases will be refunded in full as sleep in comfort, which was vital as we only had one day per track.” firework display and an after-party – and a singer with enough passion rehearsal, obviously and man did towel but I think we’ll all agree Cooling Pearls; Wolfs; Kid Kin; soon as possible.” As well as the recording process, James also talked about how his diagnosis at the pub with The Mad Marston to truly smash an avocado – was he lay into that song! His trumpet to keep the deeply unfashionable The Dollymops; Tiger Mendoza; with epilepsy affected the music. Hares. As well as the music there as softly spoken in person as a ripped through the blue, into sunlit running. We’ll do it for Martin.” Moogieman & the Masochists; CONAN AND WINNEBAGO “With the diagnosis it meant I now had different themes to write about and are kids’ activities and food. baby’s blanket. Martin became our uplands. He owned that tune. Martin is survived by his partner Nightjar; Worry; Protection Spells; DEAL headline Buried in different emotions to learn to deal with – not something I was completely Tickets are £8.50 adults; £7 for comrade and friend. To us he’s just “It was the combination of speaking Audrey and children Naomi My Crooked Teeth; Max Blansjaar; Smoke’s Christmas Weekender conscious of at the time but looking back I guess you can kind of hear this under-16s and free for under-10s. sleeping, dreaming of that trip to through his instrument combined and Joseph. Nightshift’s deepest Dan Rawle and Ciphers. in December. The local metal coming out in words. More info and tickets at New Orleans. with his knowledge of jazz, metal sympathies go out to them all. Last year Oxford’s only Oxjam promoters host two full days “I find lyrics always assist me and enable me to mop up any negativity and www.rabbitholemusicevents. show was a gig at Tap Social of serious heaviosity over fear that may have come my way; it enables you to begin cleansing the mind co.uk. st nd organised by teenage musician the weekend of the 1 and 2 of any thought you may have, whether singing a tale of love and admiration with Tap Social to launch their Max Blansjaar, so it’s great to see December at The Cellar and The or a song about self-loathing and anxiety. Both of these I think we all, at HOWL MUSIC FESTIVAL own pale ale, which will be on the full takeover back for 2018. Bullingdon. some point or other, fall foul of. takes place next month, aiming to sale at The Library, Truck Store, A limited number of early bird Reformed local garage-rock duo “`Friends, Lovers and Empty Beds’ is something I have been saying to wrap raise money for Wolvercote Young East Oxford Community and Tap tickets are on sale now, priced £8, Winnebago Deal top the bill on up the majority of practices for the past couple of years and it does have that People’s Centre. The one-day event Social throughout the summer. from Wegottickets. the Saturday and are joined by contemplative quality that I enjoy. It’s just something I believe to be true as takes place at The Wolvercote Full line-up and ticket details for Since its launch in 2006 the Desert Storm; Suns of Thunder; at the end of the night we always go home to one of the three. I am not sure Young People’s Centre on St. the festival at facebook.com/ national network of Oxjam shows Battalions; My Diablo; Bad Blood where it came from but the name of the album was decided way back. The Peter’s Road in Wolvercote, on ifnotnowhenoxford. has raised over £2.8million for Recovery and Done at The Cellar, theme of relationships does run through the album but the majority of these Saturday 22nd September. Among anti-poverty charity Oxfam. while Conan headline the Sunday relationship stories allude to my relationship with epilepsy: in `Elephants’ the acts playing are 3peace; THE COOLING PEARLS at The Bullingdon alongside there’s a passage about speaking with my therapist and in `Am Dram’ the Catgod; Me & the Moon; Self launch their new album next Witchsorrow; Grave Lines; whole “keeping me up” chorus is about the fear of tomorrow and the fear of Help; Flatlands; Autumn Saints; month. `The Red Laugh’ is the RABIDFEST has been cancelled. Crimson Throne; Indica Blues; having more seizures. In turn this keeps you up as you overthink everything Daisy; Death of the Maiden; Easter local band’s first release since The rock and metal festival, which Thuum; The Brothers Keg; The and can’t stop worrying. I was lucky enough to get into a new relationship at Island Statues and Still Pigeon. 2010’s `The Honoured Meal of the was due to take place over the Grand Mal and Crimson Tusk. the start of the writing period and that immediately offered another path of Stranger’ and will be available via rd th The event runs from 1-10pm. weekend of the 3 – 4 August Tickets are yet to go on sale, and inspiration to work from and enabling closure on previous relationships, so Tickets, priced £15 for adults, £10 Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify at Abingdon United’s Northcourt with the future of The Cellar still in all of the lyrics are written from a personal perspective and part of each story for under-16s and under-12s free, and CD on the 7th September. venue, was called off at the start doubt, it’s worth keeping an eye on will always be “true”. are on sale now via Wegottickets. They play a headline show at of July with organisers citing poor the Facebook event page – search Alphabet Backwards made a return to playing live at Truck Festival in com. Event page is: The Library on Wednesday 19th advance ticket sales. The weekend out Xmas Weekender 2018. July, followed by a series of shows around the UK. `Friends, Lovers & facebook.com/wearehowlfestival September. Support comes from would have featured sets from Empty Beds’ is released on the 31st July. Follow the band at Glasgow’s Lush Purr and Laughing Tragedy, Desert Storm and Divine LOKKI AND ZEROWE make facebook.com/alphabackwards. CAMERON AG, The Land Lamb, the new solo project from Chaos amongst others and was their Oxford debuts next as part Girls and Fancy Dress Party are Lucy Leave drummer Pete Smith. intended to provide a focus for fans of the third annual We Are Your among the latest set of names to More info at facebook.com/ of heavy music which is too often Friends all-dayer. The gig takes Pitchfork favourite Kelly Lee CANALFEST returns in be added to If Not Now, When? coolingpearls. overlooked by local festivals. place at The Bullingdon on Owens as well as Dagga Domes, the September with a weekend of live Festival in September. They join nd A statement on the festival website Sunday 2 September. Lokki is new band formed by Kit Monteith, music and canal-based thrills. headliners Rolo Tomassi and AS EVER, don’t forget to tune said, “It is with great sadness, the new musical project from Glass who has played with Foals, Jonquil The main event takes place on Chad Valley at the all-dayer on into BBC Oxford Introducing th regret and heartache that we have to Animals’ Drew McFarlane, who and Trophy Wife, and Zahra Saturday 8 September at Aristotle Saturday 15th September across every Saturday night between announce that Rabidfest 2018 has released his debut EP `Cirrhi’ in Tehrani’s experimental beats and Lane Park, between Woodstock three venues at East Oxford 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated been cancelled. Firstly, we would March and played his first live show electronics project Despicable Zee. Road and Port Meadow, as well as Community Centre and Fusion local music show plays the best like to take this time to sincerely in London in April. Zerowe, the We Are Your Friends raises money events along the towpath through Arts. Other new additions to the Oxford releases and demos as apologise to all our supporters and solo project of ex-Balloon Ascents for the Brain Tumour Charity - Oxford. Among performers playing bill include Stef Ketteringham, well as featuring interviews and to everyone who’s bought a ticket, and Neverlnd singer Thomas Michael Barry Fund in memory are Oxford-based Ugandan multi- Rosie Caldecott, Bug Prentice, sessions with local acts. The show to all the bands, crew, entertainers, Roberts, release their new mini- of local musician and promoter instrumentalist Seby Ntege, who Slumb Party and Salvation Bill. is available to stream or download traders, caterers, and especially album `Don’t Be Evil’ this month. Michael who died in 2016. Search has played at WOMAD, Latitude INN,W? have also teamed up as a podcast at bbc.co.uk/oxford. RACPA UK for letting all of Both acts join a line-up that features for WAYF#3 on Facebook. and Cowley Road Carnival; A Quiet Word With Following the hugely If you could have scored one film the dark.” The great thing about not having a positive reception `A Murmur, a ever, which would it have been? Brent: “When we’re testing visuals vocalist is the listener has to think for Charm, a Murder’ received, from George: “The Shining: just love how we like to switch off the lights to see themselves: they take away whatever fans, fellow bands and critics alike, unsettling it feels throughout the film how they go with the music. I didn’t the music has made them feel, not Ghosts in the Photographs Ghosts in the Photographs return to – those synths/strings/horns; the use mind until we put images from The what someone has told them to feel. the studio next month to record a of composers Penderecki and Ligeti Exorcist on there”. It’s different for each individual as by titans of the genre: Mogwai, new single. is genius.” we always come away from a show Godspeed You! Black Emperor and George: “We’re going to be Iain: “Irreversible: the soundtrack Away from the band, with an array of compliments that I Explosions in the Sky, but possessed recording our fifteen-minute opus for that film is nasty and rightly Ghosts in the Photographs, doubt we’d get if we had somebody of a harder, dynamic edge that owed ‘Dyslexorcist’; it’s a song we’re so given the content of the film. It particularly George and Brent, are preaching a message or crying about as much to Fugazi and Sonic Youth. all really proud of and get a lot of makes me feel nauseous; it’s like intensely politically engaged and their ex. Sometimes it’s nice to not “I’m glad that’s coming through,” love for it when we play it live. It’s anti music. I would love to write highly vocal about their beliefs, be be shouted at and just let yourself get says Ian; “I’m big into my hardcore been the staple closer of our set for something that makes people feel it anti racism, anti sexism or pro- lost in music” and punk; Converge are my favourite the past year so we’re really happy physically ill.” Remain. Given that, we wonder if band of all time. The three of us to be finally getting it down. We Brent: “Something really dark, there’s ever a frustration that their Fans of Ghosts IN the all have different musical tastes, so hope to retain the live feel of the uneasy and catchy like Suspiria: that instrumental music can’t project Photographs will have another between us there’s such a big melting song, whilst also flavouring it with would be great. beliefs or messages they want to chance to get lost in music this some additional spice. We have convey? month as the band play at The pot of influences to draw from. Ian th MacKaye is a hero of mine, so I so much material to get recorded While they are an George: “We are all political in our Jericho Tavern on the 9 August was real happy about the Fugazi but we have to be selective; we are instrumental band Ghosts in the own ways; I know how much of our as part of a fundraising show for comparison, that’s some high praise finding ourselves writing much more mental health charity MIND. right there.” dynamically since when we recorded Before they go though, Nightshift the last EP.” “When we’re testing visuals we like to switch has been wondering about the origin More than anything “We were over the moon with the off the lights to see how they go with the of their name. At the end of the Dr though, Ghosts in the Photographs’ response we had for `A Murmur…’. Who story Family of Blood, the reputation has been made via almost Putting out something you are so music. I didn’t mind until we put images Doctor banishes one of the family constant gigging. There is barely a deeply invested in is always going from The Exorcist on there” – who wanted to live forever – into month goes by when their highly to generate a varied response, but to a mirror where she would be the recognisable name doesn’t crop up get such positive appraisal from our ghost in every reflection; was that an in the gig guide – sometimes several peers on the local scene means a lot.” Photographs do use samples to add everyday lives are entrenched in it. influence on the band’s name, and times. to their soundscapes. Their recent My day-to-day work is nursing in the have any of them ever seen a ghost? “I don’t think we’ve ever said no Given Ghosts in the set at Common People featured NHS, something of great importance George: “That’s a great theory but to a gig, it’s so much fun and we Photographs’ instrumental set-up snatches of what sounded like to me and also something of a current our name is actually influenced love playing,” says Brent; “the one and atmospheric, cinematic sound, NASA communications laced into political boiling-pot, so politics is by a Mogwai lyric! We liked the time we had to say no, which is my the comparisons to Mogwai and the music; would Ghosts in the never too far away. Our music is connotation that it could have many biggest regret, was when we were Explosions in the Sky have been hard Photographs make good music for an outlet to our collective thoughts interpretations, much like our music. asked to support the Nightingales but to avoid, but they take them in their space travel? and one that can be viewed in any I’ve never knowingly seen a ghost had to turn it down as we already had stride and take pride in the influence George: “Actually, the sample is manner, subjectively, by the listener. but I’m certain there were times in “It was a terrifying place; when Nightshift first witnessed The Wheatsheaf, supporting the another Oxford gig that week.” such iconic bands have had on them. from military and air-traffic control Our use of allusive song titles, the past when my younger more I’ve never felt so alone. It was them live, were performing in front pair’s new band Lowws. Are Ghosts in the Photographs, then, George: “We take great stimulus communications on 9/11, but the samples and projected imagery will impressionable