[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 273 April Oxford’s Music Magazine 2018 “We’d like to think our music makes people smile or dance; that’s our way to make people feel golden”

Oxford’s stadium pop heroes on surviving the Demo Dumper and making people happy. Also in this issue: Introducing INDICA BLUES Win a slot at COMMON PEOPLE plus all the local festival news, releases, reviews and five pages of Oxford gigs for April 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

3pm, playing funk, soul and disco. Among other limited edition releases on offer on the day will be a remix of `The Oaks’ from Gaz Coombes’ new album, as well as releases from Sufjan Stevens; U2; The Rolling Stones; The National; Courtney Barnett and Sigur Ros. SQUEEZE AND UB40 have been confirmed as headline acts for the On Sunday 22nd Truck hosts an Friday and Sunday of Cornbury Festival. They join Alanis Morrisette, instore set from Scott Matthews, who was announced as Saturday’s headline act last month as part of an playing tracks from his new SPEEDBUGGY USA headline all-female main stages line-up. album `The Great Untold’. Visit this year’s Halfway To 75 festival. This year’s Cornbury Festival runs over the weekend of the 13th-15th truckmusicstore.co.uk for more After five sold-out years the annual July at Great Tew Country Park. details and RSD releases. celebration of Americana, roots and British reggae veterans UB40 top the Friday night line-up and are joined blues music at The Isis Tavern near by Zucchero; Jimmy Cliff; Stereo MCs; Lucas Nelson & the Promise of Iffley Lock, takes place over two the Real; Danny & the Champions of the World, The Tall Popies and Irit. days over the weekend of the 28th- Saturday’s bill sees Alanis Morrisette joined by legendary gospel singer 29th July. Mavis Staples; Nina Nesbitt; Pixie Lott; PP Arnold; Grainne Duffy; Californian hi-octane country band Megan McKenna; Southern Avenue; Kolars; Ten Millennia, and The Speedbuggy were the star turn at Adelaides. 2016’s event and are joined this year London’s seminal new wave pop heroes Squeeze close the festival by The August List; Rachel Laven; on Sunday night where they’ll be joined by Caro Emerald; Deacon The Rosellys; Country For Old Men; Blue; Marc Cohen; Andy Fairthweather Low; Mari Wilson & the New The Holy Fools; The Goat Rope Wilsations; Lissie; Catherine McGrath and The Mighty John Street Ska THE BLOCKHEADS AND THE Rodeo Band; The Lost Notes; Jonas Orchestra. GLASS AISLE were among a host & Jane; The Deadbeat Apostles The Riverside stage and Comedy tent line-ups are yet to be announced. of acts whose gigs were cancelled and Carousel. More acts, including Tickets are on sale now from www.cornburyfestival.com. children’s entertainment, are set to or postponed due to snow at the be added. beginning of March. nd th Earlybird tickets are now on sale The weekend of the 2 -4 March Photographs will now take place on DEADBEAT APOSTLES release th from www.halfwayto75.com with saw over half a dozen gigs called Friday 18 May, while Husky Loops’ their debut album in May. The band standard tickets available from Truck off as artists and fans were unable to show at the same venue took place launch `Day of the Deadbeats’ with th Store and Rapture in Witney. reach venues. on the 15 March. an all-day mini-festival at the Isis The Blockheads’ show at the O2 Peerless Pirates’ show at Klub Farmhouse on Saturday 12th May. A REMIX OF RIDE’S comeback Academy has been rearranged for Kakofanney will be rearranged for The band will be joined by eight th album `Weather Diaries’ is one of the Saturday 14 April; tickets are still later in the year. other acts, to be confirmed. More highlights of this month’s Record valid for the new date or refunds news at thedeadbeatapostles.co.uk. Store Day. The annual celebration available from point of purchase. LUCY LEAVE launch their debut of independent record shops around The Glass Aisle – a collaboration album this month. The local trio YOUTHMOVIES’ reunion shows the world takes place on Saturday between former Stornoway frontman release `Look//Listen’ on Friday in March raised over £6,000 for th 21st April, with Truck Store on Brian Briggs and poet Paul Henry 27 April with a show at The Deaf the Michael Barry Fund, part of Cowley Road opening early at 8am – were due to perform at The Old & Hard of Hearing Centre on St the Brain Tumour Charity. The for collectors, with a music quiz Fire Station but Brian was stranded Ebbes. Ally Craig makes a rare live local heroes, who split in 2005, lined up for everyone queuing early in Wales. No new date has been appearance in support. The album played two sold out shows at The on, with prizes for the winners. The announced and ticket holders have is Lucy Leave’s first release since Bullingdon, as well as hosting an shop, on Cowley Road, will also be been refunded. their `Beauty of the World’ EP last after-party at The Cellar on Friday th hosting a DJ takeover from local Eyre Llew’s show at The Cellar summer. Find out more at facebook. 9 March. Read our review of the club night Musical Medicine from with Kid Kin and Ghosts in the com/lucyleaveband. Bully gig in this month’s issue.

THE COURTEENERS headline the Sunday night of Truck Festival in July. The Manchester rockers will close the festival, joining fellow headliners Peace, Friendly Fires and George Ezra from the 19th – 22nd July at Hill Farm in Steventon. The 21st Truck Festival, its second under the stewardship of owners Global, runs over four days for the first time with an expanded capacity. Other new acts added to the line-up include Editors – playing their first Truck set since 2005 – Pins; Drenge; Fickle Friends; Milk Teeth; Bad Sounds; Lewis Capaldi; King No-one; Orchards; Hey Charlie and Yowl. The majority of the line-up, including De la Soul; Jake Bugg; Everything Everything; Circa Waves; Ratboy and The Amazons, was announced last month. Local stars Gaz Coombes; Low Island; Little Brother Eli; Leader, and Kanadia are also on the bill. Full line-up and ticket details at truckfestival.com. OXFORD WELCOMES A HOST OF MUSIC LEGENDS NEWS Waterboys 69.5x94_Hotei A5 07/02/2018 12:25 Page 1 tapes as you like in one run and if they sell well it’s simple to make more copies. With low costs we’re THE SHIRES able to say `yes’ to the artists that we really want to work with regardless of commercial viability. We value creativity and artistic exposure over profits and aim to get music recorded and released in a way that THE SHIRES are the final benefits both artists and fans. It’s headline act to be confirmed for ONE OXFORD ACT WILL GET A CHANCE TO PLAY AT not about making masses of money; this year’s Towersey Festival. The COMMON PEOPLE in May after Nightshift teamed up with The O2 it’s not about catapulting bands to Bedfordshire country duo, who Academy and the festival organisers to launch a competition to win an mainstream super stardom; it’s about release their new album this month, opening slot on the main stage over the weekend of the 26th-27th May in keeping things local and intimate, top the bill at Thame Showground on South Park. bringing people together and helping Monday 27th August. I Want To Play At Common People is open to all Oxfordshire bands and musicians to get their music out They join fellow headline acts The artists. Acts must submit one song by email with the best five entries playing there.” To find out more and get in th THE WATERBOYS THE SHIRES TRAVIS Proclaimers, The Richard Thompson a show at the O2 Academy on Friday 27 April, with the winner being touch, visit beanietapes.club. Electric Trio and Beth Orton at the chosen by a panel of judges including Common People organiser Rob da 54th Towersey, which runs over the Bank; Jake Pell from the O2 Academy, and Nightshift editor Ronan Munro. ZURICH AND DOLLY MAVIS SUN 6 MAY THU 24 MAY TUE 26 JUN weekend of the 24th-27th August. Acts interested should email their song to [email protected] join forces on a new single released Full line-up details at before Friday 6th April. You must include full line-up details, your location this month. The two acts collaborate www.towerseyfestival.com. and any social media links. Only acts who have not played Common People on `Where You’ve Been’, the first previously may apply. Finalists will be notified by the th9 April. track to be taken from Zurich’s new RITUAL UNION returns in Tickets for the final are on sale now, priced £5, from the Academy’s box five-track EP due for release later in October. The one-day, multi-venue office and website. 2018. festival is back on the Cowley Road This year’s Common People is headlined by The Jacksons (Saturday) and Zurich have just returned to on Saturday 20th October, taking in James and Ride (Sunday), with The New Power Generation; Sparks; Boney Oxford after a tour of south east both rooms at the O2 Academy, plus M; Maximo Park and The Sherlocks among those also on the bill. Visit Asia, including dates in China and The Bullingdon, The Library and www.commonpeople.net for full line-up and ticket details. Hong Kong. The band have also Truck Store, with more venues to been confirmed for this summer’s be added. Line-up news is due soon Charlbury Riverside Festival and the SELF HELP, KID KIN AND new monthly live music club this but earlybird tickets are on sale now, Riverside stage at Cornbury Festival. BREEZEWAX are the latest month. The pub, on Crown Street, priced £20. Super earlybird tickets Oxford acts to be added to Are off Cowley Road, will hosts four are already sold out. Find out more FLOFEST returns to Florence You Listening? festival in Reading acts on the last Thursday of each on the Facebook event site - Ritual th Park in June, and for the first time at the end of April. They join The month. The first night, on April 26 Union 2018. it will be followed by Glofest. The August List, Tiger Mendoza and features sets from Mark Cope and free daytime music and community Vienna Ditto flying the flag for Spike Holifield plus two others to ALEXANDRA BURKE BEANIE TAPES is a new dedicated event has been running since 2013, Oxford music at the multi-venue be announced; entry is free. tape label launched by Julia and Ben growing to be one of the biggest event takes place on Saturday 28th Bands and solo acts wanting to Walker from Candy Says this month. free music events in Oxfordshire. April. Organised by Heavy Pop, play should contact Spike Holifield SAT 15 SEP FRI 28 SEP SUN 7 OCT The duo are planning to release On Saturday 16th June the festival who recently took over the running via Facebook. cassette EPs by Michael Fox, will also feature an evening gig, of The Jericho Tavern’s music Premium Leisure (the new band Glofest, a ticketed live music and programme, AYL? Features sets AS EVER, don’t forget to tune fronted by Chris Barker) and Candy dance event. Acts already confirmed from Idles, The Lovely Eggs, Field into BBC Oxford Introducing Says themselves over the summer, SHOW OF HANDS DEACON BLUE BILLY OCEAN include Ran Kan Kan, Flights of Music, Plump DJs, Warm Digits, every Saturday night between with more releases to follow. Helios and Audacity Live. Tickets Yonaka and 6Music’s Steve 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated Announcing the new label, Julia for the community-run event will be Lamacq among others. Tickets, local music show plays the best and Ben said: “Beanie Tapes joins a very reasonable £5, with under-12s priced £20 in advance, and full Oxford releases and demos as a strong global tape scene that is going free. Money raised will go line-up details are at www. well as featuring interviews and getting music out to fans quickly back into local communtiy projects areyoulistening.org.uk sessions with local acts. The show and cost effectively. Recording and making Flofest itself more is available to stream or download and releasing on tape is easy and sustainable going forward. THE BLACK SWAN launches a as a podcast at bbc.co.uk/oxford. practical; you can create as many

GRACE PETRIE is one of the headline acts for this year’s WOOD Festival. The singer, musician, campaigner and comedian leads a cast of names announced for the tenth WOOD, which last year became one of only two UK festivals to receive an Outstanding Award from A Greener Festival, for its commitment to sustainability. The family-friendly eco festival, started by Truck Festival founders Robin and Joe Bennett, celebrates it decade anniversary across the weekend of the 18th-20th May at Braziers Park, Ipsden. Petrie, who released her debut album `Heart First Aid Kit’ recently, has toured with Billy Bragg and Emmy the Great as well as Josie Long and Robin Ince. She is joined across the weekend by Bristolian art-rock collective Yama SUN 18 NOV MON 19 NOV SAT 24 NOV Warashi, fronted by Zun Zun Egui’s Yoshino Shigihara, and taking influence from Japanese folk dance, African tribal music, free jazz and psychedelia. Also playing are Treetop Flyers; Welsh folk singer Julie Murphy; Orphan Colours, featuring former members of Ahab and Noah and the Whale; Bennett Wilson Poole, the Americana supergroup made up of Robin Bennett, Danny & the Champions of the World singer Danny Wilson and producer Tony Poole; folk singer and fiddle player Jackie Oates; Nick Cope; Fonda 500; Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou; Long Tall * Jefferson; The Raving Beauties; Band of Hope; Art Theefe; Paul McClure; Foghorn Leghorn and many more. BOX OFFICE 0844 871 3020 This year’s WOOD has been designated The Year of the Water Vole, in keeping with the tradition of celebrating British * wildlife. There’ll be vole-related fun alongside kids activities, discussions, workshops and organic food and drink. /Oxford This year’s event is already close to selling out, and there are discounts for festival goers arriving by bicycle. Visit ATGTICKETS.COM *Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge. www.woodfestival.com for full details

