[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 272 March Oxford’s Music Magazine 2018

“When you’re on a bill with Sean Paul, Foals and Groove Armada you have to be heavier and more brutal then you’ve ever been.”

Oxford’s rock beasts on getting heavier, and hitting the road again Also in this issue: COMMON PEOPLE, TRUCK, CORNBURY & NOCTURNE announce line-ups Introducing SELF HELP plus All your Oxford music news, previews and reviews, and six pages of local gigs for March 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

Brookes’ Dr Dai Griffiths; long- time Nightshift contributors Richard THE JACKSONS, THE NEW POWER GENERATION, JAMES Ramage and Sam Shepherd; AND RIDE are among the star names announced for this year’s Common Professor Martin Clunes from People. Glasgow University; former The two-day festival returns to South Park for its third outing over the Sandman editor Jan Webster; BBC weekend of the 26th-27th May. Introducing in Oxford producer Liz The Jacksons head up a day of disco, funk, reggae and soul on the Green; Irregular Folks organiser Saturday; the legendary family band are joined on the main stage by Vez Hoper, and musicians Mike Prince’s former backing band The New Power Generation, plus glam-pop/ NILE RODGERS & CHIC, Monaghan (drummer with Gaz art-rock pioneers Sparks; British reggae and r’n’b heroes Aswad; 70s NOEL GALLAGHER AND Coombes, Willie Healey and St disco hitmakers Boney M; New York hip hop crew Jungle Brothers; ELVIS COSTELLO are the latest Etienne) and Mike Smith from Lucy ragga DJ General Levy, and Common People regulars The Cuban names to be added to Blenheim Leave, who’ll be discussing their Brothers. Palace’s Nocturne Live series of previous demo reviews. Sunday features joint headline sets from Manchester’s indie darlings concerts in June. legendary funk The day runs from 9.45am through James and local shoegaze icons Ride, and they’re joined by Newcastle and disco band Chic, best known for til 4pm and is free and open to alt.rockers Maximo Park; funk and soul party starter Craig Charles; hits like `Le Freak’, `Good Times’ the public, although registration The London African Gospel Choir performing Paul Simon’s seminal and `Everybody Dance’, as well as is required: visit pmrubrookes. `Gracelands’ album; Oxford electro-pop rising stars Low Island, and a Rodgers’ collaborations with David wordpress.com/events for more return trip for Elvis-fronted Nirvana tribute act Elvana. More acts are set Bowie, Diana Ross, Daft Punk and details and to register. to be announced. Madonna, open the four-night series Beyond the main stage there’s a strong local showing on the dance stage, of shows on Thursday 14th June. SPARK SIDE OF THE MOON with Simple’s Em Williams; Count Skylarkin; Burt Cope; Natty Mark Support comes from Soul II Soul. is back at The Half Moon on a and White Magic among those on the decks. The following night Noel Gallagher fortnightly basis from this month. And back again is the Uncommon Stage, curated by Nightshift and performs, while on Saturday 16th The long-running open mic night, featuring 20 Oxford acts over the two days. Saturday features Deadbeat Elvis Costello is joined at the palace hosted by veteran local musician Apostles; Inner Peace Records; Tiger Mendoza; The August List; by The Waterboys and Nick Lowe. Sparky, looked to have come to an Candy Says; Death of the Maiden; Earinade; Laima Bite; Premium Gary Barlow’s show on Sunday end when management changes left Leisure, and Worry. Sunday sees Brickwork Lizards; The Great 17th has already sold out. Tickets at the pub’s future in doubt. Western Tears; Drore; MSRY; Lucy Leave; The Young Women’s www.nocturnelive.com. The music night, renamed Sparky’s Music Project; Haze; 31Hours; Ghosts in the Photographs, and Self New Moon, will be relaunched on Help flying the flag for local music. BROOKES UNIVERSITY hosts Thursday 1st March and runs on the As ever there’s plenty more going on beyond the main stages, with this its day of academic discussion on first and third Thursday of the month. year’s Common People boasting the world’s biggest disco ball onsite, Nightshift and the wider Oxford Sparky has been hosting open which will doubtless compete with the world’s biggest bouncy castle for music scene on Tuesday 27th mic sessions across Oxford for 23 pride of place. March. Nightshift: Exploring years now, including his weekly Weekend and day tickets are on sale now at www.commonpeople.net as Oxford’s Music Magazine is Sparky’s Flying Circus at The well as full line-up details. hosted by the university’s Popular James Street Tavern and a monthly Music Research Unit and will bands showcase and jam session 16 years of tenure there. In 2001 Joe was a rudderless ship and this great feature the history of Nightshift at The White House on Abingdon Ryan and myself reignited the fuse: venue lost its way for a while. The and the Oxford music scene going Road, called Sparky’s Spontaneous Joe with the legendary folk sessions, new manager, Johnny, sought me back to its origins as Curfew in the Showcase & Spotlight Jam. myself the introduction of the out recently citing his great over- early 90s, as well as discussing local Talking to Nightshift about the Thursday open mics. riding desire for The Half Moon scenes, regional music media and problems with The Half Moon, “The Moon recently fell between to eat, breath and live music, once demo reviews, finishing with a Q&A Sparky said: “The Half Moon has two stools; that is to say there was again to embrace the nature of the session with founder and editor had a lengthy and legendary history a vacuum between the departure beast and re-invigorate this fabulous Ronan Munro. of great music birthed from Irish and of one manager and the arrival of and unique institution. Our twice Among those talking will be British folk which far pre-dates my another and hence temporarily there monthly Thursday sessions will not only be open mic but also be promo sessions for smaller acts. An entirely ALANIS MORRISSETTE will headline the Saturday night of Cornbury authentic evening of ultra eclectic Festival in July. entertainment.” Cornbury announced the line-up for the Saturday in the middle of February with a full bill of female and female-led acts that includes legendary gospel STEVE LAMACQ talks about his singer Mavis Staples alongside Amy McDonald; Nina Nesbitt; Pixie Lott career in music with a one-man and PP Arnold. show at The Jericho Tavern on Completing the day’s line-up are Grainne Duffy; Megan McKenna; Wednesday 9th May. The 6Music Southern Avenue; Kolars; Ten Millenia and The Adelaides. DJ and former NME and Melody th th This year’s Cornbury Festival runs over the weekend of the 13 -15 Maker journalist celebrates 25 years July at Great Tew Country Park. Friday and Sunday’s line-ups will be broadcasting for the BBC, having st announced on Thursday 1 March, so check www.cornburyfestival.com launched his DJ career presenting and Nightshift’s Facebook page for news, and until then hold off booking Radio 1’s Evening Session for nine your holiday on the beach, boys and girls. years in 2013 he... continued over NEWS THE VERY BEST LIVE MUSIC was given a special lifetime main festival, which features AND ENTERTAINMENT AT achievement award at the two weeks of gigs and events in Sony Radio Academy Awards, Witney’s pubs and clubs from 25th recognising his commitment to May to 9th June and culminates YOUR NO.1 OXFORD VENUE grassroots live music. There’s more in a weekend of live music at The Waterboys 69.5x39.5_Hotei A5 05/01/2018 11:02 Page 1 info and ticket details at going-deaf- Leys on the 17th-18th August. Last for-a-living.com year’s festival was headlined by MARCH MAY The Undertones. As ever, the vast G4 LIVE! Thu 1 THE WATERBOYS Sun 6 TANDEM FESTIVAL returns for majority of shows will be free, and its fourth outing in the summer. The organisers are looking for venues, BUDDY HOLLY AND THE Sat 3 BEAUTIFUL – Tue 8 – Sat 12 CRICKETERS WITH THE THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL eco-friendly world music event runs sponsors and volunteers as well as ENGLISH ROCK AND ROLL over the weekend of the 22nd-24th bands to help host, organise and ORCHESTRA THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Thu 17 June at Home Farm in Oxford, play. Find out how to get involved at GEORGE EZRA, FRIENDLY FIRE AND PEACE are the first Fri 9 with live music and dance across witneymusicfestival.co.uk JAKE BUGG – BOOT LED ZEPPELIN Sun 20 headline acts to be announced for this year’s Truck Festival. SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR four stages, plus workshops, talks, The 21st Truck runs from the 19th-22nd July at Hill Farm in Steventon and THE WATERBOYS films and a world food festival THE O2 ACADEMY launches a PAUL CARRACK Sat 10 for the first time runs over four days. Peace will top the Thursday night Sun 6 May onsite. This year’s headliners are new indie club night this month. bill, while Friendly Fires headline Friday night. Multi-million-selling, Thu 29 JUNE Leeds’ klezmer, Balkan beat and Parker Monkeys launches at the MERCURY: THE ULTIMATE BRIT-nominated star George Ezra is Saturday’s star turn, while Sunday’s QUEEN TRIBUTE DAVID BYRNE – Thu 14 gypsy jazz ensemble Tantz, with Cowley Road venue on Saturday headliner is still to be announced. AMERICAN UTOPIA TOUR more acts to be announced. 10th March, playing Noughties indie A VISION OF ELVIS Fri 30 Other acts announced include De La Soul; Jake Bugg; Everything The cycle-powered, volunteer-run hits and featuring a guest set from LES MUSICALS Sun 17 Everthing; Circa Waves; Rat Boy; The Amazons; The Sherlocks; festival encourages fans to arrive Babyshambles’ Adam Ficek. Mooseblood; We Are Scientists; Magic Gang; Marika Hackman; by bike or public transport, with Coasts; Blaenavon; Pale Waves; HMLTD; Tom Walker; Gengahr; APRIL an emphasis on environmental REMADE GUITARS has closed Jaws; Black Honey; Dream Wife, and The Orielles. Shy FX, Subfocus JULY responsibility. Early bird tickets its shop in Abingdon but will be PUBLIC SERVICE Thu 5 and Kurupt FM will hosts club nights on the festival’s Palm City stage. Thu 05 are on sale now, priced £70 for running a monthly pop-up repair BROADCASTING THE CARPENTERS STORY Gaz Coombes leads the list of local acts set to play; he’s joined by Low adults, £35 for under-18s and session at Glasshouse Studios in Island; Little Brother Eli; Leader and Kanadia, with more acts to be BETH HART Wed 18 ABBA MANIA Sat 7 BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL under-12s going free. Get yours at Cumnor. Despite relocating to picked via Truck’s band app. Acts have until the 30th March to apply at Tue 8 – Sat 12 May tandemcollective.org. north Wales, Remade will be at BARRY STEELE & FRIENDS – Thu 19 truckfestival.com/contact/band-app. Glasshouse on Saturday 10th March; THE 30 SPECIAL THE ROY Last year’s Truck was the biggest ever, and its first under the stewardship ORBISON STORY IRREGULAR FOLKS host their 7th April, May 12th and June 16th, of new owners Global; despite bad weather and organisational issues, Summer Sessions 2018 over the from 10am to 5pm. MOTOWN’S GREATEST HITS: Wed 25 the weekend, headlined by The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand and The weekend of the 7th and 8th July at HOW SWEET IT IS Vaccines, sold out. the Toad Distillery in Headington. MIKE MONAGHAN has an Festival manager Matt Harrap said of this year’s line-up announcement, BRYAN FERRY Fri 27 The two-day event follows on exhibition of his on-tour photos “Having artists of the calibre of George Ezra and Friendly Fires coming to from successful one-day festivals in Truck Store this month. The in- headline the event after many years of asking is truly humbling and their in recent years at venues like The demand local drummer, who plays sets will no doubt live long in the memory. Peace will be the perfect way Victoria Arms in Marston, The in Willie J Healey’s band as well to kick off the festival with our first ever Thursday headliners. Personally Perch in Binsey and Hogacre Eco as with Gaz Coombes and Young I’m really thrilled to have the legend that is Gaz Coombes back for the Park, featuring artists such as Knives went on the road as part of first time since 2013, as well as brilliant up and coming local talent such Yorkston, Thorne & Khan, St Etienne in 2017 and recorded as Low Island, Little Brother Eli and Kanadia. Mix in De La Soul, Jake C. Duncan, Laura Moody and the tour, which visited California, Bugg and Everything Everything and we’ve got a real party!” Waitress For the Bees. No line-up Asbury Park, Scandinavia, Europe With early bird tickets already sold out, weekend tickets are on sale now news as yet but it’ll be brilliant, and the UK, in photos and writing priced £110. we’re sure. Find out at more at under the title Forward Motion. 16 www.irregularfolks.co.uk. of his pictures will be on show at Thursday add-on passes are £25. Get them at truckfestival.com. Truck from the 2nd – 16th March, WITNEY MUSIC FESTIVAL with a book of photos and writing, 95.2fm. The dedicated local music OXFORD GIGBOT provides a returns for its twelfth year in limited to 100 copies, released to show plays the best Oxford releases regular local gig listing update on JAKE BUGG – SOLO August. The community-based coincide with the exhibition. and demos as well as featuring Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing ACOUSTIC TOUR festival, founded in memory of Jo interviews and sessions with local you new gigs as soon as they go Fri 9 Mar Marie Foster, will host a variety AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into acts. The show is available to stream live. They also provide a free of events across the spring and BBC Oxford Introducing every or download as a podcast at weekly listings email. Just contact summer in the build-up to the Saturday night between 8-9pm on bbc.co.uk/oxford. [email protected] to join.

