[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 259 February Oxford’s Music Magazine 2017

“Country is at its best when the music is fun and the words are sad”

AGS CONNOLLY Talking outlaw music with Oxford’s quintessentially English champion of American roots.

Also in this issue: Introducing 1000 CHAINS Plus All your Oxford music news, previews and reviews, and five pages of local gigs for February. 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

played host to the likes of Willie J Healey; Duotone; Esther Joy Lane; Wolf Alice; The Fusion Project and Kioko. Visit www. sofarsounds.com/oxford to find out more.

CATWEAZLE host a new series of monthly live music and spoken word events starting this month. Making A Scene takes place at The Oxford Centre for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing on the first Saturday of each month. The first event takes place on the 4th February with sets from Art Theefe, fronted by Catweazle host Matt Sage, plus Temper Cartel, Ed Pope, Steve Karlin, Xogara and TRUCK FESTIVAL will announce the Kira Millwood Hargrave, with subsequent first set of names for its 2017 line-up on events on the 4th March and 1st April. Monday 6th February. This year’s event Tickets and info from once again runs across three days, over the www.catweazleclub.com. weekend of the 21st-23rd July, at Hill Farm in Steventon. Be the first to find out who’s AUDIOGRAFT returns in March. playing on Nightshift’s Facebook page and The annual festival of contemporary at www.truckfestival.com. Last year’s experimental music, co-promoted by Truck was headlined by Manic Street the Sonic Art Research Unit at Brookes Preachers (pictured). University and Oxford Contemporary We’re also expecting line-up news for Music, launches at OVADA on Tuesday Common People at the start of February. 7th March and runs across various venues Again, we’ll have it on Facebook and around Oxford until Sunday 19th. Full Twitter as soon as it’s announced. line-up of artists is yet to be confirmed but you can find out more about the festival at TRUCK STORE celebrates its sixth www.sonicartresearch.co.uk. birthday with an evening of live music this month. The record store, on Cowley Road, LOCAL RECORD LABEL ALL WILL hosts an instore show with Coldredlight BE WELL RECORDS are looking to and Candy Says on Friday 10th February, recruit volunteers to assist in the day-to- starting at 6pm and featuring competitions day running of the not-for-profit outfit. as well as a bar and coffee. Truck also From helping with social media coverage, host an instore album signing from rising writing reviews and features to collating London MC Loyle Carner at 1pm on the label’s new newsletter; volunteers Tuesday 7th February, ahead of his show are asked to commit to two hours per at the O2 Academy, while on Thursday 2nd week. For more information email Ian at local Americana crew Loud Mountains [email protected] launch their new EP with a set, at 6pm. Visit truckmusicstore.co.uk for more AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into BBC news. Oxford Introducing every Saturday night between 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated SOFAR SOUNDS celebrate their 50th local music show plays the best Oxford show in Oxford this month. The Oxford releases and demos as well as featuring branch of the global pop-up gig movement interviews and sessions with local acts. was started up by Stornoway’s Oli The show is available to stream or Steadman in September 2012 with the download as a podcast at aim of promoting eclectic gig line-ups in bbc.co.uk/oxford. unusual locations, with venue and line-up details only released to ticket holders two OXFORD GIGBOT provides a regular days before the show. The 50th gig takes local gig listing update on Twitter (@ place on Friday 24th February. Sofar’s oxgigbot), bringing you new gigs as first show featured ToLiesel, The Qazi soon as they go live. They also provide Experiment, Count Drachma and Sammy a free weekly listings email. Just contact Jay; over the past four years they have [email protected] to join. A Quiet Word With music in recent decades, turning it those acts have definitely helped to “Both! When I was on tour with the and was keen to have accordion and into a polished, rhinestone-clad cliché, draw people towards my music, but at band it was great to see everyone fiddle. Dean has been friendly with rather than the working class and the same time I am different to them.” two-stepping on the dancefloor. But the Mavericks guys for years so he got rebel music it once was. Mike Trotman, who runs the obviously most of my shows are solo in touch with Michael. He also roped “Broadly speaking country was at its excellent Empty Room Promotions, so it’s also nice to play the poignant in Eamon, who is actually English. AGS CONNOLLY proudest in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The has done a lot to bring American roots ones to a quiet room.” Both those guys recorded their 80s was when the corporate machines music to Oxford, and Ags has played You cover `I Suppose’ on the album; parts remotely in the US, but they began to see at as a branch of the a few gigs for him over the last few is Loudon Wainwright a particular could’ve been in the room with us, mainstream to be exploited just like years; does that create some kind of a influence on you? so awesome were their contributions. all other commercial pop music. The hub for that kind of music. “He’s probably my favourite The core musicians themselves are no neo-traditional brand of country that “I think it does, yes. Mike is one of songwriter. His lyrics are so direct slouches either, so it’s a great group of came out then wasn’t at all bad, but the best Americana promoters in the and clear, and I’ve always wanted to players.” it set the path for what would come UK in terms of consistently booking emulate that in my writing. A lot of The album is released on At The and it increasingly marginalised the quality acts. We’re very lucky here; his songs lend themselves to country Helm Records. stuff that was arguably more real and a lot of bigger cities don’t have in my opinion, even though he’s “At The Helm is co-owned by my authentic. These days, there is a small anything like that at all.” considered a folk artist. As for future manager James Walker, who I’ve been but growing group of artists trying to covers, I’m not sure. I’d still like to working with for a couple of years. keep the traditions alive. A lot of these With the release of `Nothin’ put a Ron Sexsmith song on an album There is limited scope for releasing guys cross over into other genres to be Unexpected’ on Brighton’s At The sometime.” country music in the UK, but of the more relevant, but a few of us are just Helm Records this month, Ags’ star labels who will consider it, At The happy to be old school.” is set to rise yet further, revealing With the critical praise Helm are one of the best. They have One of the chief forces towards a poetic songwriter armed with a heaped on `How About Now’ creating gained a fair amount of traction in the the return of traditional country has rich, soulful voice who follows in a firm platform for his next move, last year or so with releases from US been Austin singer Dale Watson’s the lineage of greats such as Buck `Nothin’ Unexpected’ finds Ags acts like Austin Lucas and BJ Barham Ameripolitan movement, of which Owens, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson staying on the straight and narrow, as of American Aquarium, alongside Ags is a devotee, and seemingly an and David Allan Coe. His songs tell you’d hope and expect; the subject a few UK artists, including the last indirect descendent of the Bakersfield of hurt and heartache, regret and matter of the songs, their arrangement album from Bap Kennedy.” sound of the 1950s, which reacted to the then softening and overly- While `Nothin’ Unexpected’ orchestrated mainstream country “I find my music is much more readily is Ags Connolly’s second album of his music scene. own songs, he did release an album “Ameripolitan was set up by Dale to accepted in The States. People know of traditional cowboy songs a while shed light on the traditional-leaning country music and they are excited that back, reinforcing his adherence to the artists who are being left behind by real roots of country music. the mainstream. There is an awards a British bloke is playing it.” “That album was a limited self- ceremony in Austin each year, which release of purely traditional cowboy I usually attend. The idea is that the whisky – the staples of great country and the mood of the music is in songs from the 19th and early 20th word country has become so diluted music – which he claims are “95% keeping with his devotion to old time century. I’d been playing them for and bastardised that it no longer has autobiographical – I’m an egotist sounds and songs, but obviously years so it was easy to do. I wasn’t meaning. Ameripolitan is a movement like that”. But there’s humour too. expectations are now higher. sure how it would go over but people “I try not to write things described `How About Now’ as nascent career was seeing the country here I find people sometimes think to celebrate the more traditional The opening line of the new album “The new album was mostly written seemed to really like it. I love those as if I’m living in America. It’s just “the most assured debut album out and bluegrass singer James Hand live. I’m pretending to be American, or artists – chiefly in the sub-genres of is “I hope you’re unhappy when you after the first one was recorded; one simple, honest songs. I may do not real and people can see through of Oxford in some time”. And yet, “I was a big fan of Dale Watson and that they simply don’t know what honky-tonk, outlaw, western swing lay down at night,” (about a woman song, ‘When the Loner Gets Lonely’, another album like that in future.” that. It’s a balance, though; if I went despite regular live shows, including I was starting to learn a bit about country music is. It’s an indelible part and rockabilly – and give them a who’s left him for another) and Ags was actually recorded for the first Do you think country will always be too far with it I’d be thought of as a gigs for Empty Room, supporting country. Dale came over here on tour of the American culture, whereas it platform. The Bakersfield sound seems to fit Margo Price’s quote that album but I left it off and did it the true outsiders’ music? Wurzels tribute act.” touring American acts, and a slot at with James as support. It’s a very has never been any real part of ours. would certainly be part of that. The country music is mostly “good time slightly differently for the new one. “I think the country music that I The Punt in 2013, in his native county surreal experience watching him; It would be foolish not to consider word itself doesn’t exactly roll off the songs about bad times”. Both this album and ‘How About know and love possibly could be Ags Connolly is a big, he remains a cult concern, beloved I’ve always said it’s like he’s been moving there one day if I felt I’d hit a tongue, but I think the movement is “I’d had the phrase ‘I Hope You’re Now’ were recorded and mixed in five considered so. Country is a huge affable bear of a bloke, with a proper of a dedicated hardcore of old school transported from the 1940s or 50s to ceiling over here.” very positive.” Unhappy’ in my head for a while, and days at Castlesound and Slate Room genre with many, many sub-genres, woodsman’s beard. Exactly how country fans. Time for that to change. the present day and he doesn’t realise Do you think there are close parallels I couldn’t believe there wasn’t another Studios just outside Edinburgh. This and as such it’s hard to pigeon-hole you’d expect a dyed-in-the-wool, old- it. There’s nothing contrived about between English traditional folk music There’s been a very country song already called that. And one was harder work because we set all of it, but I think old school country school American country music singer As Ags prepares to his performances. I remember some and country music? Oxfordshire in strong Americana movement in yes, Margo’s right that country is at a certain standard with the first album allows a certain lyrical freedom that to look like. release his new album, `Nothin’ blokes – regulars, I assume – coming particular is a hotbed of traditional Oxfordshire over the last couple of its best when the music is fun and the and had to live up to it. The first time other genres don’t. You can nail Except Ags comes from Witney, Unexpected’, the follow-up to that down the steps of The Borderline folk music and its derivatives; do you decades; Robin and Joe Bennett’s words are sad. That particular song around we were basically winging your colours to the mast more easily not Wyoming or West Virginia. And acclaimed debut, Nightshift chats to while he was playing and screwing think that makes it ripe for country Goldrush arguably led the line and in is supposed to be funny but it’s also it. This time we set out not to make with it, maybe because the lyrics when he launches his new album this the singer, and asks first, how a lad up their faces as if to say `what’s this music to thrive here? the years they helmed Truck Festival supposed to be genuine.” the