mind may have been certainly somewhere nobody would of a projection of Hitchock’s The “Our first practice together Oxford music’s answer to Michael from those bands but also by effect is clearly similar. Music for often give away a certain subject or more susceptible to such things.” hear me scream. I remember phoning Birds, and have since composed the consisted of jamming and bad- Caine – who famously never turns many more beyond. We enjoy the space travel would be incredible point of view. Although sometimes Brent: “I love the Dr Who theory; my partner and was seriously soundtrack to a zombie movie. mouthing religion,” remembers Ian; down a film role? references but don’t feel burdened by though – and quite Eno-sounding – it we may like to contrast or contradict my first ever crush was Sarah Jane considering getting in my bright “it was clear Brent was definitely the George: “Now you mention it, it at all.” could be a perfect marriage.” these, just to keep ourselves fresh Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and I got yellow Peugeot 106 and leaving. While Ghosts in the guy for us; a great person and great Michael Caine was always our first When venue specs allow it, Ghosts What do you think music from and others on their toes. In the to meet her at a Dr Who convention Glad I didn’t.” Photographs formed in 2014, the trio drummer who shared our passion choice as vocalist. That said we love in the Photographs play backed by another planet might sound like? Is main we try and keep our personal 1997. I thought I saw a ghost when have individual musical histories for songwriting, he also brought a gigging locally and have always film projections, to enhance their there anyone on earth making music opinions out of the band domain, but I was younger and living in a creepy Ghosts in the Photographs going back many years. Oxford drive to the band that we had been been quite fortunate to be offered music’s atmospheric nature; it’s that you think sounds alien? there are times when some things house.” drummer Brent Wade is recalling born George has done time in a missing. My favourite thing about the chance to play with some great something they feel is intrinsic to George: “I think it would be need to be said.” Do you think ghosts really exist? his first audition for the band, number of metal and hardcore acts, writing with George and Brent is bands and musicians, which tends to their performance. painfully exhilarating. Perhaps Brent: “I was once put on the Iain: “I’m sure there are many things an occasion when, he admits, he notably Kaowin (with singer Patrick how we’re all different, as people be the reason we keep coming back George: “When circumstances composers like Ligeti or Schoenberg, band’s naughty step, for arguing with in this life our eyes and brains cannot genuinely wondered if he had been Currier, who would go on to front and especially our music tastes, yet and hopefully because people enjoy allow we like to try and introduce with their ethereal compositions Paul Golding from Britain First and see or comprehend, so I’m reserving lured to his death. DaysOfGrace and Lights Action); when we get together and create what we do.” something different to shows and but locally you need look no further calling him a twat on our Twitter. I judgement until I’ve seen one for “Our rehearsal place was really Vena Cava (with future Xmas Lights music it all happens very organically, GITP do seem to be a band who gets projections are a great way of than Lee Riley or Jamie Gillett to maybe should have done it on my myself.” creepy,” offers guitarist George singer Marco Ruggiero) and Sky we’re a cohesive unit; `greater than on well with other bands locally and, marrying two separate mediums and experience some otherworldly aural personal account!” George: “I believe that all such Naylor by way of mitigation; “like a Burial with long-time friend and the sum of our parts’ is a motto that if purely instrumental onstage, are creating a completely individual aesthetic.” What messages or ideal do you feel happenings are conjured in the cross between Freddy Krueger’s digs former Caravan of Whores drummer suits us well.” highly vocal in their online support vibe. We are never sure how the Brent: “I know they’re not making your music does convey, or do you brain, like hallucinations or over- and Chernobyl. We wouldn’t have Jamie Gillett, where he first met “We all come from varied musical and promotion for fellow local bands footage will go down as we have music anymore, but Coil. I was prefer to leave it to the listener to imagination. Doesn’t mean that it blamed him if he turned right around Banbury-born Ian. backgrounds, which has significantly they love and have played alongside; often devised it in isolation from introduced to them by Nightshift take what they want from the music? can’t feel real to the one experiencing and never came back.” When Sky Burial went their separate characterised our output,” adds it’s a support that’s regularly the music; utilising it live is often a couple of years back. It’s such a Or is it intended purely as escapism? it, but having read a bit around Iain “He was either brave or ways, George and Ian continued to George; “while we have a very reciprocated. spontaneous but it does seem to work strange sound, but I cannot switch off George: “Music should always mean neurology there are a lot of biological stupid for meeting two strangers he jam together until they decided to put productive musical relationship, our George: “We love the Oxford well. We are not anchored to this once I’ve pressed play!” exactly what it says to the listener, explanations for such events.” met online, at night, in a sketchy an ad out for a drummer, which was collective harmony is largely down music scene and feel strongly about set-up, as we have also benefitted Coil certainly made some of the however that may be interpreted. Brent: “But if it wasn’t for ghosts industrial estate,” adds bassist Ian answered by Brent, even if he almost to how well we all get on away from supporting our peers across all from the great lighting rigs at various creepiest music Nightshift has ever A single song can mean so many and the paranormal we wouldn’t Deans; “we used to drive away from didn’t go through with the audition. the music; we have to keep ourselves genres. Oxford has always felt like different venues.” heard, including an unreleased theme different things to so many people; have clairvoyants, and boy have they that place as quick as possible every For his part Brent, originally from in check to ensure practices don’t a musical hub; you only have to Are film soundtracks an influence for Hellraiser that apparently made even we get something different out given me a great deal of comedy time before a shadowy figure could Stockton-on-Tees, got his first taste slip into our natural comedy default, glimpse the prestigious history to on your music writing? writer and director Clive Barker of what we do. There is no specific material.” appear in the rear view mirror. Real of Oxford music as part of gothic which can be easier said than done.” appreciate the scales that are possible George: “We all appreciate the – presumably a man with a strong ideal to convey, except for maybe serial killer vibes going on up there.” power-pop outfit Vixens in 2009; to achieve. With local artists like symbiotic effect of music in film; we constitution – feel nauseous. Do people to feel that they have had their Ghosts in the Photographs play the band toured around the UK The first fruits of Ghosts often discuss these elements when GITP ever compose their music in own personal journey, figuratively The Jericho Tavern on Thursday Year of the Kite; Kid Kin; Tiger th The origins of how before splitting; Brent worked with in the Photographs’ coming together Mendoza; Masiro; Death of the writing certain parts of our music as the dark to capture a mood? or emotionally, while listening to 9 August. ‘Dyslexorcist’ will be Ghosts in the Photographs formed Engineers singer Simon Phipps for was the `Our Memories Are Here To Maiden; Lucy Leave; Cherokii, and we can reflect on how certain sounds George: “We have occasionally us. We always get off seeing people released later this year. Follow has become part of the band’s legend a couple of years before answering Haunt You’ EP in 2015. Its follow up, The Hope Burden, we feel that they and themes are utilised for specific played around with our projections transfixed at our gigs and we often the band at facebook.com/ now, but its dread-filled fashion that ad. He stayed in touch with ` A Murmur, A Charm, A Murder’, in have the same principled ethos that emotional or dynamic effect. We and different ambient lighting at hear accounts of spine-tingling GhostsinthePhotographs and hear is perfectly suited to them given his former Vixens bandmates Dave 2017, cemented the trio’s reputation we share, and there is a real sense had the opportunity to put our own practice; it’s always stimulating to moments.” `A Murmur, a Charm, a Murder’ at their chosen name, their music and and Danny who got Ghosts in the as purveyors of dark, dynamic that everyone actively wants to soundtracking prowess to the test by change the environment from time Iain: “For me creating music is ghostsinthephotographs.bandcamp. even their gigs; this is a band who, Photographs their first ever gig, at instrumental post-rock, inspired encourage each other’s output.” scoring that zombie flick.” to time. Although Brent is scared of a form of catharsis and escapism. com. Sponsored by EMSEATEE SPLEENWORT ‘21.06.2014’ ‘The Strange Death of (Modularfield Records) Decency’ The first full-length collection from recent RELEASED (Self released) Demo of the Month winner Emseatee, an MEEF CHALOIN & ZEROWE “alternative electronic producer hailing from If some of the previous output of Grant Baldwin, the sleepy shire of Oxford” according to one of Oxfordshire’s more incomparable and ASHER DUST ‘Don’t Be Evil’ his Bandcamp page, follows a few single- inventive studio composers, has had his sonorous (Self released) track and remix releases, and is a coherent voice centre stage, like Tony Hadley taking a ‘Star Dread Kill The Former Balloon Ascents/Neverlnd singer and steady-handed selection of dreamy, stab at Scott Walker, and on occasions sounding Devil’ Thomas Roberts’ follow-up to last year’s introspective, marginally-head-nodding like he’d drawn blood, then this full album under `Shade of Blue’ EP is an eight-song mini-album electronica pieces. the name Spleenwort is a marvellous leap up his (Self released) written, played and produced by Thomas and Electronic music is a hugely wide description: evolutionary creative ladder, where he parks his Ian Norris’ sleeve artwork for this collaboration lyrically dealing with “A.I, robots, submarines Emseatee sits an audiological and conceptual vocals deeper into the phasing mix, making them is instantly reminiscent of classic Prince Jammy and love,” which sounds promising. Ultimately, corner where the echoey, navel-gazing eminently more approachable. and Scientist albums and the similarities don’t like his last EP, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, the whimsy of Boards of Canada meets the The opening title track is a dreamy amniotic end there. This is some serious dub from two best ideas, and his natural vocal talent not 1980s-tickling earlier work of Oneohtrix swim, with a disembodied female voice urging ALPHABET of Oxford’s maverick music scene mainstays: always able to compensate for a lack of great Point Never. `21.06.2014’ also has the feel of us “not to worry about it, and relax,” which then producer Meef Chaloin and singer/sound BACKWARDS songs. Constellation Records artists like Godspeed surfaces into the proactive ‘Acuya’, bringing to explorer Asher Dust, here recording together for Balancing acoustic guitar with electronic You Black Emperor or Eric Chenaux: not mind what it would be like if an antsy Ian Curtis the first time since 2013’s more scattershot and ‘Friends, Lovers & beats and often lush synthetics, Roberts keeps so much in terms of instrumentation or had lived to front a rave, didgeri-drone dance experimental `Angels Make Fun’ album. the mood, as is customary for him, smooth, specific sound, but with a shared sense of band. This same vibe is revisited later in ‘Deep, Empty Beds’ Mercurial and multi-talented, Asher Dust is U-Sound vibes and The Orb’s tripped-out take soulful and understated, the beats for the most loss, longing and thought. The eight tracks Amorphous, Blind’ with increased industrio- a serial collaborator; for someone with such on dub and onto Tricky’s trippy electronic taiko stomp. (Self released) part restrained, arrangements sparse, vocals here tend individually towards a construction It’s two years since Alphabet Backwards’ last a distinctive voice he fits in with whichever experimentation, Meef’s beats and production plaintive and only ever discreetly histrionic. that’s based around a super-repeated melody, It’s a surefooted, captivating start, with the setting he finds himself in, never better than are rich and intense, while Asher’s vocals are EP release and six since the band released their He’s at his best on the likes of album closer driven and pulled through warm, sleek, gentle, skippy drum&bass, plus harp of ‘Gone’, when things get heavy, like his showing with freewheeling, sometimes looped and spaced out, debut album; in the meantime singer James `Underwater’, where he captures a sub aquatic analogue-synth-esque tones. complete with its scatological use of dead air Tiger Mendoza at Common People in May. And building momentum as the album progresses, Hitchman has endured serious health issues, so vibe and surfaces not far from Thom Yorke’s While it can sometimes tend towards the coming back to sound a whole click louder, and `Star Dread Kill The Devil’ is heavy: wired so tracks like `Controlling My Mental’ feel like it’s little surprise that second album `Friends, solo material. He ups the beats on `Good Song’ twee – for example with the advertisement- the poptastic ‘Reigning in Reykjavik’ which and wigged-out industrial-strength dub of the absolute bangers even as they mine decidedly Lovers & Empty Beds’ sounds like a band for a woozy r’n’b vibe, while `Don’t Blame friendly piano notes of ’Processing’, or clearly owes a great many of its genes to ‘When sort that should be soundtracking carnival side party-unfriendly depths. The desire to freak contemplating the trials