136671_Oxford_NightshiftMagazine_April_v7.indd 1 13/03/2018 17:39 A Quiet Word With on a sunny day.” Little: “Well Ben and Matt were Mikey: “We have been lucky enough what we do.” To follow that triumph with another the only ones happy to receive U2’s to play in Oxford at some fantastic Matt M: “We’d love some more one at the fireworks party in South album on their phones, but to be venues so we don’t feel detached endorsements but we understand it Park proved Leader are a band who honest it wouldn’t be a completely at all. As for being accepted, we has to be the right relationship which can make an instant connection unreasonable comparison. I suppose frequently see other musicians in isn’t something you can force, but with gig goers; we wonder if they they do the stadium sound thing the scene at our gigs; I suppose that hopefully if we keep doing what see themselves as future festival pretty well.” makes you feel like you’re part of we’re doing we can look to do more headliners. Matt B: “I’ve always loved U2 and something. The idea of local music in the future.” Ben: “That was great to be asked to from a guitar point of view the use cliques is a little bit silly. We are all Any chance of a full album? play by Jack FM. It was the first time of delay is something I know both competing in a global market online Little: “Of course we’d love to do a we played in the new line-up, so we me and Mikey are fond of. Although anyway so when it comes to local full album, although at this point we were bit shaky at the time, but there’s I’m sure one of these guys will tell music it’s a good feeling to see other think releasing singles as frequently nothing to dust off the cobwebs like a you Bono’s a bit of a tit.” local acts doing well.” as we can is the best way for us to show in the freezing cold.” Matt M: “Bono’s a bit of a tit.” One band Leader have had a long- get our sound heard. We would rather Little: “We’d be lying if we said we Another comparison that Nightshift time friendship with is Little Brother give people one track a month to hadn’t dreamt about it but one step at has drawn in the past is between Eli, also from West Oxfordshire, and listen to than to be silent for a year a time. We’ve only just made it out Ben’s expansive vocal performance the band who’ll support them at the then release an album. Having said of the Demo Dumper! Of course it and Midge Ure from 80s synth-pop launch gig for `Golden’ later this that, donations to the ‘Leader album would be amazing to reach that level stars Ultravox. month, while Kanadia, who have a fund’ are always welcome.” – once your show is co-ordinated Ben: “He isn’t someone who similarly expansive, stadium-friendly with firework then you know you’ve I’ve listened to much growing up, sound, have also caught their ears. Having proved they can made it.” play to the biggest festival crowds and sell out the Academy in their Ah yes, the Demo Dumper. “Hobgoblin have invited us over to own right, Nightshift wonders what The death of some bands, a rite of the thinking was behind launching passage for others. In their original their Wychwood Brewery for a tour the new single at The Jericho Tavern; incarnation of Million Faces, Leader next month. We’re already taking do the band prefer bigger stages and were unceremoniously dumped back venues, or the intimacy of pubs? in 2012, their songs described as applications for a designated driver.” Little: “We’ve loved headlining at “emotionally stunted wishy washy the O2 but those were big, one-off soft rock syrup.” although I did listen after you said Matt B: “Little Brother who? Ha shows that required a lot of prep and Suffice to say they brushed there was a similarity and took it as ha, only joking! Yes, they are good build up. We’re focusing on a whole themselves down and got better. a huge compliment. I haven’t ever friends and all very talented boys. tour at the moment, so we wanted Ben: “It did knock us a bit, but then thought much about who I resemble They’ve got a unique sound and it’s a more intimate hometown show as we knew we just had to do better! to be honest, as I want to be as unique nice to see them doing so well. We’re opposed to a 400 capacity venue.” We would like to think our music has as possible. My influences vary from looking forward to catching up with Matt: “The bigger stages are always been accessible and upbeat, heavy rock to softer, more melodic them when we play the Jericho.” obviously a lot of fun with loads of but Leader is completely different to stuff so hopefully that variety does Little: “We would love to work more room for us to jump around but there Million Faces.” me good when it comes to the band.” closely with Kanadia after seeing is something charming about an Matt B: “Back then it probably them smash the O2. We’re big fans of intimate venue with hardly any room crushed us and I’m sure we all told That expansive sound is Willie J Healey too; he’s a Witney lad to move.” each other you didn’t know what you something Leader will be bringing like a lot of us.” were talking about, but on reflection back to Truck Festival in July, The gig on the 21st is “Everyone has that one contemporaries. When the band up changes, with Luke and Rupert Matt M: “We’re glad to release an our youth maybe had the better of something that is becoming an almost While the immediate bound to be packed, and regardless person in their life who supports played Nightshift’s Uncommon stage departing and new drummer Matt upbeat track first as that’s what gets us.” annual high point of the band’s year. future is all about `Golden’, 2018 of the venue it will be a celebration them, believes in them and goes out at Common People last year they Morris and guitarist Matt Barrell us going at gigs. We’d like to think Matt B: “Could we compromise and Mikey: “Yes Truck has been a blast will bring plenty of hard work and – Leader gigs always are. And while of their way to make them feel a little pulled the biggest crowd of the day; coming in to leave us with the five- our music makes people smile or say both our band and your editorial every year and the line ups keep gigging, the latter helped in no small it’s hard to see the wheels coming bit golden – a little drop of gold in they subsequently found themselves piece we see today. dance; that’s our way to make people tastes have changed and improved getting better and better! We are on way by Leader’s endorsement by off their career anytime soon, we a black and white life,” says Leader back in South Park later in the year, “It was tough losing Luke and feel golden… sorry for the cheese!” since then?” the Market Stage this time and it’s a Hobgoblin. wonder, given the name, if the band’s singer Ben Edginton, talking about performing to thousands more Rupert because they’d been here great opportunity for us to enjoy the Mikey: “We love Hobgoblin! We van broke down in the middle of the his band’s new single, `Golden’. people as part of the Bonfire Night since day one,” says Luke/Little; Matt might laugh at It’s fair to say that whole weekend and catch up with were put in contact with them a desert, which of them would be the celebrations. “luckily drummer auditions didn’t himself for saying it, but Leader Leader’s unapologetically epic, all the other bands we know there. few years ago given their heavy leader and who’d be most likely to The song is Leader’s first Capable of selling out the O2 last very long as Matt came straight obviously strike a chord with a lot stadium-sized sound isn’t something As for surprises, we might play in involvement with music and get them all home safely? release since 2016’s `Chasing Academy, Leader have taken the in and hit the ground running. We’re of people; their shows are regularly normally associated with Oxford’s our pants, if you’re lucky... or more fortunately for us they seemed “Here is exactly what would happen: You’, which earned them a place decision to launch `Golden’ in the keeping it as a five piece now with packed out and as we’ve seen on a most successful music exports, likely, we’ll throw some new tunes to enjoy either our music or our Ben would immediately pop the in Nightshift end of year Top 25. rather more intimate setting of the other Matt switching between guitar few occasions, their crowds really which can tend to be more cerebral/ in the mix. In all seriousness though, childish demeanour enough to give bonnet and try to fix it; Mikey would It’s set to be the first of a series of Jericho Tavern. Perhaps to prove they and keys.” get into the spirit of things, with the academic, for want of better terms; is it’s great to have Truck grow so us a sponsorship deal. They are nice head off to the nearer pub and tell us single releases through 2018 with the can do small as well as big. sort of sing-alongs you’d expect from that something the band thought, or much and be so close to home; if enough to help us with festivals and to ring him when it was fixed; Matt quintet heading off on a short tour While the line-up much bigger acts. No wonder they’re ever even cared, about? you’ve got your ticket already come recording and they’ve even invited would begin Googling how to fix it round southern England, culminating Leader formed in Witney, changes meant 2017 was fallow such a hit at festivals. Mikey: “Not really. We take and see us.” us over to their Wychwood Brewery and end up watching cat videos; Little in a show at The Jericho Tavern on initially under the name Million as far as releases went, Leader Ben: “Common People last year was the stadium association as a big for a tour next month. We’re already would complain and say we should the 21st April and with the band set Faces – of which more later. Singer continued to gig regularly – amazing! I remember we were late compliment but we don’t think about Talk of other Oxfordshire taking applications for a designated have never bought the stupid van in to return to Truck Festival in the Ben was joined by guitarists Rupert including shows with The Fratellis, and rushing around but as soon as that when we are writing, we go with bands they like and are friends with, driver.” the first place, whilst Matt M would summer. Wilson and Mikey Fletcher; bassist The Hoosiers, Scouting For Girls our set started the tent was packed what comes naturally.” brings us to the subject of where In an age of declining music sales, be documenting the whole affair on Luke “Little” Coggins and drummer and Everything Everything – helped and that energy from the crowd Little: “If you listened through the a band like Leader can fit into how important are endorsements and Snapchat. I imagine it would actually Leader are a band who Luke Livingstone. “Five chaps who by an endorsement from Hobgoblin immediately hit us on stage.” voice memos on our phones you’d Oxford’s music scene. While the sponsorship deal? be pretty entertaining.” sound like they were born to play loved music but are perhaps suffering Brewery, and recorded a whole host Mikey: “The gig itself was killer: our hear a lot of random stuff that’s five of them are now split between Matt B: “I think what everyone is And finally, thinking of that new on festival stages. Their relentlessly from fading youth and increased of new songs that were sent out to favourite festival of last year for sure. nothing like ‘Leader’ but we enjoy Oxford, Swindon and Reading, finding in the music/media space is single – which person in Leader’s life uplifting stadium-sized rock scepticism,” says Mikey. “Ben and friends and fans to test the waters. When it comes together like that it’s messing around with ideas until originally at least, they hailed from they are having to diversify income makes them feel golden? mixes epic U2-style guitarscapes Little are the foundations of the band Mikey: “We recorded a few tracks a dream. As an Oxford band to play something sticks. We try to just Witney; playing such unabashedly streams as things are changing, “Nightshift of course! When you with expansive Coldplay-friendly having been here from the start but and played them to various people to a festival in the heart of our city, and focus on what we think sounds good, pop-friendly music, did they find it so with this in mind things like don’t put us in the Demo Dumper!” melodies, maybe even a hint of The we’ve all known each other a long get feedback. `Golden’ was the track have that reaction was incredible.” and not worry about other people’s hard to earn themselves a reputation endorsements are really important. Feeling or Scouting For Girls in there time from various music ventures in that got the best response, so we Matt B: “Usually those tents only get opinions too much.” in Oxford and find kindred spirits, or We’re lucky to have Hobgoblin on `Golden’ is out this month. Leader too. It’s sing-along stuff that’s earned and around Witney.” thought better to trust the opinion of that busy when it’s raining and people Would it be too presumptuous to does coming from outside of the city board and we’re happy because we play The Jericho Tavern on the 21st them a local following that dwarfs Since the release of the last EP, the those listening than to fight amongst are taking shelter so we take it as the suggest U2 are a big influence on itself give them a healthy separation feel it’s a brand we can shout about April. Visit www.leaderofficial.co.uk many of their supposedly cooler band has undergone a couple of line- ourselves.” highest compliment that we filled it your sound? from the Oxford scene? and we’re really grateful they enjoy to hear more. Sponsored by player with The Shapes, Lucy Vee is a musical departure for both members, maybe more so for Colin whose piano twinkles and flourishes, backed up with solid hip hop beats, is a world away from his band’s folk and punk-tinted r’n’b, RELEASED but while the 90s dance-pop vibe of lead track BENNETT, WILSON, INDICA BLUES `Gotta Get It’ isn’t quite such a departure from some of Death of Hi-Fi’s recent material, Lucy’s POOLE ‘Hymns for a Dying voice is lighter here, less troubled. It could almost be a throwaway slice of retro fluff for its ‘Bennett, Wilson, Poole’ Realm’ first minute or so, but as soon as the pair hit the (Aurora) (Self released) chorus and Lucy’s voice finds its space, its grabs A long-planned collaboration between Listening to this, Indica Blues’ long awaited you by the heart and soul. Dreaming Spires frontman Robin Bennett, debut album, on rotation with a bevy of Her performance throughout these four songs is Danny Wilson from Danny & the Champions recent releases including the soundtrack to the strong: just sultry and soulful enough to balance of the World and twelve-string Rickenbacker Black Panther movie, Gwenno’s Cornish folk the easy electronic/jazz-pop vibe, which touches guitarist Tony Poole has produced an experimentalism and Young Fathers’ African- on Sade and The James Taylor Quartet on `Man unexpected sludge-metal masterpiece. Scottish mash-ups, the effect could be nothing Enough’, and hits its peak on closer `One Night Only kidding. Given the trio’s pedigree, it’s no but jarring. The determination to pay tribute to LUCY VEE Girl’ where Colin’s sparse, stark arrangement CHIMA ANYA & great shock to hear a record that was imagined every square inch of the stoner rock template – little more than a simple ominous electronic SLONE as a Crosby, Stills & Nash acoustic album and is admirable in its disregard for fashion and a ‘Vee Is For…’ drone – gives her all the room she needs to make sounds like a rustic, rootsy, harmony-heavy big two fingers to those who feel guitar music (Far From Port) the song her own, and bring the shadow of her ‘People Forget’ The new project from Death of Hi-Fi singer flutter between the Catskill Mountains and the is now at its lowest ebb since John Lennon met Death of Hi-Fi persona to bear on the mood. (Self released) Californian coast, via rural south Oxfordshire. Paul McCartney. Lucy Cropper and Colin Henney, keyboard Dale Kattack `That Thing That You Called Love’ disappoint. Are doctors stressed? According to Chima Anya From the early buoyant, breezy thrum of `Ask Nearly every song follows a template: a Twin highlights come next to each other right they are, and he should know, since as well as Me Anything’, this eponymous collaboration slow, methodical beginning, punctuated by at the end of the album and show the variety The accompanying press release has mention a rapper he’s an actual doctor. `Do Less’, the is an easy ride: languorous of pace but psychedelic guitar riffs, a scarcely perceptible and skill the trio bring to bear on their chosen of shifting moods and pathways to mysterious opening track on his latest album, a collaboration lightfooted; earthy but delicate of touch. quickening of pace and then a guitar solo that style: the loose bluegrass of `Find Your Own places, which does little to lessen the trepidation. with French producer Slone, finds him stressing Robin’s voice is the slightest but strongest leaves the listener wondering if we ever did get Truth’ with its steel guitar coda, and the More used to Oly’s charmingly languid, rustic about a life that’s too full of… well, everything. “I of the three, but it’s when the three of them past January 1st 1980. As with the genre as a meatier, expansive and electric `Lifeboat (Take folk-pop, we’re unused to having to mention need to do less, because my time is too stretched” harmonise they’re at their best. While CS&N whole, there’s a lot of Led Zeppelin and a lot of a Picture of Yourself), which marries a sense timbre, tone or natural ambience, though having he opines in his easy, conversational style, are the mainstay influence, Bob Dylan’s Hawkwind in here, refracted through the prism of solemnity to those rich vocal harmonies and used three different pianos – a Yamaha upright; an accompanied by a swooning, soulful backing inspiration is apparent on tracks like `Funny of Kyuss and other leading lights of the stoner great ocean-swept melody. old Steinweg grand and an Evestaff mini across vocal; it feels like a comfortable pair of slippers in Guys’ and `Hate Won’t Win’, while `The Other rock genre, albeit with robustly delivered vocals Bennett, Wilson and Poole are completely in three different studios, and accompanied by cellist a too busy world. Side of the Sky’ could be a mid-70s John from Tom Pilsworth. Such uniformity, broken thrall to their influences, they wouldn’t deny Barney Morse-Brown for many of the pieces, For those with longish memories Chima Anya Lennon song. Throw in plenty of The Band, only by ‘Reigns End’ which starts more rapidly, it, but this is an album that deserves to stand such virgin territory feels a little les daunting. was previously half of