Audiograft returns this month with its annual mix of new experimental music and sound, exhibitions, artists’ talks and workshops. The citywide event launches on Tuesday 6th March with an event at OVADA and runs until Sunday 18th. This year’s festival, curated by Brookes University’s Sonic Art Research Unit, and co-promoted by Oxford Contemporary Music, promises “to open your ears and eyes to more extraordinary and surprising performances and installations that will feature the sounds of digital dystopia, dismembered instruments, the contents of the average kitchen cupboard and other domestic sounds, walls of feedback, glitches, drones, loops and bracing amplification.” At the heart of the festival is a group exhibition at OVADA featuring Kathy Hinde (pictured), Simon Blackmore, Sally Ann McIntyre and Lance Austin Olsen. The festival also features Icebreaker’s System Restart programme with work by Anna Meredith, Linda Buckley, Kerry Andrew, Jobina Tinnemans, Elizabeth Kelly and Kate Moore. This year the festival will also be resident at Fusion Arts, featuring new work by Renzo Spiteri, Brigitte Hart, Gary Charles and Sian Hutchings, and will also mark the release of a double CD of interpretations of a graphic score by SARU practitioner Thomas Martin Nutt. ATGTICKETS.COM/Oxford* | BOX OFFICE 0844 871 3020* For full festival details visit www.audiograft.co.uk *Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

135928_NightshiftMagazine_FP_Ad_March2018_v6.indd 1 02/02/2018 15:54 A Quiet Word With fixed fees, but in the week there are people are anticipating a new album had settled on the album name. After be heard over your mates at the bar. I some door deal splits. Sometimes from us, which is cool. that it was a case of finding the right stopped smoking too around that time these work out great and maybe even “I just think the songs are stronger artist for the job. I remember me and which, of course, dries the throat out. better financially. We all see touring than a lot of our older material and Chris throwing around a few ideas, It just takes experience and discipline as a holiday anyway, and sometimes also the flow of the album is really but none of us could really decide on to find what works and how to avoid we have to chip in a bit to cover fuel, good. The track listing is also who to use, until one day I stumbled those things. I’ve tried the teas and or if we all fancy a hotel then we’ll very important; we always try and across Mattias Frisk (Ghost, Trap honeys and all that stuff, but have pay ourselves. Occasionally we get think very hard about the flow. With Them). He’d designed this incredible found for me, that it’s more about sweet hotels from the promoters, this album we had to do two track oil painting for a band called Night. how I use my voice.” which is perfect. On the whole I’d listing orders as well because it had The illustration was of a ship on fire say we generally break even or are up to run differently on vinyl due to the in the middle of the sea with lots of As we once again bid slightly after a tour, which is cool.” running time.” thick smoke blackening the sky. I Desert Storm a fond farewell and Having spent so long in the band remember thinking that his use of fun travels, it’s sobering to think that Financial issues aside, together, do you find yourselves colour was incredible and would they remain Oxford’s only significant Desert Storm live for touring and all falling easily into step with each work perfectly for the kind of thing heavyweight success story of recent look forward to getting back on the other in the studio, or are there times we were after. So, when I put it to times. Undersmile were probably the road. when you pull in different directions the guys, luckily they were all just only other act to come close in recent “We all look forward to performing musically? as blown away by it as I was. After years and they are no more. Do the each night and making new fans,” Ryan: “I think on the whole Desert that it was just a case of getting band see themselves as role models says Ryan, “and also if it’s places Storm works very well together in the in touch and trying to portray our idea for up and coming Oxford heavy acts we’ve been before, seeing people studio and the rehearsal room. There to him as clearly as possible.” and how important do they think it we’ve met previously come back out are obviously at times some creative is for local acts to have that kind of again is great. differences, and sometimes it can be Another sign that Desert thing to aspire to? “I think although sometimes we difficult, but we have to compromise Storm’s star is continuing to Ryan: “I don’t see ourselves as role don’t have as much time as we’d like, if we wish to resolve it. I guess it rise comes with the increase in models at all really. I guess it’s cool when we do it’s awesome getting if bands do look up to us and admire to explore new cities in different what we do, but I don’t know if countries. I guess the most dreaded “I don’t think many people realise how anyone does really. I know I always part of heading out on tour are the much it costs being in a band, both looked up to bands on the scene like long drives and sometimes shitty Winnebago Deal and Sextodecimo night sleep: Elliot and I both suffer financially and on your personal life” and it’s a shame they aren’t around from epilepsy so although we party, anymore and the same with the our seizures are more likely to be can be tough at times, but it always endorsements the band have. While demise of Undersmile. We generally triggered from sleep deprivation and works itself out, and most of the time Elliot is now sponsored by Soultone try to not play as much locally getting too intoxicated, so it’s quite the chemistry the five of us have is Cymbals Matt, whose raw goblin anymore either. I think really, though, hard as you can probably imagine great.” voice is a huge signature part of any band wanting to break out just trying to find the balance.” How much have your influences the band’s sound, has won official needs to put the work in and network Elliot: “I love touring and wish I changed since the last record, and endorsement from Vocalzone, the and believe. That’s all we did... it’s could do it full time.” since you started out? go-to lozenge for throat-ripping rock all DIY. As ever, a significant chunk of the Ryan: “I guess all our influences singers for years. While their hometown shows are current tour takes Desert Storm back and listening pleasures have changed Matt:”Yeah, that’s right. I’ve been less regular than they once were to mainland Europe – they’ll play over the years. We all listen to a very using Vocalzones for years now as Desert Storm’s local reputation was dates in France, Belgium, Germany, wide variety of music – of course they really do help me, they won’t enhanced and expanded last year Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic the love for metal and the sub genres suit everyone but I’ve certainly when they played Common People on and The Netherlands – where the like doom, stoner, sludge, punk, noticed improvements since I started Nightshift’s Uncommon stage where “It’s crazy how fast the Chris White and bass player Chris to attend and be a part of something say getting to play the Bulldog Bash band most enjoy their adventures. hardcore, post rock etc. is still very using them. I lost it pretty much they used the opportunity to play the time has gone by. I think we always Benoist – will celebrate the release so special to us. The room was was pretty insane, but also great fun. Ryan: “I don’t know about Europe prominent and has been from day altogether only five or so days into heaviest set we’ve heard from them, knew we would be together a long of `Sentinels’ with a headline show packed and the vibe was right, a great A weekend of drag strips, custom being more receptive to us, but one, but I’d say there is a lot of stuff an eighteen date tour back in 2014. a genuine tour de force; was that time though, as we’ve been friends at the O2 Academy on Saturday 24th evening!” bikes, boozing, and Motorhead!” it is more exciting! Also more people probably wouldn’t expect us As with any muscle in the body, once intentional? since school and most importantly March at the end of another extensive “It was also nice to be able to play It’s not all fun and adventure of people buy merch, especially to like. Chris, for example, I know you’ve damaged your vocal folds, Ryan: “Ha! Sort of… we were on a still enjoy making music and touring UK and European tour, the band songs from our whole catalogue too, course. Spending weeks on the road vinyl. I enjoy touring both UK and is very much into his folk, country there is nothing worse for them than festival with the likes of Sean Paul, together.” members working half the year to as we don’t get to play a lot of them has its downsides too, with Matt Europe, though. As for cities I’m and blues stuff, and Matt likes a lot of continued strain. By the end of the Foals and Groove Armada... the finance their next road trip, which has so much these days,” adds Elliot. citing “traffic jams, queues, and three looking forward to going back to, drum&bass and jungle. We all enjoy tour, my voice was a dry whisper only heavy band, so we had to drag So says Desert Storm seen them rise from promising local Ryan: “We’ve had so many flights of stairs whilst trying to load I’d definitely say Berlin; I love that hip hop too. I’m listening to quite because of the beating my box had punters into our tent somehow! But guitarist Ryan Cole, contemplating rock youngsters to one of the most highlights over the past ten years. in” as the regular downside of long place. And Eastern Europe; Kosice in a lot of trip hop and ambient music taken.” also, like the new album, we’re a his band’s recent celebration of hardworking and respected bands on My personal favourites would distance grassroots touring, while Slovakia and Katowice in Poland are these days as well as savage metal How much strain does touring put lot heavier and more brutal then we ten years together. While band the heavy rock circuit, touring with be playing the Sophie Lancaster Elliot points to the personal financial both beautiful. It’s amazing driving albums.” on your voice, and how do you keep used to be. Not so much of the hard lifetimes frequently resemble those the likes of Karma To Burn, Orange stage at Bloodstock to 2,000 sacrifices each band member endures through those countries. your voice from dying? blues rock stuff in our set these days, of mayflies, Desert Storm have Goblin and Nashville Pussy, as well people and sharing the bill with to keep the machine rolling. “I don’t For all the breadth and Matt: “It’s a pretty frightful so we kind of just played our normal weathered the sands of time like the as their own headline tours, playing the likes of Slayer and Mastodon. think many people realise how Desert Storm’s hard variety of their individual listening experience losing your voice midway set. I loved it though. I really enjoy monolithic edifice they are. This at Bloodstock and Desertfest, and Touring with bands like Orange much it costs being in a band, both work on the road, and all the pleasures, Desert Storm remain, through a tour. You have to learn to playing to diverse audiences. month they release their latest studio support Crowbar in Germany. Goblin and Karma To Burn financially and on us as individuals; scrimping and saving that goes steadfastly, a pulverising heavy rock adjust and be adaptable depending Their set also coincided with the album, `Sentinels’, and their rock is was brilliant and also our own it really impacts on our personal lives with it, has increasingly paid off band, `Sentinels’ taking inspiration on how much strain you’ll be putting only part of the weekend when it felt heavier than ever, their metal denser Before they departed headline tours. There have been at times.” for the boys. After the critical and from classic pioneers like Black on it. If you can achieve 99% of the it might rain; the skies definitely and sharper. It’s an imposing beast these shores once more, the band some insane moments too: playing “Our annual leave is always commercial success of their last Sabbath and Iron Maiden and the sound by pushing your voice 50% of darkened as they took the stage. Are of an album: ten tracks and fifty spoke to Nightshift – this is their on a boat after a dance pop band in used on tours,” explains Ryan. album, 2015’s `Omniscient’, there’s titans of stoner, sludge and blues the strain, then it’s worth considering Desert Storm really heavy enough to minutes of everything we’ve come to fourth front cover feature, the first Prague, playing a squat in Berlin and “Unfortunately work takes up most of genuine hope that `Sentinels’ will metal like Mastadon, Orange Goblin a compromise. Giving it my all and affect the weather? know and expect from Desert Storm back in 2010 as part of our local partying with the madman that is the rest of our time; luckily none of push Desert Storm into the upper and Clutch, as well as nastier, gnarlier blowing, although not particularly Ryan: “Sure we are!” – rolling, stoner grooves, sludgy metal special issue – about life on Nick Oliveri from Kyuss and Queens our day jobs are too soul destroying.” echelons of British rock and metal influences like Killing Joke. And the good for you, is fine if it’s a one off riffs, monstrous beats and gravel- the road, becoming Oxford’s most of the Stone-Age after our show with Ten years of building the Desert bands. album boasts a proper heavy metal show but you have to account for the See Desert Storm bring the sonic and-lava-coated vocals – but bigger, successful rock export, and firstly Mondo Generator in Spain.” Storm name and reputation is starting “We’d like to think so,” says Elliot. sleeve too: ghostly figures shrouded fact that you’ll need to be back up thunder at the O2 Academy on darker and more brutal. about their tenth anniversary show at Matt: “A personal highlight for to reap dividends of course, and tours “Before we recently announced the in thunderclouds standing watch over on stage on subsequent nights doing Saturday 24th March. `Sentinels’ the end of last year. me has to be when we first broke are starting to pay for themselves to a release date, we’d get people asking a city in flames. further and further damage. I think a is released on the 1st March, Visit The quintet – Ryan joined “It was awesome!” says Ryan, European soil. That virgin experience greater degree. when the next album was going Elliot: “Ha ha, yes! We are so lot of the this is done off stage, so it’s www.desertstormband.com to by drummer and twin brother “really cool to see people travelling of packing the van and heading out Ryan: “I’d say on this upcoming tour to be coming out and if we had a pleased with it. We all discussed the simple things like not shouting along order the album and see more tour Elliot; singer Matt Ryan; guitarist from all over the UK and overseas into new territories is amazing. I’d the majority of the shows we have label. So yeah, I guess more and more idea behind the illustration once we to lyrics of other bands, or trying to dates. Sponsored by ROBOT SWANS `Stranger Swans’ (Self released) RELEASED Since their 2016 debut album, Robot Swans have been reduced to a duo of Matt Bradshaw DESERT STORM MOTHDROP and Laura Theis, but it doesn’t seem to have damaged them too much on the strength of ‘Sentinels’ ‘Mothdrop’ this four-song EP, which retains most of the (APF) (Self released) hallmarks of their downbeat, ramshackle You’d be forgiven for thinking that Oxford’s Having titled his previous EP `Valis’, after electro/indie-pop: an alternately dolorous and metal scene is marginal but the truth is some of Phillip K Dick’s gnostic vision of one aspect dreamy delivery, with Laura’s sweet-natured our biggest successes have sprung from its heavy of God, Mothdrop piques my fanboy interest. voice the element that constantly stands out edge: Sevenchurch’s `Bleak Insight’, released in For him to then use a speech sample from amid twinkling keyboards, rudimentary beats 1993, is one of the most influential doom albums the glorious genius that is the kids book and sporadic outbursts of guitar noise. Her of all time; following in their footsteps some The Phantom Tollbooth in the first track (“It duets with Matt have a feel of a DIY electro- years later, Undersmile’s achievements were started at sunset” – the part where Milo gets DEATH OF THE pop Lee & Nancy at times with the serenely DOLLY MAVIES not insignificant. Perhaps the biggest success to meet Chroma the Great, the conductor who solemn `Weird’ and the lullaby-like `Crayons’ came in the shape of The Club That Cannot Be orchestrates the world’s colours), suggests their MAIDEN the highlights of the EP. `Big Blue’ lifts the ‘My Buoy’ Named, Alan Day’s metal friendly nights that mindset is absolutely on point. mood for its brief two-minute lifespan, cheery (Self released) started small and ended up drawing some of the Ten tracks later Brendan Morgan, who records ‘Soldier’ and cheesy in a deadpan glum kind of way, but Given Dolly Mavies is the musical nom de biggest names in music. Over the past decade, as Mothdrop, ties it all up in a neat bow with (Self released) throughout the pair retain a childlike simplicity plume of Molly Davies (did you see what she did Desert Storm have been establishing themselves combative areas, the band has risen to meet him, the equally superb come-down track `It ended Almost a year after making their live debut, that allows their slender but winsome songs there?), it shouldn’t come as too much surprise as heavyweight behemoths but it’s fair to say and the result is an album that feels shot through At Sunrise’ (“what a beautiful f**king day!) Death of the Maiden present their first single: to, if not soar, then hover prettily like so much she’s happy to pun on buoys and boys, on this that they’re a success story in metal circles well with berserk energy. and in between lets you feel just what it would war and madness as a metaphor for love dandelion fluff. new single using the object of her affections as beyond the city walls. With European tours, For those panicking that they’ve dispensed with be like to time travel back to the Ministry of over a strident marching snare beat and a Sue Foreman a buoyancy aid in the fight against drowning in festival appearances and serious critical acclaim the grooves and their keen ear for a hook, there’s th Sound, circa the last five years of the 20 slide guitar that ramps up the tension as the the deep, unforgiving waters of romance and already under their belt, the band’s hard work still plenty of that here too: `Gearhead’ combines st Century, with a mini disc of 21 Century song goes along. Tamara Parsons-Baker is stuff. Mood wise it ain’t `My Boy Lollipop’, has really paid off, and this latest album finds the thunderous chugging riffs and Mastodon trickery cultural samples to mash up. If, like me, you indisputably one of the best singers Oxford Molly/Dolly doing well to conjure the image of band upping the ante considerably. with a surprisingly catchy chorus; Ryan might have shelves full of Andrew Weatherall, DJ has ever produced and here she uses her voice her alone and adrift alone on an endless ocean, As soon as `Journey’s End’ kicks the album growl with the best of them but his range is Harvey and David Holmes remixes, this will to stunning effect, bringing an almost Brecht- a weary air of melancholy her only companion. off it’s clear that something has changed: greater and more impressive than he’s given be right up your far out, psych-a-metaphysical like sense of drama to the song, possessed of Her voice is high set but still richly soulful, Desert Storm have cranked up the heavy. As credit for. When the chanted outro kicks in, alley. a clean, soulful clarity with an edge of sorrow allowing her to bring out the longing of the the album progresses the huge stoner riffs that there’s an obvious wink in the direction of Its hat tips a go-go to the likes of The Orb, that might draw comparisons to Anna Calvi song without sounding overwrought, the nature- defined their sound make an appearance, but as Iron Maiden’s `Heaven Can Wait’. `Drifter’, Amalgamation of Soundz, and Eat Static, with but equally to the sublime talent that is The as-metaphor-for-love coupled with the solemn an opening statement, it’s like a sledgehammer meanwhile, possesses a snake-hipped, blues- the longer tracks like `Howl’, with its Banco de Mekons’ Sally Timms, a woman who could strings recalling Nick Drake’s `Northern Sky’ to blow. There is some seriously brutal weight to tinted groove and enough punch to carry it off. Gaia train rhythms laced with nocturnal calls wring the emotional trauma out of a telephone some extent. The sort of song best listened to late their sound now; sharing the stage with the likes It’s a tune Clutch would be proud of of the wild, and `I’ll See You On The Net’ a directory. at night while armed with enough Rioja to sink of Crowbar has obviously had an effect. Matt `Sentinels’ is an album that finds Desert Storm modal homage to Project 2510 Ghost in the Really, this is a simply fantastic opening a small boat and thoughts of sad kittens running Ryan’s gravelly vocals sometimes seemed to exploring new, darker territory, but crucially, Shell allowing his ideas to expand and really gambit from Death of the Maiden. Not a death, through your mind, which is pretty much every be almost too guttural and brutal for the band’s they’ve not sacrificed any of their identity in breathe. But even shorter, squelchingly diverse the birth of something very special indeed. night round Nightshift’s house. Sabbath-laden riffing, but now they’re in perfect making this move. If anything, they’re sharper, tribal pieces like `Summermelts’, `Wintermute’ Dale Kattack Dale Kattack union. `Too Far Gone’ is a perfect example with more focussed and sounding more professional and the industrial growl of `Bohemian Grove’ Ryan’s roar sounding like an aggressive throat than ever. It’s just possible that Desert Storm coalesce effortlessly with the mega-phoned oyster in attack mode; not for nothing do Desert might have produced an album as important as gospel-rap of `Dance & Die’ and the cackling LOW ISLAND THE GREAT Storm endorse Vocalzone throat pastilles. With `Bleak Insight’. cockney women samples in `Afterglow’ to Ryan pushing his vocals into darker and more Sam Shepherd billow into a wonderful suite. ‘The Other Life’ EP WESTERN TEARS This is a classy album from someone who (Self released) use to describe these five tracks from Self Help. at every stage has complete control and I’ve heard of “jumping on the hype train”, but While some bands shift as they move from ‘Shadowcast’ It is, however, appropriate in pure sentiment, understanding of the progressive electronica in Low Island’s case I’m chasing after it and album to album, Low Island jump around a (Self released) as these are songs that are, for the most part, genre. Whether you bliss out to William tripping over the sleepers. The quartet have dozen times in just over twenty minutes, and for A new one-track single ahead of the band’s both punk-ish and poppy. Maybe pop-post-punk Orbit’s `Strange Cargo Series’, or if Plaid, graced these pages, and those of every hip the most part, this works. The enduring sense of second full album, currently being recorded and would be slightly more accurate, albeit clunky, A.D.N.Y. and Forms Puls Fiction are how you music publication you’d care to name, on a consideration and restraint is what holds these due late in 2018, `Shadowcast’ finds The Great as tracks like ‘Hungover Jones’ and ‘Burk The get your spiritual highs `Mothdrop’ will go a regular basis over the past 15 months, and yet songs together. There are numerous moments Western Tears seemingly no more optimistic or Turk’ are more melodically and structurally long way to proving there is a God. in writing this review is my first time hearing where they could stick it hard into one genre and disposed to the sunny side than their previous inventive than the simpler strains of 1977 noise. Paul Carrera them. My immediate impression is that of very nail its typifying features, but they choose not to. efforts, heartache and sorrow still chief driving The lineage of such music is inspirationally deliberate and considered band; every beat Low Island invariably turn left(-field) just as you forces, alongside singer Dava Waterhouse’s evident, too, as touches of Pixies, early ‘90s and chord progression is perfectly-judged but think you can see where they’re going. gloriously husky voice, perfect for conveying Sub-Pop, Ash, Supergrass, and even Blur fly rarely easy to predict. Repeat listens bring even If you had to generalise Low Island are an the emotion he’s feeling in this ode to a friend around in this mix of good-natured, lyrically- greater rewards. electronic band, maybe even dance, but over who was killed while travelling with Dava rich and enjoyable noise. Low Island are well known for not tying the course of ‘The Other Life’ they take you in 2016. It’s a simple, solemn song, acoustic Things sag slightly with ‘Daydreams’, which themselves down to one genre, and this on a journey from Antlers-esque melancholia, guitar, harmonium and swooping violin creating lowers the tempo, but apart from that this is collection really shows that off; `The Whole crowd-pleasing indie-pop and on to the an almost drone-like vibe over which Dava, a fun little ripper of an EP: high energy noisy World Tucked Away’ is infectious but dancefloor of an after-party somewhere in East all smoke and whisky and bitter experience, guitar pop that’s given a unique stamp with a subdued indie pop; ‘I Know You’ shifts from London. It takes me a while to get my head comes to term with grief and trauma and his SELF HELP very particular vocal style, and a pleasingly minimal electronica to a slow acoustic-led around these rapid changes of pace, mood and place in the universe. It sounds like Leonard timeless refusal to fit in to any particularly groove, and ‘The Lines’ is straight-up classic style, but once I do there’s some real gems to Cohen, Bob Dylan and American Aquarium’s ‘Birthdayboy’ current musical trend. house. The absolute highlight is the closing be found. BJ Barham all rolled into one; as an exercise (Self released) As a little light relief in often turgid and self- track ‘Tomorrow’, borne along on delicate Where the future leads them is anyone’s guess in existential contemplation it’s sorrowful and The term pop-punk might bring to mind serious indie music landscape, Self Help are a piano chords in the mood of ‘Pictures At An but I’m onboard now and eager to follow them questioning but with an edge of positivity about unpleasant thoughts of vacuity like Blink 182 cheeky pick-me-up. Exhibition’ while lo-fi vocals and strings swirl all the way. it. Purely as a tune, it’s really quite lovely. and Green Day, so it could be an unfair one to Simon Minter around, dream-like. Matt Chapman Jones Dale Kattack irredeemable shit. Back to the day jobs, Spank Maybe some kind of stabilising force alongside Hair: don’t make us come round and give you a him might have helped as he ranges from RELEASED smack bottom. lopsided piano pop on opener `Gaia Pop’, all Dale Kattack slipshod, out of tune jauntiness and high-pitched SPANK HAIR harmonies that’s like Randy Newman meeting The Beach Boys in a remake of Bambi on Ice. ‘Stop Talking’ The ivory tinkling and forced castrato continues (Self released) until, as if a Dementor had appeared, all the joy is Call us old fashioned but didn’t side projects sucked out of the room for the appalling, sluggish and supergroups used to be the preserve of `Clear the View’. A brief flurry of surf rock on international rock stars letting off a bit of `Mercury’ offers respite but is crushed by the creative steam in between stadium tours and tuneless pub rock shouting dumped on top of it platinum-selling albums? Self Help, Daisy and and things become increasingly disjointed from Holy Moments are barely out of short trousers here. `Dog Bones’ might as well be called `Dog’s in the musical career stakes yet here are various Dinner’ and everything reaches a nadir with members of each joining forces under the Spank `Locker Room’, an atrocious, glum piano ballad Hair moniker. And frankly, they shouldn’t have with for-the-hell-of-it soft rock guitar soloing that bothered. must surely have been recorded simply to test our Whatever charms each of those acts have – and will to live. they have many – must have been left at home Thing is, there are some decent moments, when when this album was made. It starts off in George’s sense of musical idiocy works in the messily rudimentary bratpop fashion with `Minor right way: the bubbly, trebly electro-funk of Altercation’ but almost immediately loses even `Flicky Leabone’ is silly in the right kind of way that modicum of attitude and energy, sinking THE GEORGE while album closer `Treehouse Game’ is two first into twinkly fidgeting on `Just Cos’, which parts Status Quo cheese to one part Motley Crue spends two minutes going nowhere clumsily, O’CONNOR BAND hair metal bombast and one part ZZ Top boogie. before stumbling through the sort of low-rent, It’s like a final two-fingered salute to critical melody-free indie pop that makes The Pastels ‘The George O’Connor sensibilities but actually the one time George sound like U2 in their 90s pomp. comes close to making his warped and wobbly `I Wanna See’ is seemingly the trio’s sensitive Band’ musical vision actually entertaining. number and comes without even a semblance (Self released) “Needs to make more sensible choices” is a of a facade of musical appeal, just pointless, The George O’Connor Band used to be called well-used school report code for “needs to stop ramshackle whimsy, and by the time they’ve Sugar Darling, which is a way better name. Why acting like a total arse”. Nothing wrong with picked themselves up off the floor and decided they changed it we don’t know but this debut acting the arse when you’re a musician of course, to get down and dirty on `Crazy Dreams’ it’s album suggests sensible choices aren’t their forte. but George, in future, at least try and be a funny, much too little2 Year far tooCreative late to Degrees save a mercifullyin Oxford SAE Nightshift We say `they’IW.pdf but 1aside 19/02/2018 from a few 10:42guest drum entertaining arse. brief eleven-song collection that is, frankly, tracks this is all the work of George himself. Dale Kattack

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Music

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contact us visit our campus Littlemore Park, Armstrong Road 01865 787 150 in littlemore Oxford, OX4 4FY [email protected] www.sae.edu/gbr/openday – Sparky’s monthly band night and open jam hip hop in the vein of Earl Sweatshirt and session returns with sets from Jem Kid & Kendrick Lamar from Dublin rapper and Company, Franklin’s Tower and Storyteller. producer Snow, out on tour to promote debut THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC: The album `Dear Annie’, following on from Cornerstone, Didcot – ABBA Tribute night. early self-released hits `1992’ and `Lost in DANNY & THE CHAMPIONS OF THE Empathy’. WORLD: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Big-hearted SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James GIG GUIDE Americana and 60s country rocking in the vein Street Tavern – Weekly open mic night. of The Band, Big Star and Tom Petty from STEVE KNIGHTLEY: Nettlebed Folk Club st and joined tonight by two of Oxford’s best THURSDAY 1 Danny and co. – A return to Nettlebed’s legendary folk club ambient/post-rock acts, Kid Kin and Ghosts in HUSKY LOOPS: The Cellar – Uptight post- IAN W BROWN + PETE WATKINS: for Show of Hands frontman Knightley. the Photographs. rd punk funk and harmony pop from the Italian The Swan Inn, Ascott-under-Wychwood – Saturday 3 FREERANGE: The Cellar – UK garage, ex-pats on tour – see main preview MARCH Wychwood Folk Club hosts singing farmer th MATT EDWARDS BAND: The Bullingdon – grime and bassline club night with Caspa, WEDNESDAY 7 THE BLOCKHEADS: local singers, musicians, poets, storytellers, Ian W Brown, last seen here supporting Chris Blues rocking from the local singer and guitarist Youngsta, Nomine and SP:MC. PAUL DRAPER: O2 Academy – The former performance artists and more every week. Leslie in 2017. Having spent his adult life on O2 Academy and band at tonight’s Haven Club show. THE GLASS AISLE: The Old Fire Station Mansun frontman hits the solo comeback trail ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure the farm, he began writing under the name Even 18 years after his death it’s hard to G4: The New Theatre – Smug, smooth a – Brian Briggs plays his first Oxford show – see main preview – Weekly open mic night. Tom Gilbert, and penned Sandi Thom’s `I think of The Blockheads without adding capella sliminess from the former X Factor since Stornoway’s farewell show at The New AUDIOGRAFT: Fusion Arts (5-7pm) – SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon – Wish I Was a Punk Rocker’, earning an Ivor Ian Dury & to the name. They were his irritants, somehow still unearthing an audience Theatre last year, putting poet Paul Henry’s Opening event of the experimental music, Sparky’s open mic session returns to The Half Novello nomination along the way; he’s since backing band of course but, like The Magic ready and willing to tolerate their aural bilge, long poem to music alongside readings from sound and art festival, with performances and Moon, running first and third Thursday of every gone on to play alongside Julie Felix, Martin Band they’ve endured, and even prospered, like hogs snuffling in the mud for truffles. Henry’s collections The Brittle Sea and Boy installations from Renzo Spiteri, Brigitte Hart, month. Simpson and Steve Harley, among a host of since their late leader’s demise. Probably THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf Running. Gary Charles and Sian Hutchings. BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, other folk luminaries. because their component parts were pretty – Free show in the downstairs bar from the SIMPLE featuring OBJEKT: The ICEBREAKER – SYSTEM RESTART: Sandford – Open blues jam. incredible, and together they were as veteran local partystarters, mixing blues, funk, Bullingdon – Oxford’s long-running house Holywell Music Room – Part of Audiograft, SAM KELLY & THE LOST BOYS: The th responsible for the music we know and love ska and rock’n’roll into their lively sound. and techno night hosts Berlin’s much- SUNDAY 4 with performances from