of adult life after the Me’ finds him singing “I lost my way” as he the warped non-lyrical vocal sounds of Smokey Sings’ by ABC, both showing how streets or troubling the foundations of basement out like on that previous collaboration is kept youthful exuberance of their early songs. lets the tune ramble off-piste and in doing so ‘415’ – `21.06.2014’ is largely a satisfying competent Grant has become, right down to the clubs. Album opener `Angry Soul’ might be in check for the most part, the pair focussed on The band’s basic sound remains intact: sprightly reveals a more lysergic edge to his sound that is headphones album, entirely right for losing final six minute chill track ‘Perigrini’. renamed `Lee `Scratch’ Perry and the Upsetters groove building and maintaining a fine balance folk-pop with a bubbly synth edge and with the more interesting that some of the more polished oneself within. `The Strange Death of Decency’ (the title a meet Nine Inch Nails Downtown’ as dirty between mellow, intense, heavy and free flowing vocal interaction between singers Hitchman pop on the album. `This Deep’, for example, It’s clear that there’s a focus at work here, twist on George Dangerfield’s book The Strange electronics snake and throb beneath Asher’s vibes up to the nervy, slow-burn finale of `Care and Steph Ward at the heart of it all, but hard reminds us too much of unappealing 80s acts which can make the whole album feel slightly Death of Liberal England) is the album you’d gothic soul. It also features our favourite lyric For You’. realism understandably seems to have overtaken like Curiosity Killed the Cat or The Blow repetitive; but that said, there are enough expect to be hearing over the speakers while you of the year so far: “Welcome to the fuckwits Nightshift doesn’t have a soundsystem big giddy idealism. The album’s title refers to what Monkeys, with a plastic soul feel about them, points like the off-kilter rhythms of ‘Polestar’ are sat next to the koi pond in the waiting room carnival.” It’s a beast of an opener and if things enough to do this album full justice; as a result everyone goes home to at night, and there’s while throwing the production kitchen sink at or the dense, textured squall of ‘Maine’, to at the Pearly Gates: chock full of regretful tones; open up somewhat from here, becoming funkier our neighbours – for a mile or so in every a hint of weariness in James’ voice on songs `Flashing Amber’ can’t hide a lack of substance. keep it all lifted into a good place. sinister yet friendly unreality; politically oblique and frothier on `Gripe’ or taking in African direction – are missing out. Shame: this is a like `Settle Down’. Some of that childlike glee The track that perhaps stands out most from Simon Minter lyricism; cathedral noises, and a gutsy mischief rhythms and squelching synths on `Akasha’, worthy contender for the title of album of the remains; opener `Elephant’ finds Hitchman the pack is `Fucking Robots’, which sounds at the mixing desk, all of which, even if you are solid and heavy remain the guiding moods. summer. singing “There’ll be butterflies turning upside like a down in the dumps Simon & Garfunkel not listening to it in eternal silence, makes it From classic Jamaican dub, through 80s On- Dale Kattack down in your stomach”, while on `Oh Me, Oh trapped in a haunted cartoon fairground. It’s rather splendid. KANADIA Paul Carrera My’, he’s making shadow puppets on the wall, hardly Flaming Lips’ `Yoshimi Battles the Pink and Steph forever brightens every song she in a studio for a week and get them to interpret Robots’ but it’s the song that keeps its melodic ‘LX’ touches with her sugar-sweet voice, together the a set of traditional folk songs and tunes. It’s wits about it the most here. (Self released) LOW ISLAND pair still reminding us of Noah & The Whale’s part of the label’s ruling ethos of taking folk, As before Thomas’ talent is evident for all to While Radiohead began life as a rock band earliest songs. `Fingertips’ is rinky-dink and jazz and acoustic music into new places and for see, particularly as a singer, but you feel he with a stadium-friendly sound, Oxford music ‘Holding It Down’ bubbly, while `Television’ is near as dammit the the most part this EP gets it right, particularly needs to be working with someone else to get has generally eschewed bombast or The Big (Self released) same song but spikier. `Am Dram’’s soft-centred the solemn, lilting `Dansen Ungdom’, a the best out of himself – feeding off ideas and Music, at least until more recently when A re-release of last year’s single ahead of the funk-pop is leavened by some cool synths, and Swedish celebration of youth learned by French stamping his personality on them. He’s wasted the likes of Leader and Kanadia – and to a band’s eleven-track vinyl compilation of all `Broken Hands’ brings some jazz chops to the double bassist and guitarist Remi Allain, sung on what is sometimes little more than ambient different degree Zurich – have worn their sky- their releases so far at the end of September, party. That more reflective side is more apparent beautifully before it’s led into slightly more chill-out bar music. searching songs proudly on their sleeves. Or `Holding It Down’ is the song that first on the autumnal, piano-led `Indian Summer’ and wayward, folk-drone territory. Dale Kattack perhaps as badges of honour on their chests, grabbed the attention of myriad review sites gentle acoustic ballad `Vice’, which closes the Elsewhere `Hares on the Mountain’ imagines which they’re bullishly intent on puffing out and playlisters, encapsulating the band’s airily album. God only knows what they were thinking how humans might flirt and fall in love if they and beating with heroic intent. atmospheric balance between Radiohead-style on instrumental intermission `Buckhouse’, which were wild animals, sung in understated fashion And why not when those acts can ramp it all electro-glitch and Caribou’s more euphorically sounds like Klaus Wunderlich, or something by Suffolk guitarist Joe Woods and accordionist up like this – Kanadia going the full U2 on the funky bubble and bounce; certainly Jamie Jay from Radio 2’s The Organist Entertains. Hannah Jacobs, whose playful hums and ticks first of a series of new singles set for release shares a similarly half-awake vocal style to Dan `Friends…’ retains enough of Alphabet really make the song. ahead of their full debut album early in 2019. Snaith. Backwards’ innate pop sweetness to keep it The Oxford contingent here includes fiddle This is the sound of U2 as they were on those Wild Swim’s steady drip feed of releases bubbling along nicely, but harsh reality isn’t FOLKATRON player Lauren Spicely, cellist Martha Wiltshire call-to-arms first three albums, all driving since the beginning of 2017, coupled with an something that wholly suits a band of their nature. and guitarist Nicolas O’Brien, but it’s very bass and chiming guitars, James Bettis’ rough- increasingly confident live show has earned Where once they were trying to save the polar ‘Mais C’est Quoi much an international effort, both personnel hewn, almost bluesy voice all eyes-scrunched- them a firm foothold on the rickety and bears and shop in Primark and life’s complexities and source material-wise, from Macedonian closed intensity and plaintively heroic. It’s unpredictable ladder that leads to pop glory. were easily solved with youthful spirit, now the Maman?’ love songs to Irish reels, reflective of Oxford’s a billowing, sky-wide belter with anthemic The forthcoming compendium gathers all that possibility of coming home to an empty bed, or (Upcycled Sounds) always outward-looking culture as well as intent that, at three and a half minutes, only together neatly; where the next twelve months dealing with life-changing illness weighs more An interesting concept from new local label its enduring love affair with traditional folk disappoints by not ramping it up even more for take them is in their hands: hands that have heavily and that’s reflected in a record that’s more Upcycled Sounds here: gather ten musicians sounds. twice the duration. shown no sign of losing hold of the tiller so far. contemplative and cautious than they once were. from around Europe who have never met before Ian Chesterton Ian Chesterton Dale Kattack Dale Kattack crew Be Still – see main interview feature and supports to Spring King, Blossoms, Amazons Introducing piece and Prides. LORDS OF DISCO WONDER: The Cellar – Rock, disco, 80s and funk club night. DESPICABLE ZEE: The Library – Pulling th Sickies host a benefit show for Young Women’s SATURDAY 11 FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION: Music Project, with Zahra Tehrani’s electronics Cropredy – In a surprise twist, Fairport GIG GUIDE and beats project Despicable Zee and more. rd Convention headline their own annual festival Thursday 23 CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford st tonight with local blues-rock veterans The for the 67th year in a row, joined by assorted WEDNESDAY 1 Community Centre Mighty Redox, plus Des Barkus and Charms friends and former members for a marathon MIKE VERNON & THE DEEP COVER FREE PARTY: The Cellar ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure Against the Evil Eye. run through their extensive catalogue, ending – Weekly free club night through the month, BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, MIGHTY COMBO: AUGUST LITTLE BROTHER ELI + NATALIE with the traditional mass singalong tribute to playing hip hop and UK bass. Sandford to promote their new album on Spinefarm HOLMES: Magoos Bar, Henley-on-Thames Britain’s disappearing independent butchers’ The Bullingdon Records, having made their name through Axe – Funked-up rock, blues and disco from the shops, `Meat on the Ledge’. They’re joined by After a mere 55 years in the music business Hero as well as supporting Raging Speedhorn, energetic local faves. Al `Stewpot’ Stewart, Afrocelt Sound System, nd th and at the tender age of 73, Mike Vernon THURSDAY 2 Turbowolf and Kvelertak. They also turned BREEZE: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock covers. FRIDAY 10 Sam Kelly & the Lost Boys, Will Varley and decided it was time to release his debut PUPPY + GROVE STREET FAMILIES: up at this summer’s Download, their mix FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION: Richard Digance. album. And why not. After all, he’d been The Cellar – Hook-heavy slacker metal from and match of influences from Metallica and Cropredy – The Levellers headline the second ETHAN JOHNS: Truck Store (6pm) – The the man behind more records than even he London’s genre-defying Puppy, out on tour Deftones to Pavement and Weezer winning fans th day of Fairport’s annual festival, joined by BRIT Award-winning producer, who’s worked can probably remember, both as producer in both the metal and indie camps. SUNDAY 5 folk singer Kate Rusby, ex-Marillion man Fish, with The Vaccines, Kaiser Chiefs, Laura UNPLUGGED SUMMER SESSIONS: The and record label exec, so why not step out CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Canadian Quebecois ensemble Le Vent du Marling, Tom Jones and Kings of Leon among th Bullingdon – Acoustic night. from behind the desk and get up on stage. Tuesday 7 Community Centre – Oxford’s longest running Nord, and Rod Stewart tribute band Cregan & many, many others, as well as playing with OPEN MIC SESSION: The Harcourt Arms Vernon’s illustrious career has seen him open club night showcases singers, musicians, Co. Ryan Adams and Rufus Wainwright, launches DEAD KENNEDYS: – Weekly open mic session. producing records for the likes of David poets, storytellers and more every Thursday. NO HOT ASHES: The Cellar – Stockport’s his new album, `Anamnesis’, with a tour of the FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon – Weekly Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, The Bluesbreakers; ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure funk-tinged indie rockers head off on tour to UK’s best independent record stores, plying a O2 Academy open folk session. Eric Clapton; Pete Green; Ten Years After; Despite myriad tours over the past decade – Weekly open mic session. promote debut EP `Skint Kids Disco’ after suitably intimate form of campfire country and Chicken Shack and Dusty Bennett, while without him, it’s difficult to consider Dead BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, American folk music. he’s possible even better known for starting Kennedys without Jello Biafra, the band’s Sandford – Open blues jam. th THE MANCAVE: The Bullingdon – A night up Blue Horizon Records, the label that th Wednesday 15 firebrand singer and one of America’s finest SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon MONDAY 6 of hip hop, grime and drum&bass hosted by spearheaded the British blues revival in satirists of the last 40 years. But then, the – Sparky hosts an open mic session on the first OMNI: The Cellar local barbers The Mancave, celebrating their the 1960s. Along the way he’s worked for band’s visits to Oxford in recent times – and third Thursday of every month. With so many rich and diverse seams first birthday, with Document One, Deep Cover Decca, Polydor and CBS and in 2013 was th the last time back in 2014 – have seen the THE GUARDIAN + WINTER’S EDGE + TUESDAY 7 to mine it’s no surprise that post punk and Sentz & Komply. awarded a BASCA Gold Badge for services remaining core members joined by Ron SERPENTYNE + BROKEN EMPIRE: Fat DEAD KENNEDYS: O2 Academy – Return continues to inspire generations of bands MOVE: The Cellar – UK bass club night. to music. Even after retiring at the turn of the `Skip’ Greer who has brought his own Lil’s, Witney – OxRox hosts a double dose of to town for San Fran’s punk kings – see main 40 years after its first flowering. Atlanta THE FOLLYS: Stanford in the Vale FC – Millennium he couldn’t keep away, leaving charms to play on their classic catalogue, female-fronted melodic metal acts tonight, with preview Georgia’s Omni sound like they’ve Reunion gig for the local band, featuring local his Spanish home to produce albums for Oli while vocally doing a fair impression of Belgium’s The Guardian bringing their classic DIGIT4: The Cellar – Bassline, grime and devoured every volume of the Post Punk stalwart Trev Williams. Brown and Dani Wile, among others. Now, Biafra’s distinctive sneering/whining/ 80s influences up to date alongside Chichester’s drum&bass club night. Songbook, mixed and curdled every THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Whitehouse though, he’s up front with his own band, hectoring vocal delivery. It’s almost Winters Edge. ingredient contained therein and baked – Classic blues and rock covers from the paying homage to 40s and 50s r’n’b, mixing tragic that America’s finest punk band bar a rather splendid soufflé out of them all. veteran local singer and guitarist. up classic covers of Johnny Guitar Watson, The Ramones descended into such bitter th Amid the trio’s taught, wiry, herky-jerky WOLFBAIT: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock and Fats Domino and Leiber & Stoller alongside feuding, to the point where they could only rd WEDNESDAY 8 new wave, with their uptight funk, robotic pop covers. his own material. He has some form as a FRIDAY 3 NICHOLSON HEAL + DOM SALAD rhythms and simplistic guitar lines you’ll DIRTY WORK: The Brewery Tap, Abingdon communicate through lawyers, but their ONE STATE DRIVE + YOU KNOW THE vocalist: he was previously a member of + LANGKAMER: The Library – Joint find hefty spoonfuls of Television, Devo – rock’n’roll originals and covers. songs remain classics, scathing attacks on DRILL + SOMETHING SOMEDAY + The Olympic Runners in the 70s and Rocky showcase from Breakfast Records and Magoo. and Wire, as well as smaller but still tasty THE A/WATTS: Wagon & Horses, right wing Christian morality, government SUBJECT TO CHANGE: O2 Academy – Sharpe and the Replays in the 80s, but now DEEP COVER FREE PARTY: The Cellar scoops of Sparks, Roxy Music and Orange Southmoor – Classic 50s and 60s rock’n’roll. corruption, bigotry and war. The powers Pop punk in the vein of Blink 182, Better Than he’s the main man, and where better to catch Juice. Ex Deerhunter guitarist Frankie that be tried, and failed, to silence them, Never and A Day To Remember from local five- such a seminal figure in blues music than Broyles’ chopping, chiming guitar defines while taking a serious toll on the individual piece One State Drive, out on tour to promote The Haven Club. th Omni’s sound but singer Philip Frobus’ th members of the band and those close their Chunk No Captain Chunk-produced EP. THURSDAY 9 SUNDAY 12 to them, but listen to `California Uber simultaneously world weary and playful Birmingham’s similarly-inclined You Know FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION: OPEN MIC SESSION: The Harcourt Arms residents Doktor Joy and Bookhouse keeping it Alles’; `Holiday in Cambodia’; `Chemical th vocals lead the line, recalling Jonathan the Drill support, alongside Witney rockers Cropredy – The 397 Cropredy Festival kicks FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon dark on the decks. Richman and even Elvis Costello at times as Warfare’; `Let’s Lynch the Landlord’ and Something Someday. off in the north Oxfordshire village, folk-rock THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Tree, Iffley his lyrics find the alien in the mundane, not `Kill the Poor’ and tell us you don’t feel the K-FUNKZ with LOONEY & HAMDI: The legends Fairport Convention’s annual gathering (4-6.30pm) a million miles from David Byrne. Easy to overwhelming urge to take to the streets, Bullingdon – Bassline, drum&bass and hip hop of the tribes once again mixing up trad folk think Omni are a simple hotchpotch of more th Molotov cocktail in hand, with rage and club night. with rock, blues and more. While Fairport WEDNESDAY 15 cool influences than any band deserves, hope in your heart. Klaus Fluoride, East PEARL JAMM: The Jericho Tavern – Pearl themselves kick things off with their traditional OMNI: The Cellar – Uptight post-punk pop in and to an extent they are, but what cool th Bay Ray and DH Peligro might be getting Jam tribute. acoustic set, the big draw is Beach Boys legend MONDAY 13 the vein of Devo, Television and Wire from the influences they are, and when dished out OXFORD CLASSIC JAZZ: The Harcourt on a bit now and the band have almost LEGOHEADS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – 90s and Brian Wilson performing the bands seminal Atlanta, Georgia rising stars – see main preview with infectiously nervous energy and sharp- Arms – Classic jazz and ragtime from the local reached heritage status, but right now Dead Noughties indie covers, from Killers and Oasis `Pet Sounds’ album in its entirety. He’s joined ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR + IOTA: Fat elbowed melodies, which they’ve been ensemble, playing Jellyroll Morton, Louis Kennedys’ message is more relevant than to Arctic Monkeys and Strokes. on the day by Canterbury’s folk-rock veterans Lil’s, Witney – Symphonic melodic hard rock ever, and even without Biafra, they still Oysterband, as well as suburban bluegrass faves refining since 2016’s debut album `Deluxe’, Armstrong, Fats Domino and more. and thrash from Philadelphia’s Illusions of pack an almighty punch. Police Dog Hogan and more. they’re equal to the task. Their soufflé is Grandeur out on a European tour at tonight’s very much on the rise. OxRox show. th THE DOLLYMOPS + BE STILL + KID SATURDAY 4 KIN + GHOSTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS th DEEP COVER FREE PARTY: The Cellar FREERANGE: The Cellar – UK garage, TUESDAY 14 + DJ FUNKSOULSTU: The Jericho Tavern ARI ROAR + MY CROOKED TEETH: The grime and bassline club night playing the best – Local indie newcomers The Dollymops host Jericho Tavern – Green Man Festival warm-up new underground tunes. a fundraiser for Oxford mental health charity for Texan singer-songwriter Ari Roar, playing th MUSICAL MEDICINE: The Bullingdon – THURSDAY 16 MIND, their jangly indie pop drawing on songs from his new album, `Calm Down’, Summer house party hosted by the regular funk CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford classic 80s acts like Orange Juice, The Wedding on Bella Union, taking a strumbledown, airy and disco club night. Community Centre Present and Mighty Mighty. They’re joined by a slacker pop trip to the top. SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure top drawer local cast that includes this month’s INTRUSION: The Cellar – Monthly goth, & SPOTLIGHT JAM: The White House – BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, cover stars Ghosts in the Photographs; one-man industrial, death-rock and ebm club night with Sandford Sparky hosts his monthly bands and jam night, post-rock army Kid Kin and Witney pop-punk SATURDAY 18th MIKE VERNON & THE MIGHTY Hitchcock with Krautrock. There’s also SUNDAY 26th THE NUDE PARTY: O2 Academy – 60s COMBO: The Bullingdon – The legendary gallows humour piano pop from Good OPEN MIC SESSION: The Harcourt garage rock, psychedelia and country rocking face behind Blue Horizon Records steps out Canary, in the vein of Tori Amos, Regina Arms from North Carolina sextet The Nude Party, from behind the mixing desk and into the Spector and PJ Harvey. FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon inspired by The Kinks, The Velvet Underground spotlight – see main preview LORDS OF DISCO WONDER: The BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3-7pm) and Jonathan Richman and over in the UK to GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with Cellar – Open jam session. promote their self-titled debut album, produced JUNIPER NIGHTS + THRUST + GOOD APOSTILE: The Library – One-man THE BITE: The Prince of Wales, by Black Lips’ Oakley Munson. CANARY: The Library – While The bedroom synth-pop from Apostile at Shippon – Classic rock covers. WITNEY MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Leys, Wheatsheaf is closed for building work, GTI tonight’s Smash Disco free show. Witney – 90s hitmakers The Farm bring their moves its monthly club night up to The Library, CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford as ever providing a mixed bag of sounds, with Community Centre groovy train to Witney’s annual music festival th local indie rockers Juniper Nights mixing ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the MONDAY 27 Friday 24th and are joined on the Leys by former Specials toaster Neville Staple and his band, plus local influences of Radiohead, Alt.j and Elbow into Obscure their alternately sombre and grungy rock. BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, HOOKWORMS: anthemic rockers Leader; melodic thrash crew th Twisted State of Mind; folk rockers La Phooka; They’re joined by Thrust, the new project from Sandford TUESDAY 28 The Bullingdon New Orleans-style street jazz ensemble Horns veteran cult psych-pop hero Anton Barbeau th along with Charms Against the Evil Eye, FRIDAY 24 The first timeNightshift saw Hookworms of Plenty; chirpy indie starlets Quartermelon HOOKWORMS: The Bullingdon – together fusing classic Brit-psych influences th live – five years ago at Supernormal – we and more. Leeds’ motorik noise-drone heroes lead WEDNESDAY 29 like Julian Cope, The Bevis Frond and Robyn EPIC BEARD MEN: The Bullingdon – were forced to concede that our critical AURALCANDY: The Harcourt Arms – the psych charge – see main preview Indie rap from Sage Francis and B Dolan faculties had deserted us. They were that Eclectic, self-described ramshackle pop from THE MENSTRUAL CRAMPS + out on a joint tour. good: a scouring, soul-cleansing worldstorm the local outfit. th KISS ME, KILLER + DEATH OF Friday 24 GALICIAN SESSION: James Street of psychedelia and noise rock where pensive DNA: The Bullingdon – R’n’b, garage, THE MAIDEN: The Jericho Tavern – Tavern – Traditional music from northern build-ups gave way to terrifyingly intense Afrobeat and hip hop club night. Feminist agit-pop from the London/Bristol THE MENSTRUAL Spain. kraut-psych drone-core spirals punctured MASP & FRIENDS: The Cellar – Bassline, punkers at tonight’s All Tamara’s Parties DEEP COVER FREE PARTY: The by reverbed-to-buggery screams and drum&bass and house club night. CRAMPS / KISS ME, – see main preview Cellar eviscerating keyboards. On the evidence of ELDER STUBBS FESTIVAL: Elder Stubbs JULIA MEIJER + WATER PAGEANT: their new album, `Microshift, the Leeds- Allotments (midday-6pm) – The annual KILLER / DEATH OF Modern Art Oxford – A return to action based quintet have got even better since community festival in aid of RESTORE returns THE MAIDEN: for two Oxford starlets tonight as Swedish then. They are the undisputed leaders of with sets from Steamroller and Trev Williams ex-pat Julia Meijer launches her new THURSDAY 30th the current psych-rock revival, with a among others. This year’s event has a rainforest The Jericho Tavern single, `Fall Into Place’, her solemn folk- PANDAPOPALYPSE + MOOGIEMAN sound that harks back to Spacemen 3, Loop theme. “Oh bondage, up yours!” hollered Poly pop recalling Kristin Hersh and His Name & THE MASOCHISTS + OCEAN and Six By Seven at times. We’re lucky WOODSTOCK ACOUSTIC CLUB: Styrene, and with a name that falls into is Alive, while atmospheric electronic RUINS + SEASONS IN SHORTHAND the new album was even made given the Woodstock Social Club – Unplugged session the lineage of great fem-punk bands over folk-pop duo Water Pageant draw on The + CIPHERS: The Library – All band’s studio was destroyed in a flood and with sets from LA singer-songwriter Anny the years – Period Pains, Toxic Shock Low Anthem; Bon Iver and Beach House. Will Be Well Records night, featuring frontman Matthew Johnson has openly Celsi; Brian Wilson’s percussionist Nelson Syndrome, Tampasm – The Menstrual RASCAL presents CONTRAST: The a live debut from Balkan Wanderers talked about his struggle with mental health Bragg, and Ireland’s Duncan Maitland. Cramps are a band who aren’t going to play Bullingdon – Eclectic mix of techno, offshoot Pandapopalypse, taking a more issues, but it’s out there and a contender for THE A/WATTS: Brewery Tap, Abingdon like nice little girls: seen and not heard. house, electro and drum&bass from electro-pop direction. They’re joined album of the year, Hookworms reining in Militant and witty and full-on DIY, the band, Rascal. by idiosyncratic pop storytellers and some of their old distortion in favour of a from London via Bristol, have plenty of TOTAL LIFE FOREVER: The Cellar – historical obscurists crew Moogieman and sharper melodic edge that’s made tracks like th targets in their sight – from environmental Indie club night. more. `Negative Space’ and ‘Ullswater’ 6Music SUNDAY 19 OPEN MIC SESSION: The Harcourt Arms issues (`Frack Off’), to sexism (`This Isn’t THE BIG FEASTIVAL: Alex James’ CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford staples, alongside a more upfront electronic FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon What You Expected’) to body taboos (`Let Farm, Shitsville – Cheese. Community Centre edge and beats and Johnson’s voice more TOM IVEY: The Brewery Tap, Abingdon My Bush Be Free’) – on splendidly-titled ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the prominent. Lyrically his struggle to cope is (5pm) – Funky electric and acoustic blues. debut album `We’re Not Ovaryacting’. Obscure laid bare, which adds more emotional depth Their ire is righteous but tracks like `I Like SATURDAY 25th BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, to Hookworms than ever before and the most That Top’ are infused with deadpan, cynical Sandford VOLUME DNB #12: The Bullingdon unwilling of frontmen should take comfort humour as much as rage and their lo-fi punk th – Drum&bass club night with Nicky from his rich vocal talents. It’s a frankly MONDAY 20 scramble can be playful as well as splenetic Blackmarket, Didz, Snowy, Darksparkle brilliant record though live Hookworms – one part Fuzzbox to three parts Bikini and Jaydee. st continue to transcend their recordings. No Kill. A proper punk racket it is though, and FRIDAY 31 PITCH BLACK BANK HOLIDAY JAKE CLEMONS: O2 Academy wonder tonight’s gig is already sold out. st if you don’t like that then, in The Menstrual TUESDAY 21 TECHNO PARTY: The Cellar – Techno – E Street Band saxophonist, multi- By all that’s holy, tonight is going to be Cramps’ own words: fuck you. Support at DEEP COVER FREE PARTY: The Cellar from start to finish into the bank holiday instrumentalist and bandleader Jake awesome. Critical faculties might once tonight’s show, part of All Tamara’s Parties’ CHERYM + JEFF: The Library with Stav, JGP and John Swede. Clemons – nephew of the late, great desert us. No Tolerance series of gigs showcasing RESTORE BENEFIT: The Brewery Clarence – leads his own band on a the best underground female talent, comes Tap, Abingdon (midday-11pm) – All- European tour to promote his solo album from Bristol’s garage