local rap duo GTA as well The Byrds and America and you get the feel is of course entirely the point – this is music the comparison to those greats and leave the ring A general lightness of touch along with a nose as a rapper under his own name; Kidlington born of the record. Only the too-smooth, slightly listener needs to lose themself in. with its head held high. for brevity certainly leavens the journey, from and bred, he was a regular reviewee in Nightshift mawkish `Hide Behind a Smile’ and the flat The craftsmanship is admirable and this is Ian Chesterton the sparse, sombre, almost hesitant opening over the last decade before medicine called. clearly an album that has been honed, following salvo of `The Bridge’, and the warmer, flowering His was always the more authoritative half of on from their well-received ‘Ruins on the `Forest in the City’, onto the slight, tender `On GTA and his easy, confident flow is still there, and grit bring a punkier edge to the sound, while Shore’ EP and a barnstorming Punt appearance My Train’. By the time he hits `Glider’ he seems through musings on luck, work, study, dating and Dave’s voice is somewhere between David a couple of years back. OLY RALFE to have hit his stride, the playing fluid and football, a warm wash of electronica, chattering Coverdale and Billy Corgan. Opener ‘Cosmic Flare’ is succeeded by confident, although it’s immediately followed by beats and sleek backing vocals bringing a Opening the album with `Addiction’ the duo ‘Island of Hate’ as if the first song’s method ‘Notes From Another Sea’ the more sombre, ruminative `Lantern Waltz’, Noughties vibe to the 14 tracks here. start at full throttle and rarely sound like they’re for reaching survival after a shipwreck has (Ghost Ship) which stops anyone getting too carried away, the Among the highlights are `Scrollin’, a reflection ready for a break, sounding like Motorhead seen them land on a scrap of land patrolled by Being presented with an album of instrumental microphones set close enough so you can hear on insatiable materialism and the happiness it spiking Sabbath’s drinks with low-rent speed and pirates and surrounded by sharks; there’s no piano pieces can strike fear into the heart of the the hammers hit the strings. fails to bring; the laidback, almost jazzy swing inviting them round for a garage punk jam. They respite from the doom and the mental imagery most seasoned music reviewer, more used to A mood of light melancholy coheres around the and sway of `It Wasn’t Always Like This’, and rarely stray from that marriage of classic 70s is of grime, unforgiving scrubland and medieval having a variety of instruments as well as vocals album from the halfway point onwards, with the steely `Geronimo’, with its more solid, foreboding. Indeed, ‘Knight’s Return’ veers rock with spit and sawdust punk and a hefty dose and lyrics on which to hang their 300 words, but echoes of Philip Glass and Gavin Bryars and staccato beats and handclaps and busy electronic towards swords and sorcery territory as the of Queens of the Stone-Age bulldozer noise for here is where we find Oli Ralfe, back with his a planned launch concert with full orchestral arrangements. The album could maybe lose a listener is led off into a dungeon of musical the duration – a notable exception is the spaced- first album since 2013’s `Son Be Wise’, which backing at The Holywell Music Room suggests couple of the more similarly paced songs, like doom. Nobody else on the Oxford scene sounds out psychedelia of `Faces of Forever’ – but such earned him a Nightshift front cover, and his first Oly has further ideas to present this album in a `Not the Time Not The Place’, but `Fresh’ lives up quite like Indica Blues at the moment and full a strict adherence to formula can be a strength under his own name rather than his Ralfe Band more expansive context. to its title, breathlessly upping the ante musically power to them. rather than a limiter when it’s knocked out as moniker. Victoria Waterfield and vocally, while the album’s high point is Rob Langham impressively as they’re capable of. And anyway, its football-as-metaphor-for-life `Top Corner’, if anyone says “Oh, it’s all been done before,” with guest rapper AK09 and with what’s easily MY DIABLO you simply crank the volume up until their EN-TRANCE our favourite rhyme of the year so far: “Me and voice becomes an insignificant whine amid the Chima Anya / Fuck with us and we’ll Zinedine ‘My Diablo’ oncoming storm. Yes it’s almost rudimentary at ‘Monster’ Zidane ya” before managing to slide Messi and (Self released) times, and yes the lyrics aren’t going to win any (Substance) even Mohammed Ali into the rap. My Diablo are essentially two thirds of what was poetry prizes anytime soon (“You quiver / You The latest release on burgeoning local techno The album’s title track closer finds Chima former Nightshift cover stars Mother Corona. shiver / But you must deliver”), but while you’re label Substance is well titled; it’s an eight- contemplating the issues and philosophies he’s Not that you’d notice the loss of bass player Rob sitting around waiting for the new Poet Laureate minute beast with bells on, old school acid wandered and skittered through across the album Glenn too much, since guitarist Lee Cressey and to be announced My Diablo gatecrashed house squelch and thump with an extended and concluding he’s got no answers; he’s as singing drummer Dave Oglesby make enough backstage and necked all the free booze. breakdown that goes wandering through proggy confused and lost as the rest of us. Hopefully noise for three or more on this debut album Simple, straightforward, old fashioned and very ambient house for a good couple of minutes and he’s more certain when it comes to his medical which takes their former incarnation’s groove- definitely no-nonsense, `My Diablo’ takes no a couple of false restarts before it kicks back diagnoses, but musically it makes for an metal, strips back on the arrangements, adds great risks, but when you’re the biggest, most in with the crunch of an early morning police intelligent, ego-free experience, an assured return extra volume and grime and sledges it all out belligerent beast in the forest, maybe the idea of raid on a drug den. Heaven for veterans of the to action for a rapper who joins the like of Rawz with a noble lack of grace or intricacy. risk isn’t something that crosses your mind too 90s trance scene but with added 21st Century and Tang the Pilgrim among Oxford hip hop’s If the riffs are mostly pure Sabbath and the often. production firepower. deep thinkers. drums the full John Bonham, the layers of scuzz Dale Kattack Victoria Waterfield Dale Kattack SPINNER FALL ‘Monument EP’ (Self released) RELEASED Some releases begin by tapping gently on your front door and politely requesting your attention, BREEZEWAX like a pair of elderly Jehovah’s Witnesses. Others don’t so much rip the door right off its hinges ‘Brother Breeze’ as drive a turbo-charged bulldozer right through (Self released) the front of your house. `Monument’ is firmly Breezewax’s new EP is so laidback you wonder if in the latter category. Not that the intrusion and producer/singer Ashley Thorpe actually recorded disturbance of the peace is unwelcome, however – the entire thing while slumped in a hammock, far from it. Spinner Fall might leave you standing doubtless sipping a Tequila Sunrise and smoking around surveying the wreckage of what was your a fat one. home, but you’ll do so with a smile on your face. Opening with the appropriately titled `The Opening track ‘Definition’ efficiently sets the Warmth’, Breezewax makes an art of going tone: Dischord-ant post-hardcore that benefits nowhere in particular with little haste, taking from Jimmy Hetherington’s punchy production Toro Y Moi’s tropical chill-hop as a starting and strongly recalls early Fugazi while also point and getting ever more woozy by way of helping to highlight the significant debt that Ian plangent piano, solemn strings, barely-there beats, Mackaye’s crew owe to Wire. electronic wows and flutters and a smattering of ‘Mononym’ and ‘The New #2’ continue in a Vocodered vocals; it’s less a song, more a musical similar vein – blunt, rasping, aggressive – but gaze out to sea at bedtime. a tropical beach, and more like being cast adrift it’s the fourth and final song, ‘Seven Twenty `True Magic’ continues the vibe, shot through with in space on a ship whose engines are simply too Four’, that stands out. The least linear track, its samples of motivational / spiritual speeches, while sleepy to fire up. unsettling shifts and jagged edges don’t so much `Two Hearts in Perfect Time’ goes as far as to It’d be good to see Breezewax maybe expand invite as positively compel the use of the adjective introduce cicada song and some Spanish flavoured some of the tracks here, to maximise the effect “off-kilter”. acoustic guitar into its smooth, soulful swoon. of their tripped-out ambience; most of them feel The three members of Spinner Fall might all be The vibe remains on the horizontal end of relaxed like they’re cut off before they really get going (if seasoned veterans of the Oxford music scene, throughout, although `Moments That Make Us’ they’re even going anywhere). For now, though alumni of several other bands, but this EP leaves does have an almost euphoric sense of semi a decent accompaniment to doing nothing and the listener in no doubt that there is still plenty of purpose about it, and like EP highlight `Your going nowhere in your own time. fire in their bellies – and petrol in their bulldozer. Potential’ feels less like lying in a drowsy state on Dale Kattack Ben Woolhead

challenge for Dive Dive’s vacant pop-punk throne. Daisy are less effective when they slow things RAWZ down, as on `Porcelain Doll’, but the Weezer-ish bounce of `Without You’ feels fresh and lively, ‘Seeds in the Dirt’ and closer `Talk About It – Sad Eyes’, while more (Inner Peace) melancholy, allows Luke to show what his voice The follow-up to his 2016 album `The is capable of when he allows a little tenderness Path’, `Seeds in the Dirt’ finds rapper Rawz into his life. It suggests that at heart he’s more of continuing to follow the path more positive and a romantic than his previous stalker-ish tales of philosophical, the crepuscular jazz vibe of the licking wounds and cutting throats let on. music – produced by Palmer Eldritch – adding Dale Kattack brightness and a lightness of touch to a message of salvation through writing, and finding the LEADER good in dark corners: “We can each learn, teach peace / As we seek certainty / Certainly believe ‘Golden’ in ourselves / Don’t proceed nervously / Those demons wanna burn your dreams / Lock you (Self released) down for eternity / I’m still alive, they can’t Ahead of the release of this new single – the murder me,” delivered in a laconic style that band’s first since 2016’s `Follow You’ – Leader places him on the Streets / Akala end of the hip DAISY sent demo recordings to a selection of fans, hop spectrum. All this played out on video where including Nightshift, to ask for feedback before ‘Talk About It EP’ a colour-drenched, neon-lit Cowley Road takes on picking the most popular song, `Golden’. Such an the air of the Vegas strip. (Self released) approach might smack of desperate-to-please, but Dale Kattack `Talk About It’ finds Daisy operating as a full Leader have always been about taking the room band rather than a solo vehicle for former (or field) with them, getting everyone onside and Vagueworld singer Luke Allmond, which takes playing music that’s simple, epic and designed to the music back closer to that emo-ish pop- provoke good times. punk sound. Luke also says he’s ditched the `Golden’ is no different, and in fact the song itself creepiness of his last demo which certainly put is all about making people happy, which some the `problematic’ into love songs. Not completely might think is an alien concept to Nightshift. The though as he asks “Where are you sleeping?” in band’s increasingly trademark tropes are here: the EP’s opening track, and later, on `Porcelain warm washes of chiming Edge-styled guitar, Ben Doll’, declaring “I want you to hold me down / Til Edgington’s emotive yet chest-beating vocals, I can’t move or make a sound.” which sound like they should be ringing out from Even the otherwise innocuous, almost mundane “I a mountainside, and a euphoric chorus that is like having someone to shop with” is followed by tailor-made to be sung back at them by a field “I Like being self destructive with you”. All good, full of slightly cider-happy gig goers across the healthy angsty stuff of course, and musically it’s summer. It’s the place where U2 meet Foals – a more fun than that last offering, the busy, bustling pop/rock sweet spot that sounds like it’s already guitars and demonstrative vocals of `Smiling’ once got several million Spotify plays under its belt. again suggesting Luke might be the one to Ian Chesterton WHOLE LOTTA DC: Fat Lil’s, Witney – AC/ FEAST OF FIDDLES: Nettlebed Folk Club – DC tribute. Second night of fiddle funnage. THE BITE: The Bell, Bicester – Classic rock SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street covers. Tavern

SATURDAY 7th WEDNESDAY 11th SHADOWLARK: The Cellar – Ethereal electro- GREG COULSON: The Bullingdon – GIG GUIDE pop, luscious r’n’b and atmospheric indie from Blues and r’n’b in the vein of Booker T, Leeds’ synth trio, out on tour on the back of Stevie Winwood and Ray Charles from st SUNDAY 1 Bennett teaming up with Danny & the Champions new single `See Each Other Right’, following Northamptonshire Hammond player Coulson, SABRINA BENAIM: The Bullingdon – Slam of the World’s Danny Wilson and guitarist and appearances at The Great Escape, Blue Dot and taking time out from playing with The Selecter poetry from the Toronto Poetry Slam coach and producer Tony Poole. the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury last to take his own songs out on tour. champ. PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING year. + JANE WEAVER: The New Theatre – DRAMA KIDS + QUEASY + CHALK: The WILKINSON: O2 Academy – DJ set from the th th APRIL Unmissable double bill of cinematic electronic THURSDAY 12 Sunday 8 Wheatsheaf – Local punk newcomers Drama Donnington Community Centre (6pm) – Free London house and electro producer. soundscapists PSB and cosmic synth-pop queen BENNETT, WILSON, POOLE: Rapture, Kids team up with Manchester’s RATM-inspired evening of acoustic music, including trad folksters METAL 2 THE MASSES: The Wheatsheaf Jane Weaver – see main preview Witney (6pm) – Second instore album launch for THREE funk/rap/grunge crew Queasy, out on tour to Firegazer and Grateful Dead tribute act Franklin’s – Quarterfinals of the battle of the bands BLAND PANDA + THE DOLLY MOPS the Americana trio. promote new single `Build a Wall’, plus electro- Tower. competition to win a slot at this summer’s GENERATIONS OF + FUNK STATE + FULL CIRCLE: The CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford pop outfit Chalk. OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms – Bloodstock. Wheatsheaf – It’s All About the Music showcase. Community Centre FIREGAZER + FRANKLIN’S TOWER + Weekly open session. GROOVE: The Bullingdon – Disco and house SKA: O2 Academy SCRAP BRAIN + STRONG ARM: The ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure SONG & SUPPER ROOMS + SAM POPE: FOLK JAM: The Half Moon – Open folk club night. Like it says on the tin, tonight’s celebration Library – Smash Disco’s DIY punk night brings BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, session every Sunday at the recently reopened SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE & of ska spans three generations of artists. bleak, nihilistic hardcore ragers Scrap Brain Sandford Possibly more if you consider Stranger Cole th Moon. SPOTLIGHT JAM: The Whitehouse – Sparky Thursday 5 back to town, alongside patriarch-smashing fem- THE LAND GIRLS: The Jam Factory – hosts his monthly bands showcase and jam (pictured) is now in his 70s and has a career punkers Strong Arm. th Indie jangle and twee folk-pop from the local session, tonight with Grateful Dead tribute act FRIDAY 13 going back to the early 1960s in his hometown PUBLIC SERVICE ALBION BEATNIK JAZZ NIGHT: The