Anna Meredith, Linda Cornerstone, Didcot – Cornwall’s BBC Folk as the man who wrote the songs. Without GOODNESS: The Cellar – House, techno and lauded producer Objekt, whose eclectic and SNAKES + MSRY + RESOLVE: The Buckley, Kerry Andrew, Jobina Tinnemans, Award winner Sam Kelly comes to Didcot’s The Blockheads driving his songs with their disco club night, with house veteran Marquis sometimes experimental approach to club Wheatsheaf – Hometown show for virulent Elizabeth Kelly and Kate Moore. arts centre with his band to perform traditional superb musicianship it’s possible that Ian Hawkes on the decks, alongside Disco Ma Non music harks back to 90s Warp Records and metalcore beasts MSRY, out on tour with COTSWOLDS + JONNY RACE + WILD and original tunes from his already extensive Dury might have remained as little more than Troppo and Goodness DJs. Autechre, through early dubstep and onto London’s similarly brutal Snakes. PHOENIX: The Wheatsheaf – It’s All catalogue. a footnote in musical history. After all, his CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford contemporary techno. OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms About the Music showcase, featuring recent THE MONOCHROME SET + THE FRANKLINS TOWER + JULES PENZO + Nightshift Demo of the Monther Jonny Race other bands, Kilburn and The Highroads, and Community Centre – Oxford’s longest Ian Dury and The Music Students, are not running open club night continues to showcase FRIDAY 2nd WOULD-BE-GOODS TWO + THE BEARD OF DESTINY + THE JESTERS: with his gentle, atmospheric Radiohead- COUNT OF THREE: Jericho Tavern – Donnington Community Centre (6pm) – inspired pop. exactly the most celebrated. Guitarists Chaz BOSSAPHONIK with CAMO CLAVE: Jankel and John Turnbull, bassist Norman st First gig in over five years for post-punk Free evening of unplugged music including BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Thursday 1 The Cellar – Afrobeat, dancefloor Latin, Watt-Russell, and organist Mick Gallagher Balkan bangers and nu-jazz club night, hosted survivors The Monochrome Set, whose early Grateful Dead tribute Franklins Tower, and Cellar – Alternative 80s, glam, disco and embracing of lounge and surf pop, as well Delta-style blues from Beard of Destiny. synth-pop club night. are still the core of the fluid funk and r’n’b HUSKY LOOPS: by Dan Ofer and tonight featuring a live set band, with Gilad Atzmon sporadically from Camo Clave with their electro-tropical as an idiosyncratic approach to rhythms and THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Tree, Iffley HAZEL O’CONNOR: The Cornerstone, melody, and an ironic, oblique lyricism set (4-6.30pm) – Rock and blues covers from the Didcot – The 80s electro/punk star and returning on sax duties. Derek Hussy these The Cellar take on Latin dance, bringing a contemporary days tends to share vocal duties with Jankel An invigorating start to the month with a them apart from the leftfield rock of the late- veteran local singer and guitarist. actress-turned folk/pop singer performs classic electronic-laced interpretation of traditional and the band’s live set increasingly features band whose name makes them sound like 70s. They’ve split up and reformed twice hits like `Will You’ and Eighth Day’ alongside cumbia and salsa. music written since Dury’s death. It’s those a brand of sugary breakfast cereal but are in their lifetime, founder Bid and long-term th songs from her extensive career, including new KLUB KAKOFANNEY with PEERLESS classic, quintessentially English songs, that in fact a band rapidly earning a reputation guitarist Andy Warren still helming the band MONDAY 5 album `See You Again’. PIRATES + LIME + PUPPET MECHANIC SAINT AGNES + THE OTHER DRAMAS continue to dominate though: `Sex & Drugs as one of the most energetic acts around. as they tour their latest album, `Maisieworld’, + STEEVO NUISSIER: The Wheatsheaf + COUNTING CARDS: The Cellar – & Rock’n’Roll’; `What a Waste’; `Billericay Formed at school in Bologna in Italy, which, characteristically brings Latin pop, th – Characteristically upbeat mixed bag of Seriously heavy-duty psychedelic blues- Dickie’; `Hit Me With Your Rhythm Husky Loops relocated to the UK when the bossa nova, Indian raga and chanson to its THURSDAY 8 acts at Klub Kakofanney’s monthly shindig, rocking from the east London quartet, out on SPACE + THE SHAPES + CANDIDATES: Stick’; `Sweet Gene Vincent’; `I Want To trio – Danio, Pietro and Tommaso – came melting pot. Great support from longstanding tonight headlined by Peerless Pirates, whose tour to promote new single `Merry Mother O2 Academy – The filling in the 90s Britpop Be Straight’ et al. Another opportunity to to study music at London’s Royal College indie-pop queen Jessica Griffin’s Would-Be- roustabout mix of 80s indie, rockabilly, surf, of God Go Round’, channelling the classic sandwich this week – see main preview remember a one-off songsmith and his of Art. A debut single, `Dead’, pricked Goods, whose ranks have featured Andy and spaghetti western soundtracks and sea shanties 70s rock swagger of Led Zep, the dark blues YOUTHMOVIES: The Bullingdon – First of unique band. Suitably off-the-wall support up the right ears and they earned support Bid from The Monochrome Set previously and has seen them play Glastonbury twice as well of The Kills and the rumbling garage rock of a two-night stint at the Bully for the reformed from local rock eccentrics Chasing Daylight. slots with The Kills, Sunflower Bean, Yak currently feature Talulah Gosh and Heavenly as earn support slots to The Monochome Set, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Pop-friendly local heroes – see main preview and Estrons, while a full EP on Alcopop! guitarist Pete Momtchiloff. Pete also features Big Country and My Life Story. Support from garage rocking from local faves The Other SPHYNX: The Cellar – Glam rock stomp, cemented their reputation as ones top watch in beat-pop openers The Count of Three. from Wicked Jackals, formerly Guns of alt.folk and indie crew Puppet Mechanic and Dramas in support. funk and psych-pop from the Austin, Texas as well as a tour support to Placebo at the BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETERS Anarchy, with their mix of AC/DC, Aerosmith, dark synth-pop and post-punk chap Steevo. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE: The Cellar outfit, inspired by Queen and Prince as well as end of 2017. The records are pretty decent, with THE ENGLISH ROCK’N’ROLL Airbourne and Gun’n’Roses. ART THEEFE + RICHARD NEUBERG: – Indie, alternative and new-rave club night, MGMT’s proggy electro-pop. but it’s live where they come into their ORCHESTRA: The New Theatre – Big THE MOONRAKERS + THREE PRESSED Modern Art Oxford – Matt Sage’s soul, funk tonight featuring a Strokes special and a live CHEMTRAILS + PROTECTION SPELLS: own, years of jamming together making stage tribute to Buddy Holly from the MEN: The Unicorn, Abingdon – Lively trad and surf-rock outfit launch their new single `I set from local indie rockers The Shades. The Library – Exuberant garage-pop and them a tight, fluid unit who mix up stadium longstanding Cricketers, alongside The folk with English, Irish and Scottish influences Trained A Spy’, mixing darker rock tones into OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim Spector-esque noise from the London DIY pop stomp, hardcore energy, post-punk English Rock’n’Roll Orchestra. from local troupe The Moonrakers, alongside their breezy 60-inspired pop. – Weekly open mic night. stars – see main preview starkness and sunshine pop melodies and METAL 2 THE MASSES: The Wheatsheaf Trad English folk from Three Pressed Men. THE RAVING TRIPPY: The Bullingdon – AUDIOGRAFT: Holywell Music Room harmonies, meaty riffs, rigid, urgent beats – Latest heat of the competition to win a slot Psychedelic house and techno club night. – Experimental sound and music from Jane and prominent Jah Wobble-styled funk at Bloodstock, tonight with a quality line-up th th TUESDAY 6 Dickson and Sebastian Lexer; Tess Denman- FRIDAY 9 bass combining to make something if not featuring blackened metallers Promethean AUDIOGRAFT LAUNCH: OVADA – The rd Cleaver; Dominic Lash and Seth Cooke, and JAKE BUGG: The New Theatre – The fiery ferocious, then formidable SATURDAY 3 Reign and virulent hardcore crew Worry, annual festival of experimental music and Straroula Kounadea. teen rocker goes contemplative country – see THE BLOCKHEADS + CHASING alongside New Device. sound returns with a fortnight of challenging, CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford main preview DAYLIGHT: O2 Academy – Ian Dury’s DAY OF THE DEADBEATS 6: The Isis multi-media events across town. Tonight’s Community Centre YOUTHMOVIES: The Bullingdon – Second former backing band keep the funk going and Farmhouse – The Deadbeat Apostles host launch event features performances and ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure night of livewire post-rock action from the the hits alive – see main preview their sixth Day of the Deadbeats, tonight installations from Kathy Hinde, Sally-Ann BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, influential local stars – see main preview EYRE LLEW + KID KIN + GHOSTS IN featuring gypsy jazz duo Adrian & Noreen; a McIntyre, Austin Sherlaw-Johnson, Simon Sandford YOUTHMOVIES AFTERPARTY: The THE PHOTOGRAPHS: The Cellar – Epic, debut show from Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Blackmore and Sarah Hughes. SWITCHBLADE CITY + ROCKSOLID Cellar – Following their sold-out reunion Sigur Ros-styled sounds from Eyre Llew, back Band frontman Stuart Macbeth and funk-pop BAD RAP Pt.2: The Cellar – 90s and + THE WICKED JACKALS + GIN shows at the Bullingdon, Youthmovies host in town after their excellent set at Ritual Union outfit Papa Nui. Noughties pop and club classics with Femi ALLEY: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Northampton an aftershow with DJ sets from the band and back in October. They’re out on an extensive SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE Williams et al. hard rockers Switchblade City return to the guests. European tour to promote new album `Atelo’ & SPOTLIGHT JAM: The White House REJJIE SNOW: O2 Academy – Laidback shire for tonight’s OxRox show, with support MELLOW GANG + LE FEYE: Modern ASH LEWIS + DREAMSYNDROME + including a set from Grateful Dead tribute industrial, ebm and alternative 80s club night unsigned band to sell out their hometown’s RAD ROACH: The Wheatsheaf – Folk-punk Franklin’s Tower. with Doktor Joy and Bookhouse keeping it 2,000-capacity Rock City venue, they played tales from south London troubadour Lewis, out OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms dark on the decks. on the Leftfield stage at Glastonbury in June on tour with a full band. th SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James and are earning a reputation as one of the most BON GIOVI: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Bon Jovi MONDAY 12 Street Tavern hard working and entertaining live bands in FICKLE FRIENDS: O2 Academy – Bubbly tribute, in case the name didn’t make it clear the country, drawing on the punk spirit of The indie-funk and summery, discofied electro- enough. th Clash and Celtic folk traditions; they’re in the pop from Brighton’s hardworking rising stars, WEDNESDAY 14 th traditions of bands like The Men They Couldn’t coming in somewhere between Metronomy, MILK TEETH: The Bullingdon – Raw SATURDAY 10 Hang, Tansads and Flogging Molly: angry and SLEEPER: O2 Academy – Louise Wener’s London Grammar and Chvrches and out on a and raucous grunge, garage rock, punk and uplifting in equal measures. reformed Britpoppers take this month’s headline tour to promote new album `You Are hardcore noise from Gloucestershire’s Milk RAGHU DIXIT: Old Fire Station – India’s comeback crown with a sold-out show – see Someone Else’. Teeth. finest export since the onion bhajee plays his main preview OXFORD CLASSIC JAZZ: The Harcourt th first local show in a decade –see main preview Wednesday 7 Arms – Classic jazz and ragtime from the PARKA MONKEYS with ADAM th WHITE LAKES: The Cellar – Raucous indie FICEK: O2 Academy – Indie club with a local ensemble, taking on Jelly Roll Morton, THURSDAY 15 th th PAUL DRAPER ART THEEFE: Truck Store (6pm) – The rocking in the vein of Catfish & the Bottlemen Thursday 8 / Friday 9 guest set from Babyshambles’ Adam Ficek on Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino et al. th local 60s-inspired soul, rock and pop trio and Amazons from the local crew. Friday 9 the decks. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim YOUTHMOVIES: launch their new surf-styled single, `I Trained FLUID: The Cellar – Bassline, bass and house PAUL CARRACK: The New Theatre – The CRAOBH RUA: Nettlebed Folk Club – SPACE a Spy’. club night with Cause & Effect alongside local blue-eyed soul singer returns to The New Nettlebed’s long-running folk club celebrates The Bullingdon th WILL WILDE BAND: The Bullingdon – A stars Burt Cope, Masp & Friends, Sound Affect Once described by Nightshift as “the most Saturday 10 Theatre following his show here in 2016, the St Patrick’s Night early with some traditional return to town for the renowned singer and and XODOS. influential band in Oxford” Youthmovies’ singer’s song’s having been covered by The Irish songs and tunes. blues harpist at tonight’s Haven Club show, MUSICAL MEDICINE with BRADLEY return from the musical grave for a one-off SLEEPER: Eagles, Diana Ross and Tom Jones, while he’s Wilde’s soulful, funky take on the blues ZERO: The Bullingdon – The monthly club show caused a sizeable wave of excitement served time alongside Elton John, Eric Clapton th O2 Academy TUESDAY 13 having seen him win Best Harmonica Player night celebrates St Patrick’s Night with a guest when it was announced in October. So and BB King, among others. Three gigs in four nights that might make INTRUSION: The Cellar – Monthly goth, at the British Blues Awards. He’s out on a UK set from Rhythm Section star Bradley Zero. much so that the one-off, which sold out SUBTROPICAL: The Bullingdon – Soca, you question which decade we’re living in. tour this month to promote his new album, RYDERS CREEK + THE WICKED in a matter of minutes, had to become a dancehall and tropical vibes from club night All these acts emerged from the Britpop era th following on from his debut Italian tour. JACKALS + HOLLOWSTAR: The two-off, with a second show being added. Subtropical getting the summer Caribbean Thursday 8 in various states of disrepair. Mansun split KENNY FOSTER + AGS CONNOLLY: Isis Wheatsheaf – Epic, bluesy hard rock from You can be assured that among the throng vibes going early, with Dub Boy b2b Atki2 up acrimoniously and singer Paul Draper Farmhouse, Iffley Lock – Rootsy country Staffordshire’s Ryders Creek at tonight’s of eager fans will be a sizeable number ft MC Jonesy Wales, Count Skylarkin’ and CHEMTRAILS endured a battle with a rare strain of cancer balladeering inspired by Garth Brooks, James OxRox show, the band channelling Led Zep, of local musicians, either those inspired Checkmate. but his emergence with new album `Spooky Taylor and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils AC/DC and Audioslave in their 70s-inspired by Youthmovies first time round or those RICHARD BARRET & ENSEMBLE / PROTECTION Action’ finds him reinvigorated, carrying his from Minnesota songsmith Kenny Foster at the sound. who’ve heard about their visceral live shows STUDIO6: Wesley Memorial Church – old band’s expansively arty sound into his SPELLS: The Library suitably rustic Isis Farmhouse tonight, joined HEADINGTON HILLBILLIES: second hand. Twice Nightshift cover stars Audiograft concert. new record, with its baggy beats, electronics Proving that lo-fi doesn’t have to mean by local Ameripolitan star Ags Connolly. Amplethorpe Arms, Risinghurst – St. Youthmovies were explorers as well as an BEARD OF DESTINY + TWAT MONKEY and prog edges, although his lyrics are more barely coherent or noisy, London’s THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Patrick’s Night hoedown from the local out-and-out rock band, taking elements of + REAL COOL KILLERS + ENJOY ALL personal now, touching on the betrayals Chemtrails recorded their debut album Wheatsheaf – Free show in the downstairs bluegrass and folk outfit at the recently re- post-rock, electronica, emo, post-hardcore of his earlier career. Two nights later and HUMANS: The Wheatsheaf – Acoustic and in their living room but there’s a rich bar. opened Amplethorpe. and math-rock to make for a highly dextrous fellow Liverpudlians Space return to town, electric blues from Beard of Destiny at tonight’s Phil Spectro-like fullness to it as well CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford THE STANDARD: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Party sound that owed something to Shellac and having been a going concern since their It’s All About the Music showcase. as something of Joe Meek’s thrift store Community Centre covers. Sweep the Leg Johnny and shared some 2011 reunion, and one of the late-90s BLACK SHOT ROSE + CHAOS ASYLUM: invention. The band, helmed by singer/ ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure THE MIGHTY REDOX: The White Hart, common ground with early Foals, who scene’s more adventurous acts, mixing ska, The Cellar – Rock and metal