rockers Kiss Me nd day benefit gig for local mental health `Fear & Love’. SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon WEDNESDAY 22 Killer, mixing up riot grrl noise with 60s charity Restore, with sets from Alphabet BREAK STUFF: The Bullingdon – Nu LIMPET SPACE RACE: Tap Social, psychedelia and garage rock, classic punk Backwards; Flatlands; Adam Matthews; metal retro club night. Botley – EP launch gig for the Upcycled and old-school metal, plus bleakly emotive Dan Rawle; Very Long; Managh; Jack RUBIX & FRIENDS: The Cellar – th Sounds signings, mixing folk, jazz and pop baroque rockers Death of the Maiden. FRIDAY 17 with glitchy rhythms on their new record; Lester, and Andy Robbins. House, tech-house, drum&bass and jungle WITNEY MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Leys, tonight’s gig is a collaborative installation with F.U.D: The Prince of Wales, Shippon – club night. Witney – First day of Witney’s annual free Ox3 Audio videographer Siobhán Cox. Classic rock covers. DRIVIN’ SIDEWAYS: The Prince of music extravaganza main event, with an Wales, Shippon – Harmonica-led rocking Audio & Sound Engineer Hire evening of covers, including Noasis and blues. ChangesTwoBowie alongside local covers act Events, Festivals, Bands, Weddings call or email Spike for a quote The Standard. THURSDAY 23rd GROOVE: The Bullingdon – Disco, funk and GOMEZ: O2 Academy – Southport’s bluesy 07752 887737 house club night. indie rockers celebrate the 20th anniversary of SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Disco, funk, their Mercury Prize-winning debut `Bring It [email protected] soul and house club night, tonight with Come On’, reprising 90s hits `Whippin’ Piccadilly’, Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month, no exceptions. Up Records’ George Kerr alongside local `Get Myself Arrested’ and `78 Stone Wobble’, Listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be used without permission. regulars Oli Richardson and DJ Voytech. as well as songs from across their career. photos: Sam Shepherd CORNBURY FESTIVAL PP Arnold Alanis Morissette Jimmy Cliff Great Tew Country Park So, in the end, football didn’t Instead, the sun returns and fully come home, but at least England’s in keeping with the weather are heartbreaking World Cup defeat to THE TWO TONE ALL SKAS, Croatia saved Cornbury Festival who appear to have their own the hassle of erecting giant screens Cornbury residence these days. Fully to show the final. The possibility of deserved as they unfailingly get the such a thing happening had vexed crowd moving; not only have they the Cornbury Facebook page for the completely mastered the Two Tone week leading up to the event with one sound, they’ve also got the most particularly uptight poster terrified convincing Buster Bloodvessel that people watching the game half a upfront we’ve ever seen (and there’s mile away on the other side of the site a fair few larger, balder gentleman might ruin her enjoyment of Deacon around this weekend who could throw Blue, when really, Deacon Blue are their hats in the ring – if they had the more than capable of doing that by energy). Naturally, it’s the perfect themselves. set to get the weekend properly off Something that was, if not coming on a party footing: feel good tunes, Wonderland home, was coming to Oxford was tight ska rhythms, and just to put the Two Tone All-Skas Mavis Staples bellicose braggart Donald Trump icing on the cake, someone decides to whose billion-dollar dinner party at propose during their set. Clearly the Blenheim meant anyone heading to heat got to them. Cornbury on Thursday evening was delayed by security overkill chaos, Cover versions are all well and which probably swelled donations to good, but sometimes you need the Momentum from upright members of real deal and JIMMY CLIFF is Middle England no end. most certainly a true original. He Once they’d finally made it to Great takes to the stage dressed like a Tew, Cornbury goers enjoyed three South American dictator and leads days of the sort of unrelenting heat the audience through a hypnotic that climate change will make the rendition of `Bongo Man’. It’s a norm once Trump has overturned strange start, but from there, it’s hit every piece of legislation designed after hit with `Wonderful World’, to halt it. `Beautiful People’, `The Harder They Come’ and `You Can Get It If You To borrow another World Cup cliché, Really Want’ all getting an airing. they thought it was all over. Last There have been a few classic sets at year’s Cornbury was meant to be its Cornbury over the years, and Jimmy fabulous farewell, but a triumphant, Cliff might just be the most inspired sold-out weekend persuaded genial booking they’ve ever made. Talking of compensation, we’ve the Morning’, to `River Deep, counterparts, none more so than the star Robert Shaw, and the maniacally early on but for the most part Andy is wonderful, and a much-needed shard organiser Hugh Phillimore to keep often considered hiring a lawyer to Mountain High’, and the former interminably tedious GRAINNE brilliant Lauren Brown, who tap here to enjoy himself, knocking out of ice in the sweltering heat. it going and if this year’s line-up From sun-kissed ska to introspective sue for the psychological damage Milton-under-Wychwood resident DUFFY, whose soft-centred blues- dances on her kick drum while his old hits – `Wide Eyed & Legless’ sometimes makes previous years look Americana might be something of a long-term exposure to UB40’s certainly has the stories – hanging rock makes Bonnie Raitt sound battering out a wild tattoo that drives and Amen Corner classic `Bend Me, With Jools Holland apparently on like a dangerous day out at Desertfest leap, but THE AUGUST LIST make version of `Red Red Wine’ has out with everyone from Jagger and like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, or THE the pair’s all-energy rock’n’roll show. Shape Me’ among them – as well a Cornbury sabbatical, it’s up to (and the weather’s made the normally the transition feel perfectly natural. inflicted on us. The very idea of Richards to Rod Stewart and The ADELAIDES, a sort of Dixie Chicks They’re funny too and we can only as some serious New Orleans-style his ex-cohorts SQUEEZE to keep verdant Great Tew Park look very After singing their praises so often, their set fills us with dread; sadly Faces – but these end up eating into second eleven whose sugary, overly- hope they turn up in town again soon. ragtime and lively takes on `Tequila’, everyone on their toes. Occasionally much like a desert), there are enough it’s hard to find new superlatives not the right kind of dread. For a her set and become increasingly polished country and choreographed `Peter Gunn Theme’ and even over-indulgent, but with a set treats to tempt even Nightshift-level to do them justice. They’ve honed band that encapsulated the grim self-aggrandising as she gets into the moves make songs about being “a Come Sunday morning the heat has `Apache’. What might have been crammed with hits like `Cool For cynics out of the shady corners of their craft so perfectly that their state of a nation on their album spirit of things. We’re not sure `You good girl gone bad” sound even more become so unrelenting and oppressive heavy going or worthy is great fun, Cats’, `Pulling Mussels From A the site, with a couple of genuine star songs are as at home here in a slowly `Signing Off’, they somehow Can’t Always Get What You Want’ unconvincing. we’re forced to sit in the shade and as an added bonus, when he talks Shell’ and `Up The Junction’ they turns along the way. simmering field as they are being became one of the most appallingly was actually written for her, however outside the Café Nerro stage and stare between songs, he sounds a bit like more than match Jools for feel good illuminated by a neon light in a flea bland bands of all time. Tonight’s much she’d like to think so. ALANIS MORISSETTE’s headline lazily into the middle distance as a Frank Sidebottom. hits, but when they add a soprano The first of these is THE EPSTEIN, pit bar. Kerraleigh Child’s vocals set is a stark reminder of how a set is an odd one. She hits the lounge-style jazz crooner serenades vocalist into the mix, they take no strangers to local gig goers and absolutely soar today, and we’re once politically charged band can, if Lovely as her rich voice is, it’s a stage like a whirlwind, prompting us with songs about coffee. He’s Highlight of the entire festival comes things to a level he could only dream whose yearning, wide-skied folk-rock again reminded of why they’re one of they’re not careful, end up becoming mere foothill to the mountain that is complaints from a group near us followed by an interchangeable in local form. 90s goth-pop band of. is pretty much perfect for this weather the most emotionally affecting bands the musical equivalent of a pair of Mavis Staples’ – rich, raw and full of that she’s moving around too much; cast of acoustic acts, none of whom WONDERLAND split 20 years and setting, particularly when they that Oxford has ever produced. slippers. We take the opening notes phlegm. It’s a filthy voice and with perhaps they’d have preferred her to appear to have a coffee bean of ago but here on the Riverside stage So, unlike the football Cornbury finish with `I Held You Once’ and of `Red Red Wine’ as a serving a range that’s almost Himalayan. have delivered her set from a camp personality between them. We lump they roll back the years, Leigh’s Festival came home, and from the `Leave a Light On’, the two finest We’re not sure who booked GLENN suggestion and head to the campsite We get Staples Sisters classics, like chair whilst cramming down a late them all together as The Flat White voice still a crystalline thing of official pronouncements we’ve moments from their extensive career. MATLOCK but they obviously and drink enough to blot it all out. `Respect Yourself’ and `I’ll Take lunch from The Hairy Bikers’ banquet Family and expect to see them absolute wonder, the band’s spangle heard, it’s coming home again in Another regular on the local circuit is didn’t make things clear to the punk You There’, alongside unexpected tent. We’re not sure if it’s the sun pooping in on Latte.. With Jools reminiscent of The Sundays at 2019. While it will always have its Ant Kelly, usually found leading The legend, who’s due to play on the Jack For Saturday, Cornbury has taken covers; Talking Heads’ `Slippery or something more liquid, but she Holland in the near future. We simply times while their darker moments detractors, it’s a festival that has Shapes but here this weekend with FM stage but – apparently – turns the admirable route of booking an People’ takes the original’s buttoned- doesn’t seem quite… connected. To don’t have the energy to kill them or are closer to Skeletal Family. an identity so few these days still his other project, THE FACTORY up, takes one look at the tiny tent and entirely female line-up, making down funk and takes it to church. reality. Still, she bangs out the hits run away right now. The heavier, driving `Crushed’ is possess. We’d love to see a few more LIGHTS, a more considered, flounces back out again. Punk attitude what’s considered one of the safest Sets like this make listening to music from `Jagged Little Pill’ and if she’s astonishing, the absolute zenith of maverick acts next year; some of our sometimes melancholy prospect, all or grumpy old man syndrome? The festivals around one of the most a privilege. Eighty years old, Mavis not the most memorable Cornbury Surprise star turn of the weekend is this year’s Cornbury, and for half an favourite Cornbury memories have introspection and nostalgia, touching same thing will happen again later radical and pioneering. Staples is a living legend in a way headliner ever, she’s effervescent ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW. hour we’re happy to be the children come from the likes of Raghu Dixit, on Steve Harley but with the added in the weekend when we turn up to The day features two bona fide every other performer this weekend enough to win through on points. Too often veteran performers of the sun. Guitarist Martin Newton, Fisherman’s Friend; Half Man Half accordion, leaning casually into see MARCELLA DETROIT only r’n’b legends in PP ARNOLD and can only dream of being. The day does, though, provide us whose commercial high was several renowned as Oxford’s grumpiest Biscuit and Katzenjammer. Oh, and French café folk. As if on cue we get to find she too isn’t playing. At least MAVIS STAPLES. Arnold has the with the best new discovery of the decades previous tend to phone sound engineer (against stiff a bit of cloud cover too if you don’t a smattering, nay, a slight spit, of rain. that time we all get given a free Jack tunes and the vocal chops for sure, Today is also a reminder that female weekend in the form of KOLARS, in their performance or indulge competition) even cracks a beatific mind. Cheers. For once at a festival, the prospect of FM baseball cap by way of scant from `The First Cut is the Deepest’, performers can be every bit as dull, a duo fronted by Rob Kolar, who themselves with a set of extended smile on stage. It’s one of those truly a deluge seems quite appealing. compensation. through the gorgeous `Angel of worthy and indulgent as their male happens to be the grandson of Jaws blues workouts. We get one of those magical moments. Wonderland: just Dale Kattack, Sam Shepherd KARMA TO BURN RALPH McTELL & WIZZ JONES LIVE The Cellar The North Wall Certain music demands certain Ralph McTell, if known at all, is known the story of once being given a Robert meteorological conditions. Something to most for just one song: ‘Streets of Johnson record in lieu of a fee for a gig. about Sigur Rós demands a brumal, icy London’, recorded in 1969, covered by The duo feature the king of early solemnity, while the music of a band over 200 artists and unfortunately still American folk music, Woody Guthrie, photo: Giulia Biasibetti like Hood grows in power when rain is relevant right now. But at tonight’s gig too, perhaps because while being one of beating down on the windows outside. So with long-time mate Wizz Jones, he their roots, the songs still are very much it is with Karma To Burn, whose whisky- doesn’t play it; this show is all about of now: ‘Philadelphia Lawyer’ is about soaked double-barrel instrumentals are songs the pair loved first back then and the establishment’s sharp dealing; ‘Do Re perfectly matched to a sudoriferous, continue