newcomers. Franklin’s Tower, bluesman Mudslide Morris, and GHOSTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS + Kingston, Jamaica where his songwriting Harcourt Arms The Nightwreckers. DEATH OF THE MAIDEN: The Wheatsheaf skills – including ` In & Out The Window’ for BROADCASTING / DOOMSDAY OUTLAW + REECE + BLACK Eric `Monty’ Morris earned him a recording nd JULIE FELIX + BW PIKE: Tiddy Hall, – Cinematic post-rock from GITP, taking MONDAY 2 BULLETS + HEADLINE MANIAC + FALL Ascott-under-Wychwood – Wychwood Folk inspiration from Mogwai and Explosions in the deal. Hits like `Rough & Tough’ and `When JANE WEAVER: LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon – Free FROM PERFECTION: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Club hosts Californian-turned-English folk singer Sky, plus elegantly traumatic Brechtian pop from You Call My Name’ followed, and he became weekly jazz session in the front bar. Full-on heavy blues rock form Derby’s Doomsday Felix, star of the 1960s folk revival scene and Death of the Maiden. known for his duets – with Ken Boothe, The New Theatre OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim – Outlaw, recent support to Love/Hate’s Jizzy Pearl, After their low-key show at Audioscope back later campaigner for women’s, gay and refugee CHURCH OF THE HEAVY: The Bullingdon Hortense Ellis and Gladstone Anderson, Weekly open session. at tonight’s OxRox show. in 2014 and subsequent showing at Truck rights. – Rock and metal showcase from It’s All About among others – his innate shyness apparently CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Festival, tonight is Oxford’s first chance to the Music, with Resolve; My Diablo; Broken preventing him taking centre stage. After a rd Community Centre – Oxford’s longest running see Public Service Broadcasting on the big TUESDAY 3 th Empire; Infurious, and Oceans of Apathy. spell living in the UK he relocated to Canada open night continues to showcase singers, SUNDAY 8 stage with full stage show, the better to project GIRLI: The Bullingdon – Sassily feminist but SORANA SANTOS – REFUGE OF where he opened the first Jamaican music musicians, poets, storytellers, and performance THREE GENERATIONS OF SKA: O2 their expansive, cinematic music that, since cutesy and kitsch hip-pop from singer/rapper THE ROADS: The North Wall – Oxford shop in Toronto and in 2006 he released his artists every Thursday, now into its third decade. Academy – 60s Jamaican ska legend Stranger th the band emerged with no little geeky, tweedy Milly Tooney, the pink-clad, potty-mouthed heir Contemporary Music host Sorana Santos’ 40 first album in 20 years. A legend of the next SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon – Cole leads three generations of ska stars – see charm, onto the scene, has taken in WWII of Lily Allen and Kate Nash’s Londoncentric pop anniversary reimagining of Joni Mitchell’s generation of ska comes in the form of Neville Fortnightly open mic session, hosted by veteran main preview era Pathe new broadcasts, the space race, and storytelling, laying her playfully militant lyrics travelogue album `Hejira’, playing the album Staple, the former Specials and Fun Boy 3 local compère and musician Sparky. SOFAR SOUNDS: Venue TBC – The local arm most recently the history of Welsh mining over DIY Taylor Swift-like electro pop on songs in its entirety as well as songs from her own singer and toaster, back in town after bringing ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure – of the global pop-up gig movement host its latest communities. `Every Valley’, which went Top like `Hot Mess’ and `Girl I Met on the Internet’. `Hejira’ album. his band here in 2016 to promote his album Weekly unplugged open session. local show with acts and venue to be revealed to 5, finally found the band using vocals beyond K-FUNKZ PHAE 2: The Cellar – House, DEEP COVER: The Cellar – Hip hop, UK `The Return of Judge Roughneck (&Dub BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford ticketholders before the event. their trademark samples of public information garage, drum&bass and bass club night, with garage and bass club night, with Nigerian pidgin Specials)’; Neville’s wife wife Christine – Open jam session. OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms films, propaganda material and archive Higgo b2b Burt Cope, plus Xodos. rap MC Magugu. `Sugary’ Staple, performs songs from her TRADARR!: The Unicorn, Abingdon – FOLK JAM: The Half Moon footage, with The Manics’ James Dean YOUNG NIGHT THOUGHT: Modern Art SUPERNAUT: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Black own new record `Rude Girl Sounds’, while Traditional folk-rock reinvented by way of Elgar Bradfield, Camera Obscura’s Traceyanne Oxford – Pindrop host a new audio-visual Sabbath tribute. the current generation is represented by and Purcell, Yorkshire brass, jazz, pop and more. th Campbell and Haiku Salut joining the album project backed by Creative Scotland, with MONDAY 9 Birmingham’s ska and rocksteady gang The Beaufort Male Voice choir to expand PSB’s contemporary folk music and original material OXFORD CLASSIC JAZZ: The Harcourt SATURDAY 14th AC30s, and longstanding local ska and Two th Tone faves The Inflatables, who themselves electronic soundtracks and create an ambitious inspired by Scottish folk traditions performed by FRIDAY 6 Arms – Classic jazz and ragtime from the local THE BLOCKHEADS + CHASING have outlasted a few generations of gig goers. concept album about the decline of industry Kirsty Law, Esther Swift and Pictish Trail’s Owen MALLORY KNOX: O2 Academy – Big-boned ensemble, playing Jelly Roll Morton, Louis DAYLIGHT: O2 Academy – Rearranged show and community. They’re a brilliantly original Curtis Wilson. stadium rocking from Cambridge’s Mallory Knox, Armstrong, Fats Domino et al. from last month, postponed due to snow, with band and one whose musical ambitions seem IDAHO GREEN + FANCY DRESS PARTY back in town to promote third album `Wired’ after FEAST OF FIDDLES: Nettlebed Folk Club Ian Dury’s virtuoso r’n’b backing band kicking crew tonight, longstanding HMD residents James to stretch further than most other mucisians + SPANK HAIR: The Library – Rugged their show here last year. – Nettlebed’s annual celebration of traditional out the hits - `What a Waste’; `Hit Me With Your Hillard, Jim Stanton, Filthy Luka and Severino, ever dare to dream. And so who better to melodic punk in the vein of Husker du and BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Afrobeat, fiddle music returns over two nights, with Peter Rhythm Stick’; `Sex & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll’ and bring their forward-thinking party vibe to Musical support them on this tour than the sublime The Replacements from NYC’s Idaho Green at dancefloor Latin, global beats and more at the Knight and Chris Leslie leading a line that more. Medicine, having enjoyed forays to NYC and Jane Weaver, whose `Modern Kosmology’ tonight’s Pulling Sickies show – the new, nerdy monthly world dance and jazz club night, tonight includes Dave Mattacks. DARKSY: O2 Academy – Bass club night with Berlin in recent times. was Nightshift’s album of the year in 2017 and cousin to Smash Disco. Support from Sunny with a live set from London-based Ghanaian LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon Nottingham’s Darksy back in town after his set THE ALBUM PROJECT PLAYS LED whose sold-out show at The Bullingdon last Day Real Estate and American Football-inspired ensemble Ozi Ozaa, the eight-piece band, formed OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim at the Crucast tour alongside Skepsis back in ZEPPELIN IV: Corn Exchange, Witney – Led year was a feast of dark-edged electro-pop, slowcore crew Fancy Dress Party, and Daisy/Self by drummer and singer Yaw Asumadu, who spent November. Zep’s classic 1971 album in its entirety. psychedelia and Krautrock, all occult themes, Help/Holy Moments supergroup Spank Hair. time in the Pan African Orchestra, fusing hi-life, TUESDAY 10th FLATLANDS: The Cellar – Airy, atmospheric URBAN FOLK QUARTET: Thomas Hughes motorik rhythms and fragile, otherworldly SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street afrofunk and jazz. They’re joined by Finnish DJ FLORIST + PORRIDGE RADIO + THE indie and pop-punk from the local band launching Memorial Hall, Uffington – Lively folk and vocals. Pop music as the Gods intended. An Tavern – Weekly open session. Jokakeli, playing a world of dance tunes on the LAND GIRLS: The Library – Hushed, their new EP, `At The Time It Made Perfect roots from the acclaimed quartet, out on another unmissable show from two of modern music’s decks. contemplative synthcentric indie from New Sense’. mammoth UK tour ahead of festival season, most original and captivating artists. th WHITESNAKE UK: The Bullingdon – British York’s Florist at tonight’s Divine Schism show. SILK ROAD + SKAM + THE MOTIVE + fusing global sounds, from traditional English WEDNESDAY 4 and Celtic, to Eastern European, Middle Eastern, THE KRIS BARRAS BAND: The Bullingdon tribute to the renowned Congolese heavy rockers. They’re joined by Brighton’s Porridge Radio, PSYCHOBABYLON: The Wheatsheaf – Hard Afrobeat, Indian, Cuban, bluegrass and funk into – Southern-flavoured electric blues-rock from RASCAL with BOXIA: The Bullingdon – Club back in town after supporting Maiians in Oxford rock, blues, funk and groove metal from Silk their jigs, reels and songs. Devon guitarist Barras and his band, out on tour night with techno and electronica DJ Boxia. before Christmas, their off the wall mix of Road, taking inspiration from Led Zep, Hendrix DIRTY EARTH BAND: Fat Lil’s, Witney – to promote his debut album, inspired by Gary KLUB KANOFANNEY with SMILEY & THE sleepy-eyed chart pop and awkward post-punk and Primus. They’re joined by Leicester’s Rock and pop covers from the enduring local Moore, Joe Bonamassa and Stevie Ray Vaughan. UNDERCLASS + CALLOW SAINTS + THE noise drawing inspiration from The Slits, Young southern rock and NWOBHM crew Skam, local CIPHERS + LAIMA BITE: The Wheatsheaf Marble Giants, Nadine Shah and Lykke Li. indie-grungers The Motive, and Leeds’ old school party band. th – The monthly party-hearty live music club INTRUSION: The Cellar – Monthly goth, dirty-rock outfit Psychobabylon. THURSDAY 5 welcomes back London’s dub/punk rockers industrial, ebm and deathrock club night, with MUSICAL MEDICINE with HORSE MEAT SUNDAY 15th BENNETT, WILSON, POOLE: Truck Store Smiley & the Underclass, alongside Aylesbury residents Doktor Joy and Bookhouse keeping it DISCO: The Bullingdon – Top drawer disco OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms (6.30pm) – Album launch instore for the local rockers Callow Saints, and gothic acoustic pop dark on the decks. from Vauxhall’s renowned Horse Meat Disco FOLK JAM: The Half Moon Americana-folk trio, with Dreaming Spires’ Robin songstress Laima. Tavern SOFASONIC + MATTY JAMES CASSIDY OLY RALFE + JESS HALL: The livid gender-defying gothic glam from PIZZA MIC: The Library – Open mic and BAND: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Powerhouse rocking Holywell Music Room – Album launch Liverpool’s Ms Pink – see main preview cheap pizza. blues from Ireland’s Pat McManus Band, fronted show from the local songsmith, his latest AIDAN O’ROURKE & KIT DOWNES: by the former Mama’s Boys and Celtus guitarist. record, `Notes From Another Sea’, a set of Nettlebed Folk Club – Nettlebed’s WEDNESDAY 18th instrumental piano pieces. As part of a new legendary folk club hosts a new duo of CABBAGE: O2 Academy – Rage-fuelled post- FRIDAY 20th series of Holywell Sessions, organised by multi-award-winning fiddle player Aidan punk noise from the militant Mossley quintet – REJJIE SNOW: O2 Academy – Laidback hip BBC Introducing in Oxford producer Liz O’Rourke (whose credits include Lau, Kan see main preview hop in the vein of Earl Sweatshirt and Kendrick Green, he’s joined by an orchestra for the and Blazin Fiddles) and Mercury-nominated BETH HART: The New Theatre – Sultry soul Lamar from Dublin rapper and producer Snow, show. Support comes from Oxford/London harmonium and piano player Kit Downes. and blues from the Grammy nominated LA out on tour to promote debut album `Dear Annie’, folk singer Jess Hall, accompanied by cellist LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon Wednesday 18th singer, back in Oxford for the first time since her following on from early self-released hits `1992’ Barney Morse-Brown. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal 2012 Cornbury appearance, best known for her and `Lost in Empathy’ – postponed from last WOLFBAIT: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock and Blenheim CABBAGE: hit `LA Song (Out of this Town) as well as her month. pop covers. collaborations with Joe Bonamassa. She’s over KIER: The Cellar – Elegant, drama-laden blues TUESDAY 24th O2 Academy in the UK to promote new album `Black Coffee’, and soul from the Bristolian singer-songwriter, SATURDAY 21st BIG COLOURS: The Jericho Tavern If you can judge a person by their enemies again written and recorded with Bonamassa. touring his new single `Night & Day’, following a RECORD STORE DAY: Truck Store SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James then the same can be said of bands. We’ve METAL 2 THE MASSES: The Wheatsheaf tour support to The Drums. (8am onwards) – The local indie record store Street Tavern loved Cabbage since we heard their `Uber – Quarterfinals of the battle of the bands SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Classic disco, celebrates the annual Record Store Day with Capitalist Death Trade’ single last year, competition to win a slot at this summer’s funk and soul club night, tonight with a live set special releases, plus an afternoon of disco, th sounding like a pissed-off mash-up of Dead WEDNESDAY 25 Bloodstock. from jazz-funk trio 3Peace. funk and soul from Musical Medicine. MOTOWN’S GREATEST HITS – HOW Kennedys and Butthole Surfers, but our regard LILLY HIATT: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Dramatically DOGFLESH + TRAUMA UK + RED ISAAC GRACIE: O2 Academy – for them went up several notches when they SWEET IT IS: The New Theatre – Return emotive country-roots from Nashville’s Lilly Hiatt TERROR: The Wheatsheaf – Thrash-punk, Alternately epic and melancholic pastoral of the big stage celebration of Motown’s responded to being tipped as one of the bands at tonight’s Empty Room show, the daughter of metal and hardcore in the vein of GBH, Discharge folk-pop in the vein of Ryan Adams and to watch by The Sun at the start of the year. legends, with the hits of Lionel Richie, renowned songwriter John Hiatt (with whom she and Motorhead from Teesside’s reformed rock Jeff Buckley from the London-based singer- The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Four “Don’t buy The Sun, Don’t even walk past made her musical debut, singing backing vocals) ragers at tonight’s OxRox show, plus support from songwriter, out on tour ahead of the release it without burning it or spitting on it,” was Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The touring her third album, `Trinity Road’, dealing Witney’s old-school punk-metallers Trauma UK. of his debut album, `Our Story’. Jackson Five, The Isley Brothers, Edwin one of their more considered statements on with her previous alcoholism in song, inspired by Rearranged from last month. THE ACADEMIC: The Cellar – Murdoch’s hate rag. Like Fat White Family, Starr and more. the likes of Lucinda Williams, Elliott Smith and MYSTERY BOX: The Bullingdon Lightweight, buoyant guitar pop in the vein MATT EDWARDS BAND: The Cabbage are a band fuelled by disgust, and Jenny Lewis. of Kodaline and The 1975 from Ireland’s have a similarly queasy feel about them, Bullingdon – Rocking electric blues from th The Academic, whose debut album, particularly the sublimely grim `Dinner Lady’, Thursday 19 the local guitarist and his band. THURSDAY 19th `Tales From the Backseat’, has just gone COVE + PARTING GIFT: The Cellar – as they sing about Tony Blair, Jimmy Saville, to Number 1 in their homeland, and now North Korea and wanking into quiche in a SHAME: The Bullingdon – Any statues SHAME: Angular hardcore from Kent’s Cove, out on HARCOURT ARMS untoppled or barricades unmanned