same album again and I think themselves are such a key component month, it’ll be at Fat Lil’s, not The growing up in rural Oxfordshire got shit?’, which pissed me off and I knew “Yes I do, but I don’t think those it was a haven for country-flavoured The album title track is a real we managed that. I’d like to think of the music.” Little Longhorn Saloon in Texas. into traditional country music in the then which side I was on.” parallels are obvious to everyone. bands both locally and from afar. It’s a Saturn’s Return heartbreaker; it’s got ‘Nothin’ Unexpected’ is more mature first place. A lot of the cowboy songs which local sub scene that’s only grown over something of the Bruce Springsteen than ‘How About Now’ in a lot of Old school he might be, For a chap from west “Well, I suppose if you grow up in While he fell in love influenced the western and hillbilly time and these days acts like Great about it as much as Willie Nelson; ways.” but Ags Connolly is as much about Oxfordshire singing traditional a village there really isn’t much to with country music from afar, the music that evolved into country Western Tears, Dreaming Spires, would you agree? And what’s the The line-up on `Nothin’ Unexpected’ the future of country music as he American music, the praise for Ags do, so you have a lot of time to listen draw of the southern states was too were directly based on English folk The Epstein, The August List, Loud saddest song you’ve heard? is impressive, featuring as it does is its past, a singer and songwriter Connolly has been unequivocal. to music. I was into songwriters strong for Ags to resist, and he’s songs. And of course a lot of country Mountains, et al are among the most “I hadn’t noticed the Springsteen Michael Guerra from The Mavericks of which country really can be Maverick called his debut album, like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan become a regular visitor, both as artists are influenced by folk artists. popular bands in town. Does Ags feel element to it but I won’t complain… playing accordion and Eamon proud. Not bad for a lad from a `How About Now’, “a masterpiece and Loudon Wainwright III and I music fan and performer. However, I think folk generally see any affinity with them and does their I saw it as a Tex-Mex style thing in McLoughlin from the Grand Ole village in Oxfordshire. We wonder, of English country”, while Country slowly realised that what I loved was “I’ve been to Austin, Texas many country as a bit cheesy. I gave up popularity help draw people towards the style of Tom Russell or Robert Oprey on fiddle. How did they get then, thinking of the late, great Music People hailed him as “An songs that said complex things in a times and also Nashville. In February trying to get gigs at folk clubs a while what he’s doing? Earl Keen. It’s certainly the longest involved? Merle Haggard, what might be the English Willie Nelson,” and Record simple way, and it dawned on me that last year I went on a 16-date tour of ago. It’s difficult to change people’s “I feel some affiliation for it, but song I’ve written anyway. The saddest “The musicians on this album and Oxfordshire equivalent of an Okie Collector described him as “one country music was the home of such Southern and South-Eastern states way of thinking overnight”. mostly because I’ve played countless song? Dolly Parton has written some the first one are mostly session from Muskogee? of the most promising new talents songwriting, so I went down the rabbit with the St. Louis artists Jack Grelle gigs with all those guys and it’s pretty brutal songs about child death. players in Scotland. The link to them “Ummm…an Oxford bloke from on the British country scene.” hole. Most British people who are and Ryan Koenig, who is in Pokey A stand-out track from always fun to do stuff with them. In the same vein, Hank Snow’s album is that the Scottish singer-songwriter Noke? Can’t think of a place that Broadsheets like The Guardian and into country were brought up on it by LaFarge’s band. We also had Jack’s `How About Now’ was the almost The simple fact is though that I’m a ‘When Tragedy Struck’ has titles like Dean Owens produced both albums. rhymes with Oxonian.” The Independent on Sunday joined a their parents but that wasn’t the case bass player and Pokey’s drummer. I anthemic `When Country Was Proud’, straight up country artist and not an ‘There’s a Little Box of Pine on the He got the guys together for ‘How plethora of dedicated country music for me. That said, I was a huge Buddy find my music is much more readily which has become Ags’ signature tune Americana artist. To me, Americana is 7:29’. Doesn’t get much sadder than About Now’ and I wanted to use `Nothin’ Unexpected’ is released rd mags and blogs to hail the new Holly fan at a very early age, and he accepted over there. People know since its release. It’s a song that rails typically rock or folk with a country that.” them again, employing the old ‘if it on February 3 on At the Helm homegrown hero of authentic roots had his country leanings.” country music and they are excited against the commercialisation and element to it, and that’s not really me: Would you rather make people dance ain’t broke’ logic. I also wanted some Records. For gig dates and music music; on its 2014 release Nighthsift One of the pivotal moments in Ags’ that a British bloke is playing it. Over commoditisation of traditional roots I’m more of a traditionalist. So yes, or cry? new textures on the record this time visit agsconnolly.com Sponsored by album closer ‘Run’ – which adds some Doors- little room for sunshine and happiness as he esque, perhaps Spiritualized-like blues elements dwells on unrequited love, addiction, desperation to Shotgun Six’s mix – are four shorter songs. and murderous revenge. These continue along the same lines in terms `Premonition Blues’ is almost a pastiche of the of tempo, rhythm and style, which somewhat genre with its overwrought tale of a murderous RELEASED leads to hoping that this band has it in them to cuckold, but elsewhere Andy’s softly husky GIRL POWER before the two-minute mark. But they pack divert from such a solid blueprint as they move voice teases sweetness from his sadness, plenty of neat ideas into those compact outbursts, from track to track. ‘Step A Little Closer’ brings particularly on `On Another Morning’, where `Welcome To the Gun opener `Holes in the Wall’ an ogreish cluster up the pace a little, and in doing so feels less he switches from breathless optimism to despair bomb of clattering velocity beats, feedback threatening; ‘Between The Lines’ is a fuzzier tinged with faint hope as the object of his desire Show’ and supercharged guitar noise. No rest and affair, sounding demo-like in comparison to the fails to materialise. His best tune comes right (Richter Scale) no remorse as they blitz through the likes of other tracks here, and it reminds us strongly of at the end with the almost folky `Promises One of the best under-the-radar local music `Suicide or Revolution’ and the magnificently previous Oxford moodists Harry Angel. Declined’, where he lets his voice relax a bit success stories of the last couple of years have malevolent `Pleaser’. Shotgun Six have an attractive, subtly ill- more and sink into the melody rather than trying been Smash Disco’s regular free shows at The The EP’s high point, though, comes with the tempered thing going on, and although this to be too intense. Even here though, there’s little Library on Cowley Road, hosting a series of relatively lengthy (over three minutes!) closer release sounds at times too comfortable working light at the end of the tunnel. Having found touring American and European punk and `Anti’, which reins in speed in favour of a crunk within a limited sonic palette, it’s difficult not to himself in the Demo Dumper a few years back, hardcore bands, while providing a hub for and grind that’s something like the musical succumb to its mysterious charms. Andy’s steady improvement suggests his future local noise acts. At the heart of this are former equivalent of pouring corrosive acid on sheet SHOTGUN SIX Simon Minter might be brighter than his songs suggest. Nightshift cover stars Girl Power, a three-person metal and watching it froth and burn. Dale Kattack rage machine whose early mix and match of In an age where emotionally stunted clothes Shotgun Six D-beat and 80s American hardcore has morphed horses describe themselves as “post-hardcore” (Self released) ANDY ROBBINS into something more virulent and individual over (as opposed to “insipid sub-emo shit”), Girl Oxford three-piece Shotgun Six sound like the past two years, making lightning quick pit give you a swift smack in the teeth and make Power are a ferociously timely reminder of what they’ve been drinking deep from the same `Into the Night’ stops at Fugazi and Shellac among others. way for the next one before you quite know hardcore means. To paraphrase an old election moody, dark waters as Six By Seven: long, (Self released) That full-pelt approach hasn’t let up, mind; songs what’s hit you, five of the seven tracks here slogan: it hurts; it works. languorous songs based around a monochromatic You might need a mop and bucket after listening fly out of the blocks, holler in your face, barely leaving room for a sharp intake of breath Dale Kattack drone core, and even, steady vocals delivered to Andy Robbins’ new EP; there’s a lot of blood with careful precision. The opener on this in it and most of it is splattered over the floors, debut album, ‘Away From Here’, sets out the walls and furniture. On `Premonition Blues’ he Dance’ sample is serenely atmospheric with an sometime soon. band’s stall with a slow-motion snapshot: sings “Blood on the chair / Blood all over the almost choral feel amid the psychedelic electro Dale Kattack rolling, repetitive, faintly psychedelic rock, walls / Blood in the kitchen / Blood all over wanderings. While he’s got the voice for pure and undulating guitar squalls rising and falling the floor,” while on `Back Again’, we learn the pop or r’n’b, such strangeness is where we’d around a sullen bassline. At almost ten minutes subject of the song “Put the barrel in her mouth / love to see Thomas head more in the future. If in length, it’s a fine piece of work, and one that’s Then blew her mind away”. there’s no place for Neverlnd in that future, that’s ZAIA wise enough not to stray from a pure blackened Gore aside, this is a generally gentle natured a real shame, but there were too many talented `Simple Tune’ musical heart. affair, Andy’s mostly acoustic bluesy pop closer parts to the band for them to be lost for good. Between this track and the similarly lengthy to Sam Smith than Cannibal Corpse, but there’s Dale Kattack (Self released) Given the long, rich history of reggae in Oxford it’s shocking how few local reggae bands there are around at the moment, particularly with WHO’S ALICE scene godfathers Dubwiser more of a part-time project now and Mackating seemingly out `Onethreefour’ of action in the wake of Dave Norland’s sad (Self released) passing. “I had a dream we never met,” croons Who’s Which leaves Zaia as sole flag-bearers as far ZEROWE Alice singer Adam Baker on `Forget About as bands go. Quality not quantity, though as far Tomorrow’, the lead song on this new release, in as they’re concerned, with this primer for their `Beats & X-Rays’ a voice so tremulous and plaintive if you made debut album in the summer living up to its title, (Self released) it flesh it’d be a shivering newborn lamb. Hang all loping, dubby groove, sharp horns and fresh With Neverlnd on an apparently indefinite hiatus, about, though, barely a minute later he’s swearing vibes. What makes it though is Amy MacKown’s the various members have been busy getting like a right’un: “You get on with my mates / They gorgeously honey-dripping sing-song vocal, busy. Last month saw the release of Catgod’s all say you’re fucking great.” So maybe not the which sounds like liquid sunshine over the rich, excellent debut album and now here’s Neverlnd timid wee beastie we first imagined. And from easy canter of the music. She’s the heart and soul singer Thomas Roberts’ first solo outing in his there things get proper angry. We know thing are of the song, and as long as we have her and Zaia Zerowe guise. angry because Adam starts shouting in a pleading around, local reggae is in rude health. Feels like Particularly in the case of such an eclectic band kind of fashion, the guitar spangles just a bit more summer already. as Neverlnd it’s interesting to see who goes off forcefully and the drummer hits everything harder, Dale Kattack on which path when freed from the constraints especially the snare, which everyone knows is the of collective creativity. While guitarist Robin angriest of all drums. And from here everything Christensen-Marriot and co. explored an ambient crests along, consuming the previously pretty jazz-informed electro-pop with Catgod, Thomas melody, which might be appropriate given it’s here heads into fully synthed-up r’n’b, all about a bitter love affair and you can point to the bobbling, glitchy electronic beats and stripped- moment it all goes pear-shaped, although there’s a back textures interspersed with vocal samples sense of hope in its resigned coda; it’s a brittle but over which