covers from guitarists Mia Lust and Laura Orlova, are SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon Eynsham nominal frontman Andrew Mears was a rockabilly, mariachi and spaghetti western Black Shot Rose at tonight’s OxRox show. out on tour to promote `Calf of the Sacred BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, founding member of. The band split back soundtrack influences into an idiosyncratic, SONDER: The Cellar – New underground Cow’, which comes in the wake of a slew Sandford SUNDAY 18th in 2010 with Mears going on to form Pet synthy form of indie. Already sold is deep house club night, with Finest Wear of great singles and EPs that mix up garage Moon as well as lead the Blessing Force Sleeper’s return to action. Back when Radio (Nordic Trax); Damian Charles (Point Blank) rock, psychedelia and pop into a frothy, THE AC/DC EXPERIENCE: O2 Academy – th Tribute night. Once more. collective, leaving an extensive catalogue 1 Sound City came to Oxford the band were and MC Si Franks from Audiobullys. exuberant party mess of guitar noise, FRIDAY 16 of releases, all of which were made free ALABAMA 3: O2 Academy – Larry Love ROBOT SWANS + BIRDS OF HELL + at the peak of their powers, the star name JOSEPH J JONES + BETH THORNTON + toytown synths and fx-heavy harmonies, to download last year, but it was always and the Very Reverend Dr D Wayne Love return KNIGHT KNIGHT: The Library – EP launch on the bill and joined on stage by Zoë Ball. ZOOFAN: The Jericho Tavern – Sonorous, like Pixies, My Bloody Valentine and Thee live that they came into their own: a band once more with another dose of acid house for downbeat indie/synth-pop duo Robot Swans Hits like `Inbetweener’, `What Do I Do imposing blues and soul in the vein of Oh Sees racing to see who can finish a that other bands would gaze upon in envy. blues and country medicine, riding the rough with their winsomely melancholy new record Now’ and `Sale of the Century’ confirmed Rag’n’Bone Man from the singer-songwriter Ronettes tribute the quickest. Mia’s lyrics The shows that brought the quartet back highway between Hank Williams and Happy `Stranger Swans’. their place in the Britpop Premier League, on the rise, touring his new single `Crawl’, mix the personal and political, particularly together are in aid of the Michael Barry Mondays, spreading a little bit of worldly wit OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms while Louise Wener was a rare female having shared a stage with Jack Savoretti and from the viewpoint of a transgender woman, Trust, which raises money for brain tumour and chemically-enhanced joy as they go. THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Tree, Iffley beacon in a depressingly laddish landscape. Nathaniel Rateliffe recently. but it’s mostly a joyous racket, even with research and treatment, Barry himself one THE AMY WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE: (4-6.30pm) After time living in the States working as THE BRITPOP BOYS: Fat Lil’s, Witney eldritch titles like `Ghosts Of My Dead of Youthmovies’ earliest champions. It’ll be O2 Academy – Tribute night. a session musician and later as a music – Britpop – when boys were boys and girls Cats’, `Headless Pin Up Girls’ and `A emotional, but it’ll also be a reminder of OTTO + ALBOA + CRYSTALLITE + th lecturer in Brighton, Wener reformed the were… invisible? ignored? Beautiful Cog in the Monolithic Death the possibilities of rock music. Beg, borrow WEBS & MARIONETTES: The Wheatsheaf MONDAY 19 band last year and her attitude as much as Machine’, every inch of space filled with OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim or steal for a ticket. – It’s All About the Music showcase with her music is as pertinent now as it was 20 th sound. Joining them for a superb double PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS: SUNDAY 11 grungy jazz’n’blues and rock’n’roll crew Otto years ago. bill are regular visitors to town Protection Nettlebed Folk Club – Steeleye Span, Feast of III GUERRA + THE DOMESTICS + and more. Spells, a spooky, spectral, shamanic dream- Fiddles and Gigspanner star Knight DRORE + WORRY: The Library – Virulent SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Classic 60s folk three-piece who were recent support to continues his collaboration with Art Oxford – Free show from swoonsome, DIY noise courtesy of Smash Disco, tonight and 70s funk, soul and disco hits. Jane Weaver at the Bullingdon, channelling former Bellowhead mainstay Spiers seductive breeze-pop, psychedelia and synth- featuring Mallorca’s III Guerro, with their raw, TIM FREARS & THE MERCENARIES: the spirits of Cocteau Twins and Julee after the pair’s impromptu festival set pop outfit Mellow Gang, back in Oxford reverb-heavy hardcore punk, joined by East The Jericho Tavern Cruise at times. together in 2016, playing trad folk following their showing at Ritual Union last Anglia’s short, sharp sonic attack punks The THE DOORS ALIVE: Fat Lil’s, Witney – tunes, ballads and songs from their year, led by the husky tenor of Harriet Joseph Domestics, molten sludgecore from Drore, and Still tribute night. respective careers. that has seen them compared to Lana Del Rey militant melodic hardcore from rising local at times. Get there early for openers Le Feye stars Worry. th - the musical reincarnation of Coldredlight’s FRANKLIN’S TOWER + THE SATURDAY 17 th FEROCIOUS DOG + NOBLE JACKS: TUESDAY 20 Gaby-Elise and Caspar. FIREGAZERS + MARK ATHERTON & RAE MORRIS: O2 Academy – O2 Academy – Nottingham’s folk-punk AUDIOGRAFT: Old Fire Station – FRIENDS + PHIL GARVEY & KAZ + Blackpool’s sultry blues and jazz road warriors hit town after selling out the Experimental sounds from Dafne Vicente- MAEVE BAYTON: The Wheatsheaf (3.30- songstress returns to town to promote Bully last year and following a tour support Sandoval, Angharad Davies, Paul Dibley and 7pm) – Klub Kakofanney host their monthly new album `Someone Out There’, her to The Levellers. Having become the first Brett Gordon. free afternoon in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar, smooth, emotive piano-based balladry with his band in the 1980s, went on to write for here last year, touring seventh album `Lost ECHO4FOUR + BAD BLOOD RECOVERY DEAR MICHELLE: The Jericho Tavern – and play alongside Richard Thompson, Eddie Property’. + RITCHIE STIX & THE BRAINMEN + Epic, elaborate electro-heavy psychedelia in the Reader, Martha Wainwright, Kris Drever and DESERT STORM + HELL’S GAZELLES MARK SOLLIS: The Wheatsheaf – Sabbath- vein of Arcade Fire, Nick Cave, The Doors and John McCusker, amongst others, author of cult + THE HOROLOGIST + NEVER FOUND styled groove rocking and heaviosity from Spiritualised from Flights of Helios, playing classics like `Harvest Gypsies’, and a literate + CRIMSON TUSK: O2 Academy - Local Echo4four. songs from their debut album, `Endings’, plus songsmith in the lineage of Nick Drake and JJ metal behemoths Desert Storm launch their new THE PETE FRYER BAND: Cricketers Brighton’s indie pop newcomers Damp House, Cale. album, `Sentinels’ - see main interview feature Arms, Cowley and more. METAL TO THE MASSES: The Wheatsheaf DOGSFLESH + TRAUMA UK: The Cellar – MIKE SILVER + LINDA WATKINS: Tiddy HOLY THURSDAY: The Cellar – Count – Final heat of the Bloodstock battle of the Thrash-punk, metal and hardcore in the vein of Hall, Ascott-under-Wychwoof – English trad Skylarkin hosts a night of reggae, dancehall, bands, with a wildcard night from previous heat GBH, Discharge and Motorhead from Teeside’s folk fused with blues, country and rock from dubstep, jungle, garage and hip hop. runners-up. reformed rock ragers at tonight’s OxRox show, the veteran Uffington singer and guitarist at MERCURY – A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN: The plus support from Witney’s old-school punk- tonight’s Wychwood Folk Club. New Theatre – Tributes – farsands of ‘em. Friday 23rd th Friday 9 THURSDAY 22nd metallers Trauma UK. CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford LACH: The Harcourt Arms – After the th Community Centre GWENNO: MT. WOLF: The Bullingdon – Epic electronic JAKE BUGG: cancellation of his show at The Cellar in SUNDAY 25 ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure soundscapes, folktronica and string-heavy pop OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms January, the New York singer-songwriter BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, The Bullingdon from Sebastian Fox’s reformed outfit. BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3-7pm) – The New Theatre brings his Dylan-esque antifolk and beat poetry Sandford When you’re the daughter of a Cornish PHOBOPHOBES: The Cellar – Having Open blues jam. Six years and four albums into his career to town, having previously supported Neil language poet and a Welsh language choir and Jake Bugg is still only just 24. It all previously supported Fat White Family at singer and political activist who went Halstead on tour. th happened very early for him, his 2012 their infamous Bullingdon gig back in 2014, th FRIDAY 30 to prison for defacing the Welsh Office, Phobophobes make their way back to town, MONDAY 26 SUPER HANS: O2 Academy – Peepshow’s debut album hitting the Number 1 spot and JOEL BAKER: The Bullingdon – Hip hop grew up attending picket line protests with their understatedly hypnotic mess of th beloved drug-addled maniac brings his party to going double platinum after the teenage Saturday 17 meets soulful acoustic pop in London rapper before joining a doo-wop girl band and psychedelia, drone, gothic garage rock, surf town. troubadour from Nottingham had first made Joel Baker’s world, inspired as much by Nizlopi subsequently went on tour as Elton John’s and a hazy funk undercurrent, sounding rather RAGHU DIXIT: WHITE MAGIC featuring SEANI B: O2 his name on the BBC Introducing stage at and Bob Dylan as by Kendrick and Kanye. keyboard player you have a few more splendidly like a cross between Wooden Shjips, Academy – Reggae, dancehall, hip hop and Glastonbury the summer before. That debut PAUL DOWNES & PHIL BEER: Nettlebed interesting tales to tell than the average somehow managed to unite the MOJO- Joe Meek and lost 80s rockers Wall of Voodoo. The Old Fire Station r’n’b club night, tonight celebrating its birthday pop person. And when you then go and Against some serious competition, the finest Folk Club – Traditional English folk tunes reading massive with their kids, bringing SUBCULTURE: The Cellar – New in the company of 1Xtra’s Seani B. release a Welsh language synth-pop album set Nightshift has ever seen at Cornbury from the longstanding compadres, back at the spirit of Lonnie Donegan to modern drum&bass, jungle and dub night launch, PRISM / SPECTRUM featuring KIERAN based on a cult 1976 Welsh language sci-fi Festival was by Indian singer and guitarist Nettlebed for the first time together since 2014. day council estates – skiffle-infused tales playing underground club sounds, with J:Kenzo ALEXIS: The Bullingdon – Classic techno novel about brain-invading aliens who are Raghu Dixit and his band back in 2010, OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim of pilled-up nights out. Chuck in a whole and more. and acid house at tonight’s reunion club night, unable to understand and therefore control when they defied the rain to get half the heap of vintage rockabilly, beatnik folk CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford raving like the 90s once more. anyone who speaks Welsh, you probably festival site on its feet and dancing – no th and a dash of country, drawing a line from Community Centre TUESDAY 27 WRONG JOVI + BREAKING WAVES: The have plenty to talk about. Former Pipettes mean feat given they were playing on the Woody Guthrie to Lee Mavers, via Bob ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure THE OUTSIDE + LAKE ACACIA + MAX Wheatsheaf – Tribute night. singer Gwenno Saunders’ `Y Dydd Olaf’ Riverside stage, tucked away from the main Dylan and you had the phenomenon that BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, BLANSJAAR: The Bullingdon – Chirpy THE MIGHTY CADILLACS: The Prince of was Nightshift’s album of the year for arena. Back then he was making his first was teenage Jake. Fast forward to 2017 and Sandford indie rocking from The Outside, back in action, Wales, Shippon – Blues and rock covers from 2015, a gorgeous, shimmering mix of lush foray into Europe and barely known, even he released `Hearts That Strain’, a largely alongside Banbury’s Lake Acacia and lo-fi indie the 50s through to the 80s. electronics, lo-fi pop and her seductively back home; nowadays he’s one of India’s acoustic, country-hued record produced by rd trouper Max Blansjaar. impenetrable vocals that owed something FRIDAY 23 biggest stars and a renowned Bolywood Black Keys’ Dan Auebach, featuring a cast SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS:James Street st to Stereolab, Broadcast and Ladytron, and GWENNO: The Bullingdon – Welsh language composer. Born into a conservative family SATURDAY 31 of musicians who played with Elvis and Tavern something else to the proudly Welsh-sung sci-fi and synth-pop from the former Pipettes and banned from listeing to western music, FIRESHUFFLE with STEVE DAVIS & Wilson Pickett that has more in common sounds of Cate le Bon and myriad traditional singer – see main preview Dixit earned a degree in microbiology and KAVUS TORABI: The Cellar – An eclectic with Glenn Campbell and comes in the th singers. It’s just a stunning record; anyone DISS HAND IN: The Bullingdon went to work in Belgium where his landlord musical journey through prog, psychedelia, wake of the musical misstep that was `On WEDNESDAY 28 who understands the language will SELF HELP: The Cellar – Melodic fuzzgun overheard him singing and put him onto GEOFF ACHISON & THE experimental electronica and more in the My One’, with its incongruous dance beats. hear hymns about globalisation, media punk-pop and garage rock from the fast-rising a radio station. He’s never looked back, SOULDIGGERS: The Bullingdon – The company of snooker legend-turned-DJ Davis. The new record has a world weariness manipulation, patriarchy and the decline in local starlets, launching their new EP – see going on to play Glastonbury and the Royal Melbourne-based blues-rocker and previous GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with about it, as if Jake’s already seen and done minority languages; everyone else will just Introducing feature Festival Hall as well as become artist in winner of the prestigious Albert King Award LITTLE RED + KIVA + A DIFFERENT too much. Sales figures are significantly hear perfect pop. It was part protest album, DEMOCRATUS + DAMAGED REICH: residence at the South Bank. Musically for most promising young blues guitarist comes THREAD: The Wheatsheaf – down too, if that counts for anything, but part concept album, and tonight she makes The Wheatsheaf – Melodic death metal outta he’s as inventive as he is charismatic as to the Haven Club, excelling at both electric Characteristically mixed bag of sounds from fans will be hoping he can still crank out an her solo Oxford debut as part of a tour to Wales from Democratus, the band’s progressive a performer, mixing traditional Indian and acoustic blues styles, adding jazz and funk monthly gig club GTI, tonight with darkwoods acerbic `Trouble Town’ or `Two Fingers’ promote its follow up – the equally exotic, brutalism inspired by Amon Amarth, Opeth and classical and folk music with funk, pop, improvisations into his traditional repertoire. indie-folksters Little Red conjuring black dogs or vigorous pop blast of `Lightning Bolt’. Cornish language, `Le Kov’. Gorgeous, At the Gates. rock and hip hop, even veering into African TREV WILLIAMS: The Mad Hatter – Local and bad wolves in songs inspired by Nick Cave, It’s what he did best and hopefully time and brilliant pop music with so much to say, 31HOURS + ZURICH + DAISY: The hi-life at times, and when we say he’s a songsmith Trev heads off on a short UK tour to Gillian Welch and The Wicker Man. They’re experience hasn’t worn him down too much. even to those of us who don’t understand the Jericho Tavern – Atmospheric electro-pop great festival act we mean it as the highest plug his recent `Starting Line’ album, mixing joined by folk, pop, indie-rock, and classical language. from 31Hours, taking Radiohead for a starlit compliment, a joyous experience that will soulful introspection with musical atmospherics music duo Kiva, and blues, country and recalling Emiliana Torrini, Ellie Goulding, Sade stroll through trilling indie-funk, alongside make you dance, however hard you try and and social commentary. Americana outfit A Different Thread. and Bjork at times. dark-hearted synth-rockers Zurich, taking resist, and by thunder, Nightshift is always LACUNA COMMON: The Cellar – dirty, Harcourt Arms – Acoustic blues-jazz from the SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James inspiration from Editors, The National and one to try and resist having fun. We failed th energetic, bluesy garage-rock riffery in the vein former TMJB frontman. Street Tavern Interpol. Ghoulish emo from Daisy to open the and so will you. THURSDAY 29 of Parquet Courts and Shame from the local STEAMROLLER: The Brewery Tap, show. RAINBOW RESERVOIR: Truck Store newcomers. Abingdon – Classic 60s r’n’b in the vein of (6pm) – Instore album launch set from the local MAHA JEFFEREY’S BLUES TRIO: The Hendrix and Cream from the local veterans. st indie-pop/riot grrl faves. WEDNESDAY 21 th CHRIS DIFFORD & BOO HEWERDINE: SATURDAY 24 NOASIS: The Bullingdon – Tribute night, you St. John the Evangelist – A great double SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM with say? Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month, no exceptions. dose of two of the most acclaimed songwriters MUNGO’S HI-FI: The Bullingdon – Count FLIGHTS OF HELIOS + DAMP HOUSE + Listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be used without permission. of recent times at tonight’s Empty Room Skylarkin’ once again hosts Glasgow’s global show. Squeeze frontman Chris Difford was reggae and dancehall stars Mungo’s Hi-Fi at responsible, alongside Glenn Tilbrook, for his monthly club night, the forward-thinking classics like `Pulling Mussels From a Shell’, collective, inspired by King Tubby and Prince Take Me I’m Yours’ and `Up the Junction’, in Jammy, producing a slew of original albums the lineage of Ray Davies and a major influence over the last decade, including 2015’s `Serious on Pete Doherty. Tonight he joins forces with Time’, as well as collaborating with the likes of former-Bible frontman and renowned Ivor Sugar Minott, Ranking Joe and Major Lazer. Novello-nominated songwriter Boo Hewerdine TURIN BRAKES: O2 Academy – The indie who, after enjoying some minor chart success folk-rockers return to town after their show MOTHER / LACUNA photo: Daniele Longo LIVE COMMON / SEMI URBAN FOX The Cellar An impressively packed venue greets all three photo: Fiona Lethridge bands at tonight’s launch gig for Mother’s debut EP, the throng down the front gently warmed up by openers Semi Urban Fox, whose proficient, energetic indie rocking struggles to escape its Libertines/Arctic Monkey shackles, although the guitarist and bassist do earn bonus cheese points for going the full Status Quo back-to-back soloing on the final song. On the face of it Lacuna Common’s raucous guitar pop doesn’t come from such a different place as Semi Urban Fox: all messy, dirty, energetic, bluesy garage-rock riffery and blokey vocals, but it’s a division higher by dint of having some punk grit about it and a bit of dirt under its nails – perhaps not surprising given the band were formerly known as Filth. At their best there’s a bit of Shame’s belligerence about them and if the token slow song threatens to derail their short set, the wiry closing number pulls it back, with more than a hint of Parquet Courts about it. Mother’s portentous intro tape heralds what turns out to b a surprisingly epic, sometimes OTT set from the band who recorded their new EP with Ride’s Mark Gardener. They spend much of their set trying, and often succeeding, in matching its bombast. On record the band play well-crafted through The Cellar like an post-Britpop and noughties post-grunge, sort LOW ISLAND apparition. Such is the sedative of a meeting point between Space and The but engaging tone that Low Island Strokes, but tonight, with everything swathed in The Cellar while the constant reverb, particularly on Josh almost psychedelic grunge edge and for all the Some local bands appear to be the muted acclaim you’ve always goers’ radar but are the absolute set, the night quickly becomes a an ocean of reverb and songs cranked out with Alden’s vocals, give the whole set a bilious, occasional clumsiness and ostentatiousness, circumnavigating the evolutionary dreamed of. pinnacle of Oxford music right now. sumptuous show from a band whose maximum theatricality, it regularly billows into gothic feel that at best promises to tip over there’s a feeling that if Mother could maybe ramp development process we have in However, bands such as Glass Having the shape shifting ability to ethos is to provoke but in the most more Muse-like progginess, notably on early into Hawkind-like space-rock, but can wander the musical theatricality up even further, they place here in Oxford. We all know Animals, and more recently Low move through soulful and dextrous musically rich and lavish manner. highlight `Potent Prophesy’, taking in wandering perilously close to Spinal Tap’s Stonehenge might be the band Oxford has been missing since it goes: poorly attended open Island, have taken a fast-track indie rock, into ambient, lo-fi As hushed but animated punters funk basslines and an elaborate galloping rhythm. moment. `The Saboteur’ finds them at their most Borderville called it a day. mic night in Botley; first on with route, their experience of dispiriting electronica and out the other end file out at the end of a hauntingly The ambitious scope of the songs doesn’t glowering and gothic, while `LA’ provides an a Dire Straights tribute act; the Tuesday-night showcase gigs fleeting with subtle but enthralling hooks, memorable performance, there is always shine through the busy arrangements, Dale Kattack drummer leaves to study Graphic and rapidly forgotten: unforgivable! they not only create unforgettable indeed that unmistakable feeling of Design at Aberystwyth; headline And so, back to right the wrongs music but a show that has a having been witness to something JESCA HOOP WILLY MASON show at The Jericho playing to of their apparent disregard for The narrative which contorts, meanders which promises to grow and mutate the few loyal mates who didn’t Oxford Way, Low Island tonight and challenges its audience to join into one of our most beloved acts. Any The Bullingdon The Jericho Tavern have anything better to do; a few play a show which will be them on their journey. music lover not already on the Low I used to wonder what singers do be corrected by the locals. Such a Never heard of Willy Mason? You set is mixed up with a number of more underwhelming support remembered as an “I was there” The delicate and ghostly vocal lines Island bandwagon should probably when they get the hiccups before mutual exchange is rare even at a might be on your own. The newly new songs as poetic and thought slots; a couple of middling reviews occasion. sit in amongst complex and dissident jump on asap as these boys surely a gig. The human voice is more smaller-sized gig. refurbished Jericho Tavern is sold provoking as his published works. in Nightshift and then, through Low Island, are a band that may ideology, creating a otherworldly and have a most exciting career ahead. fragile than a guitar, and singing for The set itself gets better as it goes out weeks before this gig and so are The audience don’t want the evening perseverance as much as talent, have slipped under many local gig nuanced soundscape which drifts Richard Brabin a crowd means taking a risk. Jesca on, with some of the strongest his other 29 dates around the UK and to end and neither does Mason, who Hoop reminds me of that, partly tracks – ‘Memories Are Now’, ‘The Ireland. declares at the end of his set that he because she occasionally struggles Coming, ‘The Lost Sky’ – close to A purveyor of American folk pop, will perform “a few more – requests THE AMERICANS / KASHENA SAMPSON takes the lead on `I’ll Be Yours’, the title track with her voice, but more so because the end, although on the downside, from Martha’s Vineyard, Willy or covers”. A request for his own of their new album, but the song is still a of the intimacy of her show at The ‘Memories Are Now’, unfortunately, Mason was hailed as a star in the `When the Leaves Have Fallen’ The Bullingdon slightly overwrought rocker and the ballads are Bullingdon. does not have the same drive as making at 19. Now in his mid-thirties from his 2007 album `If the Ocean Tonight is Kashena Sampson’s UK debut and part of the documentary series American Epic, epic in scope and delivery. Any worry the band After her first song, Hoop tells the album version. Surprisingly, he’s back in Oxford for the first time Gets Rough’ gets one of the biggest she only met guitarist Chris Hillman – last seen as well as playing on The Late Show with are getting too bombastic or indulgent is quickly us an emotional story about her Hoop doesn’t play much off her in nearly a decade and there’s a real cheers of the evening. Launching in town as part of Billy Bragg’s band – a few Letterman, tonight’s confident show reveals a dispersed by a brace of short, sharp railroad late mother and being raised a last record, missing tunes such as sense of expectation in the room. into it Willy stops halfway through, hours beforehand, but she doesn’t seem the sort band well schooled in the art of wringing every blues numbers that edge towards Little Richard Mormon. Religion is a recurring ‘Simon Says’ or ‘Cut Connection’. On stage he delivers songs lyrically unable to remember the third verse, to be fazed by much if anything, possessed of a ounce of energy out of a show. and Jerry Lee Lewis territory and as they head theme: the Jesus-doubting song ‘The But that does mean she plays a few rich with political and dark social but only endearing himself even brassy attitude and voice that you can imagine From the steel twang of set opener `Nevada’ towards the close of the set we get a cover of Coming’ (“And the coming never of her older gems, of which the messages in a strong, clear voice, more to the faithful: his fallibility silencing the rowdiest of blues bars back home and the barroom boogie of `Stateline’ they take Otis Jackson’s gorgeous gospel classic `Tell Me came”) is a highlight of tonight’s delirious ‘Angel Mom’ is the most now supported by a full band. His mirroring those of the characters in in Las Vegas. When she really lets her tonsils go the influence of Steve Earle, particularly in Where You Like Mr Roosevelt’, which turns out set. Nevertheless, Hoop keeps the beautiful. fans listen in rapt silence – a rarity his songs. To extricate himself from to town there’s more than a hint of Dolly Parton Patrick Ferris’ gruff, bluesy delivery, and settle to the emotional high point of the show. “That’s atmosphere light with her sharp and The lyrics of Hoop’s encore ‘Storms these days – and the warmth coming the embarrassment, his final song about her, but it’s her softer side, closer to Joan in for a night of good time country rocking, our `there are still good Americans in the unexpectedly witty remarks. Make Grey the Sea’, “You sit out from the audience is palpable. is `Oxygen’, released when he was Baez, that really stands out. where even moments of melancholy like `Last world’ song,” announces Ferris, barely needing And she is not just telling us stories; there / Did you know what you were Not the most prolific of singer- 19, and the crowd mouth the words Like Sampson, The Americans are heading Chance’ are dealt with with an easy lope. to mention the current, rather less beloved she is asking questions, too. This in for? / The change in air / When I songwriters, with only three studio respectfully, applaud fulsomely and to the UK Americana Awards the night after, The band are in Oxford fresh from playing president. Of course there are: there’s a bunch leads to a few genuine exchanges stepped to the floor,” might as well albums to his name over the last happily file out of the room together. where there’s little danger of them going down Celtic Connections and Ferris mentions of them up on stage tonight and these ones are between crowd and artist, such as describe tonight’s gig: engaging decade, each song is beautifully They had heard of Willy Mason and anything less than the proverbial storm. Having their acoustic roots but tonight they’re rarely more than welcome in the UK. when she presumes Oxford doesn’t throughout and thoroughly personal. crafted and receives reverential he didn’t disappoint. made themselves known internationally as anything less than the full electric; the banjo Dale Kattack have much homelessness, only to Caspar Jacobs applause. Tonight, though, the Brett Silver some space with The Unthanks and even Radiohead if you listen closely LIVE to the guitar curlicues. There is lyrical whimsy and delicate spangle aplenty, with recent single `My Demon Eye’ taking Stables most fully into old-world folk singing. On the other end of her photo: Helen Messenger musical scale is `Moonshine Freeze’ with its butterfly-light indie-pop feel, Stables’ voice positively dancing atop the melody. But elsewhere there are songs that, if not exactly dragging, seem unwilling or unable to impose themselves: underplayed and too quiet, even with such a respectful audience hanging silently on every note. Sometimes you just wish you could be sat a table or two away from Kate as she plucks her banjo and conjures romantic poetry. Even an encore of `Greasy Goose’ sounds slightly hesitant when it could be a triumphant finale for an artist who’s finally getting her commercial as THIS IS THE KIT well as critical dues. And perhaps that’s the real issue O2 Academy here: Stables and her band might Folk music often has a problem album `Moonshine Freeze’, and get lost in. Comparisons with Laura not yet have had time to adjust their when its artists reach a certain level while band leader Kate Stables is Marling are unavoidable on the dynamic to fit these bigger venues of popularity in that on most levels obviously in ebullient mood at the sombre, introspective `Bulletproof’, and crowds. You wouldn’t want it’s a particularly intimate form of end of her most successful tour to while the more expansive, upbeat to lose an ounce of the delicacy of music, best enjoyed in small, snug date, too often tonight her sweet, tracks like `Magic Spell’, played This Is The Kit’s music, but perhaps bars and clubs. delicate songs get lost. Never more with full band including the something more expansive might This Is The Kit face tonight’s so than when she plays solo, as excellent Rozi Plain and a nicely allow it to make its presence felt a sold-out show on the back of the on `Easy On The Thieves’, which understated horn section, with more bit better. breakthrough success of fourth reveals her voice as something to prominent vocal harmonies, share Dale Kattack THE LOVELY EGGS / JOHN COOPER CLARKE PORKY THE POET O2 Academy I do miss the days, before fame blew modern audiences politely hang on The Cellar its second wind across John Cooper every word, many here appearing to Orwell’s 1984 was published 35 Whilst we may never again witness Clarke’s career, when he used to turn be first-timers. Especially pleasing years in advance of the year it a wistful skip through `Oh, The up to gigs on his own and would to diehard fans are a clutch of new predicted; it’s only months until Stars’ or a grinning lope through always be up for a pint and a chat poems including ‘Shave Off’; ‘I we’re the same distance the other `Watermelons’, that’s a small price to afterwards. One time he took me to Moustache You A Question’; ‘Get side. Similarly, Porky The Poet’s pay for a packed room led in a lusty the Marathon Bar, the famous illegal Back On Drugs You Fat Fuck’, and piece `They’ve All Grown Up In chorus of `Fuck It’ by what looks like drinking club behind a fish and chip the very brief ‘Necrophilia’: “Fed up The Beano’ is now nearly as old a pair of kids’ TV presenters gone shop in north London; another time with foreplay and all that palaver? as that venerable schoolyard staple feral (they’ve all grown up on Blue we got so wrecked in The Zodiac ‘Ave a cadaver”. His interest in was when he wrote it. If his script Peter, and it went brilliantly wrong). cocktail bar that he insisted on sex is probably best described is you and me, Time likes to shove Despite one or two punky thumpers buying me a veggie burger in the as unreconstructed, though this in a little call-back gag every now that aren’t hugely memorable, The and then. Ironically, whilst Time Lovely Eggs still have a uniquely Kebab Kid, only to promptly drive limerick gets a big laugh: “Two ugly has had no debilitating effect on British take on shabby psychedelia, off with it in his taxi. These days of sisters from Fordham / Took a walk Phil Jupitus’s comedy skills despite `Magic Onion’ especially sounding course JCC’s star is firmly back in one day out of boredom / On the the vintage of some of his material like a Monkees song repurposed as a the ascendant, partly thanks to the way back / A sex maniac / Jumped – the initials SPG and DHSS will skipping rhyme by absurdist urchins. BBC, The Arctic Monkeys and those out of a bush and ignored ‘em”. True be as meaningless to your average The sneering spirit of Mark E Smith Sopranos. to form, older works get minor gig-goer as tape-to-tape dubbing seems to have inhabited Holly Ross Clarke has survived early fame in updates; 1980’s ‘Beesley Street’ or MS-DOS commands – the poet on newer songs like `I Shouldn’t the punk years, through serious drug now featuring mentions of The Duke has become visibly less porky. That Have Said That’, and his death addiction and on to recovery and a of Edinburgh and Mister Magoo. Time: he gets you one way or another. reminds us that one day even the new generation of fans, a radio show The set is more workmanlike than We’ve seen The Lovely Eggs a most driven originals will leave the and even a poem on the National previous visits, possibly evidence of fair few times in Oxford since the stage, so don’t miss out the next time Curriculum. His classic albums from less pre-show refreshments, finishing first, a decade ago opening at The The Lovely