after last they’re over here for a headline tour after tour to plug new EP `A Conscious Motion’, public school. The hype about the outspoken The Bullingdon stints in Europe and the States. Mossley quintet has been growing over the night’s Cabbage show should get their just with support from Manchester’s post- Wednesday April 4th desserts at tonight’s sold-out return to town for the A year on from their excellent, livewire show LEADER + LITTLE BROTHER ELI + hardcore outfit Parting Gift. course of four EPs in the space of 12 months at The Cellar, it’s good to see that tonight’s VIOLET: The Jericho Tavern – Single and after a brace of Oxford shows, courtesy London rabble-rousers – see main preview NEW WAVE: The Cellar – Hip hop club THE WHITE BUFFALO: O2 Academy – Shame show is already sold out and they’re launch gig from the epic local stadium pop night playing the best new underground Albion Beatnik of Future Perfect over the past 18 months, due back in town for an O2 Academy gig later crew – see main interview feature they’re back for their biggest gig to date, part Dark American folk, soulful country, roadhouse sounds. rock and punk spirit from Californian singer- in the year. Like Cabbage (in town the night THE SHAPES + EARINADE + CORA of a tour to promote debut album `Nihilistic PEARL: Modern Art Oxford – Party- Jazz Night songwriter Jake Smith, renowned for his rich, before) and Idles, south London’s Shame have th Glamour Shots’, proof that guitar music hasn’t taken Fat White Family’s sense of disgust hearty 60s-style r’n’b, melancholic pop and THURSDAY 26 Monday April 9th lost the willingness or ability to get angry rough-hewn baritone and epic songs of God and FLIGHTS OF HELIOS: Truck war, inspired by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and at the state of the nation and kick out a taut, new wave from The Shapes, channelling about stuff. Remember: Cabbage is good for belligerent racket about it. The line “I like you Van Morrison, Tom Petty, The Pogues and Store (6pm) – Live instore set from the you, if not something the establishment tends George Jones, as well as Bad Religion. He’s been atmospheric psych band, plus a DJ set. Oxford Classic compared to Richie Havens, while regular airings better when you’re not around,” from their Elvis Costello in their good times/sad times to indulge in too often. song `Tasteless’ sums up Shame’s – and singer songs. Top quality post-punk snarl-pop from DON BROCO: O2 Academy – Sweaty, on Sons of Anarchy have boosted his musical high-energy choreographed post-hardcore, Jazz profile. He’s over in the UK to promote his latest Charlie Steen’s – misanthropic bulldozer Earinade, and funky pop from Cora Pearl. th funked-up nu-metal and slick, swaggering MONDAY 16 album, `Darkest Lights, Darkest Lights’. punk, which is far sharper and heavier live RORKE’S DRIFT: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Saturday April 28th LITTLE COMETS: O2 Academy – Newcastle’s than on record. You’ll also get grimy tales of Rock and metal covers. 80s soft rock from Bedfordshire’s enduring BARRY STEELE & FRIENDS: The New rockers, out on tour to promote new album ebullient Afro-pop-flavoured indie rockers return Theatre – Big stage tribute to Roy Orbison. a man addicted to visiting a gynaecologist on CHRIS RONALD TRIO + SIAN to town after their show here a year ago, playing `The Lick’, or a tribal industrial tattoo on `Set MAGILL: The Swan, Ascott-under- `Technology’. Luckily there’s some proper The Mighty IVORY WAVE: The Cellar – Laddish punk and hardcore on here and elsewhere songs from their fourth album `Warhead’, having indie, baggy grooves and house vibes in a Me Up’, which pitches them pleasingly close Wychwood – Canadian folk music with originally made their name playing guerrilla to Killing Joke. Elsewhere there’s rabble- English folk roots from the émigré singer- this month, so save your pennies for that. Redox plus Happy Mondays and Paris Angels style from WILL HEARD: O2 Academy – Jazz/soul- gigs in university lecture halls and call centres as Birmingham’s Ivory Wave, recent tourmates with rousing agit-punk and even some unexpected songwriter, channelling the sounds of the well as supporting the likes of Noisettes and The shoegaze spangle. That Cellar show, although 60s English folk revival and the Laurel pop from the London singer-songwriter, The Twang. best known for his vocal contribution to supports Twang, and Biffy Clyro. SPIN with THE OXLEY MEIER QUARTET: far from sold out, also saw Steen crawling Canyon sound in his acoustic style at KRIS DREVER: Nettlebed Folk Club – Top along the venue’s ceiling, held aloft by the tonight’s Wychwood Folk Club show. Klangkarussell’s Top 5 hit `Sonnentanz (Sun The Wheatsheaf – Virtuoso guitar display from Don’t Shine)’, as well as his collaborations Open Mic Every Sunday drawer Scottish folk music from the acclaimed Nick Meier, from Jeff Beck’s band, and Pete attendant moshpit and a sense of purpose Orcadian singer and guitarist, one third of prog- – a sense that has previously seen Shame nd with The Ashton Shuffle, Rudimental and live music at the heart of jericho Oxley, from world jazz group Curious Paradise, SUNDAY 22 Dillon Francis. folksters Lau and previously collaborator with together playing music inspired by Turkish, campaigning for Sadiq Khan in the London SCOTT MATTHEWS: Truck Store – Cranham Terrace Jericho Oxford ox2 6dg the likes of Kate Rusby, Roddy Woomble and mayoral race and writing a less than amorous STRIKE ONE + BRIXTONS + 01865 556669 Latin American sounds and Bach, on a variety of Instore set from the singer-songwriter. RESTRUCTURE + FOLLIANTS + Eddie Reader, as well as less obvious team-ups guitars, at tonight’s Spin Jazz Club. love song to Theresa May. They know which MC LARS: O2 Academy – After being a with Tinariwen and Joan As Policewoman. Back side of the barricades they belong on, and LONDON GRAFFITI: The Bullingdon GENDER ROLES + RAINBOW RESERVOIR frequent visitor to Oxford, and a Truckfest – Pop-punk from Didcot’s Strike One at at Nettlebed, playing songs from his `If Wishes + FANCY DRESS PARTY: The Library – Pop- armed with bottles filled with traces of Drenge, regular, California’s lit-hop star returns to Were Horses’ album as well as his enviable back The Fall, Sonic Youth and Fat Whites they’re tonight’s It’s All About the Music show, friendly slacker rock from Brighton’s Gender town for his first show here since 2011, plus Arctic Monkeys-influenced rock from catalogue, following his superb show at The Old Roles at tonight’s Smash Disco, the trio out on a ready to start the riot as soon as you are. his indie-centric form of hip hop finding Fire Station in 2016. Wantage’s Brixtons, and hip hop hoolie-rave free entry tour to promote new EP `Planet X-Ray’ him sampling everyone from Supergrass to from Restructure. LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon on Big Scary Monsters. Exuberant riot grrl and Fugazi, while sharing stages with the likes OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim SPIN with TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE: cheerleader pop from local champs Rainbow of Nas, Snoop Dog, Fightstar and Lupe The Wheatsheaf – Hammond-led jazz from WAAJU: Sandy’s Piano Bar – World sounds, Reservoir. Fiasco. from Africa to South America from Waaju out on the local quartet at tonight’s Spin jazz club. CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford ROCK SCHOOL: The Bullingdon QUARTERMELON + LUCKY PUNKS: tour, drawing inspiration from Ali Farka Toure, Community Centre OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms Oumou Sangare and Tinariwen. The Jericho Tavern – Inventive, feelgood SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon FOLK JAM: The Half Moon guitar pop, shoegaze, soul and funk from ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure th local newcomers Quartermelon at tonight’s TUESDAY 17 BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford MONDAY 23rd Daisy Rodgers Music night. Support from SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street PAT McMANUS BAND + GET LOOSE + QUEEN ZEE: The Cellar – Loud and Berkshire britpoppers Lucky Punks. GOODNESS: The Cellar – House, techno and art-rock genius turned soulful crooner at tonight’s disco club night, with a guest set from Shanti already sold out show, the debonair Mr Brain Fury Celeste singing songs from across his illustrious career MARK COPE + SPIKE HOLIFIELD: The and most recent album `Avonmore’. Black Swan – Opening night of the Black RASCAL with CHAOS IN THE CBD & Swan’s new last-Thursday-of-the-month O’FLYNN: The Bullingdon – Classic house and showcase night, with former Candyskins jazz-infused dance from New Zealand brothers guitarist Mark Cope alongside host and former Chaos in the CBD at tonight’s Rascal club night; Swim the Atlantic frontman Spike. African-flavoured house from O’Flynn. CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford HEATHER SMALL: O2 Academy – Classic Community Centre 90s soul and dance-pop from the former M People ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure singer and the voice behind Black Box’s classic BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, `Ride on Time’. She’s out on tour to celebrate 25 rd Sandford years as a singer as well as the release of a new Monday 23 orchestral Greatest Hits album, so expect all the QUEEN ZEE: FRIDAY 27th big M People numbers: `Moving on Up’; `Search LUCY LEAVE + ALLY CRAIG: The Deaf & For the Hero’; `Sight For Sore Eyes’; `One Night in Heaven’, and more. The Cellar Hard of Hearing Centre, St. Ebbes – Divine Quite the month for militant music in Oxford, TERRAFORMS 10th BIRTHDAY: The Cellar Schism host tonight’s launch gig for Lucy Leave’s what with Cabbage and Shame also popping – Oxford’s longest running drum&bass club night debut album `Look//Listen’, the trio’s leftfield round for tea and a spot of statue kicking. celebrates its first decade with a special guest set post-punk drawing a decidedly wobbly line Joining them on the barricades, facing up from genre godfather Grooverider. Greencode, between Deerhoof, The Cardiacs, Soft Machine, to The Man, The Patricarchy and the Uber Bolo, Rich Raw, Smokey, DJ D, Nelly, MC The Slits and David Bowie. Support comes from Capitalist Death Trade are Liverpool’s Queen Sandman and Rider MC join the party. Bug Prentice man Ally Craig making a rare foray Zee, which might be the name of the band or THE PINK DIAMOND REVUE + LONDON into the live arena, his oblique, observational pop maybe just singer Queen Zee themself, with GRAFFITI: The Wheatsheaf – Acid-surf rave- noise partway between Shellac and Robert Wyatt the band generally named as The Sasstones. core from Reading’s sublime instrumentalists, at times. Zee themself is a sleazy/flambuoyant glam/ taking Death in Vegas for a head trip through BRYAN FERRY: The New Theatre – Already punk/goth/metal singer fuelled by dysphoria sampladelic rock’n’roll. sold out return to town for the former Roxy Music and queer politics whose songs take aim at DIPPER MALKIN & ELIZABETH misogyny, transphobia and toxic masculinity GARNER: Turl Street Kitchen – Traditional th with equal amounts of vehemence and volume Saturday 28 folk from viola/guitar/voice duo Dipper Malkin, PALM CITY – the band renowned for being one of the stars of last year’s Oxford Folk Weekend. loudest currently doing the rounds – with KELE OKEREKE: RAINBREAKERS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Garage, heavy hints of Marilyn Manson and Placebo DJ SET blues and soul-rock from the band out on tour. The Cellar in their androgynous theatricality and scuzzy, THE VINCENT WHITE BAND: The Prince of For someone whose musical history is littered anthemic songs like `Boy’ and `Hunger Wales, Shippon – Blues rock trio in the vein of with Top 10 albums, critical acclaim and Pains’, although they’re also capable of more Jeff Healey. high-profile collaborations, a solo show at The tempered, melodic rock songs that would Cellar might seem a surprising down step, appeal to any passing Smashing Pumpkins, th but with his third solo album, `Fatherland’, SATURDAY 28 Pixies or Motley Crue fans. Chances are Kele Okereke has left behind the uptight KELE OKEREKE: The Cellar – The Bloc Queen Zee aren’t going to topple society as post-punk and funk of Bloc Party and even Party man gets mellow and parental on new we know it, but no chance to make a furious the disco of his previous solo outing `Trick’ album `Fatherland’ – see main preview old racket and dress up in bright colours and has headed down the road marked Folk- THE UK FOO FIGHTERS: O2 Academy – should be passed up. As ever in the case of Pop. Inspired by the birth of his first child, Tribute to Lovely Dave and the gang. rock and roll rebellion, you have to ask: would `Fatherland’ is gentle, intimate, hushed, GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with ORDER this upset rightwing moralists and religious stripped down and vulnerable sounding, Joni #227 + GRAVES + REPERCUSSIONS OF bigots. And when the answer is “abso-bloody- Mitchell and Elliott Smith replacing Mogwai, YESTERDAY: The Wheatsheaf – GTI goes lutely – you know you’re onto a winner. Pixies and PiL as chief influences. Notoriously the full heavy tonight with virulent politicised shy, Okereke has earned a reputation as a hardcore punk from Order #227, kicking it out highly literate, enigmatic singer who actively full pelt in the vein of The Exploited, Black Flag DUO CANI + JAE: The Wheatsheaf (3.30-7pm) avoids interviews or talking about himself, and Discharge. They’re joined by London’s death- – Klub Kakofanney host their monthly free show which never hampered Bloc Party’s rise and rock crew Graves, mixing goth and psychobilly in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar, including amiable rise, nor prevented him working with the likes into their dark’n’nasty palette, and one-man folk-pop outfit Puppet Mechanic. of VV Brown, Sub Focus, Tiesto and Hercules demonic doom and death machine Repercussions OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms & Love Affair over the years. He was a major of Yesterday. FOLK JAM: The Half Moon influence on, and friend to, Foals, and became PITCH BLACK: The Cellar – Techno club an eloquent champion of gay rights when he night, tonight featuring a guest set from Ireland’s MONDAY 30th came out and later wrote songs documenting techno don Sunil Sharpe, playing a vinyl-only set SIMPLE with SAORISE: The Bullingdon the murders of gay men (when Bloc Party VOLUME #10: The Bullingdon – Already sold out May Eve house party from were starting out he had to hide his musical THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Harcourt Arms Simple, with renowned DJ Saorise playing her activities as well as his sexuality from his – Lively ska, funk and swamp blues-infected trademark mix of dub, ambient, house, jazz, deeply religious parents). So anyway, a chance rocking from the local stalwarts. electro, garage and techno. to enjoy an intimate evening with one of TWISTED STATE OF MIND + NEW DEPTH LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon indie’s most redoubtable characters of the past + SPRUNG FROM CAGES + BE STILL: The MAY EVE PARTY: The Cellar – Party into May decade and a half. Rock Barn, Witney – Metal, heavy rock and Morning. punk from a selection of West Oxfordshire’s finest JACKIE OATES: Nettlebed Folk Club – young heavyweights. Album launch show from the Nettlebed resident, her latest record, `The Joy of Living’ recorded SUNDAY 29th with John Spiers, Megan Henwood, Jack Rutter PUPPET MECHANIC + BEARD OF and Matt Allright. DESTINY + TONY BATEY & SAL MOORE + OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim

Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month, no exceptions. Listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be used without permission. ICEBREAKER PAUL DRAPER LIVE Holywell Music Room O2 Academy Icebreaker are a long-running being shattered?) which get roughed The late-90s Chester-based Britpop hints at how the Mansun sound instrumental ensemble known for up by scuddering guitar (debris band Mansun spectacularly would have developed: `Don’t Poke championing new music and for hitting the ground?) that morphs imploded during the recording the Bear’ precedes anthemic rock playing it loud. This concert, part into a modernist homage to prog sessions for their fourth album, not squealing with a dissonant synth long after a low-key UK tour in and rambling string introduction,