to love, plus others that have Mi’ is about lack of workers’ rights. We evilly-hot evening in The Cellar at the found a place with them along the way. As also get the Hank Williams classic, the beginning of what turns out to be a McTell tells us: “our roots are showing.” tearful ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’, month-long heatwave. What is also showing in their relaxed but Wizz Jones in particular comes up Having recently celebrated the twentieth interaction is their close relationship. with some hidden contemporary gems anniversary of their formation, it’s little Jones encouraged the young McTell to in a couple of songs by Alan Tunbridge, surprise that the band have worked their join him in Cornwall where Ralph says and they play the wonderful ‘Touch Has way through an almost Spın̈ al Tap-esque he “washed dishes in hotels and busked” a Memory’ by the unjustly neglected duo number of bassists and drummers, some and played Cornish folk clubs. Also, Pete Atkin & Clive James (yes, that Clive of whom may well have spontaneously possibly it is where Jones “made” Ralph James). combusted in the heat of a West Virginian McTell, suggesting he change his name With McTell’s baritone and Jones’s tenor summer. from Ralph May, for as McTell has said voices creating seductive harmonies , This time around, they’re bolstered previously, “Most of my heroes were and them giving a masterclass in acoustic by bassist Eric Clutter, who adds some black, American, blind and dead country guitar, the occasional slip adds rather than delicate melodic augmentation alongside blues artists, like Blind Boy Fuller, Blind detracts to the enjoyment. Though the set his bottom-end pulse, but there has to Willie McTell and the not blind Robert list is weighted towards the melancholy be a special word for Evan Devine, a Johnson.” and the dark side, probably the song that Tasmanian Devil of a drummer who Appropriate, then, that finger picking best captures the evening’s vibe is their attacks every snare hit and cymbal blues, lovingly performed on their bouncy version of The Incredible String crash with the unbridled joy of a puppy acoustic guitars, features large tonight. Band’s ‘How Happy I Am’. HARCOURT ARMS experiencing its first snow. The pair are among those who introduced For McTell and Jones, the spell music Of course, the focal point of the band this American music over here and tonight cast on them in the 1960s is as strong as has always been guitarist William play numbers by Blind Boy Fuller, Doc ever, and on this showing we hope it will Monday August 13th Mecum, whom the Victorians might have Watson and one of Robert Johnson’s lesser continue to beguile them, and so allow patented as some sort of perpetual motion known songs, ‘When You’ve Got a Good them to beguile us, for a long time to machine, if only his seemingly limitless Friend’. Additionally McTell performs his come. Oxford ability to produce blinding stoner riffs own tribute to Johnson, introducing it with Colin May could have somehow been harnessed as kinetic energy. The result is an hour-long Classic set of startlingly high-quality, paint- stripping riffs; the likes of Mastodon GREEN HANDS / SEEDS OF DOUBT / Jazz would have pulled teeth for the lock-tight central groove of set closer `Twenty’. RODENTS / JEFF Saturday August 18th The next day we hear the news that The The Library Cellar may once again be under threat of closure; incandescent shows like this Jeff are a new duo making an unhoned someone living on Hula Hoops, for whom one prove once again that it is at the very punk clatter, a clarion for anyone who’s the cafés at Harrods and Sainsbury’s Aural heart of local live music, and that we ever wanted to stick on a Buffy T-shirt are equally out of his social reach. The must fight for it. and sing a noisy song about “not wanting music is all mid-paced chiming guitar Stuart Fowkes to grow up”. Are they any good? Not and mumbled vocals, a desiccated R.E.M. really. Does it matter? Not a jot. swapping southern gothic flourishes for a candy Rodents pull off the trick of sounding prosaic drift of gold-buyers’ leaflets at a Loveless’ `Blame It On Your Heart’, tells a story taut and honed, whilst being as loose as bus stop. It’s good, but better appreciated THE KIEFER SUTHERLAND BAND about meeting Merle Haggard before he runs twenty year old Y-fronts. They sometimes on record, rather than in a sweat- Open Mic Every Sunday through `The Bottle Let Me Down’, and draws O2 Academy sound as though someone’s melting Tom drenched cellar. live music at the heart of jericho the biggest laugh of the night when he reveals Received wisdom has it that actors make lousy of a suitably grizzled and smoky baritone that the first love song he ever wrote was to the bar Tom Club under a magnifying glass, It’s nearly 11 when Green Hands go Cranham Terrace Jericho Oxford ox2 6dg musicians; the bloated, indulgent vanity projects suggest he’s a few drinking tales to tell. on the corner of his street. and sometimes like a bunch of woozy, onstage, and we’ve lost about a quart of 01865 556669 of Bruce Willis, Russell Crowe and Kevin Bacon Right from the off it’s obvious Sutherland has There is some slightly turgid, run-of-the-mill late September wasps doing the Blue sweat. What we need now is something outnumber rare, unexpected turns by Scarlett some neat songs under his belt, not least the country rock along the way, and his cover of Orchids on Stars In Their Eyes. There uplifting and energy-spiked; what we Johansson and a scant handful of others several slide-heavy `Reckless’, which is either about `Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ is only one notch are moments of fizzing, Gedge-a-tronic don’t need is something that moves from to one. There’s no doubting Kiefer Sutherland himself or his old rodeo horse, and with a up from the busker on Cornmarket, but few here guitar, but the high point in a set of a slow, late-70s Dylan groove to the is a superb actor but can he cut it as a grizzled tendency toward the epic that touches on U2 at are too bothered; they’re revelling in being in the pleasures comes with a slow, rubbery clunky horn-rimmed pop of a slipshod country rocker? He grew up on a ranch and was times. The likes of `Open Road’ don’t stray too presence of a genuine A-Lister, and when it’s all groove, as if Fat White Family had Lloyd Cole. There’s lots to like in their an adept rodeo rider early in life, so he has the far from Steve Earle territory, though Johnny over Kiefer’s down among them, shaking hands, swapped all the sleaze for jobs at an owl set, from a Neil Young spaciousness to roots at least. Cash-like rockabilly drinking song `This Is How posing for endless selfies and chatting amiably, sanctuary. melodically mournful vocal, but we’re His sturdy backing band launch into a bombastic It’s Done’ ups the ante and reveals another side like a down-home bar singer who’s just lucked Their vocalist exchanges his laconic, not convinced. Then again, when people intro and then there he is onstage: David Powers, to his songwriting. upon his first taste of stardom. And while most Country Teasers sneer to take the drum with such varied T-shirts as The Doors, Nelson Wright, Dr Daniel P Schreber. Oh yeah, Between songs he’s funny, self-deprecating Hollywood stars’ musical careers tick down stool for Seeds Of Doubt. Their name Sleater-Kinney and Belgian techno and Jack Bauer. The room goes mental. He’s and genuinely seems chuffed to be up onstage quicker than a timer bomb on 24, Sutherland sounds like the most disappointing Dr pioneers R&S Records – not to mention dressed in leopard print jacket and wide brimmed sharing his songs with fans, many of whom are looks like he’s in it for the duration. Like the Who story of the 1970s, and lyrically our Buffy-clad friend – are clearly loving hat, holding a glass of whisky aloft as he invites doubtless less than au fait with country rock’s whisky, it’s in his blood. they tend to paddle in the shallows of it, does it matter? Not a jot, we expect. the crowd to drink along with him, and possessed long and winding history. He covers Patty Dale Kattack the underachiever, telling drab stories of David Murphy LIVE Ethno England by GlassHertzPhoto

This is the prevailing message of TANDEM FESTIVAL Tandem: a trusting in the union Lower Farm, Ramsden so the moment can deliver… and doing this sometimes requires a Tandem: a joining, a unit, a meld. Peter & Kerry meld electric with (town of books) – sing songs inspired less contemporary mode of being. Lower Farm in Ramsden is the host acoustic to create a richness of tone. by the seminal literature of our time. Someone who conveys this is to this super-inclusive festival, now They also render a memorable cover They evoke not just the sentiments Orkney-born MELVYN DRIVER, in its forth year. It’s grown steadily: of Womack & Womack’s `Teardrops’. but the atmosphere of novels such as who sings about the natural from a clan in the grasses of Hill Philip Pullman’s Book of Dust and environment, both its beauty and its End to almost 800 among this year’s The main barn – or Tandem Social – Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The next destruction, and celebrates a culture barns. In the grips of a heatwave, is where the majority of workshops day, ROSIE CALDECOTT, who’s long before his own. Melvyn is volunteers in orange waistcoats are held and is home to acts with been “living with her head between the workshop lead in teaching us drip sweat on their walkie-talkies a more interactive approach. A the pages of my diary” softens the how to joike. One would joike for and groups collect in shady spots; passionate melody paired with gaze of dwellers atop the tree stump people, but also for the elements, to everyone is welcomed and then, in sitar and subtle tabla makes the stools. She swells from one note celebrate the wind and summon the turn, welcoming to this pocket of KALATVA COLLECTIVE to another, gradually building a rains. pastoral Eden three miles north of mesmerising to watch. Here, the soundscape so words like “thrill” and Witney. musicians ask questions and the delicate “ooos” pleat on top of one THE LASSES’ harmonious folk Our first hour at the festival is spent singer/dancer answers. The next day, another. Following her is the talented also unfolds in a pattern close wearing a VR headset provided by the collective host an Indian dance ZANDER SHARP, who’s settling to the Celtic mould. There’s an Greenpeace and dancing in a circle workshop, spreading the rhythm to into the outdoors, electric guitar Americana-vibe to their songs too, around a bowl of sacred water. many fresh pairs of feet. between his hands, naming songs as which sit comfortably without From here the festival doesn’t cease Speaking of movement, one of he plays them. He hasn’t been with accompaniment. in its eclecticism. Given their eco- the most original moments of the his band for long – this is all breaking Tandem is a real cross-cultural consciousness, it makes sense the festival is the DABKE LEVANTINE new ground, as he puts it. Both acts celebration, where a new sound/ Tandem organisers utilise what dancing workshop, part of Saturday’s record with eco-label Upcycled instrument/language is brought to they have instead of making anew: main stage line up. Amongst book Sounds, who host the stage. the stage every set. RAKA, who out-of-use water silos are home to a pages strewn between string, a headline on Saturday night, are workshop on the native Scandanavian couple mark out the steps to an Arab Late Saturday night, when the forest a nine-piece and take their name jioke; an old wooden door becomes folk dance. It’s native to the Levant is lit with topsy-turvy lampshades, from a Bulgarian dance. The troupe the worktop for a masterclass on body Iranian sitar and is quite beautiful. It we see live in action one of the – which features an accordion, scrub making. seems this festival is all about new partnerships that is central to the violins, clarinet and tuba – burst forms of expression. We learn how to festival. LIMPET SPACE RACE with traditional Balkan blare that And then there’s the music. The “call out with kindness” in response are jazz-folk-experimentalists: sends everyone spinning. It’s during Stone Barn hosts performances that to pressure and prejudice, and Hannah Jacob’s demure voice to Niko the scheduled midnight stargazing, benefit from an intimate, echoing laughter yoga might just be the new O’Brien’s rhythm. Like the festival however, that the group earn their atmosphere: a capella ensemble best way to start the day. itself, it’s obvious this music comes title as the essential act of the RIVERS and duo PETER & from from the heart. The festival co- weekend. There’s nothing quite like KERRY are a great fit for this space. At the clearing for the Woodland directors tell us they’re about to go feeling the warmth of fire on your The eleven-person Rivers harmonise Stage, love is in the air. THE on a European tour without having cheek and hearing the merry wafting a touching cover of London Grammar BOOKSHOP BAND – couple Beth released any records, then relax of a violin in your ear. All in tandem. and their Whitney prompts a boogie. and Ben from Scotland’s Wigtown further into the moment. Eva Hibbs still explore experimentation at every turn and the close harmony TREMBLING BELLS BIKINI DEATH RACE / THE LIVE vocals morph and interweave until The Cellar OTHER DRAMAS / JACK LITTLE you can’t separate who is singing Trembling Bells are no strangers and instantly recognisable force what; it is entrancing. to Oxford, previously declaring that drives the band, having The Bell, Bicester The stories in the majority it to be “one of the eternal cities formed the band with singing Troubadour Jack Little warms up setup: Cat on vocals; Panda on bass of Sutari’s songs generally of the world” and even writing drummer Alex Neilson in Scotland the crowd, performing his brand and vocals, with beats supplied photo by Kerry Spears concern strong women and their a song called ‘Bells of Burford’, a decade ago. Refreshingly of folk with a humorous twist. A by a laptop. Minimalistic yet full relationships to lovers, with a wry though they’ve been on quite a untouched by current musical natural on stage, there’s plenty of in sound, the electroclash duo tongue-in-cheek humour; you can’t journey since signing a record trends, they are truly timeless, chat and laughter with songs like storm through debut album ‘Party help but think of ‘Matty Groves’ deal in 