Eggs come to town, and 1978 to 1982 are notable for featuring with ‘Evidently Chickentown’, Wheatsheaf, and the turnout has indeed keep ensuring capacity crowds the only musical compositions by probably his most famous work and steadily grown until this, a richly at The Cellar, and other small venues, legendary producer Martin Hannett. eerily prophetic of modern Britain. deserved Cellar sell-out. Time, of lest you live to regret it. Meanwhile, Gigs can be unpredictable affairs After the demise of Mark E Smith course, is waiting in the wings to take Time takes a cigarette, but now has to but tonight he’s on particularly it’s cheering to see the other great the edge off, and maybe larger crowds slink out to the alleyway to smoke it. sharp form, mixing up poems, Northern voice of the punk years have pushed the band towards beery Even he’s not immune to change. So jokes and his trademark surreal still on top of their game and making singalongs and reduced dynamics fuck it, oh yeah. diversions that can go on for an no concessions to anyone. (or perhaps it’s the other way round). David Murphy age. In contrast to the early days Art Lagun JORJA SMITH LIVE O2 Academy The 2018 Brits Critics’ Choice into making this all so effortless THE CELLAR Award recipient, 20-year-old and laid-back. She excels when her Walsall-bred Jorja Smith, started voice is brought to the fore – by a writing songs at school – some of single guitar on `Goodbyes’, piano WHAT’S ON IN MARCH which form the backbone of her on `Don’t Watch Me Cry’, and a set tonight – but you can’t help but skilful instrumental arrangement Thurs 1st Thurs 8th Fri 23rd celebrate rather than begrudge her on the emotive, string-heavy, Future Perfect SPYHNX + GUESTS Future Perfect HUSKY LOOPS + 7.30pm–10pm SELF HELP + GUESTS photo: Cristina Camilla Corazza precociousness. Of the seventeen Adele-recalling `Let Me Down’ LIFE INC + TARPIT £7adv • £9 otd 7.30–10.30pm tracks performed, one (Frank – and when she takes advantage 7.30–10.30pm £6 adv • 16+ Ocean’s `Lost’) is a cover and of the top of her range, though on £7 adv • 16+ Fri 9th seven are as yet unreleased: bold, occasion her riff intervals could do YOUTHMOVIES Fri 23rd Thurs 1st AFTER-SHOW BASSFACE given that she is yet to release her with more variety. GOODNESS 11pm–3am Bassline / DNB debut album, but less of a risk Jorja doesn’t just sing, though: House / Techno / Disco £4 for Youthmovies SAMMY VIRJI now that live videos of the latter she talk-raps a critique of the MARQUIS HAWKES ticket holders • £6 otd 11pm–3am are already on YouTube and many government on the feisty extended + DISCO MA £8 • £10 • £12 in the audience already know the metaphor `Lifeboats’ and scat- NON TROPPO Sat 10th 11am–3pm Oxrox presents Sat 24th words. sings on `Blue Lights’, which is Oxrox Punk £3 • £5 • £7 Metal covers / Metal On `Teenage Fantasy’ and the highlight of the night both BLACK SHOT ROSE + DOGSFLESH + `Imperfect Circle’ Jorja’s smooth, performance- and reception-wise: Fri 2nd CHAOS ASYLUM TRAUMA UK vibrato-tinged R&B voice and a Dizzee Rascal-sampling plaintive Bossaphonik 7pm • £8 adv • £10 otd 7pm–10pm Global Beats £8 adv • £10 otd • 18+ traditional keyboard/guitar/bass/ semi-ballad that counsels “There’s CAMO CLAVE (LIVE) Sat 10th drums backing setup calls to mind no need to run / If you’ve done + DJ DAN OFER Sounder Sat 24th Underground / House Music early-90s new jack swing; she nothing wrong”. Jorja’s wisdom- 10pm–3am OFF KEY FINEST WEAR + Grime / DnB / Bassline doesn’t need star producers like beyond-her-years is here underlined £7 adv • £8 b4 11pm DAMIAN CHARLES 11pm–3am • £tbc Teddy Riley or Jam & Lewis to by an Air-esque glockenspiel-like £9 After 11pm 10.30pm–3am give her charisma, though. She has synth, giving an innocent, music- Sat 3rd £5 adv • £6 otd Mon 26th box edge to the heavy lyrical Cinema Under the Stars a good stab at making her vocals Future Perfect Tues 13th sound semi-improvised, especially material, and this sums up the + Ritual Union Underground Cinema INTRUSION ROBOCOP on the empowering `Beautiful Little night: playful yet accomplished. EYRE LLEW + KID KIN + GHOSTS IN Goth / EBM / Industrial 7.30pm for Fools’, but a lot of effort must go Kirsten Etheridge THE PHOTOGRAPHS Goth / Cyber / Dark 8.30pm start • £4 7.30–10.30pm Alternative Dress Code 8.30pm–2am • £4 otd Thurs 29th £7 adv • 16+ Holy Thursday SHOPPING / KONE / Sat 3rd Fri 16th Reggae / Hip-Hop relentlessly nodding heads before Freerange SOUL SESSIONS COUNT SKYLARKIN AK/DK / VIENAA DITTO / TIGER MENDOZA it. AK/DK work to a formula, but DESPICABLE ZEE UKG / Grime / Bassline Disco / Soul / Funk ALL NIGHT • The Jericho Tavern it’s a highly effective formula – CASPA + YOUNGSTA 11pm–3am £5 all night 11pm–3am • £5 otd songs are more like intense jam The Cellar + NOMINE + SP:MC Sat 17th free b4 11.30pm We’re not sure whether Ian De De Quadros’ electronic belligerence like Giorgio Moroder doing a gothic sessions between the apir, both sat If there’s a frequent feeling tonight sparsely populated with and edge of 11pm–3am Future Perfect Fri 30th Quadros’ tiger mask is intended to on `Natural Beat’, Vienna Ditto’s reworking of `My Boy Lollipop’. • that we’ve landed in the middle of The Fall creeping in. £5 adv more otd THE WHITE LAKES Deep Cover be menacing or fun in a Frosties Nigel Firth takes to the stage to add Seduction, silliness and synthetic behind drum kits, tinkering with + GUESTS synths and sequencers as they go. a lost John Peel show circa-1980, Making their Oxford debut Mon 5th UK Funky / Bass / kind of way but his music is more some improivised guitar crunch serility hug and party together as we mean that in the very best way. to a pleasingly packed Cellar, Future Perfect 7.30 –10.30pm Techno Tracks build to a peak, subtly break • likely to have children weeping to the militant industrial beats Hattie Taylor sings “I’m feeling SAINT AGNES + £5 adv 16+ DISTRO down and then kick back in with All three acts possess that spirit Shopping too have their roots in at the nightmares it brings than and oppressive electronic hums good” like Alison Goldfrapp of independence that once seemed post-punk’s creative flowering THE OTHER DRAMAS Sat 17th 11pm–3am • £5 singing cheerily along. Performing and somehow it sounds almost reincarnated as Marilyn Monroe. unstoppable force, sounding like + COUNTING CARDS Fluid presents... Silver Apples, Neu! and Trans Am lost when the major labels stole it, and we spend much of the set 7.30–10.30pm Sat 31st mostly solo tonight the voices celebratory even as their duo create Given tonight is Brighton duo Bassline / Bass House Future Prefect polished it and sold it back to us as picking out snatches of influences • that graced his recent `Old Ideas a hellish cacophony. It’s an intense, AK/DK’s Oxford debut and gone raving together with extreme £6.50 adv 16+ CAUSE AND AFFECT LACUNA COMMON sterile stodge in the late 90s. here and there – from a Certain UK + BURT COPE prejudice, vocals, such as they are, Mon 5th + GUESTS 1’ EP are present in digital ghost riveting start to what turns out to be they’re hardly a household name + MORE often sounding like Murray Walker With the busy studiousness of a Ratio’s trilling indie-funk and Don’t Believe the Hype 7.30–10.30pm form only, Pierquinn’s narrative an early contender for gig of the year. the anticipation from the crowd 11pm–3am sci-fi school teacher, Despicable The Cure’s `Killing An Arab’-era Indie / Alternative £5 adv • 16+ on `Dark’ shrouded in a glowering Vienna Ditto never fail to packed in front of the stage is commentating on Hawkwind’s first • Zee’s Zahra Tehrani scrabbles fidget-pop, through some glorious THE SHADES + £5 adv motd witch house gloom, while Luke entertain, careering with trademark more than encouraging, and it’s mission to Mars. It’s an absolute trip Sat 31st together collages of loops, industrial meandering PiL-style noise, to KOROVA Mon 19th Allmond’s vocals on `Process’ get ramshackle glee and cheesy grins amply rewarded with a visceral set of a show with that edge-of calamity Future Perfect drones, hip hop beats and heavily- more unexpected Two Tone vibes 11pm–3am #OpenChairNight FIRESHUFFLE crushed by Deftones-style guitar and from chaotic jazzabilly, through of clattering, propulsive electro- DIY vibe about it that makes the £5 OTD • £4 via FIXR HAIRDRESSERS best live music so thrilling. treated vocals to create soundscapes and some brassy synth-pop. Rachell STEVE DAVIS + Nine Inch Nails machinery. After Suicide pulse and onto voodoo garage-rave noise that seems to that are alternatively soulful and Aggs, with her ebullient mess of www.hairclublive.com KAVUS TORABI Dale Kattack Tues 6th [email protected] Asher Dust’s frantic scurry against lounge blues, at one point sounding possess a hypnotic power over the Bad Rap PT.2 11pm–3am abstract, at her best sounding like a hair and vivacious stage presence, 7pm–10pm • £6 mash-up of Gazelle Twin’s queasy is a superb frontwoman, but Billy 90s / 00s / Pop Classics £6 early bird FEMI WILLIAMS + • • greasepaint make-up making him look like Jaz electronica and M.I.A.’s militant Easter is as much a star of the show Thurs 22nd £8 adv motd 18+ THE BLINDERS / BRIXTONS / WATERFOOL CUNTRY LIVING Future Perfect Coleman accidentally recruited into Kiss, intoning pop-hop. Throw in some Middle with her militantly staccato bass DJS + BAD RAP PHOTOPHOBE + HAZE The Cellar “There is no hope” as the band crank out a dark, Eastern motifs and a sense of unease rhythms driving songs along, neatly RESIDENTS 7.30–10.30pm dense, sludgy post-punk noise that touches on and Zahra might well be Oxford’s counterpointing Aggs’ party-hearty 11pm–3am £7 adv • 16+ £4 adv • £5 otd Two guys making a big punk rock noise with just to a cover of `Still Take You Home’ and some Killing Joke’s militant industrial rock, but later very own Cosey Fanni Tutti. It’s a afropop guitar to make for a set Thurs 22nd guitar, drums and the right effects pedals is no less than subtle steals from various Monkeys swaggers into Glitterstomp, some psychedelic wonderful opening set. that’s genuinely euphoric at times. Wed 7th Subculture Oxford: longer something new but done right it can still songs. Nothing wrong with aping your heroes we swirl and even some dirty Cramps-like gothabilly. Which is quickly equalled And when the pair of them trade BURNING DOWN Launch be effective. Waterfool are all fuzz and clatter, guess, but in a world of exotic musical treats to There are moments in the set where the band’s by Kone, who initially belie harmonies they could be a lo-fi THE HOUSE Drum and Bass more laddish edge comes to the fore, they touch the monochrome, downbeat B52’s, all pop zip and zing and 80s / New Wave J:KENZO + MORE! teetering on the line between Nirvana and White pick from, expanding your horizons is essential. 11pm–3am • £6 adv base with The Enemy and lose that bite, but only minimalism of their records with good feelings. It’s music that harks 11pm–3am • £5 Stripes and make a decent stab at giving tonight’s If you’ve a thing for the Steel City, maybe £7 • £8 • £10 otd gig an early kick up the backside. Stand-out tracks investigate Cabaret Voltaire or Rolo Tomassi; for for odd moments, and mostly there’s a real snarl some deliciously uptight funk bass, back to a golden era of musical steely guitar lines and very slightly invention but never sounds dated, are hard to spot until their final number, a ballsy now, given there’s already an Antarctic Monkeys, about them, even when they try some Joy Division The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3HZ on for size: a lesson perhaps to the support acts on off-tune vocals that remind us of instead, even on a cold Monday grunge pummel that takes them up a level, leaving maybe we can dub Brixtons The Temperate @CellarOxford TheCellar.Oxford a decent impression. Thames Valley Monkeys. taking influences and making them your own. The The Raincoats and The Au Pairs. night in February, leaving everyone Wantage’s Brixtons sound northern. In fact they Temperate isn’t a word you could throw at The Blinders, then: not a blinding new dawn quite yet, As the set progresses they stretch here with a warm feeling inside and www.cellaroxford.co.uk sound like they’re from Sheffield. Okay, they Blinders, who take to the stage to a theatrically but packed with the heat of a black sun on the rise. the sound, make it starker, songs a spring in their step. sound exactly like Arctic Monkeys, right down bombastic opening track, the singer’s distressed Dale Kattack like `For John Heartfield’ more Dale Kattack HARCOURT ARMS INTRODUCING.... Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under Saturday March 24th Lach uk Tour SELF HELP Who are they? Oxford punk/pop/garage-rock quartet Self Help are Danny Jeffries plus support (vocals/guitar); Silke Blansjaar (drums); Lizzie Couves (bass), and Sean Cousins (guitar). Danny and Silke met on joinmyband.com in 2016. The duo were originally called Din Twins before recruiting Silke’s friend Saturday March 31st Jakob on bass. When he left to study in Denmark they met Sean at a recording session at S.A.E. Lizzie joined in January 2017 after posting Maha Jaffery's an appeal on Facebook. Since then the band have gigged relentlessly locally and beyond and released two EPs, the most recent of which, `Birthdayboy’, is out this month. Blues Trio What do they sound like? Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: Barrelling punk-pop and garage rock that’s both ferocious and merry. “Just one is impossible, so hopefully we are allowed to say that our plus support They’re a highly melodic but also very noisy band with the raucous vibe favourite non-band is Slate Hearts, and Easter Island Statues are our of early Supergrass about them and, crucially, big, bold tunes to back it favourite still-a-band.” up, possessed of a rough-edged naivety and spirited freshness. In their If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: Monday March 12th own words they are “trashy, tongue-in-cheek and a lot of fun.” “`Is This It?’ by The Strokes.” What inspires them? When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? oxford classic “We’re lucky to have such an active music scene in Oxford; the thing “`The Cellar on the 23rd of March to celebrate the release of our new that drives us to keep getting better is all the incredible friends we’ve EP `Birthdayboy’. Expect a half-naked Sean freaking out people in the made, not only in the ridiculous amount of talented bands here but also crowd.” jazz all the dedicated punters and people behind the scenes.” Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: Their career highlight so far: “Favouirite is the enigma that is Alan D, and our least favourite thing is “Finding out Steve Lamacq had seen us play in London and was going not being able to find him on Facebook.” Open Mic Every Sunday to play our single at the time on his 6Music show. Also, organising Slate You might love them if you love: live music at the heart of jericho Hearts’ last show and getting kicked in the face by a crowd surfer.” Supergrass; The Strokes; Ash; Slaves; The Sonics; The Kinks; The And the lowlight: Adverts. Cranham Terrace Jericho Oxford ox2 6dg “We’re honestly hard pressed to think of anything that could be Hear them here: 01865 556669 considered a lowlight.” Youneedselfhelp.bandcamp.com or Facebook.com/youneedselfhelp