he keeps the vibe smooth and soulful. decently crafted song, like a soft-hearted Arctic His delicate, limpid voice comes over best on Monkeys if they hadn’t seen so many bad things the weirdly gospel-inflected `Moonbeams’ and when they were growing up. strongly suggests he could have a full-on multi- Second song here `Brainface’ starts almost million selling pop career ahead of him if he exactly the same, a gently spangled guitar, teamed up with the right people. The auto-tuned some plaintive crooning and then “I really don’t `Bad At This’ breaks any spell he might have have a fucking clue” thrust in your face like an wanted to weave, forgettably generic aand even unexpected slap with a slice of buttered bread. at three and half minutes, overlong, but the Again, all a bit soft-centred but with the seed spaced-out `Tabz’, with its ghostly `Lord of the of something better hopefully set to germinate WOLFS: The Bullingdon – Grunged-up extravaganza. shoegaze, 90s indie and slacker pop in a similar CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford vein to Joanna Gruesome and Yuck from Leeds’ Community Centre Menace Beach, out on tour to promote new SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half album `Lemon Memory’ on Memphis Industry, Moon co-founders Ryan Needham – formerly of ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure Komakino – and Liza Violet joined by an all-star BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford GIG GUIDE Leeds cast including members of Hookworms, Sky Larkin and You Animals, while Mansun’s FRIDAY 10th st WEDNESDAY 1 from Bristol/Oxford collective Dutty Moonshine, Paul Draper and Pulled Apart By Horses’ Robert COLDREDLIGHT + CANDY SAYS: Truck SARAH JAROSZ: St. Barnabas, Jericho – helmed by DJ and producer Michael Rack and Lee have also served along the way. Store – Oxford’s leading indie record store th Empty Room Promotions welcome back Texan- FEBRUARY mixing classic swing and Vaudeville with garage, THE MASTERSONS + ANTHONY celebrates its sixth birthday with an evening Friday 10 grime, funk and drum&bass. D’AMATA: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Austin’s leading born, New York resident singer Sarah Jarosz after launch instore for the Americana faves, mixing of live music, including dark, post-grunge SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE & country couple come to the Shire – see main her show here with Aiofe O’Donovan and Sara up Whiskeytown’s lively country rock with blues from last month’s Nightshift cover stars THOUGHT FORMS SPOTLIGHT JAM: The James Street Tavern preview Watkins as I’m With Her. A Grammy-nominated Bright Eyes’ more considered American folk. Coldredlight, and sunshine pop from Candy Says. – Sparky hosts his monthly bands and jam night, OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim – virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, particularly on LA PHOOKA + TIM IVEY BAND + LOUD MOUNTAINS + LOW ISLAND / FLIGHTS OF tonight with Rad Brother John, Firegazers and Weekly open session. mandolin and banjo, she’s recently graduated MISSING PERSIANS + SEVEN O’CLOCK + LUKE MAY + TILLY VALENTINE + The Nightwreckers. JACKIE OATES & MEGAN HENWOOD: HELIOS / EGRETS: from the New England Conservatory of Music JUNKIES: The Jericho Tavern – It’s All About STOLBY: O2 Academy – The O2’s regular WHYTE LYTES: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Nettlebed Folk Club – The local folk luminaries and now heads back to Europe for a tour to the Music local bands showcase. Uprising team-up with BBC Introducing in Hometown show for Witney’s proggy rockers. team up once again for a home club show, The Cellar promote fourth album `Undercurrent’. GLUE: The Cellar – Techno, disco and house Oxford, hosts local Americana crew Loud featuring songs from Megan’s debut album, While never entirely back in vogue, shoegaze GANG + KANCHO!: The Wheatsheaf – Idiot club night with Arizona’s rising star Avalon Mountains – last month’s Nightshift Introducing remains a sweetly noisy, spectral presence th `Head, Heart, Hand’ and more. King host an Oxford debut for Brighton’s sludgy Emerson playing a set of synthy, soul-infused SATURDAY 4 feature – Connecticut-born brothers Sean and in pop’s castle, and the likes of Wiltshire’s doom-punk crew Gang, with support from sheet- techno alongside Glue residents. SIMPLE with MIDLAND: The Bullingdon Kevin Duggan launching their new EP, `Love th Thought Forms make sure it can’t be ignored. metal hardcore scrappers Kancho! CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford – The long-running house club night plays host TUESDAY 7 One Another’, and kicking it out in a rootsy In fact they should be centre stage on the Community Centre – Oxford’s longest running to versatile producer and DJ Harry Agius, who LOYLE CARNER: O2 Academy – A swift fashion in the vein of Ryan Adams and Bright strength of 2013’s epic `Ghost Mountain’ THURSDAY 2nd open club night heads into another new year, goes out under the name Midland, switching return to Oxford for the rising south London MC Eyes. They’re joined by ambient electro-pop album, which paid due homage to My Bloody LOUD MOUNTAINS: Truck Store (6pm) – EP showcasing local singers, musicians, poets, from slick, stripped-back garage-flavoured pop to after his sold-out show at the Bully in September, newcomers Low Island, and more. Valentine in its song titles (`Only Hollow’), storytellers, performance artists and more every scuffed-up techno, disco and more and renowned his sensitive, eloquent confessional hip hop, more THOUGHT FORMS + FLIGHTS OF and occasionally Slowdive in its shimmering week. for his marathon sets at his own All Night Long old school than grime, having seen him working HELIOS + EGRETS: The Cellar – Dark- th guitar noise and slender, wraithlike vocals, Monday 6 THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf parties. Support from Simple residents Em with Kate Tempest and Maverick Sabre, as well hearted shoegaze noise from the Wiltshire while taking everything on a far heavier trip by – Free gig in the downstairs bar from the local Williams, James Weston and Maxquerade. as supporting MF Doom and Joey Badass. The spanglers – see main preview way of Loop and Bark Psychosis on songs like THE MASTERSONS / funk-psych-blues-pop veterans. MAKING A SCENE: Oxford Deaf & Hard of rapper will be signing copies of his new album in KANADIA + TEMPER CARTEL + THE `Landing’ and `Burn Me Clean’, all low-end SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half Hearing Centre – Catweazle host the first of a Truck Store at 1pm ahead of the show. PINK DIAMOND REVUE: The Bullingdon – noise and sludgy, psychedelia, and into Sonic ANTHONY D’AMATA: Moon – Weekly open mic club. monthly series of live music and spoken word SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James Big-hearted stadium indie from fast rising local Youth’s more sultry moments on `Sans Soleil’. ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure – shows at the OD&HOHC, tonight with sets from Street Tavern – Weekly open mic night. starlets Kanadia, exploring the same wide-open More than just a heap of cool influences Fat Lil’s, Witney Weekly unplugged open session. Catweazle host Matt Sage’s own 60s pop-inspired OSPREY & FRIENDS: St. Aldates Tavern – musical landscapes at Radiohead, U2, Muse Yet another in a seemingly never-ending tide (but what influences!), they’re a variously BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford band Art Theefe, alongside Temper Cartel, Ed Fortnightly jam session with local blues veteran and Coldplay. Quality support from elegantly of great Americana from Empty Room, tonight brooding, pretty and ferocious noise machine, – Open blues jam. Pope, Steve Larkin, Xogara and Kiran Millwood Osprey and chums. gothic indie rockers Temper Cartel and superb bringing Austin, Texas duo The Mastersons a musical spell to fall under and never awaken. Hargrave. rockabilly/surf/acid house/dirgecore duo The to Witney’s pleasingly dark and compact Like Thought Forms, Flights of Helios can rd GLUEMAN + GOUL + SHOTGUN SIX th Pink Diamond Revue. Fat Lil’s. Married couple Chris and Eleanor FRIDAY 3 WEDNESDAY 8 soar, their spaced-out electro-heavy ambient + CPR: The Wheatsheaf – It’s All About BLACK BULLETS + PSYCHOLIES + Masterson have made their name individually BOSSAPHONIK with ME & MY FRIENDS: BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar soundscapes at their best when evoking a trip the Music showcase night with heavy-duty DISCIPLES OF SIN: The Wheatsheaf – and together as renowned session musicians. The Cellar – Dancefloor Latin, Afrobeat, global – 80s hits, new wave, glam and synth-pop club round the sun, and mixing light and shade psych-rocking in the vein of The Warlocks and OxRox host a return to town for Basingstoke’s Their resume includes Dian Ross, Son Volt, grooves, Balkan beats and nu jazz club night night. into an epic whole. Tonight’s openers Egrets Spacemen 3 from Shotgun Six. sleazy, tattoo-heavy rock’n’roll, punk and biker Regina Spektor and Jack Ingram, but it’s as hosted by Dan Ofer, tonight with a live set from feature members of Maiians, Winchell Riots, BARCELONA FLAMENCO: The Cellar – An rock crew Black Bullets, with support from ongoing members of Steve Earle’s band The soulful Afro-funk outfit Me & My Friends, taking th Listing Ships and We Aeronauts, which means evening of Flamenco with Barcelona’s Ariadne THURSDAY 9 Italian industrial metal and dark-glam rockers Dukes they’re best known (“Chris is the best in influencies of Afrobeat, hi-life, roots reggae they should be good – and they are, their Molina (dancer); Ana Brenes (vocals) and Jero LITTLE COMETS: O2 Academy – Psycholies, kicking it out in the vein of Marilyn guitarist I’ve had in the band and Eleanor is a and delta blues. shoegazey noise likely to make them one of Ferec (guitar). Newcastle’s ebullient Afro-pop-flavoured indie Manson and Rob Zombie. better musician than any of us,” says Earle). KLUB KAKOFANNEY with CRYSTALLITE the Oxford bands worth keeping an eye on this FREERANGE: The Cellar – UK garage, grime rockers return to town, playing songs from THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM After releasing a collection of songs written + ANTON BARBEAU + MAMZER + year. and bassline club night. their fourth album `Warhead’, having originally BAND + THE SHAPES + LES CLOCHARDS: seperately but recorded together, `Birds Fly CHARMS AGAINST THE EVIL EYE: THE AUTUMN SAINTS + MAD LARRY made their name playing guerrilla gigs in The Jericho Tavern – Local jump blues and hot heavy-duty D&B, dubstep and breakbeat style South’, the pair have written together for its The Wheatsheaf – Klub Kak’s monthly party BAND: The Jericho Tavern – It’s All About the university lecture halls and call centres as well as jazz heroes TORFSB host a French Revolution seeing them dubbed the Kings of Drum&bass. follow-up, `Good Luck Charm’, an album tonight welcomes grungy rockers Crystallite Music showcase with atmospheric Americana supporting the likes of Noisettes, The Twang and party, which should get messy as soon as they get CASH: O2 Academy – Tribute to The Man in deeply rooted in southern states country alongside psych-pop songsmith Anton Barbeau, from The Autumn Saints and classic r’n’b from Biffy Clyro. the guillotine out. Dress up in period costume and Black. but full of soul and an easy indie touch. As the Californian singer, inspired by the likes of Mad Larry. AJ TRACEY: O2 Academy – Fast rising west get down to their vintage 1930s speakeasy r’n’b, ESTRONS: The Cellar – Pop-friendly punk and an extra bonus tonight’s support is Omaha Syd Barrett and Robyn Hitchcock, back in his SHEPHERD’S PIE: Fat Lil’s, Witney – London grime MC Tracey comes to town having plus The Shapes’ soulful 60s pop and new wave, grunge fury from rising Welsh quartet Estrons, songsmith Anthony D’Amata, a musically spiritual second home of Oxford for the first time Hard rock and metal covers, from Maiden and featured highly in every critics long list and and Les Clochards’ warming French café pop and back in town after supporting Slaves at the Bully ambitious country-rocker whose new album, in a long while and tonight backed by Charms Metallica to Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. shortlist for 2017, set to cross over big time on elegant rock’n’roll. last year. `Cold Snap’, was recorded with neighbours Against the Evil Eye. NO HORSES: The Brewery Tap, Abingdon – the back of a series of EPs, including his recent ETHOMETRIC MUSEUM: The Shed, ROY WOOD: The New Theatre – Hits Bright Eyes, The Faint and Cursive. Inspired THREE CANE WHALE + DUOTONE: Goodtime southern blues-rock. `Lil Tracey’. Charlbury – Oxford Contemporary Music host galore from the former Move and Electric by Springsteen and Dylan as well as Josh Friends Meeting House, St. Giles – Intricate, THE BREW + HELL’S GAZELLES: The a live exhibition/demonstration of arcane and Light Orchestra man, though probably forever Ritter, his warm, rich tales of working class intimate and inventive instrumentals from th Bullingdon – Rock’n’soul from Grimsby’s The unusual electronic music and noise-making Bristol’s trio Three Cane Whale, who between destined to be best known for perennial festive life have earned him plemty of love beyond