photo: Jonathan Dadds of the Audiograft Festival’s annual (the falling cloud of glass?) and ends celebration of the experimental, is no suddenly (total destruction?). the late spring of 2002, the Oxford and `Friends Make the Worst exception and it’s a pity there aren’t Elizabeth Kelly’s ‘On Edge’ is date of which your correspondent Enemies’, understandably self- more here for it. exactly that and is both the most reported on in this very magazine indulgently, takes Mansun’s falsetto The ensemble sets up with the drum discordant and the most soulful piece – even standing in the same spot as and vocal harmony style into more kit centre stage and start with two of the first half, reflecting her interest tonight. regretful and reflective territory. visceral pieces by star-on-the-rise in jazz, funk, rock and guitar effects Since then, the band’s driving force, Paul perks up and relaxes on composer Anna Meredith that have pedals. main songwriter and singer Paul `Taxloss’, three songs into `Grey a decibel level which would be The plucking of cello strings in Draper, has been through the wars, Lantern’, as if the knowledge that unremarkable in any rock venue but `The, What Is It, The Golden Eagle?’ his absence taking on a mystical, everyone in the room knows every is well in excess of that usually heard we are told, is the eagle pecking at enigmatic quality (accentuated word, every cue and every backing in the Holywell. the eyes of the uncomprehending by his current Last Jedi-era Luke vocal for the rest of the night is a Meredith has her own art rock group speaker. The music has an element Skywalker hair and beard). This tour comfort. but the arrangement Icebreaker’s of folk balladry, no surprise as is the second outing for his debut The night is the sum of possibly leader James Poke has done for their composer Kerry Andrew is also solo album, 2017’s `Spooky Action’, unnecessary, yet welcome nostalgia eight-strong musical force opens alt-folk singer You Are Wolf, and plus a (fan-chosen) full set of for a fanbase who feared they’d up the piece to a greater range of has recorded the traditional ‘Three Mansun’s debut, `Attack of the Grey never hear Paul play again, but also instrumental colours while staying Ravens’, in which one of the ravens Lantern’, 21 years after it topped the a timely reminder of how a bizarre true to Meredith’s composition. talks of doing to the eyes of a dead UK album charts. yet coherent “half a concept album” All the other pieces performed are knight what the eagle does. Hopefully `Spooky Action’ is about an array of inhabitants in a also by still youngish composers After this the contemplative catharsis – Paul’s gone on record to fictitious English village (`Stripper with careers on the up. Tonight calm of Linda Buckley’s ‘Azure’ say that it’s about Mansun and the Vicar’; `Dark Mavis’) struck such shows they all can write music that is timely while the final piece, people around them – and the lyrics a chord with the British record- is accessible, which is good news if Kate Moore’s ‘The Dam’, has certainly allude to some dark times. buying public two decades ago. contemporary classical music is to Icebreaker flooding the Holywell Sonically, the seven-song mini set Kirsten Etheridge have a future. with a dam-burst of a crescendo. The composers happen also to What’s been called the “furious YOUTHMOVIES the tension and head off down a be pretty good at coming up with precision” of their playing has been LITTLE BROTHER ELI / post-metal path and you remember helpful titles for their music. For impressive throughout but even The Bullingdon that when they first wrote that instance, the most substantial more impressive is their continuing QUARTERMELON / LUCY VEE piece post-metal wasn’t even a “Has anyone out there got a drum on a high back in 2010 and their perfectly segued track without a of Jobina Tinneman’s pieces is commitment to new music and to key?” asks Youthmovies singer and legacy continued through subsequent hint of rust from eight years away. thing. Fidgety kids that they ever called ’Throwing A Window playing it loud; that’s something The Wheatsheaf guitarist Andrew Mears partway generations of local bands intent Within brief, dizzying moments the were, they’ve soon left that behind Through Another Window’, with worth celebrating Judicious booking means tonight’s an utterly enchanting dark horse through tonight’s reunion show. Next on not playing things the easy way. five-piece have veered from Steely and darkened down to something shimmering strings (the window Colin May Gappy Tooth Industries night is the prospect for success, and if there is to him guitarist Al English scoffs The first reunion show sold out in Dan-styled jazz-rock, through closer to Six By Seven, before they beneficiary of a perfect storm of new any justice their snappily-played, and adds, “who brings a drum key to five minutes, so they added a second Nisennenmondai’s precision post- lash out with punked-up virulence EP and album releases by all radio-friendly earworm single ‘Crash’ a gig?” Seconds later a member of (characteristically for the night rock, into all-consuming Mogwai- and close with a brace of more MELLOW GANG / LE FEYE of the acts, which means a sold-out will go on to be one of this Summer’s the audience produces one from their before), and a host of old scenester like noise, down into spangled downbeat numbers with long-time show and a pleasingly packed Sheaf. big anthems. pocket and any threat to the show is faces graces the expectant crowd. shoegaze and then off into some collaborator and poet Adam Gnade. Modern Art Oxford Anyone who thought that Lucy Little Brother Eli, named after a dissipated. Of course someone would When Al suggests that “there is extended, uptight funk workout Watching Youthmovies is like When Gaby-Elise Monaghan elements into sharper focus. Cropper might not overcome her short story that questions whether bring a drum key to a Youthmovies nothing sexy about math-rock,” it’s while barely looking like they’ve watching a swan glide across a lake: and Caspar Miles called a day There’s a similar sense of gothic modest offstage persona to own artists have a special licence for show – half the of the crowd down another nail in the coffin of the idea broken a sweat. smooth and serene, while all the on Coldredlight last year we drama about Mellow Gang singer the room only has to witness her non compliance and bad behaviour, the front are musicians themselves, that Youthmovies were po-faced If you can hear elements of other frantic paddling goes on out of sight worried we’d seen the last of two Harriet’s voice which spends the set plant her purple velveteen platform answer this by being wilfully here to remind themselves just how musos, all technique and no humour bands in their sound you have below the surface. Tonight could exceptionally bright young talents, swooping over the band’s languid, boots squarely on the boards, thrust unfashionable yet still wildly popular. things should be done. or raw energy. Tonight has all these to remind yourself Youthmovies almost be an extended jam session even given their promise that they’d shoegazy spangle, tipping almost forward her determined chin, and let This is a rare visit by the band, The excitement when Youthmovies things, and more. It’s a master class usually got their first, not least if it weren’t so precisely constructed be back. Tonight fulfils that promise into folk territory at times, like a forth with confident gusto the sultry built round one of the county’s best – once described by Nightshift as for any aspiring musician on how in the case of Foals, who drew and so potently executed. Playing as the pair make their Oxford debut darkened barroom tryst between spirit of Billy Ray Martin. It’s a real frontmen, Alex Grew, along with “the most influential band in Oxford” to do things, and it’s also a thrilling huge inspiration from their old together for the first time in almost under the name Le Feye, a quartet Mazzy Star and All About Eve. joy to see the Death of Hi-Fi singer bassist Josh Rigal, whose Vulfpeck – announced they were to reform for ride through so many outlying areas friends and are due here for a decade they sound like the future. that for tonight at least features Recent single `Vendetta’ is the rally with such fearless verve under t-shirt speaks volumes for LBE’s a benefit gig in memory of their old of rock’s great domain. Kicking tomorrow night’s show. There’s But then, they always did. Listen Catgod’s Robin Christensen-Marriott set’s stand-out moment, Harriet’s her new Lucy Vee banner with The revamped soul-funk intentions. friend and early champion Michael off with `The Pitch & Yaw of one particularly splendid moment and learn people; listen and learn. on bass. As they open with `Bloom’ voice swooning breathlessly over Shapes’ Colin Henney; her bold, With new album ‘Cold Tales’ fast Barry was tangible. They left us Satellites’, most of the set is one when they ramp up the volume and Dale Kattack they keep another promise to keep atmospheric synth drones and sonar original songs like ‘BFF’ and ‘Man becoming a classic to park between their best songs, although its new pings, while elsewhere `Mirrored’ Enough’ prove every bit the equal of the Red Hot Chilli Poppers and Spin incarnation is noisier than before. drifts sleepy-eyed into Lana Del the chart coating Ella Hendersons and Doctor CDs, they ignite the rammed goth-influenced indie. The Cure are an obvious The influence of Soundgarden and Ray’s adrift-on-the-ocean slumber Jessie Wares out there. audience to dance with radical takes PALE WAVES influence, what with the black eye-liner and Robert Alice in Chains is stronger than pop. Quartermelon, also from West on ‘This Girl’ (“Work hard / Play hard Smith-inspired hairdo. The songs, of course, are The Bullingdon ever. If Coldredlight were midnight Mellow Gang are some way ahead Oxfordshire, have mastered the / Chase the money / Get nowhere”), a lot poppier than that, in a good way: I haven’t Before tonight’s gig, I’d maybe heard a couple of on stage, fronted by the beloved Heather Baron- blues, Le Feye are basement 90s of Le Feye on the gig front goes, but hugely difficult trick of larking about complete with its ferocious funk ragga tracks by Pale Waves, but I knew they were one of Gracie, shouts of “I love you” rise from the crowd. been able to get ‘My Obsession’ out of my head for grunge crunched up with 70s rock, still a relatively new prospect, and and having immense fun singing and breakdown, and ‘Beautiful People’ the BBC’s Sound of 2018 artists, so was curious Heather’s response is distinctively cool: “You guys months, and that’s all you can ask of a pop song. a sprinkling of 80s goth and an there are moments in the set where playing, while at the same time being a mach-sheened show stopper, with to see what the hype is all about. A teenager in the are cute”. Where there is hype, there’s always someone icing of that timeless blues. It can the luscious, swirling noise seems to acutely serious about everything Grew’s Michael Hutchence bark crowd reliably informs me that they’re “like, the It’s refreshing to see Heather display the cockiness saying we shouldn’t believe it. Not me. Of all be a heady cocktail, with Gaby’s be hiding a lack of a strong tune, but they create. It makes for a totally bouncing off guitarist Adam Stowe’s new The 1975”; make up your own mind about typically flaunted by boring blokey indie bands. things you could have expected from ‘the new The drama-laden voice the poisoned they get stronger as the set unfurls, charismatic atmosphere, with their duet and into the moshpit. whether that’s a good thing or not. Towards the end of the set, she asks whether we 1975’, this is one of the better outcomes. Heather glace cherry on top. If there’s a hint which suggests they’re a band that sound somewhere between the As multiple showcases go tonight But a hype they certainly are. The excitement want her to play their new song ‘Heavenly’. The genuinely seems to love her fans too. She leaves of early-days hesitancy about the rewards patience and close attention Pimms and cucumber sunshine of more than lives up to its Sold Out before Pale Waves’ set is tangible, with young crowd lets out a huge affirmative roar, to which she us with a confident compliment: “You’ve been performance that will pass; `Little rather than anyone looking for a Prefab Sprout and the dulcet, fjord- sticker, it was also a mighty win for boys and girls dancing to the playlist tracks, from nonchalantly responds, “Well, I guess you do”. entertaining as well!”. You too. Scorpion retains its brooding venom, quick pop thrill. melting guitar riffs of an `Across the merch table. Green Day to the Vaccines. When the band comes That kind of attitude is part and parcel of Caspar Jacobs while `Orpheus’ brings those heavier Dale Kattack The Sea’-era Jeniferever. They are Paul Carrera photo: Jo Cox their an indiepopfive-piece withtwoEPsandanalbum alreadyundertheir Lessfullofsurprises –thoughperhapsmorefullyformed –areChemtrails, with happiness.It’s alovable,unpredictable setfrombeginningtoend. rock guitartrickery, theleadguitarist raiseshisfistincelebrationandbeams nerdy musicianshipondisplayhere: afteroneparticularlyfiddlybitofnoise- moments. That voice is thestarofshow, butthere’s alsosomedelightfully extraordinarily versatilehabitoflaunching intocadenzasatunexpected Lana DelRey, butwithanunusual sharpnessthatsetsitapart,andan Take Austin’s voiceforinstance, which hasarichnessthatbringstomind full ofsurprises. swooping, almostoff-key vocals,thisisabandthat’s asfamiliartheyare on tenterhooks:fromthemellow, restrainedbasstosingerGwen Austin’s claim tohavethreealbumswaitinginthewings.Ifthat’s thecasethenwe’re released oneEP sofar–thedreamy, textured`DaughterofGold’ –and although openingbandProtectionSpellsarecertainlytrippy. The bandhave names isn’t exactlyaneveningofbands-with-hippie-sounding-music, Hosted byBeautifulFreaks,thiseveningofbands-with-hippie-sounding- The Library CHEMTRAILS /PROTECTION SPELLS most refreshingisthatthere’s no hit fillingthesetlist.Perhapswhat’s of theirbritpopsound,withhitafter you’d expectfromareemergence With thatSleeperdelivereverything still the1990s. be forgiven forassumingthatitwas into ‘WhatDoINow?’ you’d my boyfriend!”asSleeperlaunch exclaimed “thissongisolderthan the guynexttomewho’s just towards theback. Were itnotfor and amanindoubledenimlurking gulping fromabottleofHooch There’s awomaninthesecondrow O2 Academy SLEEPER LIVE features thesameguitarriffs asthe magazine, and‘Inbetweener’ still the lyricsfromTop ofThePops into ahairbrushwhilstreading remembered ittoaged12,singing ‘Statuesque’ stillsoundsjustlikeI reworking of‘NiceGuyEddie’; limited variation. There’s nomajor With that,however, comes Blondie’s ‘Atomic’. the fanfavouritesandtheircoverof `Pleased toMeet’ youalbum,just even awhiff ofanythingoff oftheir album that’s duenextyear”;not catch. No“here’s anewoneoff our Tom Kingsley they’re backinSeptember. feeling inourguts: alongwitharesolutiontogosee ProtectionSpellswhen though, andweleave theLibrarywithslightlyachey calvesandagood to creakatthehinges,andsongs dogetabitsamey. It’s a goodsameness, That said,eventually Chemtrails’ somewhatmiddle-of-centresetdoesstart our headsside-to-sideandgrinning likeloons. verse/chorus structure,orwhenour necksarestartingtohurtfromwaggling even whenthey’refollowingthesame verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/ brutally sardonic,herGordonGano-esque whinekeepsthesongsinteresting drives thingsforward,hereandthroughoutChemtrails’ set.Rich, nasaland guitar riff. But,likeGwen Austin, it’s leadsingerMiaLust’s voicethatreally arpeggio-laden songstructuredaroundsomecleverharmonisingand acatchy structured tunes. The setopenswith`A Killer oraPunchline’,bright, few shotsofespresso:janglyandengaging,withlotsrhythmic,tightly- Lips andBlondie”,butthey’reclosertoMGMT aftera heavy nightanda belt. The billingdescribesthemas“somewherebetween The Pixies,Black cynicism ofthesong. become huskier, addingtothe how Louise Wener’s voicehas unexpected highlightandshows Your Mother’ that comesasthe are. Forme,it’s ‘DressLike un-aging Sleeper’s songsreally a testamenttohowrelevantand In fact,tonightactuallystandsas to messwithawinningformula. of theCentury’,you’venoneed a goodasthoseatthestartof‘Sale however: whenyourchordsareas That’s farfromacriticism original. Lisa Ward norm. still feellikeararity, ratherthana a shamethatfemalefrontedbands improved ontheHoochdaysit’s whilst I’mpleasedtheboozehas perfect tripdownmemorylaneand aside, however, tonightisthe Misogyny anda20yearhiatus of Cocker, Gallagher, and Albarn. riding thechartsnexttolikes of havinga‘femalefronted’ band original successwasthenovelty wake upcallthatpartofSleeper’s in Wener’s direction,it’s aquick the 90s. As heyells“Istillwould” reminds meitwasn’t allrosesin the frontrow, whosuccessfully Meanwhile, there’s aguyin photo: giulia Biasibetti The Cellar HUSKY LOOPS/LIFEINC. TARPIT each lunge andflourishbuoys ourspirits, andthedrumming is,frankly, prissy arrangements waftupeverycrescendoofsensitive grandiosity, but doing SimpleMinds. It’s easytobecynicalabouttheway LifeInc.’s rock andstudiogrooves –althoughattimesthey’re morelikeCorduroy like atrendyDFA band fromsixyearsagocoollyriffingon80syacht the vocalsenactajazzyyearning likea West End Thom Yorke, much guitar lickscoalescingaroundrestlessly funkybasslinesoverwhich LifeInc,incontrast,filleverycorner ofthesoundfield,intricatetwin of them.Couldsomeonenothook themupwithsomemeddlingkids? sloppy detailsrepeatedindesperate needofsomethinginterestingontop Tarpit trackislikethebackgroundtoaHanna-Barberaanimation,same a bit,thenstop(or, morefrequently, stumbletoashame-facedhalt). A pattern dynamics,nothinghappens. Tiny semi-motifsoccur, hangaround background. Trouble is,beyonda nodtoJoyDivision’s barchartdrum guitar chopswithananaemicvocalwraithhoveringoccasionallyin the Steve Hanley, starkauthoritativesnarecracks,andruthlesswindchill site basstonessomewherebetweenBauhaus’s DavidJand The Fall’s Tarpit havefoundtherightsounds,we’llgivethemthat:thick,building stride withamixtureofwinninghumourand ten-minute delayduetotechnicalissuesinhis He’s alsoaremarkableliveperformer, takinga work ofsoaringgenius. – themancouldmake`GalwayGirl’ soundlikea to itstrulyremarkablewarmth,richnessandrange review todescribinghisvoiceandcomenocloser from there,giventhatyoucoulddedicateanentire radio station.Littlewonderhowhisstoryevolved singing andarrangedforhimtoappearonalocal molecular biologistRaghuDixitoverheardhim music’s gain. The storygoesthatthelandlordof Pharmaceutical research’s lossismostdefinitely The OldFire Station RAGHU DIXIT LIVE be mynewbestfriend). member (fortherecord,Inowconsiderhimto grabbing aselfiewitheverysingleaudience determined nottoleavethevenuewithout of internationalfanslikethisone.Healsoseems heard ofhimasheisatpumpingupclubshows massive festivalcrowdswhomightneverhave get theimpressionhe’s equallyadeptatinspiring jumping onafreezingcold,snowynight. You this isn’t somekindofreviewer’s poeticlicence) crowd (andIdomeantheentire crowd here– work theirmagic,andmanagingtogetanentire knockout solospotaffording thetechstimeto David Murphy like adog’s breakfast,they putonaspotlessshow. secret, andimpressively reproduceditlive.Foraband thatliterallysounds boom andbapweigh ahundredtons.HuskyLoops haveuncoveredthis hip-hop productionisaboutoppressive space,makingthegapbetween indie disco;putitanotherway, thelesstheysing, thebettertheyare.Great though they’relessgoodwhenthey dropintoFraggedFerdinandangular spiked bymasterfullytimedpedal-stamps andskin-tighttempochanges, many intonight’s set–featurerumblingsparseconstructionsofriff andfill elemental, yetfascinatingcompositions. The bestmoments–andthereare loops betweentracks,andevidenceinthetessellatinginsistenceof their collages of Wu-Tang’s RZA:thereareliteralhomagesin the choppedsoul Italians HuskyLoopshaveinsteadapparentlystudiedthechunkybeat writes slightlymoresyllablesperbarthanSteven Tyler. London-based rhythm sectionpronetolumpenstadiumsimplicity, orapriapicsingerwho When rockbandsciteahip-hopinfluence,itusuallyindicateseither a they danceintothefire),butarearecommendedlisten. superlative. This isperhapsnotabandtosettheworldaflame(even as Stuart Fowkes who hateshappymusic. and thespirit–thisiscomingfromsomeone This istrulyjoyousstuff, designedtoliftthesoul optimistic withouteverbeingcloyingorgauche. is howthesongsarerelentlesslyupbeatand What’s moststrikingthroughoutthisshow great happysongthantowriteasadsong? faced guitaristSanjayKumar. unlikely IronMaidenesqueshreddingfromfresh- in aworldwideaudience–there’s evensome his time)withenoughofa Western edge todraw soundtrack stylings(Raghuhasscoredseveralin between traditionalIndianmusicandBollywood Musically, Dixitandhisbandtreadadeptly Who wasitwhosaidthatit’s hardertowrite a up alltheir favouritebits of Led of blackenedblues rockthatmixes launching intoaferociously loudset called Rock’n’Roll Thunder and stomping onanFXpedaldoubtless before of `JohntheRevelator’, themselves onstagetothestrains polar oppositeroute,announcing London’s Saint Agness take a whole set while hersugar-sweet voicekeepsthe melody on`I’llSee You Again’, Ilett conjuresaneatbluesyguitar that isdebutsingle`Radio’.Maria their setopener, andtheabsolutegem big, wideLovelyEggs-likegrinon garage popsongsthatcomewitha the pairclatteroutgreatbubblegum moments it’s apriceworthpayingas means thereareoccasionalclumsy space fortunestobreathe,andifthat naïve approach,thatmeansthere’s down andtakearudimentary, almost Dramas prefertostripeverything technologically possible, The Other noise fromguitaranddrumkitasis duos thesedaysistocreateasmuch While thedefaultsettingforrock The Cellar DRAMAS SAINT AGNES / THE OTHER the soleconstantmember, though Singer andguitaristBidremains not tomentionvariouscompilations. they’ve ratchetedupsixteenalbums, changes ofpersonnelandlabels, Adam Ant, andsurvivingseveral of abandthatincludedyoung anniversary. Formedfromtheashes this yearcelebratingtheirfortieth of thenumerousbandsspending in agoodway. matters turnabitvaudeville,butnot vocalist puncturestheballoonand the introductionofashoutyguest of 60sbeatgroups.Unfortunately recreating thejingly-janglysound work arealtreat,meticulously the scene,Momtchiloff’s guitar Yardbirds’ ‘A CertainGirl’ sets The No. A terrificversionof The to thelate70sandhispunkband Ian Nixongoesbackevenfurther, recognition, whilesingerandbassist Oxford indiebandtofindnational played in Talulah Gosh,thefirst which, guitaristPeteMomtchiloff days ofrock‘n’roll. run throughsongsfromtheearly waistcoats andties,withabreathless of Three openproceedingsin Would-Be-Goods so The Count has ledtoano-showfrom The The tailendofthebadweather Jericho TavernThe THE COUNT OF THREE THE MONOCHROMESET / closer `Money’ The Monochrome Set are one The MonochromeSetareone – even strident, staccato set evenstrident,staccatoset – in the realm of pop. in therealmofpop. Talking of Art Lagun future asmuchthepast. so freshandoriginal,embracingthe with suchalonghistorysounding It’s alwayshearteningtoseeaband investigating. arrangements arewellworth album ‘Maisieworld’s’ complex sounds impressive,thoughthenew around. clearly rememberitfromfirsttime response, andmostoftheaudience Frank’ bringsthebiggestaudience hint ofhisIndianheritage. ‘He’s up anddownscalesrevealinga and verylistenable,thewayitruns almost acroon,isunmistakeable tree. Bid’s deep,precisevoice, apple neverfallsthatfarfromthe become alittledarker, thoughthe party feel,whilelatermaterialhas held akindofEnglishgarden and oldermaterial.Earlysongs and littletodistinguishthenew every songasimilarfasttempo Mike Urbanondrums. Manzarek andDaveGreenfield, keyboards, withnodstowardsRay is completedbyJohnPaulMoranon natural justice. appearance defyinganykindof place since1980,theiryouthful bassist Andy Warren hasbeenin Dale Kattack being struckbylightning. a hillandenjoythe veryrealriskof storms whenyou canstandontop of thetellywatchingfootage Then again,whowantstositinfront and rushinghometobuythealbum. between enjoyingabracingliveset Which iswhatmakesthedifference songs amidtherelentlessthunder. course, what’s missingareanygreat some extragothicatmosphere.Of them, sporadicharmonicaadding meagre throngnoddingalongbefore set whosegustototallybeliesthe they pummelandpowerthrougha gay abandonandfor45minutes sleeves, clichésarejuggledwith Influencesarewornproudlyon level throughout. which aresetatbowel-bothering been thevibrationsfrombass, silence. Then againitmighthave burns intosomethingapproaching off untilthefirstsongcrashesand machine hassetthevenue’s alarms one evennoticestheband’s smoke The Kills. They’re soloudthatno- Zep, JoanJett, White Stripesand The bandcharge throughtheset, The new material also The newmaterialalso The current line-up The currentline-up HEAVY POP, READING MENCAP AND FRIENDS PRESENT… INTRODUCING.... Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under Indica Blues Who are they? Oxford stoner/doom-rockers Indica Blues are: Tom Pilsworth (guitar/vocals); Rich Walker (drums); John Slaymaker (guitar) and Andrew Haines Villata (bass). Tom was previously in instrumental heavyweights Refugees of Culture, while John was in psych-metallers Caravan of Whores. The pair met I D L E S when the bands shared a stage in 2012. Tom started Indica Blues as a solo project before C.O.W split and invited John to jam. Fellow former Refugees member Andrew also joined, alongside Ed Glenn and the quartet released `Ruins on the Shore’ in 2016. Ed left shortly after and was replaced by Rich, JOHN KENNEDY STEVE LAMACQ PHIL TAGGART formerly of French psych-doom trio Tood. The band’s new album `Hymns and to the wider Oxford scene, there’s no chance Indica Blues would exist. (Radio X) (BBC 6Music) (BBC Radio 1) For A Dying Realm’ was produced by Conan’s Chris Fielding. They are a fantastic band who just keep getting better. No one can lay down a What do they sound like? crushing groove like them.” H H H Ash The Author AK/DK Ben Marwood Carnival Youth “If Indica Blues were a vehicle, they’d be an oil tanker: slow but If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: Febueder H Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? unstoppable. If they were a sportsperson they’d be footballer Adebayo “Electric Wizard: `Dopethrone’; this is the one album we always end up Her’s H Mush H Slug H Warm Digits H Valeras H Vienna Ditto Akinfenwa: slow but unstoppable. If they were an abstract concept, they’d coming back to when we’re discussing our genre. You can tell they meant and Adam & Elvis H Animal House H Breezewax H Calÿpso H Deerful be the passage of time: slow but unstoppable,” ran a recent Nightshift review. felt every word and riff.” Grace Savage H Here Are The Young Men And Uncle Peanut H Kid Kin Their brand of heavy rock is dark, slow, and deep, the lovechild of Tony When is your next local gig and what can newcomers expect? st Lucky Punks H Mellor H Nobodies Birthday H Saltwater Sun H Self Help Iommi and a tribe of maurauding Vikings high on hallucinogenic mushrooms. 21 April a the St. James Wine Vaults in Bath. Expect long songs, soaring She Makes War H Shoals H The August List H The Autumn Saints What inspires them? guitar solos and mammoth drum fills. The Bulmershe Ensemble H The Last Dinosaur H The Longcut H The Push DJ “This cold, rainy island, and the strange and violent imagery of its past.” Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: Tiger Mendoza H Tilly Valentine H Tiny Giant H Twin Sun H Vinyl Staircase Career highlight so far: “There’s a good variety of venues, more promoters than most cities of “Supporting Elder at the Anvil, Bournemouth. People say don’t meet your Oxford’s size and some really supportive locals who always go out of their …and more! heroes, but they were such nice guys; it was a real honour to support them.” way to support the bands. The down side – and this is a problem with most And the lowlight: local music scenes, not just Oxford – is that promotion and ‘bringing a crowd’ “We played in Southampton to an audience of one: a drunken old dude in a is often left to the bands themselves.” flasher mac who just reeled around the otherwise empty pub, screaming his You might love them if you love: head off while the promoter sat expressionless at the bar and ate his dinner.” Electric Wizard; Black Sabbath; Kyuss; The Melvins; Earthless. £22.50 adv • £25.00 on the day wegottickets.com Their favourite other Oxfordshire is: Hear them here: Limited £20.00 adv tickets available at Truck Store areyoulistening.org.uk “Desert Storm: without the work that those guys put in, both to their band Indicablues.bandcamp.com

THIS MONTH IN OXFORD DR SHOTOVER: The Ballad of ELFGLADE ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY T H E W H E A T S H E A F La-di-da, there you are – welcome to the usual bar. Hurry up, here’s your st Sunday 1 April 7:45pm / £6 pew – get a round in, why don’t you? Oxford Music? Ghastly scenes. Let 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO 5 YEARS AGO me tell you how it’s been, since we last bumped heads in here. Mine’s a With The Oxford Punt now seemingly consigned The front cover of April 2008’s Nightshift found Talking of all things Jonquil, Foals and

th to the attic of history, we can look back at April Jonquil grinning and goofing around as they talked Youthmovies, Pet Moon were on the cover of April Thursday 5 April – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC 7:45pm / £7 pint of warm brown beer. Now, where were we? Oh, I know. Talking days of long ago, when I was a younger man, driving ELFGLADE (prog-rock 1998’s showcase of new local music talent with about the release of their second album `Lions’, 2013’s Nightshift, Andrew Mears talking about band) up and down the old M1. Via Watford - loads of fun - to Derby, an air of nostalgia and something approaching their first as a full band, which we declared to be art, Blessing Force and life after Youthmovies. a warm glow, which might be the result of all a “minor masterpiece of modern ambient music “I’ve let my anxieties feed much more into Pet Leeds and Rotherham. Hauling out the Mellotron, lugging it up flights th 7:45pm / £5 the beer we drank that night. The Samurai with its mixture of bucolic tranquillity and uneasy Moon than Youthmovies,” he claimed, “which in a Friday 6 April – KLUB KAKOFANNEY of stairs, as we tripped over our flares. Afghan coats which smelled Seven; Cody; Pan Tonic; The Fully Monty; menace,” while they were starting to pick up perverse kind of way I’m happy about; anxiety is of sheep - and Canola; Camp Blackfoot; Dolly; Mindsurfer; equally enthusiastic plaudits in the national press a big part of what I am.” Hopefully Youthmovies’ patchouli! Very Shoktopus; Manyeung; Suriki and Crackout too. “`Lions’ is us trying to be a pop band, but not recent sold-out reunion shows will have helped th Saturday 7 April 7:45pm deep conversations were among the eager young starlets kicking up a quite committing fully and coming out slightly Andrew realise how much his music has been in the van. ‘Carlos storm at The Elm Tree; The Point; The Fuggle askew,” said Hugo Manuel, these days better known appreciated over the years. th Castaneda, man, & Firkin; The Dolly; The Bullingdon Arms as the man behind Chad Valley. He also talked One of the bands who benefitted from their Friday 13 April – JAM CITY 7:45pm / £5 he’s the guy to and The Zodiac that night. Did they all go on about the supportive network of friends’ bands, influence were Gunning For Tamar who this read these days’, to stardom? Well, Dolly singer Julia Walker is like Foals and Youthmovies, that had helped the month released a new EP `Camera Lucida’ on through a murky still making quality pop with Candy Says, while band become established, a community that would Alcopop! Sad that they later split without even the th Saturday 14 April – OXROX 7:45pm / £10 joss-stick haze. Full Monty guitarist Rupert Harrison became blossom into the Blessing Force collective. fanfare of an announcement as such. Desert Storm Once supported chief advisor to George Osborne when he was Young Knives released `Superabundance’ this released their third album `Horizontal Life’ back Van Der Graaf, chancellor. We’ll take responsibility for the former. month, while Supergrass’s coda `Diamond Hoo in 2013. “Like