DR SHOTOVER: Days of Future P*ssed THIS MONTH IN OXFORD T H E W H E A T S H E A F Ah, there you are, Pilkington. Sit down. Take the weight off, and, while ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY nd Friday 2 March – KLUB KAKOFANNEY 8PM / £5 you’re at it… hur, hur… lose some of that unsightly wallet weight by buying Also out this month was The Family Machine’s us all a futuristic cocktail. Mine’s a ‘Nuclear Armageddon on the Beach’ 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO long-awaited `You Are The Family Machine’ – but tell Bedingfield to go easy on the aniseed. So, what did happen to The legacy of Radio 1 Sound City continued to With the news last month that Walter Gervers has be felt in Oxford in March 1998 with the news left Foals, it’s easy to forget how long he’d been debut album. The Go! Team, Siouxsie Sioux, rd those jet-packs we were promised? Our East Indies Club archivist, Harold Saturday 3 March – METAL TO THE MASSES 7:45PM / £7 Duffy, Eels and Gary Numan were highlights of Sherpa-Tensing, recently unearthed a document from 1976 which outlines that Brookes University Union had been given with the band as March 2008 saw the local stars a full public licence for its Headington Hill gracing the cover of Nightshift for the second the local gigging month. th the developments predicted at the time for the Oxford Music Scene. Yes, Sunday 4 March – OXCORE 7:45PM / £5 handwritten by a club member in 1976, using an Osmiroid calligraphy pen in venue. Following on from its temporary licence time, having made their first appearance on the for Sound City, the licence allowed it to host front page back in 2006. Such was their hectic th a commemorative Princess Anne-Captain Mark Phillips Wedding notebook. Wednesday 7 March – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC 7:45PM / £7 5 YEARS AGO Here are some selected quotes: 1) Guitars are on their way out, guys. It’s all up to twelve gigs a year, making it the second schedule back then they were interviewed from Did we mention Lynus back there? Well fast going to be synths, synths, synths from now on! No more Fender, no more largest venue in Oxford, after The New Theatre New York where they had recently signed to Sub th forward fifteen years and who was on the Friday 9 March – JAM CITY 7:45PM / £5 Gibson in 1977! 2) Black is sooo UNTRENDY. Bands of the future aren’t going with a capacity of 1,100. The venue went on to Pop. Their previous appearance in Oxford had cover of Nightshift but Grace Exley, once of to wear black. No way! Start saving up NOW for your silver threads, Future enjoy some memorable shows over the next few been a riotous semi-secret show at the Cellar and those ramshackle rockers and now fronting the Rockers! 3) Beards onstage? Don’t make me laugh! They’re about as NOW years so it’s sad to see the place fall into disuse things were going potty bonkers for them. “It’s brilliant and bonkers Goggenheim, a band very th Saturday 10 March – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC 7:45PM / £7 as big sidies and Brylcreem! 4) Vinyl records are set to get BIGGER, as the in recent years. been fun and it’s been a blur,” they reflected from much in a league of their own when it came to need increases for more grooves, to deal with those Moog, Korg and ARP Oxford City Council went further in their across the pond, “a lot’s changed, but we’re still strange, subversive music that cherry-picked soundwaves! Mark my words – 15” discs are on their way – and hifi systems support or live music, hosting a music the same smelly, obnoxious boys as we were jazz, psychedelia, funk, punk, disco, Krautrock, th to match! 5) Punk rock? What’s THAT? Etc etc… Yes, yes, ridiculous, isn’t Friday 16 March – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC 7:45PM / £7 conference at the Town Hall, aiming to address before; we drink too much to remember much of pop and plenty more and who were the most it? What say, Pilkington? Who wrote it? I have, erm, NO IDEA. What do you issues facing the local music scene and give a what’s happened but we have some photos.” On flamboyantly fun band in town. “Genuinely th mean, it looks like my handwriting?!? Ahem. Time for another round, I think, Saturday 17 March – OXROX 7:45PM / £10 clear perspective on its future direction. arriving back home, the band were due to play an unusual people have little concept of their own don’t you? [Dr S scuttles to the bar]. Bedingfield, I say BEDINGFIELD! More Back in the day-to-day coalface of music, already sold-out headline show at the Academy, peculiarities, whereas self-proclaimed `crazy’ futuristic The Zodiac played host to Courtney Pine, their biggest hometown gig yet, as part of a UK characters are often anything but,” they wisely cocktails… st Audioweb, Coldcut, Asian Dub Foundation tour to promote debut album `Antidotes’. pointed out. “We have carved out a dimension Wednesday 21 March – METAL TO THE MASSES 7:45PM / £7 [whispers] and and Paul Oakenfold this month, while The Youthmovies, who had been a chief inspiration where whatever we do, or think, or feel, is right, put them on Point weighed in with shows by Pram and The on Foals, and whose Andrew Mears had been a simply because we created it that way. It’s about Friday 23rd March – OXROX 7:45PM / £10 Pilkington’s Montrose Avenue as well as local faves The founding member, released their `Good Nature’ tab, there’s freedom.” Seriously, what we’d give to see them Full Monty, Beaker, The Samurai Seven and album on Drowned In Sound’s own label this a good chap. reform, even if just for one show. Lynus. month. It was, said the awed Nightshift review, Talking of shows, among the highlights of the th He won’t Saturday 24 March 7:45PM / £5 mind paying But the hottest ticket in town was for the debut like the musical equivalent of a web spun by a gig calendar were Johnny Marr, Jessie Ware, for them… gig by The Animalhouse, the new band drug-addled spider – “a puzzling, complex and Gabrielle Aplin, Palma Violets and Bastille, all at sometime in formed by Ride’s Mark Gardener and Loz fascinating tapestry of tangents, open spaces and The O2 Academy, while flying the flag for local th Friday 30 March - OXROX 7:45PM / £10 the future. Colbert alongside ex-Mystics frontman and pockets of highly condensed silk.” Oh yes, we music were Deer Chicago, ToLiesel, X-1, Jordan Supergrass producer Sam Williams, at The know a good bit of purple prose when we see it. O’Shea, Welcome To Peepworld and the oddly- Next month: st Saturday 31 March – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES 8PM / £4.50 Home Bullingdon, a packed house witnessing the Great to see the band back together this month as monikered Who Put Bella In the Witch Elm? ‘Now, where did I put my Dymo tape?’ - Dr S wigs celebratory opening salvo from Oxford’s first they reform for a two night sold out residency at Answers to that question and whatever happened to Computers Will The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Never Catch On out in Retro-Future 1976 supergroup. The Bullingdon in aid of the Michael Barry Fun. some of those others on a postcard, please. fire will shine on through,” which never quite bless you’. Not that I’m a christian,” says threatens to usurp Nick Drake’s awed wonder the sanguine and phlegmatic Mr Felton here, at love and the natural world. `Dorchester which is doubtless a clever ploy to make Hill’ does aim for something approaching us feel like utter bloody bastards if we give DEMOS romantic longing but truth be told it’s all a him a critical kicking. Can’t imagine that’s Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day bit too polite and pedestrian and while we likely though, given his Soundcloud promises at Soundworks studio in Oxford, don’t expect every artist to sound like they’re “unique and unpredictable song concepts”. courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit baring the darkest depths of their soul, neither A wild ride through Throbbing Gristle, Can do we want them to sound like the wistful and Prince is assured. So surely this dreadful, www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift recollections of a ramblers association parish dreary acoustic wimp-pop can’t be Jamie. newsletter column. Because this is predictable and very definitely Up. To. Here with your bullshit. Stand back not unique. It’s earnest, lovelorn soft rock folks, he’s gonna kick off again. None of DEMO OF balladeering bordering on overwrought yer namby-pamby post-hardcore nonsense, boy band emoting of the sort whose bones frippery or wimpiness here; this is yer actual ORCHID We do love Orchid here at Nightshift: first and viscera have been littering Nightshift’s THE MONTH ‘arcdore. Short, sharp, heavy and very, very off because her first demo was written while basement torture dungeon for more years cross indeed. The real star of this ferocious she was off her noggin at Glastonbury, and than we can count. `Kiss Me Goodnight’ sound storm, though, is guitarist and bassist DUTCH-SARNIE secondly because she says our last review of is strained sub-Boyzone sensitivity, Ronan Hannah Watts who keeps up a steady Dutch Sarnie turned up like a mashed-up, her “made my life”. See, be nice to us and Keating imagining he’s Nick Drake, while blizzard of sludgy brutality for Nathan to drug-laced lunchtime snack last year, armed we’re like eager to please puppy dogs. We the nominally more electro-pop `Til The Stars bawl his hatred of the world over. “Everyone with a lower than lo-fi musical aesthetic, also love Orchid because she obviously has Don’t Shine’ is sort of school drama society you love will die / Everything you know will some inventive Charles Bukowksi and Gary great taste in music. We know this since this torch song meets failed X-Factor audition. end / For I am the Devil” comes the cheery Numan samples and the spirit of bedroom latest one-song offering is a cover of Kylie’s But there is an unexpected, incongruous conclusion, followed by a brief moment of studio invention about it. Now he/she/it is 2003 hit `Slow’, one of her finest moments saxophone solo at the end of `Hold My Hips silence as we contemplate the void, and then back with even more of the same, complete with its minimalist synth-pop vibe, which and Sway’, mind, which does at least tick a sudden, farewell “Muthafucker!” We need with a neat spot-the-sample crossword puzzle Orchid replicates pretty well here, with just one `unpredictable’ box. At least Nightshift’s to see Worry up close and personal at a gig st (including some more Numan and even a a slight twist to give it a more 21 Century heavily-predicted descent into the seventh very soon, and if we don’t leave with blood spot of Stereolab), plus a tracklisting that r’n’b/Grimes vibe. Her voice is pitched level of Hell upon our demise is no longer pouring from our ears, nose and eye sockets, seems to bear no relationship to what’s on the slightly higher than Kylie’s but she gets the so certain now, although does Jamie’s God we’ll just have to keep going back until we actual CD. So, after an announcement that playful/seductive approach close enough. bless us count if he isn’t a christian? Hey, do. “Ladies and gentlemen, the show is about All very nice and anything that reminds unlike us God’s a nice guy. He’ll doubtless to begin,” we get a nucealr attack warning, us of Kylie in a world of worthy but dull realise our bitter, cynicism is just a front for some Suicide-like synthabilly rhythm, some “authentic” music is a winner. some hopeless insecurities and it’ll be honey, TURAN AUDIO.co.uk Black Panther declamation and a nice and SOLOMAN TRUMP If Dutch-Sarnie’s demo sounds like every nectar and choirs of angels from closing time Professional, independent gnarly post-punk guitar churn, all topped off to eternity. audio mastering with some more cheery atomic conflagration thought you’ve had all at the same time, Soloman Trump’s sounds like one single SI-RO alerts. We’re about two minutes in. Over the Some old-school house squelch from a chap Mastered in the studio last month; Apple approved next quarter of an hour we get belligerent thought stretched out over 40 long minutes. called Simon Rowe here who we apparently THE DEMO TERRY LEE, TOM KEOGH, ASTRAL mastering shoegaze, vox humana, explosions, vocal And it’s a dark thought: the one you had about reviewed once before and weren’t keen on cut-ups, hip hop beats, acid-surf-punk frazzle, stabbing the annoying person sat in front but liked his dancier stuff, which he’s decided CLOUD ASHES, KEVIN JENKINS, SONIA of you on the bus with a fish knife because DUMPER synth squiggles, dancehall bass lines, musical to concentrate on (see, we tell musicians BOUÉ, SELF HELP, MARK SPRINGER, WILLIE J HEALEY, cheese, pizza cheese and what is almost they’re sucking a boiled sweet too loudly what to do and they do it, because we are all certainly the most irritating intermission while reading the Daily Mail and coughing powerful and know what’s right for them). CELESTA GUY PONSFORD, DOLLY MAVIES, STONE BROKEN, sporadically without putting their hand in on any local release this year or next. It’s a There’s a bit of the Casio home studio “Celesta are a duo who spread ourselves FLATLANDS, TARA MILTON WITH THE BOY AND MOON. mess, an absolute disjointed bargain bucket front of their mouth. That thought, when made autoplay about `Xenomorph’, but it passes between Oxford and London,” reads the mess, but it’s also fun, inventive, restless, into music – if we can indeed call this atonal muster in a shimmering DIY Toytown techno introduction to this month’s worst musical 01865 716466 [email protected] unconcerned with commercial potential and electronic dirge music – is a buzz and rumble way with a decent sense of bubbly euphoria offering. And after sitting through 20-plus occasionally sounds like every thought you’ve of dystopian future factory noise that could about it (although with a title like that we’d minutes of it might we suggest they spread had in the past week happening inside your be the infernal ambience of David Lynch’s have liked it to have sounded like darkness themselves between the two cities by way head all at the same time. It’s madness, but, Eraserhead put on an intense wash cycle in and claustrophobia and imminent death of a lorryload of Semtex. While doubtless COURTYARD as Bowie once sang, “I’d rather stay here with a bad tempered laundrette. Or alternatively all rolled into one). It’s a style repeated on imagining themselves holding a jazz lounge what Controlled Bleeding’s Dyson sounds RECORDING STUDIO all the madmen.” `Sirens of Enceladus’, right down to the sci- audience rapt with their soulful ballads 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: like if they leave it on all night after playing fi title whose darkness isn’t matched by the and sultry lyrics, what they actually sound NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 Nurse With Wound to it all evening. Suffice to music, which would be better suited to shiny, like is a stumbling drunkard collapsing MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb say it’s a bit of a challenge. in a depressed heap on an electric piano Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear well-polished space ship scenes in optimistic Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern WORRY futurist fiction (you know, the sort of stories and accidentally recording an EP of inept Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules Ooh, this lot were so close to taking the where humans aren’t complete selfish cocks Jamie Cullum album fillers while wheezing Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. title this month, the width of the crossbar MARK ATHERTON who wreck everything nice in the universe). disturbingly like a consumption-riddled Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. denying them victory. Theirs is a different And then we get `Dystopia’ whose title makes ex chimney sweep trying to climb eight www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk kind of madness to Dutch Sarnie. They’re & FRIENDS flights of stairs in search of an inhaler he In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk And talking of Dysons, one of Mark us think Simon’s teasing us because he knows not loony mad, they’re angry mad and accidentally left at the bottom two hours Email: [email protected] Atherton’s friends here is called Julie Dyson, we’re a bunch of gloomy old goths who you’re in their crosshairs. They come out ago. This is soul crushing stuff, but not in Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 who’s pictured on the inside sleeve shaking always want to see and hear the bleakness of the traps at full pelt and stay at full pelt a Eyehategod or Swans-style soulcrushing a pair of maracas and looking for all the in everything, but by now he’s taken the until everything crashes and burns three way, more like the will-to-live-sapping world like she’s having the time of her life. hint and it’s a less cheery piece, the pulsing tracks and nine minutes later, the spirits of abject misery of a musical purgatory where Which is in nice contrast to Soloman Trump’s sequencers set to Terminator mode by way of Minor Threat, Black Flag and Discharge everything is a middling shade of grey and dissonant, dystopian doom. Mark himself is Quatermass. Good stuff, everything worked cheering them on. “I’m sick of everything” the walls have a clammy mildew feel to pictured reclining on a sun-kissed lawn with a out badly in the end, just as we like it. bellows singer Nathan Ball like a man who’s them. “Anyone else been wincing lately?” jaunty straw hat atop his head and a mandolin just realised the futility of everything in the wheezes the singer on `Lately’; “Anyone in his hands. Together he and all his friends middle of a crowded shopping centre at the grit their teeth a lot lately?” Christ almighty, make music that’s as amiable and laidback JAMIE FELTON Rehearsal and Recording studios exact moment someone’s spilled his last can “I always say `if you like my music, God these reviews write themselves sometimes as the pictures would suggest: a whimsical of super strength cider and now he’s going bless you; if you don’t like my music, God don’t they, dear reader. sort of folk-pop that borders on 1970s kids Four state of the art rehearsal rooms to burn and break everything. “I can’t sleep TV songs at times, particularly with Mark’s Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to and a professional recording studio. at night, so I’ll lay in my bed and think,” he simple, hello-trees-style lyrics that reaches [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a continues, not with the solemn self-pity of its apotheosis with “The ball of fire will rise contact phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. We make For bookings call Jamie on 07917685935 an unrequited lover but with the simmering Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford • glasshousestudios.org from the blue / The ball of fire is come to you no pretence to being fair, objective or open-minded and reserve the right to use juvenile insults despair and rage of someone who’s had. It. / The ball of fire will pay its due / The ball of while almost completely ignoring your music should we feel like it. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

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