the SUNDAY 5 Brew at tonight’s Haven Club show, the band out objects: part gig, part sound installation, part them play 21 different instruments on new BEARD OF DESTINY + SAM POPE + fave `I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’. country press, and it’s more than worth the bus on tour to promote their new `Shake the Tree’ music science lecture, all very curious and album `Palimpsest’, their first to be recorded in MOON LEOPARD + ANNELI: Donnington His songs with The Move are utterly timeless, journey out to Witney to see this double bill in album, having previously toured with ZZ Top strange. a studio, after previous sessions in abandoned Community Centre (6pm) – Free early evening though, from `Blackberry Way’ and `Fire a suitably intimate setting. and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and shared stages with Jeff THE STANDARD: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock railway stations and churches. Helmed by Alex of acoustic blues, folk and pop. Brigade’ to `I Can Hear The Grass Grow’ and Back and Joe Bonamassa. Hard rocking support covers. `Flowers In The Rain’ – the first song ever played Van from Spiro, their mix of medieval music, BLOODSTOCK – MUSIC FOR THE from Hell’s Gazelles, with a melodic metal mix contemporary classical, jazz and folk brings to MASSES: The Bullingdon – Rock and on Radio 1. As he heads off on another major of Guns’n’Roses and Judas Priest, kicked out in th tour Wood is about to be inducted into the Rock mind a more haunting and playful Penguin Café metal battle of the bands to win a place at this theatrical style. SATURDAY 11 Orchestra. Local polymath Duotone supports, summer’s Bloodstock festival. Tonight’s heat NOISIA: O2 Academy – The Netherlands’ and Roll Hall Of Fame for his part in ELO, the RHYS LEWIS: The Cellar – Oxford-born band he formed with Move bandmate Jeff Lynne Barney Morse-Brown’s emotive virtuoso features Bloodshot, Promethean Reign, Shattered bluesman Rhys Lewis launches his new single, drum&bass kings come to town on the back of compositions brought brilliantly to life on stage Compass, Violence is Golden and Lest We the release of their new `Outer Edges’ album, the in 1970, so expect plenty of their old classics too. `Waking Up Without You’, with a soulful take on FRED ABBOTT + ANTON BARBEAU & SU as he utilises loops to augment his guitar and Forget. electric blues. highly-prolific Dutch trio’s extensive catalogue of cello compositions. EPs, singles and remixes has seen them take on JORDAN: The Bullingdon – Tom Petty-styled PATCHWORK: The Cellar – House and techno drive time rocking from the former Noah & the DUTTY MOONSHINE BIG BAND: The th club night. Hybrid, Skrillex, Hadouken and The Prodigy as MONDAY 6 well as Visage and The Eurythmics, their harsh, Whale guitarist and keyboard player, out on Bullingdon – Big band swing and modern bass MENACE BEACH + VAN ZELLER + MERCURY: The New Theatre – Queen tribute SEVEN O’CLOCK JUNKIES: Fat Lil’s, and hip hop at times, and earning favourable Dark Side (isn’t it all?) with Star Wars-costumed SATURDAY 18th Witney – Covers, from Elvis Costello to REM, comparisons to Ray Davies, Tom Petty and Alex riffmongers. 100 CHAINS + MY DIABLO + TRAUMA UK plus originals from the local rockers. Chilton along the way. SOMEONE LIKE YOU: The New Theatre – + A NIGHTMARE UPON US: The Cellar – THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Royal BREABACH: The North Wall, Summertown Tribute to Adele. Church of the Heavy riff-fest, with this month’s Standard, Headington – Goodtime blues – Scottish-flavoured folk dance from the 2016 Introducing featured band 1000 Chains mixing rocking from the local veteran. Scottish Traditional Music Awards Best Folk Act THURSDAY 16th up classic thrash, djent, nu-metal and early 80s HOWLIN’ TAILDRAGGERS: The Old and Album of the Year winners, playing songs, UNION J: O2 Academy – After coming fourth metal. Heavy-duty groove-metal from My Diablo Anchor, Abingdon – Chicago-style electric tunes and step dances from their recent `Astar’ on in the 2012 series of X-Factor, Union J looked in support, plus punk from Trauma UK. blues. bagpipes, fiddle, flute and guitar. like following in One Direction’s footsteps, but VOODOO VEGAS + KIKAMORA + HAXAN: INTRUSION: The Cellar – Monthly goth, even the indefinite hiatus of that group hasn’t The Wheatsheaf – Classic rock, melodic metal SUNDAY 12th industrial, ebm and darkwave club night. helped steer JJ, Josh, Jaymi and, latterly, Casey and glam in the vein of Led Zep, Alter Bridge TOM GRENNAN + CUCKOOLANDER: SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James (who replaced George after he left following and Guns’n’Roses from south coast rockers th Monday 13 The Cellar – Soulful blues from Bedford singer Street Tavern his stint on I’m a Celebrity) to the pinnacle Voodoo Vegas at tonight’s OxRox show, the Brennan, best known as the voice of Chase of the pop tree, and recent times have found band back in Oxford after their headline show Tuesday 14th BEN WATT: & Status’ `All Goes Wrong’. Following his WEDNESDAY 15th them supporting The Vamps on tour as well as here last year and previously supporting Y&T, as inclusion in the BBC Sound of 2017 list, he’s on CABBAGE + THE SHIMMER BAND + a summer tour of Butlin’s and a recent intimate well as going out on tour with Status Quo, Uriah LADYHAWKE: The Bullingdon tour to promote his debut EP. APRIL: The Bullingdon – Sun-baiting indie Audience With tour that brought them to the Heap and The Answer, out on a headline tour to There were 31 years between Ben Watt’s debut SPRING KING: The Bullingdon – Laddish militants on the rise – see main preview Bullingdon last time in town. They’re still big promote debut album `The Rise of Jimmy Silver’ solo album, `North Marine Drive’, in 1983, O2 Academy garage rocking in the vein of Palma Violets, MUNCIE GIRLS + CASSELS: The Cellar news though, and with their third album due this HOLLY REDFORD JONES: Fusion Arts Looking like a young Stevie Nicks after a and its follow-up, 2014’s `Hendra’, but it’s not Vaccines et al from Manchester’s Spring Kings, – Politically-charged indie-punk in the vein of month, the boys are out on the road again, good – Soulful acoustic jazz-pop from university rock’n’roll makeover courtesy of Joan Jett, like he was slacking or suffering some kind back in town on tour to promote last year’s debut Alvvays and Allo Darlin’ from Exeter’s Muncie time boy band pop and r’n’b mixed in with big student Holly, launching her new EP `The Future’ Ladyhawke – Pip Brown to her mum – might of creative block. There were the 15 years he album `Tell Me If You Want To’. Girls, out on tour to promote debut album `From ballads and cute looks. tonight, inspired by Nina Simone, Leonard Cohen not do OTT style but she more than makes up spent as one half of Everything But the Girl OPEN MIC SESSION: The White Hart, Caplan To Belize’, and joined tonight by local DEADBEAT APOSTLES + COUNTRY FOR and Joni Mitchell. for it in the big pop song stakes. That’s big with long-time partner (and now wife) Tracey Wolvercote (4-8pm) – Open session for singers, guitar warriors Cassels. OLD MEN + THE DAN McKEAN BAND: FLUID: The Cellar – Bass, grime and pop songs with simply enormous choruses; Thorn, which included two platinum albums musicians, poets and more. GALACTIC EMPIRE: O2 Academy – Re- The Bullingdon – EP launch show from this drum&bass club night. in fact, such is Ladyhawke’s way with a pop and another eight gold ones, plus myriad arranged from December - Heavy metal from the month’s Demo of the Month winners with their U2 BABY: Fat Lil’s, Witney – U2 covers for hook, there are probably millions of folk chart singles. And then there were those years th big-hearted, country-tinged 60s-styled soul. newborns. out there who could whistle a handful of her spent as a club DJ, remixer, label owner and MONDAY 13 th MARY BENDYTOY + DAWN RAISERS: The singles without even being able to tell you club host, indulging his love of deep house in OHHMS + MAMMOTH WEED WIZARD Monday 13 Jericho Tavern – Industrial gothic rocking from th who Ladyhawke is. Early singles like `Paris particular. And his lengthy battle with a life- BASTARD: The Cellar – Stoner/sludge/doom SUNDAY 19 Mary Bendytoy at tonight’s It’s All About the BLOODSTOCK – MUSIC FOR THE Is Burning’ (produced by Peaches), `My threatening auto-immune disease. Oh, and a beast war double bill devastation ahoy – see main OHHMS / Music show. MASSES: The Bullingdon – Rock and Delirium’ and `From Dusk Til Dawn’ sound couple of autobiographies. So three decades preview CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford metal battle of the bands to win a place at this like they might have escaped from an early- probably flew by before he returned to his first BEN WATT: The Bullingdon – Back to his MAMMOTH WEED Community Centre summer’s Bloodstock festival. Tonight’s heat 1980s radio playlist, recalling everyone from love – 60s jazz-folk. On his first album he rustic jazz/folk-rock roots for the Everything But SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half features Silk Road, Her Despair, 13 Burning, Kim Wilde and Bananarama to Cyndi Lauper worked with Kevin Coyne and Robert Wyatt, the Girl chap – see main preview WIZARD BASTARD: Moon Chaos Theory and Molotov Sexbomb. and Gary Numan, but stamped with Brown’s while for `Hendra’ he teamed up with Suede’s KATE NASH: O2 Academy – Return of the ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure SELF HELP + ADAM & ELVIS + CORA own emotional identity. Having grown up in Bernard Butler, and a mere two year after north London singer-songwriter, out on tour The Cellar Forget Robot Wars; forget Jaegers vs Kaiju BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford PEARL + MARK ATHERTON & FRIENDS + New Zealand, playing in a series of grunge that, he was back again with last year’s `Fever to promote what will likely be the release of in Pacific Rim; tonight sees one serious ASTEROX: The Wheatsheaf (2.30pm) – Klub bands before decamping to Australia and Dream’, continuing his journey into rustic her fourth album – a follow-up to 2013’s `Girl heavyweight head-to-head as Canterbury’s th Kakofanney host a free afternoon of live music in making her way into synthier territory, she folk-rock (ironic given Thorn’s autobiography Talk’, having survived the backlash against her FRIDAY 17 OHHMS roll out on a joint tour with the Sheaf’s downstairs bar. found herself lauded at the Australian music described how ETBG did everything in their following the success of 2007’s debut `Made NEARLY NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH Wrexham’s Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard awards before wider stardom beckoned. power to avoid anything even remotely rock). of Bricks’ and its associated hits `Foundations’ FLYIN’ BIRDZ: O2 Academy – A tribute to (pictured). OHHMS mix of prog, doom, sludge Following her exceptional eponymous debut Inspired by Pentangle, John Martyn and Crazy and `Caroline is a Victim’, which drew her up Noel Gallagher’s High Flyin’ Birds. Hold that th and stoner noise has its roots in classic 60s and MONDAY 20 and 2012’s `Anxiety’, she re-emerged last year Horse, it’s soulful, bluesy and the right sort of alongside Arctic Monkeys and Jamie T as a though in your head for a moment, dear reader. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim 70s heavy rock but is inventively updated on with third album, the exuberantly poppy and ragged, his songs rooted in an almost mystical pop-friendly documenter of the mundane, with Then proceed to the edge of the nearest cliff and STEVE KNIGHTLEY: Nettlebed Folk Club – their debut album `Bloom’ and follow-up EP unashamedly 80s-flavoured `Wild Things’, and England of hills and fields, and if it does share tales of crap boyfriends, pubs, kitchens and the hurl yourself into blissful oblivion. Intimate show at Nettlebed’s legendary folk club `Cold’ - both two-track behemoths with titles if she takes her time between releases, each one one thing with his former band, it’s a sense of top decks of buses. Her songwriting strength – HIDDEN CHARMS: The Cellar – Bluesy for Show of Hands frontman Knightley. like `Dawn of the Swarm’, that pummel, grind is worth waiting for. understated elegance. including for Rita Ora recently – and dedicated, psychedelic pop with a heavy 60s and early 70s and groove somewhere in the vast canyons low-level activism and fundraising has kept her vibe from London’s Hidden Charms, out on tour st going and earned her an enduring fanbase. between Isis, Mastodon, Pink Floyd and Torche in the wake of their new single `Cannonball’. TUESDAY 21 guitar veteran Pete Boss at tonight’s Haven club, tour to promote his solo debut album `Serious JACKSON LIVE: The New Theatre – Big – stylish and confident and inventive enough to MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER: The ALPINES: The Cellar – Shrill, anodyne electro- alongside funky bluesman Tom Ivey. Poke’. Support from psychedelic troubadour and stage Michael Jackson tribute. escape the intense gravity of those influences. Bullingdon – Straight outta Surrey, bespectacled, pop and r’n’b from the Kingston-upon-Thames THE BEAT BOUDOIR: The Library – New honorary Oxfordian Anton Barbeau, with his Syd OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard (recommended besuited and elegantly moustachioed chap-rapper duo, out on tour to promote new album `Another retro 50s and 60s r’n’b club night with live music Barrett/Robyn Hitchcock-inspired freak-pop, McGOLDRICK, McCUSKER & DOYLE: to us last year by Emilie at Truck Store) are the Mr B, gives hip hop a run through with the River’, following previous tour supports to from local vintage garage rockers The Count of alongside Su Jordan. Nettlebed Folk Club – Another chance to catch best thing to come out of their home town since Queen’s English, coming in at that point where Emilie Sandé and Florence and the Machine. Three, featuring former Talulah Gosh/Heavenly FREERANGE ROOTS: The Bullingdon – three of the contemporary folk scene’s leading Joey Jones and musically are a fair reflection De la Soul meets Noel Coward and Flanders and SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James man Peter Momthchiloff and Les Clochards’ Ian Roots reggae and dub soundsystem with guests lights together in an intimate setting, with the of their name: they’re huge; they exist in a Swann. Or maybe NWA if they’d grown up in Street Tavern Nixon. The Bug with Reggae Roast. Transatlantic Sessions trio back at Nettlebed’s dense stoner haze; there’s magic in their dark Hove and been more interested in cricket and fine OSPREY & FRIENDS: St. Aldates Tavern – CRYSTALLITE + ANDY WRIGHT + CROW’S REIGN + KILL FOR COMPANY + renowned weekly club – Michael McGoldrick fairytales and they rock. Like bastards. Recent tea. Fortnightly jam session with local blues veteran EASTER ISLAND STATUES: The Jericho APE: The Wheatsheaf – Thrash and metalcore plays flute, whistles and uillean pipes, with John album `Y Proffwyd Dwyll’ (The False Prophet) THE OUTSIDE + KUIPER + FREEMANTLE Osprey and chums. Tavern – It’s All About the Music night. from local heavyweights Crow’s Reign, plus tech McCusker on fiddle and John Doyle on vocals is dark and sludgy, hypnotic and relentless and + KHAMSINA: The Wheatsheaf – It’s All BIG BOY BLOATER: Fat Lil’s, Witney – and progressive metal and thrash from Kill For and guitar for a run through of their combined the band use strings and synths to take it down About the Music local bands showcase. WEDNESDAY 22nd Classic r’n’b, rockabilly, blues and surf from Company in support. catalogues and traditional numbers. several notches from standard stoner/doom GROAK + DRORE + SCUMBAG: The NEON WALTZ: The Cellar – Elegant REWS: Fusion Arts – Tigmus host London/ noise, with the influence of John Carpenter, Library – Fantastically dark-hearted sludge, indie rock in the vein of Elbow, The Belfast duo Rews with their anthemic mix of Hawkwind and even Prokofiev apparent amid TUESDAY 14th doom and crust noise from Leeds’ Groak at Coral and Shack from Neon Waltz, garage pop and electro-tinged grunge. the unrelenting riffage. So do yourself a favour tonight’s Smash Disco show, their harrowing, probably the Britain’s northernmost pop KIERAN HALPIN + DAMIEN CLARKE: LADYHAWKE: O2 Academy – The pop lady and give your ears the punishment they deserve. flies again – see main preview slow-burning downtuned demon-core perfectly band, hailing from Thurso. Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under-Wychwood – suited to The Library’s confined, underground RATS EAT RATS + ROSE SEGAL Wychwood Folk Club host veteran Irish CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS: The Bullingdon – A return to town space. Brilliantly virulent doom/crust noise from + SAMUEL EDWARDS: The singer-songwriter Kieran Halpin, out on tour to Drore in support. Wheatsheaf – Euphoric grunge rocking th for cult Americana hero and former-Green On promote his 20 album, `The Devil & His Deals’, SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Classic soul, from newcomers Rats Eat Rats at his intelligent, rough-hewn traditional folk Red frontman Chuck Prophet at tonight’s Empty Room show, the Telecaster master having played funk and disco club night. tonight’s It’s All About the Music show. songwriting having seen him covered by the likes THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Mad Hatter of The Battlefield Band, Vin Garbutt and Dolores alongside Jonathan Richman, Warren Zevon and Lucinda Williams since going solo, earning DAMN GOOD REASON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – THURSDAY 23rd Keane, amongst a host of others, as well as being Rock covers. critical praise rather more than commercial PETE BOSS + THE TOM IVEY translated into German, Spanish and Finnish HOWLIN’ TAILDRAGGERS: Red Hot Blues, success for his unwillingness to play it safe, BAND: The Bullingdon – Slowhand along the way. Didcot while mixing up blues, country, rock’n’roll, punk blues from Clapton-inspired local Karl Blau’ – his 21st, and ironically an album of calling The MC5 and Mudhoney. They’re joined covers of songs by the likes of Waylon Jennings, by Bristol’s punishing, distorted noise rock and Link Wray and Tom T Hall. Blau’s singularly maths-y strangeness, Downward, plus decidedly eclectic and idiosyncratic approach to American offbeat weirdo noisemakers Old Ernie. roots music sees him taking influences from BROADSIDE BALLADS: Holywell Music Philly soul, grunge and surf rock as well as Room – A trip back in time through five classic r’n’b and campfire folk, while his rich, centuries of broadsides – single sheet, low-cost soothing voice has been compared to Glenn songsheets, produced from the 16th Century Campbell and Charlie Rich. onwards – in the company of three of Britain’s Wednesday 15th CLONE ROSES: O2 Academy – Stone Roses most acclaimed contemporary folk artists: singer tribute. and fiddle player Lisa Knapp; singer and song CABBAGE / THE SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM with THE collector, and regular visitor to Oxfordshire, MAJESTIC: The Cellar – Count Skylarkin’s Sam Lee, and experimental composer and sound SHIMMER BAND / monthly reggae, dancehall and roots club night artist Nathaniel Mann, the trio having explored welcomes London roots crew The Majestic to the Bodleian’s archives to unearth lost songs APRIL: The Bullingdon the party, the quintet formed in the 1980s by and melodies, which will be re-arranged and If you can judge a person by their enemies Tony Alli and Faada Ras and now enjoying a revitalised tonight in the suitably historic setting then the same can be said of bands. We’ve resurgence in popularity thanks to acclaimed sets of Europe’s oldest purpose-built concert venue. loved Cabbage since we heard their `Uber at Boomtown and a new album. On the decks THE EPSTEIN + SEAN TAYLOR: The Old Capitalist Death Trade’ single last year, Skylarkin plays a party-hearty mix of calypso, Fire Station – Epic folk-rock and Americana sounding like a pissed-off mash-up of Dead ska, rocksteady, dancehall and jungle. from the longstanding local faves. Kennedys and Butthole Surfers, but our CHARIOTS + TILLY VALENTINE + OSPREY + BEARD OF DESTINY + regard for them went up several notches WEDNESDAY’S WOLVES: The Jericho EARINADE + TEMPER CARTEL + THE when they responded to being tipped as one Tavern – Daisy Rodgers Music night with SHAPES + ASH LEWIS: The Cellar – Local of the bands to watch by The Sun at the start local electro-pop, indie and r’n’b chap Tom promoter and bluesman Osprey celebrates his of the year. “Don’t buy The Sun; don’t even Read going out in his Chariots guise, alongside birthday in fine musical company, including walk past it without burning it or spitting Witney’s trippy jazz-pop singer and musician blues crew Beard of Destiny; drunk rockers on it,” was one of their more considered Tilly Valentine, plus twinkling indie-folk duo Earinade; elegant indie rock from Temper Cartel statements on Murdoch’s hate rag. Like Fat Wednesday’s Wolves. and goodtime 60s-flavoured r’n’b from The White Family, Cabbage are a band fuelled SOFAR SOUNDS: Venue TBC – Sofar Shapes. by disgust, and have a similarly queasy feel Oxford reach their 50th gig, continuing to HEADINGTON HILLBILLIES: The about them, particularly the sublimely grim put on evenings of eclectic live music in Whitehouse – Bluegrass and Americana from `Dinner Lady’, as they sing about Tony Blair, unusual venues, with gig locations and line- the local regulars. Jimmy Saville, North Korea and wanking ups announced two days beforehand to ticket FREEFALL: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock covers. into quiche in a public school. The hype holders. THE BITE: The Brewery Tap, Abingdon – about the outspoken Mossley quintet has SE10: The Bullingdon – Garage and grime club Classic rock covers from the local power trio. been growing over the course of four EPs in night. the space of 12 months and after a showing th at Future Perfect’s What Became of Us? SUNDAY 26 th NO HORSES + TONY BATEY & SAL Mini-festival at the Bully in November, SATURDAY 25 WHITE LIES: O2 Academy – Euphoric MOORE + PURPLE MAY + TOM IVEY + they’re back for a headline show. Remember: electro-indie rock from White Lies, out on tour MARK BOSLEY: The Wheatsheaf (3.30- Cabbage is good for you, if not something the to promote last year’s `Friends’ album, and 8.30pm) – Giddyup Music host a free afternoon establishment tends to indulge in too often. making their first visit to Oxfordshire since of live music in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar Support comes from Bristol’s psych-rockers headlining Truck in 2014. THE BAND OF HOPE + THE MIGHTY The Shimmer Band, who spent last summer DUSKY LIVE: O2 Academy – Eclectic club REDOX: Florence Park Community Centre playing every festival going, including night set from the London EDM duo, plugging (2-5pm) – The monthly Sunday Sessions hosts Reading and Leeds, Isle of Wight and The long-awaited second album `Outer’, the follow- an afternoon of family-friendly live music, this Great Escape, while south midlands indie- up to 2011’s award-winning `Stick By This’, month with spiritual Americana crew The Band noise crew April bring some classic Baggy/ their wide-ranging take on house and techno of Hope, plus veteran blues, ska, psychedelia and Britpop to open the show. taking in old school progressive house, Belgian funk party-starters The Mighty Redox. techno and ambient electronica as well as jazz singer, guitarist and radio DJ Big Boy Bloater and classical. th and his band, out to promote new album `Luxury MONDAY 27 LAST RITES + ECHO4FOUR + RAISED BY Hobo’, having previously toured with Imelda OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim HYPOCRITES + LEST WE FORGET: O2 May. CARA DILLON: Nettlebed Folk Club – Academy – Local rock and metal night at the CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Traditional folk music from the multiple award- O2 with old school metal and hard rockers Last Community Centre winning Irish singer. Rites, plus Sabbath-inspired rockers Echo4Four, SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half Witney heavyweights Raised by Hypocrites and Moon th metalcore merchants Lest We Forget. TUESDAY 28 ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with GRUB SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: James BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, + DOWNWARD + OLD ERNIE: The Street Tavern Sandford Wheatsheaf – Mixed bag of fun sounds at PRESS: The Cellar – Techno, acid and Detroit THE MIGHTY DISCO BISCUITS: Fat Lil’s, this month’s GTI with Grub’s big fat mess of house club night. Witney – Classic soul, funk and disco covers. superfuzzed riffage and grungy garage rock re FRIDAY 24th KANADIA + DIRTY ORANGE + BEAVER FUEL: The Wheatsheaf – Intricately anthemic indie rocking from rising local stars Kanadia at tonight’s OxRox show, alongside London’s indie-grungers Dirty Orange and punk-pop poets Beaver Fuel. KARL BLAU: The Bullingdon – Halfway to 75 host a rare opportunity to catch Washington State’s maverick folk and country veteran, over Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month - no exceptions. Email listings in the UK to promote new album `Introducing to [email protected]. All listings are copyright Nightshift Magazine. takes lo-fi to a quite literal conclusion. Tenth Listen are in no mood to take things too HAZE LIVE seriously. Singer and Dave Gahan lookalike Jonny Robbo lies down and plays dead over his The Bullingdon If Oxford gig crowds have a bands were (mis)shaping alternative set list when I try to sneak a photo of it, while the reputation for being reserved, no-one rock into exciting new shapes. drummer spends most of the set throwing sticks told Haze’s fans. From the off they’re Not that Haze are an easy paint-by- at the errant guitarist. The punk influence is still photo: Jonny Moto a pogo-ing, pulsating moshpit, all numbers amalgam of cool influences evident, though this is more in the Damned style limbs and excess energy, a mess of they probably won’t even recognise. of catchy melodies latched on to high velocity giddy youthful enthusiasm that neatly They’ve got a directness and songs, confrontational and loosely played but with reflects the band’s music. urgency about them that carefully an endearing degree of maturity. Unearthing a new young band you avoids sliding down the punk-pop If we thought things couldn’t get any angrier feel you could pin your dreams to path most travelled, coupled with an and more punk Scrap Brain are