2009. almost existing outside time ‘Tunnel Vision’ and ‘Zombies’ Animals’ with metaphorical studded and the like from British tradition. That year’s ‘Carbeth’ album altogether. “To begin and never flowing from his guitar with ease. glow sticks aloft. But these stories, passed down could have arrived straight out of cease” runs the mantra from Recent Nightshift cover stars Lyrically, conventional themes through generations, are from 1973, with its Fairport Convention ‘Christ’s Entry Into Govan’, as The Other Dramas up the ante, are cast aside to be replaced by the perspective of women as the and Maddy Prior influences worn classic a Trembling Bells song flying through a six-song set with comedies of the absurd. Visually foundation of the community, as proudly on its flared velvet sleeve. title as you’ll get and typically an abundance of sweet melodies, compelling, Cat bounces around strong feminists who don’t need Each subsequent release has seen abandons the verse-chorus-middle a barrage of grungy riffs and screaming into her mic and Panda to justify themselves to men just them move ever further from that eight format for something that earworms aplenty. New single ‘The adopts a wide stance, while because they work in a kitchen. To reference point, with elements like more recalls the soundtrack for a Future is a Holiday’ comes on all treating his bass like a weapon. SUTARI / DEAD RAT ORCHESTRA hammer this idea home one song ‘Trout Mask Replica’-era Captain midwinter medieval banquet. The Wolf Alice, drifting on a sea of The euphoric blast of ‘Oh Ooh’ has an electric whisk used as a Beefheart coming into play. band themselves are unremarkable bliss with Richie Wildsmith’s no has the chutzpah to transform the Holywell Music Room rhythm instrument: a pretty clear Latest release ‘Dungeness’ to look out apart from the lead nonsense drumming underpinning most static bystander into a shape- To say Dead Rat Orchestra are like violin and pump organ. the room so we have six musicians and inventive re-appropriation of sees them move deeper into guitarist, who comes over as a Maria Ilett’s jagged guitar licks throwing exhibitionist. Every dance/ a three-piece folk band doesn’t They are definitely a folk band, spaced around the venue, which gender roles for creative means if medieval indie territory, with court jester, hopping around with and honey-dipped vocals. It’s no punk banger is torn through with give you the whole picture. The but often you could mistake them plays perfectly with the Holywell to ever we saw one. continued lyrical obsessions his long hair sticking out from surprise they leave ‘Money’ til a sense of fervour, topped off by trio constantly morph and reform for an acoustic post-rock act, such make an astoundingly beautiful and Both acts tonight are phenomenally with death, Christ, and ancient under a French Resistance-style the end; it’s beast of a song with a killer chorus and hooks aplenty, as their set progresses. Every is their wide-angle scope and slow immersive experience. talented avant garde folk groups England. Check out the sleeve: it beret. New song ‘I Am The King’ razor sharp claws and a killer riff only emphasized by an enthused instrument takes on rhythm, evolving composition style. Drones After this introduction Sutari who have both taken the traditional almost tells you all you need to is pure pomp but without the recalling grunge’s heyday. If The crowd clamouring for more and the melody and harmony roles and evolve into tales of canal builders appear to be the perfect foil to DRO. music of their countries and done know. puffed-up self-indulgence that the Other Dramas aren’t gracing bigger party eventually ends with beaming pretty much anything you can which in turn shift into minimalist Sutari are three women from Poland something new with it. Whether it Yet tonight’s gig takes those first wave of prog bands brought stages this time next year then I’ll smiles from our bemasked duo and imagine can be an instrument. a capella arrangements. who have taken a similar approach is household objects as instruments, songs and delivers them in full-on in their wake. eat my threadbare plaid gigging the sight of Panda holding aloft an Tonight we see cleavers, whistles Towards the end of the set Dead to reinterpreting folk music, but or ten-minute vocal arrangements prog mode, coming across more It’s refreshing to find a band who shirt. aubergine. Much like Bikini Death and speakers on strings spun Rat Orchestra are joined on ‘Dods in this case their native traditions, of aphorisms passed down from like classic 70s Hawkwind or so neatly blend the old and new Over from Rome for a mini tour Race themselves, such a fruity at high velocity, and a 1950s Banjo’ by Sutari, who it turns out plus a few from Lithuania. They mother-to-child, the results are King Crimson, along with some to create something that is beyond of the UK, Bikini Death Race are parting gesture is as off-the-wall as children’s hurdy gurdy, along with have been sat in the audience the play primarily traditional stringed endlessly fascinating and beautiful. echoes of Jane Weaver. Lavinia either. resplendent in red apparel and cat it is genius. some more conventional objects whole time. The band move around instruments but the arrangements Matt Chapman Jones Blackwall’s voice is the constant Art Lagun and panda face masks. It’s a basic Gary Davidson THE

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INTRODUCING.... photo: Helen Messenger Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under The Dollymops Who are they? The Dollymops are four-piece indie band from around Oxford who have Specialist practical and emotional been together for six months. The band – Sean Stevens (vocals); Tom Hadfield (guitar / vocals); Jacob Appleton (bass), and Simon Calver support for women and girls who (drums) – formed via an online ad and have been gigging locally and in London, including outside Marks & Spencer’s. Last month they released have experienced sexual violence their debut EP ‘Fields of Wheat’. What do they sound like? at any time in their lives. In many way, indie like it used to be made, before Oasis et al spoiled everything. While they quote The Libertines, Strokes and Courteeners as Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: influences the spirit of early-80s Postcard Records infuses their EP as well “Supergrass. They’re the Oxford band that have been most inspiring, Telephone helpline as the NME’s legendary C86 compilation – all chiming, splangling guitars especially growing up; they were a welcome relief from all the tiresome 01865 726295 or Freephone 0800 783 6294 and a charmingly shambling but propulsive approach to guitar pop. grunge bands dominating the local scene.” What inspires them? If they could only keep one album it would be: • Monday 6.30pm – 9pm “Artists that evoke a sense of place and context: from 60s bands like The “‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’; not the most leftfield choice but • Thursday 6.30pm – 9pm Kinks and The Velvet Underground, to 70s punk like The Clash and The Fall just a beautiful and timeless classic.” and stuff we grew up with like The Streets and Arctic Monkeys. The themes When is their next gig and what can newcomers expect? • Sunday 6pm – 8.30pm of the songs range from the usual stuff like love, death and a hatred for their “The 9th August at The Jericho Tavern, a fundraiser for MIND. There’s a We have a 24-hour answerphone, and if you leave us jobs, and more specific grievances like that knuckle-dragging skinhead you brilliant line up of local bands and DJs and we’ll hopefully do the occasion a message we can call you back the next time we are open. encountered in the pub, or hypocritical class warrior on your Facebook feed.” justice with some frenetic renditions of our EP tracks.” Highlight of their career so far: Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxfordshire music are: Email support “Releasing ‘Fields of Wheat’ and all the positive feedback we’ve received “The best thing is the relatively small network of musicians, creating a from it including a play and interview on BBC Introducing Oxford with sense of community, which can make gigs feel friendly and familiar. The [email protected] Dave Gilyeat. We’re proud of the songs and looking forward to getting back worst thing is the relatively small network of musicians, meaning you’re into the studio to do the next one in August.” likely to bump into anyone that you’ve had a ‘situation’ with in the past!” And the lowlight: You might love them if you love: www.osarcc.org.uk “A gig we did at the Fiddler’s Elbow in London. The initial set was alright, Orange Juice; The Wedding Present; The Brilliant Corners; Mighty Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre is a company limited by guarantee, but due to a band dropping out we had a far longer slot than expected. Mighty; The Maccabees. registered in England & Wales No: 6835605.Registered Charity No: 1131054. Instead of being sensible and leaving the stage, we tried to lap up the Hear them here: limelight with a load of half baked, unpractised cover efforts.” soundcloud.com/thedollymops / facebook.com/TheDollymopsOfficial

Dr SHOTOVER Goes Scrumpy & Western THIS MONTH IN OXFORD Yo, Lord Yeovil! Welcome to the East Indies Club bar. Mobilise a pew, and ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY let the cider-drinking commence. Now then, old boy, given the approach of extensive reviews of Truck, Cornbury and meant that few people realised he was an Oxford the Wilts, Somerset & Avon ‘PLAY THOSE COVERS, MY LOVERS’ competition, 20 YEARS AGO Wakestock, while reporting that Zapfest, planned musician. and your place on the panel, we thought we’d slide a suggestion your way. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, summer for South Park, had been cancelled due to money While Oxfordshire was still stuck in festival Lord Yetminster here and I have formed an REM tribute act, and – sick as in Oxfordshire wasn’t wall-to-wall (or weekend- troubles. mode for the most part, with Noah & the Whale, we are of American culture – have chosen to add a thoroughly British, nay to-weekend) festivals. In fact, August 1998 With the gig calendar at its quietest, notable Rodriquez and Michael Kiwanuka the star rural Oxfordshire, flavour to proceedings. So… OOH ARR EM, we are to featured just the one – Cropredy Festival, an indoor gigs included local newcomers Stornoway turns at Wilderness; Fairport Convention be called. But it’s not JUST about pandering to the Scrumpy Belt. Expect event with such extensive history it’s probably supporting Edinburgh indie heroes Ballboy at versions of Can’t Get There From Yere, It’s the End of the ‘Wolds as We mentioned in the Domesday Book. Just as with unsurprisingly headlining their own Cropredy The X, while The Last Shadow Puppets at The Know ‘em (and I Feel Fine), yes, but also… Isle of Man in the Moon, (Don’t every other year since time immemorial Fairport Festival, joined this time round by Alice Cooper, New Theatre and MGMT, and Greg Dulli and Go Back to) Rochdale, Losing My Ceredigion, Feeling O’ Laverty’s Pull, Shiny Convention headlined the 20,000-capacity 10cc and forgettable 80s mini-pop Nik Kershaw; Mark Lanegan’s Gutter Twins were the highlight Happy Peebles etc. We feel certain that you will want to help with the weekend, joined this year by Roy Wood and Supernormal’s typically esoteric line-up of the month in music. success of our endeavour, especially given the £600 cash prize for winning Loudon Wainwright III. featuring such treats as Clinic, Shit & Shine, GTA featuring Jada Pearl were the Demo of the competition… Should go nicely, three ways, don’t you think, Yeovil? Elsewhere it was slim pickings for gig hounds, Hookworms, Terminal Cheesecake, Mugstar the Month for their collaborative “funk-disco [Whispers] Buy him a drink, Yetminster… [more urgently] your round… The Supernaturals and Ron Sexsmith popping and Evil Blizzard and basically confirming its dancefloor filler that threatens to be Shakatak [louder] YOUR ROUND, YETMINSTER… [shouting] NO, YOU’RE ROUND, YOU by The Zodiac, while The Point played host to title of best festival in the Shire, and The Simple but struts around amid the glitz and mirror balls FAT CU… ahem… COUNT-ryman! Harrumph. Apologies, Yeovil. Here, finish local faves The Candyskins, The Relationships Weekender giving clubbers a chance to dance my pint, why and The Samurai Seven as well as Manyeung like a rapped-up Grooverider.” At the other end in the fresh air, indoor treats were few and far don’t you, and (supported by Dolly, the band fronted by Candy of the pile Red Valve who had issued a ten-point between, chief highlight being Eels at The O2 enjoy this half- Says singer Julia Walker); Mecca; Slipsta; manifesto for their own success, which included, Academy, where you could also catch Bleed smoked cigar, Soul Beaver and Spirits 180. Heady times. at number 9, the statement that “They are always From Within and Pokey la Farge. while I chase Head over to the demo pages and you’d find willing to try out new ideas,” which seemed to On the releases front, summer wasn’t stopping Yetminster more star names, from The Prophets (“mildly manifest itself in a few rehashed AC/DC riffs and local techno nutters Coloureds from banging outside and intriguing and a little bit strange”), The Bruce a load of attitude-free pub rock that “is so utterly out some bangers on their `Pop Forlorn’ EP, nor turn him Li Foundation (“Trying to be a bit too clever devoid of character but goes on so long that Masiro cranking out the mathemtatical hardcore upside down but serious contenders on the local dance scene”) listening to it is like trying to get an injunction on their EP. A pre-Death of the Maiden Tamara against a faceless stalker who keeps reciting for loose and Infinite Calm (“Mr Sad Indie Schmindie Parsons Baker released `Get Him Out’ under her discarded Axl Rose lyrics down the phone to you change. Man”)to Livid, Starfish and Polar, the latter “an Tamara & the Martyrs name and there were also for hours in a dull monotone.” Fun times. You’ll soon inoffensive indie trundle, the best bit of which is releases for After the Thought; Samuel Zasada; be ‘feeling when they decide to turn into Shed Seven, which Luke Keegan; Echoboomer and King B. gravity’s pull’, says it all.” This month’s Introducing piece featured pun- Yetminster 5 YEAR AGO you old muck- Ralfe Band graced the cover of Nightshift back in loving psychedelic garage