only too happy is one of the ineffable pleasures of often abstract approach to melody to prove us wrong, rumbling, grungy guitar and going out to review gigs every other that makes them far harder to second ramshackle playing accompany lyrics delivered night, and Haze, for all their still guess than you might imagine. as an urgent, desperate manifesto, while the rough edges, are a shiny bauble of Their multi-way vocal interaction is drummer appears to play with her eyes shut a band in the typically bleak festive cleverly utilised and the drummer throughout. Lyrical content is about as bleak period gig calendar. has the power to carry everything as can be, summed up in “Take a sad song and They’re something of an old over the line with energy to spare. make it hardcore”. What makes them stand out is indie git’s trainspotter dream too: Set highlights include a seriously the feeling that they actually mean it, unlike the within the first three numbers dirgy T-Rex-style boogie and a hordes of bands who casually play around with we’re thinking REM if they’d gone finale that sounds like someone took nihilism and self-loathing as nothing more than a down the trash-pop route; Arctic `Killing in the Name Of’ apart to see half-hearted stance. Monkeys if they’d decided to be how it worked, then deliberately put Generacion Suicida have come all the way from Motӧrhead’s impish lovechildren, it back together the wrong way. If LA, and south central LA at that, living in what and a refurbished take on The they’re not a sleek, well-honed pop was once the dividing line between Bloods and GENERACION SUICIDA / SCRAP BRAIN / Wonderstuff’s early ebullient indie machine quite yet, Haze are at least Crips territory. A proudly Latino punk band thrash. At times they have the aimed in that direction. The fun part TENTH LISTEN / COWLEY CHAINSAWS singing exclusively in Spanish, the breathlessly irresistible abrasiveness of The is watching them get there via a less fast, bouncy bass and drums confirm their love Replacements, at others the stubborn than direct route. If you’re in any The Library of The Ramones, while the guitar has a lighter, pop brilliance of That Petrol doubt, just ask one of the sweaty, The wonderfully named Cowley Chainsaws to compromise to the corporate dollar and those spectral edge with touches of goth and Mexican Emotion, at which point we have to grinning kids emerging from the kick off another great Smash Disco night with taking the more purist, nihilistic route. The folk traditions. If only the songwriting lived up to stop and remind ourselves none of moshpit. They know. a theme of DIY punk (two bands are selling Chainsaws are compromising to no-one, a dense this intriguing premise we would have a band truly Haze were even born when those Dale Kattack cassettes), and a grateful Library is packed to the jungle of amphetamine-fuelled riffs and strangled to be reckoned with. As things stand we can only gills. They neatly revive the 1977 era when punk vocals, with chords changing several times a hope that they can turn out some killer tunes to had moved on from radical novelty but before it second. While difficult to judge their true worth bring them the recognition they surely deserve. had factionalised and split into the bands willing at least it’s more coherent than the tape, which Art Lagun RATS EAT RATS / CAMCORDER / WOLFS / COMPULSORY PRIMAL of Atzmon’s `Gaza Mon Amour’. They start the Should Desert Storm ever blow themselves out, GILAD ATZMON, second set with a fine version of Thelonious Crimson Tusk would be more than able to take RESPONSE SAUL RUBIN AND Monk’s ‘Round Midnight’, which seems to fine over their stoner rock mantle. Theirs is a world tune them for the rest of half which consists filled with gore-toothed mammoths, clouds of The Wheatsheaf YARON STAVI mainly of ballads; in particular their playing weed smoke, Wizard Bastards (probably) and Imagine if Rob Newman hadn’t raise some roof; we mean rooves; we ‘Central Park’ has a compelling calm beauty. gigantic riffs pulled directly from the Iommi Book gone away and quietly become an mean roofs. The Albion Beatnik While the pastiche made of their final number is Of The Dead (Heavy). The relentless tide of low erudite political activist, but had There’s a marked increase in polish rather out-of-tune with what has gone before and slung heavily-grooved sludge that explodes from instead followed the “comedy is the and experience with Woking’s Bookstore a bit of a let-down, this is classic jazz in a setting the stage is thrilling and all enveloping, as are the new rock‘n’roll” ethos to its logical Camcorder, songs suddenly sounding Albion Beatnik Bookshop’s proprietor, the that can hardly have been more suitable and a band’s obvious Sabbath and Clutch influences. conclusion by living off speedballs rehearsed, arranged and generally genial Dennis, has joined the ranks of Oxford’s great advert for jazz at the Albion Bookshop. But Crimson Tusk doesn’t sound like a band aping and sandwiches for the past 20 years, nurtured, their set a tidy parade independent promoters by putting on regular Colin May their heroes but instead cutting its own rut. and you’ve imagined Compulsory of crunchy distortion and chunky jazz nights, and though it’s a cold, dank January When is an EP launch not an EP launch? When Primal Response’s drummer. With a choruses, as if The Foo Fighters were night, one of Oxford’s more unusual and homely there aren’t any EPs at the EP launch gig. When song called `Fuck The Government’ signed to Fat Wreck Chords. We’ll music venues is packed. They’ve come to hear LET LOOSE / CRIMSON an EP falls in the forest, and there’s nobody there and another called `Dave’s Gone confess we get a little bored half way London-based Israeli sax player Gilad Atzmon, to hear it, does it make a sound? A further riddle is For A Piss’, this scrappy punk trio’s through, but they get a deservedly with his regular double bassist Yaron Stavi, who TUSK / SILK ROAD how Silk Road aren’t a stoner band; Crimson Tusk watches permanently read half-past- appreciative reception. are frequent visitors to the city. This time they’ve must have been expecting to score tonight once give-a-shit, and their joyfully inept Nothing like Rats Eat Rats’ brought with them guitarist Saul Rubin, a veteran The Wheatsheaf they’d seen the headliner. No drop-tuned primal set could have come from absolutely reception, though; it’s not often of the New York grassroots scene from which he’s It’s often said that you can have too much of a swamp riffs here, instead they’re a classic rock any year since 1978: History Today. we see a sizable, bouncing crowd emerged from time to time to play in the high- good thing. The truth is you can have too much band, the likes of which haven’t been seen since “We are Wolf; I mean Wolves; I chanting a band’s name at their first profile bands of Roy Hargrove and Sonny Rollins. of a thing, whether it is good or not. What unites the late 80s. They’ve got a guitarist that solos with mean Wolfs”: proof that Google- gig. It takes more than a claque of Atzmon characteristically plays runs with masses these diverse bands tonight, beyond a desire to the indulgence/virtuosity (delete as you see fit) friendly band names can seem less beery mates to make a debut, of of notes very fast, and at times bends over the rock out is that they could do with learning to quit of Eddie Van Halen; their vocalist is filled with a clever when you have to pronounce course, and Rats Eat Rats prove seated Rubin as if goading him on. But it is his when they’re ahead. Each of them make their mark swagger that would be horrific if it didn’t fit the them onstage (at least Wolfs has to be pretty great, taking the self- beautifully languid, liquid sound when he picks and then push it just a little too far. Less really can band so well. There’s a moment where he coos got some bloody vowels). Dubious conscious, awkwardly euphoric up his soprano sax to play a ballad that we love be more. along with a guitar part in a Percy/Page manner plurals aside, they’re a fresh, crisp end of early grunge and ladling out most about his playing. Stavri has a couple of Let Loose’s take on blues is fairly generic, but that should be ludicrous, but somehow isn’t. When drums/guitar duo, with a strong a brackish stew of `Bleach’ and beguilingly sinuous double bass solos but largely is played with a degree of energy and force that they’ve got their foot to the floor and let rip, Silk melodic sense and some lithe and `Gish’. There’s the odd rhythmic confines himself to being the rhythm section to elevates them above being just another band Road are a curiously exciting prospect, sounding sprightly tunes, which nod towards sloppiness, and the two guitars can avoid his strings clashing with Rubin’s guitar. It is working around 12 golden bars that are fast losing like the pre-Pearl Jam glamour pusses Mother the smiley scuzz of Smudge and muddy the sound, but there’s a wired Rubin who turns out to be the star of the night; he their lustre. Their cover of `Lucille’ is particularly Love Bone. The problem is that they can’t sustain early Lemonheads, but they’re at attractive insouciance about the band is clearly still in love with playing and exploring roaring; they manage to blow up their amp for their inventiveness over the course of an hour and their best with straight-up rockers (especially the vocalist, who looks the guitar and comes up with some surprising a start, and their bass player’s ominous rumble end up flailing around with some quite forgettable like the LA slum glam of `Mirror’ like Julian Rhind-Tutt reliving Thom twists. Above all he has a wonderful touch; this is almost (but not quite) pulls them into a strange mid-paced pomp that fails to impress. Still, the and dumbass Kiss pastiche `We Yorke’s earliest press shots), and we a player who can make his guitar talk. land inhabited by both MC5 and Melvins. Then, EP that doesn’t exist and the song with no name Came Here To Rock’. If this expect them to be local favourites The three perform two sets mostly of classic jazz inexplicably, the bass and drum solos start, a time should be worth checking out. promising young band can relax and before 2017’s out. numbers with the exception of a soulful rendition in any set where stopping would be a good idea. Sam Shepherd be a little less studied, they could David Murphy INTRODUCING.... Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under 1000 Chains Who are they? 1000 Chains are a melodic rock metal band from Oxfordshire featuring former members of local heavyweight heroes Black Candy, Mindsurfer, Days of Grace and Near Life Experience. They are Dave Todd (vocals); Jonny McNeil (guitar); Luke Rickett (guitar); Derek Clementson-Mobbs (bass) and Sam Howitt (drums – currently out of action due to injury, his place temporarily taken by Chris Brown). Jonny, Sammy and Luke got together a few years ago and started jamming, with the intention of being heavy but melodic. As such they “took our time auditioning singers, rather than shouters and screamers, as the perfect counterpoint to our sound.” Regular gigging around Oxford was followed by an eponymous debut EP at the end of 2016. What do they sound like? As they say themselves, heavy but melodic. There are recognisable elements of all their former acts in the band’s sound, which joins the dots between heaviness, an old school stoner-rock vibe with some classic edged riffing!” classic thrash, djent, nu-metal and early 80s metal and heavy rock, while the If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: emphasis on melody and vocal harmonies, combined with a strong technical “Faith No More: `The Real Thing’. This was a tough one; Faith No More edge and all-out riffage gives them a strong identity of their own. was a name that came up most when we discussed it, although the album was What inspires them? harder to choose. It’s Mike Patton’s first album with the band; collectively we “The energy of a live performance, feeding back from the crowd, creating love the mix of styles, heaviness and melodic textures.” and playing music. Most of our lyrics are inspired by injustice in society and When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? a need to change things for the better.” “18th of February at The Cellar. Expect heavy, melodic riffage, soaring vocals Their career highlight so far: and debauchery! Oh, and a chance to buy our EP and T-shirts.” “Supporting Desert Storm at a hometown show.” Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: And the lowlight: “The diverse range of music available to go and see live in the city, and the “Turning up to a gig to discover the sound man had done a runner with the hard working promoters are our favourite thing. Our least favourite is hearing PA system.” people complain fact that they have to pay to see live music.” Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: You might love them if you love: “There are lots of great bands of many genres in Oxfordshire, but our current Alter Bridge; Tool; Mastodon; Black Sabbath; Iron Maiden; Faith No More. favourite is Desert Storm. Some of us have known those guys for years and Hear them here: really respect what they do. They have a great sound, a real groove, a mix of Soundcloud.com/1000chains or 1000chainsuk.bandcamp.com.