rockers The Graceful spreaderrrr! Yetminster: ‘You the OOH ARR EM fanclub, then?’ 10 YEARS AGO August 2013, Oly Ralfe’s near-as-dammit one- Slicks, who had recently played The Punt and Next month: Fan Girl #1: ‘Arr. We be looking for Dr Shotoverrr’. As had now become almost traditional in man-band having just released their third album, were set to release their debut single. Since when Grumpy & Fan Girl #2: ‘Old Shotty said him’d bring our shoes Oxfordshire, the summer of 2008 was awash `Son Be Wise’. Oly explaining that his nomadic we’ve heard precisely bugger all with a side order Western back… once him’d filled ‘em with zider’. with local festivals. August’s Nightshift featured lifestyle, including time spent living in Berlin, of boiled onions from them. Anyone out there? Stabilize... Stabilize” go the lyrics. There’s DADA PARADOX more but it doesn’t start to make any more Good grief, they’re coming at us from sense however far in your read, and frankly every direction. Third Lung have only we’re as likely to shove a live box jellyfish TRACks schlepped up from Berkshire; Dada down our pants than give it another chance. Sponsored by Track of the Month wins a free half day Paradox have flown all the way from at Soundworks studio in Oxford, New York, and made Oxford their home. If they’re expecting a warm Limey courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit THE EULOGIES reception, all cream teas and red pillar www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift Ah… that’s a bit better. Like a slight breeze boxes, they’re in for a shock. Any band on a flyblown heatwave, The Eulogies offer that describes themselves as “progressive scant relief, but relief nonetheless from the enticing but cold to the touch and slightly retro-pop” had better have something otherworldly. Course we bloody well love dirges that precede them, with a typically TOP fucking special up their sleeve, else we’ll (for them) morose and ramshackle, almost it – have you not learned that about us point our poisoned quill at them. What is after all these years? Toytown form of lo-fi folk-pop that with TRACKS “progressive retro-pop” anyway? Might singer Simon Veaney’s glum vocal delivery as well describe yourselves as “back to and the occasional cheap keyboard remind front sideways core”. On the evidence of us a bit of Tindersticks, Sparklehorse and BROKEN EMPIRE opener `Bedtime For Donzo’ it sounds Dark doesn’t have to mean doomy or Grandaddy. Alice Williams adds a little JERAMESA like a slightly drunken discredited former After yet more World Cup heartbreak droney, it’s also available at full pelt, as the bright-eyed levity on `Distant Trains’ but kids TV presenter making barely coherent and amid an unrelenting heatwave, what history of heavy rock and metal since the Nick generally sounds as chirpy about life slacker pop with an anti-folk edge for Nightshift needs is a very large vodka late-60s onwards has amply demonstrated. as Nightshift does about early mornings, the anti-Trump movement. Hard to tell and coke, on ice. And some cold, dark Broken Empire, recent Metal to the Masses jazz-fusion and marzipan, but there’s a fully when songs barely make it past doom-drone punishment. And who better finalists, don’t much go in for fannying likable sense of grace about his slender, the minute-and-a-half mark. Elsewhere to deliver this cool, bleak aural feast than about and slow builds; no, they’re up and downbeat songs that he rather poetically it manifests as ramshackle, stoned and Jeramesa, a man who’s waged a musical at it from the off, all galloping NWOBHM, describes as “the soundtrack to rainy slightly sweary Weezer-ish rambling, war on such concepts as cheery pop thrash and almost symphonic metal on midnight coach journeys from London – replete with a kazoo solo (`Trouble melody and brevity for the past few years, loud and shiny display. They’re OTT those moments where the orange car lights Right Here’) and half-cocked folktronica earning him a clutch of admiring reviews almost to the point of camp and even on the Westway blur into the smears on the (`Propaganda Action Stations’). We’re along the way. He’s taking a break from without a video to accompany these tracks window’s glass. Simon, my boy, there’s sure it’s well intentioned and `Horizon his trademark prog-psych-folk in favour we imagine them long and windswept of a whole tray of fresh scones and freshly of Hope’ does indeed offer hope for of some drone-doom metal, he tells us, hair, tight of Spandex and with feet firmly brewed tea here if you want it; you sound better things to come and we may even but it’s not such a mood switch, since and proudly up on monitors. `Broken like you belong in our world. Oh, and TURAN AUDIO.co.uk feel ready and able to invite it round for we’ve previously had cause to compare Chains’ is classic chest-beating heavy `Dust’ is proper sweet, if slightly clumsy. Professional, independent scones and tea at some point but for now audio mastering him to Swans – not a band renowned for rock of the old school with just a touch Like a newborn giraffe. it’s neither as weird or wacky as it seems producing upbeat summer party bangers. of death-metal about it. With a strong to think it is. Mastered in the studio last month; This is quite the dirty, scuzzy sludge- melodic edge to their songs Alter Bridge Apple approved DOLLY MAVIES, BROKEN WITT mastering fest: galley slave beats backing almost would be the main reference point, but you TOILET REBELS, WARLOCK, MIRAGES, Sunn0)))-like distorted guitar dirge and could probably pick a few dozen bands MANAN GUPTA WATERFAHL, VALERYAN, CHEROKII, RED HOT funereal chants. And that’s pretty much of a similar ilk out of metal’s timeline of Manan describes himself as a “Percussive TRACKS CHILI PEPPERS, CRAMPS, OFFSPRING, NEIL it: no chorus, middle-eights or rousing the past 25 years without searching too Finger-Style Acoustic Guitar Player and YOUNG & THE STRAY GATORS, SEAN POWER, finale – just an onward slo-mo lava flow of hard. Which isn’t to put them down – they a Singer-Songwriter” (his capitalisation, LONGY VENOM, SWERVEDRIVER, VIV HINDS-PAYNE, NEIL bleakness. Much like living in Berinsfield, chug along hard, loud and sometimes fast lest you wondered when Nightshift had The one song here is titled `Auto YOUNG. really. It’s not quite on a par with and do it pretty well in an unreconstructed given up the rudiments of written English, Interwoven Minds’, which would have Undersmile, but it does tend to block out kind of way. Not world class maybe but and after listing pretty much every single been a better band name than Longy. In 01865 716466 [email protected] the sun and if you play it on repeat while stick ‘em up front for a League 1 team show he’s ever played, says he’s looking fact there’s a lot that could have been sat in your bedroom, there’s a fair chance this season and they’ll do some damage in forward to our “positive consideration,” better about this – like every single bit of your parents will bring up the subject of front of goal. apparently ignorant of our unwavering it. Overwrought indie funk rock with a drug addiction at some point over dinner. COURTYARD dislike of 1. Musicians; 2. Music, and 3. big brassy arrangement and bellowed-out RECORDING STUDIO The entire human race generally. Sweet bluesy vocals borrowed at knock-off rate 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: THIRD LUNG daydreams of a people-free planet, where from Black Keys. Amid the lathered-on More unreconstructed rocking here from NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 whales and dolphins swim unbutchered in message about turning off our screens MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb Third Lung, who we think might be from LA STARVE the oceans, baby orang-utans swing free is something about filling our minds Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear Well, whaddya know – you wait months Reading, where everything’s a little bit less Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern through thousands of miles of unmolested with dreams. And we do. We dream of a for a one-track, eight-minute drone demo sophisticated than we’re used to here in Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules forest and lions lie down with lambs at world where music like this doesn’t exist Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. to come along and two arrive at the same Oxford. The music is slightly surprisingly least distract us from the aching tedium and it’s all wine, kittens and industrial Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. time. Almost by its very nature this is given the band claim they’ve been played of Manan’s song `Stabilize’, which hardcore from here to the horizon. “Oh, www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk good stuff, if not quite on the same level on Steve Lamacq’s 6Music show and possesses the appeal and tunefulness of a your mobile phones – turn them off! / Oh, In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk as Jeramesa. Entitled `We Agnostics’ it he’s hardly renowned for playing 80s hair fly repeatedly buzzing against a window your TV screens – turn them off!” croak- Email: [email protected] starts off with spangled guitars, rolling metal, not even 80s hair metal that sounds Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 while you’re trying to watch Blue Planet shouts Mr Longy over a video with some toms and almost ecclesiastical vocals a bit like Roy Orbison fronting Bon Jovi or 2. “Some people are temporary but they kind of oblique symbolism about taking before breaking down gently two minutes Poison. For one song anyway, after which change the way of life / Give some sweet a sledgehammer to an old television (too in and setting about rebuilding itself in it simply sinks, like the big old rock it is, memories to live and revive / I know this clever and obscure for us to understand), its own image, but with an increasing into the murky depths of the rock pond, moment I am living now won’t survive / which, after about four minutes of posing sense of purpose and ever-more ethereal there to hang out with the frogs and toads Just wanna stay in this time with you and and fannying about, he finally does. intent. It stops for a breather occasionally and bands who missed the interesting bits let it shine, it’s so fine / I don’t wanna We finally get the general gist of it and but mostly this is a song as a shroud, of metal’s history since 1982. Tell you move on to look back I just want it to dutifully turn the song off. And now we a slow-build enveloping mist that’s what, we might stick some netting over Stabilize... Stabilize... Stabilize / I don’t reckon Longy had a point, because we feel Rehearsal and Recording studios partway between 60s psychedelia and the pond, just to stop them all resurfacing. want it all to end, I want this moment to instantly better about life. Four state of the art rehearsal rooms more contemporary dream pop, or maybe There’s a soft rock ballad in here that and a professional recording studio. a previously unimagined meeting point sounds like fucking Nazareth, so it’s between Spoils of War and Puressence. probably best for all concerned. We might Send tracks for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to edi- For bookings call Jamie on 07917685935 If it had been recorded in 1984 it would build a Trump-like wall across the A34 at [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a contact Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford • glasshousestudios.org have almost certainly have been signed Chieveley too to stop any more bands like phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Same goes for to 4AD. It’s like a fluffy ghost – soft and this getting through. your stupid, over-sensitive mates. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

Fri 3rd Aug Sat 6th Oct • 6.30pm Mon 29th Oct Sat 1st Dec • 6.30pm One State Drive The Smyths IDLES The Damned + You Know The Drill + Jon Hunt + Something, Someday Tue 30th Oct Sun 2nd Dec Tue 9th Oct Superorganism Bjorn Again Tue 7th Aug Joanne Shaw Taylor Dead Kennedys Thur 1st Nov Fri 7th Dec • 6.30pm Fri 12th Oct • 6.30pm The Feeling Pearl Jam UK Sat 18th Aug Hollie Cook The Nude Party Fri 2nd Nov Sun 9th Dec Fri 12th Oct • 6.30pm Thur 23rd Aug Neil Hilborn Fish Antarctic Monkeys Gomez Sun 4th Nov Thur 13th Dec • 6.00pm Sat 13th Oct • 6.30pm Fri 31st Aug The Carpet Crawlers Hugh Cornwell Fireball – Fuelling The Jake Clemons Electric Fire Tour Sat 13th Oct • 6.30pm + Flogging Molly Sat 1st Sep Britpop Boys Mon 5th Nov + Face To Face Rhymeskeemz Natty + Lost In Stereo + The Bronx Sat 13th Oct • 11.00pm Thur 6th Sep 90s - 00s ft. N-Trance Thur 8th Nov Fri 14th Dec • 6.30pm Ben Miller Band Police Dog Hogan Slade - 45 Years of Sun 14th Oct Fri 14th Sep • 6.00pm Merry Christmas Dermot Kennedy Fri 9th Nov • 6.00pm Molotov Jukebox Dutty Moonshine Everybody + Huw Eddy & the Carnival Mon 15th Oct Sat 15th Dec • 6.30pm Fri 9th Nov • 11.00pm Thur 20th Sep Get Cape Wear Cape Fly Kurupt FM Reef Joyner Lucas Tue 16th Oct Fri 21st Dec • 6.30pm + Dr Erbz Maribou State Sat 10th Nov • 6.30pm Fri 21st Sep • 7.30pm Dreadzone Thur 18th Oct Dubioza Kolektiv Low Island Sat 22nd Dec • 6.30pm Tom Grennan Sun 11th Nov Sun 23rd Sep Faith Thur 18th Oct Gruff Rhys The Daft Punk – The George Michael The Daniel Wakeford Thur 15th Nov Orchestra Legacy Experience Salad Tue 25th Sep Mon 18th Feb 2019 Fri 19th Oct • 6.30pm Thur 15th Nov The Night Café Ruts DC + Chappaqua Wrestling + Plaza Boyzlife Courtney Barnett Thur 28th Mar 2019 Sat 20th Oct • 12.00pm Fri 16th Nov • 6.30pm Thur 27th Sep Fun Lovin’ Criminals Airways Ritual Union Tide Lines + Brixtons + TMA Sat 6th Apr 2019 • 6.30pm Sun 21st Oct Fri 16th Nov • 6.30pm The Dualers Fri 28th Sep • 11.00pm Bugzy Malone Killing Joke Parka Monkeys Mon 22nd Oct Sat 17th Nov • 6.30pm (Indie Club Night) ft. Circa Waves DJ Set Villagers Definitely Mightbe

Sat 29th Sep • 6.30pm Thur 25th Oct Fri 23rd Nov • 6.30pm Teleman Rolling Blackouts The Dub Pistols Coastal Fever Sat 29th Sep Sat 24th Nov • 6.30pm KickThePj Fri 26th Oct • 6.30pm Blur2 / Pulp’d Freya Ridings Tributes to Blur & Pulp Thur 4th Oct Mahalia Sat 27th Oct • 6.00pm Tue 27th Nov Luisa Omielan Shame Fri 5th Oct • 6.00pm Imperial Leisure Sat 27th Oct • 6.30pm Thur 29th Nov + New Town Kings Guns 2 Roses Cast

Fri 5th Oct • 6.30pm Sun 28th Oct Fri 30th • 6.30pm The Magic Gang Ady Suleiman Little Brother Eli

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