Dr SHOTOVER: Street Life THIS MONTH IN OXFORD T H E W H E A T S H E A F Ah, there you are, Winthorpe. A warm East Indies Club bar welcome to you ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY Wednesday 1st February – IDIOT KING AND your retro tartan wallet on this dreich old Burns Night. Congratulations, wee man, it’s your round - for the foreseeable future. Or at least until I 20 YEARS AGO year of mixed fortunes for Richard, whose song flag for independent music retail on Cowley `All At Sea’ was used on CSI Miami but who Road. The store – happily still with us today GANG KANCHO 7:45pm say stop. Mine’s a quadruple Loch Peatie with neeps, tatties, an Aberdeen Following on from its successful launch in Friday 3rd February – KLUB KAKOFANNEY rowie and a fried Curly Wurly in batter on the side. Slàinte! You will, I am January with Dustball’s `Senor Nacho’, Shifty had also suffered an epileptic seizure just as – hosted a weekend of live music, with sets sure, have had your own tea… Now, where were we? Oh yes, investigating Disco’s singles club followed it up with The he was about to play for an audience of record from Danny & the Champions of the World; ‘Roads of Rock’ in East Oxford. We’ve already noted The Slade, Nick Cave Unbelievable Truth’s debut single, `Building’, company execs in The States. As last year’s Nick Cope; Spring Offensive; Jess Hall; Deer CRYSTALLITE `A.M.’ album, and the airplay afforded `Awards Chicago and Gunning For Tamar, among ANTON BARBEAU + MAMSEN + CHARMS AGAINST THE EVIL EYE 7:45pm Street and Bryan Ferry the band fronted by Andy Yorke going on to th others. Saturday 4 February – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC Road. That’s right, sign a deal with Virgin and hit the charts with Night’ showed, the man’s talent shows no sign Winthorpe, the obvious their album `Almost Here’ in 1998. of fading. Talking of shops, this month’s cover star was Chief among this month’s gigs was the NME maverick MC and hip hop producer Asher SHOTGUN SIX + GOUL + CPR 7:45pm ones. Getting slightly In the days before we took BBC Introducing GLUEMAN Dust, pictured sat in a sweetie shop, which was Friday 10h February – OXROX more left-field… Wendy in Oxford for granted, Oxygen FM became Awards Tour at Brookes University, with James Street… Giant the first university radio station in the country Klaxons, CSS, Sunshine Underground Band a neat reflection of his pick’n’mix approach to THE BLACK BULLETS Sandfield Road… The to be awarded a permanent FM license and and New Young Pony Club the new acts we electronic music. He talked about his childhood Plain Jayn. Very good. promising local music with its weekly Super were ordered to love. Jamie T was also up at singing with his dad’s pioneering sound system, PSYCHOLIES + DISCIPLES OF SIN 7:45pm being signed to EMI and ZTT, working with Saturday 11th February – TWO FACE PROMOTIONS Kings of Leon Close...? 8 show, presented by Andy Clyde and Pete Brookes, while Regina Spektor was at the Trevor Horn and Paul Hardcastle and finding OK, why not. The Artist Vickerman. Town Hall and Bat For Lashes, Alton Ellis himself awarded Nightshift’s Demo of the Formerly Known As A proper legend was in town this month with and And You Will Know Us By The Trail of CROW’S REIGN KILL FOR COMPANY 7:45pm Month and being stuck in the Demo Dumper. th PRINCE’s Street – yes, I Peter Green’s visit to The Zodiac, the former Dead were all at The Zodiac. Friday 17 February – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC “Both my parents are born again Christians see what you did there, Fleetwood Mac man backed by his Splinter In other local music action, Goldrush, now, so they believe I’m making the Devil’s Winthorpe. [Regally] Group. Legend in waiting PJ Harvey was at Chantelle Pike, Laima Bite and The Walk THE OUTSIDE KUIPER + FREEMANTLE + KHAMSINA 7:45pm music,” he laughed, while proving the Devil th You MAY get another The Playhouse, performing Dancehall at Louse Off all released new CDs, while top of the Saturday 18 February – OXROX really does have all the best tunes. round in. Nick Mason’s Point with long-time collaborator John Parish demo pile was Umair Chaudhrey’s Monday Five years on from his front cover feature, Road and Lisa Stansfield and choreographer Mark Bruce. Morning Sun project: “the musical equivalent VOODOO VEGAS KIKAMORA + HAXAN 7:45pm Close? Yup, we’ll allow Richard Walters was back with a new EP, nd of something nasty stalking darkened Wednesday 22 February – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC `Young Trees’, while there were releases for ‘em. Don Henley Street? corridors,” according to the review. By contrast, Vienna Ditto (`Bells’); Abandon (`Monsters’), No, I don’t think so, 10 YEARS AGO Wasted Potential were dismissed as “the ROSE SEGAL + SAMUEL EDWARDS 7:45pm and Shaker Heights (`Sitting in the Fire’ / RATS EAT RATS Winthorpe. Just get the Angel-voiced local pop darling Richard musical equivalent of tepid cabbage water. Friday 24th February – OXROX Poised As Robots’), a promo sticker for which drinks in, line ‘em up Walters graced the cover of February Wasted Potential? What fucking potential?” and collect your coat. 2007’s Nightshift, at the time signed to still graces the wall of the gents loo at The KANADIA DIRTY ORANGE + FLOWERPOT + BEAVER FUEL 7:45pm The rest of you - cheers! Warner Chappell Publishing and Courtyard Wheatsheaf, complete with defamatory graffiti. Saturday 25th February – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES Down the proverbial Management (who also looked after Radiohead 5 YEARS AGO Big gig of the month was dubstep hero/hate Hollow Way! Bryan: ‘I’m just sooo pleased to have a road and Supergrass), working with Noel Hogan We always enjoy a bit of good news here at figure Skrillex at the O2 Academy, while down OLD ERNIE DOWNARD + GRUB 7:45pm Next month: in East Oxford named after me. I cannot ask of The Cranberries, and Bjork and Britney Nightshift, and in February 2012 Truck Store in the demo pages, Dallas Don’t topped the pile, The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Ron Wood Farm for… more than this’. Spears producer Guy Sigworth. It had been a was celebrating its first anniversary flying the making their presence felt for the first time.

one, `We Will Wake’, is among his better their songs and are therefore reduced to efforts, a fuller arrangement, including hurling infantile insults at the perpetrators some extravagant violin work and sweet, while they sit back and touch themselves middle distance female backing adding intimately, getting off on the verbal DEMOS darker shades of soul to his plaintive violence? Kurt here sends us two Youtube Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day singing that always makes us think of a links, neither of which work. Dedicated to at Soundworks studio in Oxford, sweet-natured child who’s just had his our sometimes Herculean task, we track courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit favourite Christmas present snatched him down of Facebook and follow the link www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift away from him but instead of weeping to his website and from there to his music. and wailing, he’s sad but hopeful it’ll Which is all on fucking Spotify. Oh, and affinity with The Mars Volta’s proggy come back if he doesn’t make a fuss. it comes accompanied by some elongated DEMO OF hardcore explorations. They balance their While highly recognisable, Trev’s voice piffle about story arcs and tragedy all 01865 240250 hardcore and prog tendencies well, taking isn’t particularly strong or wide-ranging, couched in some cod-philosophical sci-fi tight corners at pull pelt on the likes of so his simpler, acoustic songs can lack a novella that would make L. Ron Hubbard THE MONTH `Terminus Cafe’ (The Fall’s `Totally little something, but he’s easily capable blush, and his photo looks like Billy Corgan Wired’ strapped to the roof of At the of the odd decent tune or two and this is if he’d gone to a fancy dress party as Steve THE DEADBEAT Drive-In’s souped-up camper van and well worked. See you again in another six Strange from Visage. For fuck’s sake, just taken for a drive round some hairpin bends months, fella. send us a couple of songs and some wine APOSTLES in the Rockies), while they earn at least and let us do our job; or is that too fucking Blimey. Due to the absence of much three extra bonus points on `The Astronaut easy? Kurt Riley? A cunt, really. available online music until now we’d Died Smiling’ for reminding us of lost 90s DUTCH-SARNIE The heart and soul of the demo pages always had The Deadbeat Apostles down noise heroes Mint 400, all fizzing, fuzzing has always been some bedroom-based as a bluesy country act (what little we molten riffage and malicious intent. If THE DEMO dreamer cobbling something resembling could ever find certainly was). This set of they lose a bit of momentum towards the a song together on a mess of cheap home songs blows that early impression pretty middle-end of the demo, they keep most of recording equipment, with an ambition DUMPER clean out of the water. There is a distinct the invention and end on a high with `Zouk to do something that pleases them and country element at play, notably in the Puma’, and for the most part you’re left slide guitar and twang of sultry opener `I possibly a few mates and a reviewer, FUZZWALKER clinging to their coat tails with ever whiter Though of course it says a lot when some Can’t Stop the Rain’, but it’s way more rather than some grand plan to launch knuckles as thy career towards an unseen pretentious plonker whose music we can’t soulful than we’re expecting, with some their own clothing range or soundtrack precipice, probably laughing in the face of even access finishes the demo pile-up rich, gospel-flavoured backing vocals adverts for mobile phones. Which is imminent catastrophe. above a band who made the fatal mistake to lift it all up several levels. `Pilgrim’s where we find Dutch-Sarnie (don’t ask .co.uk of sending us a simple Soundcloud link TURAN AUDIO Dreams’ too is as much Nashville as it is us, we were scared to Google it in case Professional, independent CD mastering so we can actually hear just how bad they Atlanta, with its loping gait and happy- it was some niche sexual peccadillo), a ORDER#227 are. We will never, ever apologise for Artists mastered in the studio last month include; feeling-sad vibe, but as it builds to a Mind you, The Harry MacIntyre Project bloke who enjoys mixing stretched-out despairing of blokey indie rock of the sort passionate conclusion, you’re starting might as well be Genesis compared to shoegazy/space-pop guitar journeys with ANDRE CHAVES, THE FUSION PROJECT, we imagined, and hoped, had died out to get rather more Wilson Pickett or Order#227, the fall-out from the now low-rent samples of The Stones Roses, with Shed Seven, The Stereophonics and BE GOOD, DAVID ASHWORTH, OPETH, Al Green than Willie Nelson out of it. sadly defunct Junkie Brush. Here’s a Schooly D and Jessie Jackson (and even Stegofuckingsaurus. Seemingly taking RIP RIG AND PANIC, CHARLY COOMBES, The real banger, though, is final track band fronted by a guy called `Rabid’ gives us a little spot-the-sample quiz to guitar cues from `Be Here Now’ and `The Man Who Sold His Soul’, which and who claim The Exploited as a chief do while we’re listening to it). The latter’s MAX O’DONNELL, LIMBONIC ART, lyrical inspiration from Ride’s `Tarantula’, is real old school soul, leading in with influence. It’s fast, it’s ferocious and it’s speeches feature heavily on `Somebody’, NECROMANDUS, MC LARENZ FEAT. Fuzzwalker are clichéd and trite. There’s a sweet, understated Percy Sledge feel the musical equivalent of a nutcase docker along with news footage of cop shootings some nice big spangly guitar noise at the FURYAN, EMPEROR. before an epic lead vocal from Mike intent on downing sixteen pints of beer in the US, while demo highlight `Tommy start of `Continental Breakfast’, but the Ginger, coupled with some seriously without stopping for a toilet break or Ducks Fight’ sticks scattered fragments 01865 716466 [email protected] moment the singer comes in with a nasally heroic backing vocals, make it a night anything resembling conversation. They of Charles Bukowski reading over a “Well shake it up now baby,” like a cruise to remember. The arrangement and get down to it from the off with `Beadle’s somnambulating Slowdive-style guitar ship Liam Gallagher impersonator, we’re production are exceptional and while it’s Dead’ (Sample lyric: “Beadle’s dead / fog and a snare beat nicked from Tubeway reduced to wondering if Kurt Riley’s space rare to get some genuine soul music in the Beadle’s dead / Muthafucker’s telling me Army. Best moment of the entire thing is COURTYARD opera might actually be a fun alternative. pile, when it’s this good, it makes the wait that Beadle’s dead”) which sounds like a dreamy female vocal sample declaring It’s not that it’s technically inept – far from RECORDING STUDIO more than worthwhile. The Ruts’ `Babylon’s Burning’ played at “I’m off my fucking cake hole” over a 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: it – or that we don’t enjoy the occasional double speed with all the fancy reggae woozy synth squelch. It’s all a bit early- NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 Who or Kinks rip-off (admittedly very MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb bits removed and replaced with extra rage, 90s: slightly slipshod and unpolished, but occasional) but this kind of retrowank Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear while `Something In the Bag’ ups the ire that just makes it all the more appealing. rocking is the chief reason why the word Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern THE HARRY another notch with the catchy “Fuck you, Mr Sarnie hopefully addresses his CD to Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules `indie’ is now simultaneously devoid of corporate whores” chant-along chorus. `Demo of the Month’, of which (against Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. actual meaning, and synonymous with MACINTYRE Four tracks get it over and done with in stiff opposition) he falls short, but in Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. musical stagnation. There’s some right www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk seven minutes and then it’s a final “You spirit, he’s top of every demo pile of PROJECT old bollocks in the pop charts but at least In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk cunt!” and off out for more beer, coke and the past 25 years. Don’t go getting too Good grief, it usually takes us about ten it’s dressed up in shiny clothes, not faded Email: [email protected] a fight with `Pub Crawl’, like Cockney professional any time soon, y’hear. minutes of demos to start questioning denim and cheap leather jackets. Tellingly Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 Rejects never went away. It’s like the why God and the universe has chosen to there’s a post on the band’s Facebook page early 1980s all over again, and if you punish us so, but we’re kicking off with where they ask friends and fans to decide look out of your window or at the news, it KURT RILEY two corkers this month. This might be Oh for god’s sake. Do you fuckers who really was better – Blur or Oasis, 20 might as well be. Dangerous times breed top of the pile any other month but given actually want a review? You know, of your years after the question stopped having any fast, angry music; get used to it. they’re from Newbury and Basingstoke music? Or is there some secret musicians’ relevance to modern society. The correct rather than within the county borders, masochism cult where wannabe stars answer of course was always Pulp, and we’re invoking Parochial Statute 3.1 or do everything in their powers to make anyone who doesn’t get that is destined to something. They boast some seriously TREVOR WILLIAMS Time was you couldn’t stagger drunkenly sure Nightshift can’t even get to hear make music better suited to the Stone Age. impressive influences, from At the Drive- Three state of the art rehearsal rooms. into a gig or open mic session without In and Cardiacs to Slint and The Jesus For bookings. catching Trevor Williams playing, but Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to Lizard, and manage to live up to most of seemingly his guitar tuition work has [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without Call Jamie on 07917685935 them at some point, the oddball, angular taken precedence over performance, so a contact phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. We `Devious Pillar’, with its hysterical Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford all we get now are very occasional single- make no pretence to being fair, objective or open-minded and reserve the right to use juvenile glasshousestudios.org vocal lead bearing out those Cardiacs song demos like this. This particular insults while almost completely ignoring your music should we feel like it. Your Facebook claims as well as demonstrating an friends are welcome to get all huffy on your behalf, but we’ll laugh at them too. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

Sat 28th Jan • £6 adv • 8pm Fri 17th Feb • £10 adv • 6.30pm Tue 21st Mar • £21 adv • 7pm Thu 27th Apr • £15 adv • 7pm Robert Nesta Dub: Nearly Noel The Wailers While She Sleeps Bob Marley Gallagher’s High Birthday Festival Flyin’ Birdz Wed 22nd Mar • £27.50 adv • 6pm Fri 28th Apr • £23.50 adv • 7pm + Ras Keith Scott Bradlee’s Tinariwen + ZAIA Sat 25th Feb • £8 adv • 6pm Postmodern + Art Theefe + Tom Dred Last Rites, Echo4four Jukebox Sat 29th Apr • £8 adv • 6.30pm + King Lloyd and Raised By + Dan-I Hypocrites Thu 23rd Mar • £16.50 adv • 7pm Chasing Daylight + Jah Paul + Earinade Lest We Forget, Masiro Bear’s Den + Tony Dread Thu 4th May • £28 adv • 7pm Sat 25th Feb • £20 adv • 6.30pm Fri 24th Mar • £8.50 adv • 6.30pm Sat 28th Jan • £12 adv • 11pm Morgan Heritage White Lies Sonic Boom Six Switch feat. Sigma + Ghouls & Etana and Nadia Rose Sat 25th Feb • £15 adv • 11pm Sat 6th May • £16 adv • 6.30pm Dusky Live Sat 25th Mar • £15 adv • 6.30pm Sat 4th Feb • £5 adv • 10pm Circa Waves Ward Thomas Pablos Presents Fri 3rd Mar • £12 adv • 6.30pm Tue 9th May • £10 adv • 7pm Back 2 Back The Amy Winehouse Mon 27th Mar • £20 adv • 7pm Experience a.k.a Blackberry Smoke The Japnese House Sat 4th Feb • £8 adv • 11pm Lioness Tue 16th May • £13.50 adv • 7pm Fluid Featuring Mon 27th Mar • £12 adv • 7pm Holy Goof Sat 4th Mar • £8 adv • 6.30pm Pulled Apart By The Comet Is Coming Tue 7th Feb • £15 adv • 7pm Evarose Horses Loyle Carner + Veridian Thu 18th May • £27.50 adv • 7pm + A Way With Words Tue 28th Mar • £19.50 adv • 7pm The Mission Thu 9th Feb • £14 adv • 7pm Warpaint Sat 4th Mar • £13 adv • 11pm Sat 20th May • £10 adv • 6.30pm Little Comets Solardo Sessions Thu 30th Mar • £13 adv • 7pm The AC/DC The Verve Thu 9th Feb • £12 adv • 11pm Tour Experience: AJ Tracey Experience Sun 5th Mar • £11 adv • 7pm Celebrating Fri 10th Feb • £8 adv • 7pm VANT Fri 31st Mar • £10 adv • 11pm The Twentieth Uprising - White Magic Sound Anniversary of BBC Introducing Wed 8th Mar • £10 adv • 6.30pm Birthday Bash Urban Hymns Loud Mountains, Low Island, Dutch Uncles featuring Seani B Fri 9th Jun • £25 adv • 7pm Luke May, Tilly Valentine, Thu 9th Mar • 7pm Selector Hype, 2Xclusive, Stolby The Skids - Ashanti Party Shot Movements 40th Anniversary Sat 11th Feb • £11 adv • 6.30pm Sat 11th Mar • £15 adv • 11pm Sun 2nd Apr • £27.50 adv • 7pm Show Cash (A Tribute to Genres feat. DJGuv The Jesus the Man in Black) & Eksman and Mary Chain Sat 24th Jun • £18.50 adv • 7pm + Hannah Clapham MC A.M.C, Phantom MC, The Infl atables Roddy Radiation, Voltage Tue 4th Apr • £16 adv • 7pm Sat 11th Feb • £15 adv • 10.30pm Mallory Knox The Skabilly Rebels, King Noisia Mon 13th Mar • £20 adv • 7pm Hammond, The Rude Boy + Lonely The Brave + Ivy Lab Laura Marling Mafi a, Madan Scorcher, + Fatherson Darren Bennet Monday 13th Feb • £14 adv • 7pm Tue 14th Mar • £12 adv • 7pm Kate Nash Bonafi de Fri 7th Apr • £15 adv • 7pm Sat 7th Oct • £13 adv • 6.30pm + Tequila Mockingbyrd Tigertailz The Smyths: Thu 14th Feb • £14 adv • 7pm + Killer Bee Strangeways Here Ladyhawke Tue 11th Apr • £14 adv • 7pm We Come Tour + ISLE Wed 15th Mar • £14.50 adv • 7pm (hed)p.e. Lucy Spraggan Fri 3rd Nov • £23 adv • 6.30pm Wed 15th Feb • £10 adv • 6.30pm Fri 21st Apr • £8 adv • 6.30pm From The Jam Galactic Empire Sat 18th Mar • £20 adv • 6.30pm Coast To Coast & “The Gift” + Sithu Aye Half Man Half Biscuit Better Than Never 35th Anniversary Thu 16th Feb • £20 adv • 7.30pm Tue 21st Mar • £8.50 adv • 7pm Sat 22nd Apr • £15 adv • 7pm Anniversary Of Union J Declan McKenna Electric Six Urban Hymns

o2academyoxford.co.uk 190 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE • Doors 7pm unless stated Venue box offi ce opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-4pm ticketweb.co.uk • wegottickets.com • seetickets.com • gigantic.com