mountains, Desert Storm are vast Loughborough Poly Of the venues involved, The Elm Tree is now The Ha’ was also out. and unyielding, and you, you wretch, are puny and th Wednesday 18 April 7:45pm – what a laugh, Big Society; The Point is some hellish burger grill; Highlights of the gigging month were Frank insignificant in their shadow,” stated Nightshift’s when our bassist The Fuggle reverted to its Red Lion title; The Turner, Elbow, Gogol Bordello, The Kills, rather awed review. th Dolly survives as The Cellar; The Bullingdon Nizlopi and Mystery Jets at the Carling Academy, Also out this month were releases for Vienna Thursday 19 April – SPIN JAZZ 8pm took an hour solo- Arms has lost its arms and The Zodiac, of course, and Oxford Folk Festival, featuring a celebratory Ditto, Asher Dust, Agness Pike and a split EP ing until the power is The O2 Academy. Things change, but things headline set from Bellowhead, alongside Martin from Undersmile and their nominally acoustic th Friday 20 April – OXROX 7:45pm / £10 finally got pulled at stay the same. Simpson, Kathryn Tickell and Three Daft alter egos Coma Wall. “One of the most powerful last. Life was really Away from Punt action, Oxford saw a slew of local Monkeys. Local stars in action included Cat records to come out of Oxford,” said reviewer th Thursday 26 April – SPIN JAZZ 8pm such a gas. Here’s releases as Dustball released their debut album Matador and Tristan & The Troubadours at Simon Minter, quite correctly. to how we were `Quality But Hers’ on Shifty Disco – initial copies The Purple Turtle; Deguello, supporting Future of Beth Orton, Efterklang, King Creosote, th back then! [Glug- of the album released in a silver plastic ball. Medal the Left at The Jericho Tavern, and Dial F For Daughter, The Staves and I Am Kloot were Friday 27 April – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC 7:45pm / £7 glug-glug]… Now, released new single `Ordinary’; Unbelievable Frankenstein and Von Braun also at the Tavern. among the highlights of the gigging months, same again? Truth released `Solved’; The Relationships Weird to note that the opening act at that particular although current hype band of the time, Tribes, th Saturday 28 April – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES 7:45pm / £4.50 Next month: released `Country Catalogue’ and the mighty show was Mumford & Sons.”A band I’m sure failed to impress at the O2: “they are the unwiped Digital-only ‘Nice threads, man!’ Dr S prepares to drive back to Beaker put out `Monster’ on Fierce Panda. The we’ll see more of,” said reviewer Katy Jerome, arsehole of rock music’s twitching corpse. What a Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford NME yawn Loughborough Poly Relationships are, comfortingly, still with us. presciently. feast” concluded our less than effusive review. Radiohead’s `Street Spirit’, but we won’t it, alternative rockers! Anyway, having dob them in, since in its simple, doleful way negotiated a sort of Mobius strip-like internet it’s made us happy. Like Garbage, we’re loop whereby the band’s Facebook link to only happy when it rains. And talking of their website links directly back to their DEMOS garbage, here come the rest of this month’s Facebook page, which is something Philip K Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day demo pile. Dick possibly imagined in one of his more at Soundworks studio in Oxford, paranoid episodes, we find a video of a bloke courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit with a beard playing guitar in a multi-story car park. Which we guess is alternative to www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift GARIENT Seemingly on a quest to equal Twizz a bloke without a beard playing guitar in Twangle/Dan Eisenhandler’s ability to a grassy meadow. Musically it sounds like protection against the elements – looking for confuse us with a succession of brilliant and pretty much every other middling blokey a party to ruin. If there is such a thing as a DEMO OF terrible demos, Garient follows up his last guitar band we’ve heard in the past 15 perfect party soundtrack, Fancy Dress Party submission, which sounded like John Lydon years, so all that alternative malarkey was are probably its antimatter spangly slacker- fronting Alien Sex Fiend, which in turn a massive bloody fib. And you wonder why THE MONTH rock polar opposite from a parallel universe followed his Demo Dumper-winning cover we think all the best new music around is where you’ll find everyone in the kitchen of `Sex on Fire’, with a new song, `I Used made by women playing synthesizers. Come BONNIE & HYDE at parties; where moping alone and slightly To Buy You Flowers’, that is somewhere The CD looks innocuous enough in its on, Gwenno just released an album of shiny, drunk at the bottom of the stairs is the height between comical and cringeworthy. Never basic packaging; it’s either the scrawled futuristic electro-pop songs sung entirely in of cool and pretty young things copping off mind nonsensical lyrics like “I used to handwriting that gives it away or the name Cornish. Now that’s alternative. with each other are sneered at. Fun times buy you flowers so you could watch them Eisenhandler in the writing credits. He is duly ruined, Fancy Dress Party trundle grow” (poor buggers stopped growing the back. Dan Eisenhandler, aka Twizz Twangle, back down the road, in search of love, or moment they were plucked from the earth aka Oh Susannah Joanna, is back. Rejoice! colours, maybe a tune or two, their leaky old and wrapped in cellophane for desperate THE DEMO Be afraid! For those not in the know, Dan, in Converse boots so sodden with grey puddle romantics to give to their lady friends, his various guises over the years, has veered water any spring in their step is drowned old chap), Garient’s pronunciation is a between Demo of the Month and Demo DUMPER before it’s even born. To quote Ian Curtis: “I joy. Flowers comes out as Flow-wow- Dumper more often than Theresa May has love a party with a happy atmosphere.” WOWERS, while we revel in the overacted gone back on her policy pledges. In a world romantic drama of “I give you emOWSHUN JOSH FONTANA of grey musical competence and soulless / Sweet love, deVOWSHUN / Very soon the Josh Fontana sounds like the name of an careerism his – ahem – abstract approach STEEVO NUISSIER fee-a-lin was LOW,” like someone let the obscure 70s funk bass player turned small- to stuff like tunefulness has always been Appropriately enough this one-song demo wide mouthed frog from that old joke into a time gangster, but that would suggest welcome, and he doesn’t disappoint with his is titled `Death of a Party’ (the imminent recording studio. The punchline to the joke something interesting or characterful, instead first new offering in many a moon. Opener approach of spring is obviously filling TURAN AUDIO.co.uk is you don’t see many of those about, and of a drab, grey hinterland somewhere between `Nem Madarak, Hanem Lanyok’ is an everyone with a frisky sense of joy de Professional, independent we hope we don’t see of hear Garient about blues, soft rock, funk and a supermarket audio mastering unexpectedly sweet, lo-fi, synthed-up slice of vivre). French ex-pat Steevo here seems to again anytime soon. value range ready meal for one. Josh was Hungarian chanson sung by a female singer have forgotten we’ve reviewed him before briefly, he informs us, part of Prohibition Mastered in the studio last month; whose name we don’t know (there’s an but does mention he’s “looking for cool Smokers Club before moving to East Anglia Apple approved THE DAMNED, GWEN AND THE GOOD mastering Albert credited on the sleeve, but we assume magazines like yours to review my single,” to train kestrels, which suggests the kind ULYSSES WELLS THING, SEVEN SISTERS, COVENTRY that’s her surname, while hoping it’s her first so at least one person out there recognises The video for Ulysses Wells’ song `Taste It’ of escape from drudgery we daydream name). `Conversation with Mathko’ promises our cutting edge, taste-making credentials. features a man dressed as a pig playing guitar, about while listening to his demo, which UNIVERSITY, CHRIS BARKER, TAMARA PARSONS- to keep this vibe going until Dan’s instantly We remember Steevo from last time because though the reason for this only becomes clear is somehow simultaneously atrocious and BAKER, THE SURF RATS, FLATLANDS, POCO feat recognisable sonorous voice, all exaggerated he quoted Ladytron as an influence, which towards the end with the lyric “You bled me instantly forgettable: a strained, lethargic TAYSHA, THE DRUNKEN RAMBLINGS, DOLLY MAVIES, tunelessness and arcane lyricism, emerges is akin to greeting us with cake and a bottle like a pig then you ran / Right to my best sludgy casserole of pretty much everything DOUG LEVITT, KEVIN JENKINS, BIRDS OF BRITAIN. to take it to a stranger place where decent, of the finest wine known to humanity. He friend.” So we’re guessing the taste it of the Nightshift deplores in music: proficiency; melody-loving folks fear to tread. From here also quotes The Cure as inspiration and title refers to bacon. We must admit we’ve semi-accomplished muso indulgence; 01865 716466 [email protected] everything falls apart, or coheres, depending that becomes apparent through this dark seen some literal visual interpretations of badly executed white funk and the idea that on your viewpoint, from wibbly, wobbly, and moody, none-more-European, none- lyrics over the years, but this is a new one on technique is somehow more important than clickety clackety southern European folk- more-80s skitter of synth-pop, given an us. Anyway, that aside this is pretty decent, attitude or decent tunes. The opening track meets-lo-fi experimentation, and a hit it extra gothic shadow by the sombre cello a hysterical dark blues rock workout that is titled `Carrion Flower’, which for one COURTYARD and hope approach to song structure to an that hovers in the background throughout. sounds like Muse trying to do a typically brief, magical moment made us think it was aimless, pointless, tuneless, directionless Steevo’s androgynous/androidal vocals RECORDING STUDIO theatrical impersonation of The Black Keys. a cover of Chelsea Wolfe’s crushing gothic 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: instrumental jam that somehow takes on complete the early-80s minimal wave Not sure we should be encouraging eating doom masterpiece; instead it is a weak, earthy NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 a hypnotic quality some three minutes in. impression and despite its title this is the bacon anymore though, should we, what slurry that might be a Red Hot Chili Peppers MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb Throughout it’s a fine line between inspired only demo this month that comes close to tribute band slowed down to comatose level. It Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear with proof that it’s as cancerous as cigarettes. Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern and patience-testing downright appalling. making us want to dance (like robots from Nightshift is okay of course; we haven’t eaten reminds us vaguely of Jamiroquai. It reminds Just as it was with his first ever demo some 1984, obviously). Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules meat in aeons. Which basically means that, us a bit of Reef, a band we haven’t had cause Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. 25 years ago. Never change, Dan; please, unlike poor old NME, we’re immortal and to think about since NME still cost money. It Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. never change. you’re stuck with us for plenty more years has a discreetly epic guitar solo stuck to the www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk PUPPET MECHANIC and demo review pages to come. So, yes, in end of it, just so we realise it’s proper serious In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk Bloody hell people, what’s with all the conclusion – Ulysses Wells: good stuff, and music, something repeated on subsequent Email: [email protected] misery? Okay, so we’re hurtling towards hurray for piggies! tracks, just keep that notion fresh in our minds, Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 FANCY DRESS environmental Armageddon, a new Cold War even as our brains become fogged, liquefy and and doubtless another early World Cup exit, start to seep from our ears, simply to escape PARTY but come on: Springtime! Lambs! Birdsong! the blinding, deafening tedium set before them This mini-album length offering is titled `An LAKE ACACIA MK Dons getting relegated! Again! Word Lake Acacia, as is almost obligatory for like a feast of effluence. How can you stand Actual Piece Of’ and comes accompanied hasn’t got through to Puppet Mechanic yet guitar bands in recent years, describe out on the Fens, watching kestrels swoop by a photo of a human turd nestled in a bed obviously, as `Man & Boy’ channels the themselves as “alternative rock,” as if that and soar with all the beauty and grace of the of loo roll, which, thankfully we spotted spirit of Tindersticks in its downbeat but even means anything anymore. In fact, if natural world and then go home and make after eating lunch. And the music contained slightly dramatic fashion, a bit gothy, a bit pretty much every guitar band nowadays music like this? Maybe snail racing would therein is no more life-affirming. We would Rehearsal and Recording studios country, very slightly constipated sounding, calls themselves alternative rock, there be a more appropriate vocation. Don’t try describe it as sulk-core but Fancy Dress but not so it’d put you off. No, this is can’t be many actual rock bands left, which removing their shells to help them go faster, Party seem to have got in there before us Four state of the art rehearsal rooms tenderly understated, if occasionally clumsy, makes them the alternative ones. Stick that though: it just makes them more sluggish. with their own description of sulk-wave, and a professional recording studio. misery in musical form, with an almost in your Foo Fighters-shaped pipe and smoke Like your music. and it’s as sullen as you might imagine, poetic approach to lyricism; our favourite For bookings call Jamie on 07917685935 wandering and meandering through dogshit line being “I was raised among the empty Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to edi- Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford • glasshousestudios.org and litter-strewn streets in the rain – no coat tears of a crocodile farm,” over a guitar [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a contact on, just a tattered old Pavement t-shirt as spangle that might have been pilfered from phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

Tue 20th Mar • 7.00pm Sat 28th Apr • 6.30pm Thu 7th Jun • 7.00pm Rae Morris UK Foo Fighers - Banging The Wedding Present + Pauli On the Ceiling Tour “Tommy” 30th Anniversary Tour

Sat 24th Mar • 6.30pm Wed 2nd May • 6.30pm Sat 9th Jun • 7.00pm Turin Brakes Ocean Wisdom A Band Called Malice The Definitive Tribute to The Jam Fri 30th Mar • 7.00pm Thur 3rd May • 7.00pm Super Hans Lower Than Atlantis Thur 14th Jun • 7.00pm

Fri 30th Mar • 11.00pm Fri 4th May • 6.30pm Sona Jobarteh White Magic Birthday Bash Rhys Lewis Fri 15th Jun • 6.30pm Ft. Seani B, Allan Brando, Jah Will, 2Xclusive, Party Shot Movement Fri 4th May • 6.30pm Nick Heyward + Pugwash Sun 8th Apr • 7.00pm Wilko Johnson 3 Generations of Ska + Hugh Cornwell Band Fri 22nd Jun • 7.00pm + Stranger Cole + Neville Staple Band Fri 4th May • 11.00pm Zodiac Reunion Party + Sugary Staple + The AC30s + The Inflatables Mighty Crown Far East Disques Voge, Sky Larkin, Transformation, Osprey Mon 9th Apr • 7.00pm Rulers Fri 14th Sep • 6.00pm Dirty Sanchez Molotov Jukebox Sat 5th May • SOLD OUT • 6.00pm 15 years of Dirty Sanchez live Sat 22nd Sep • 6.30pm feat. Lee Dainton & Matthew Pritchard Frank Turner Dressed To Kill - A Tribute Sat 14th Apr • 6.30pm & The Sleeping Souls To KISS The Blockheads Sun 6th May • 7.00pm + Electric Circus (A Tribute to W.A.S.P) + Chasing Daylight Mallory Knox Sat 6th Oct • 6.30pm Sat 14th Apr • 11.00pm Mon 7th May • 7.00pm The Smyths - Unite and Darkzy UK Tour The Bluetones Take Over Tour 2018 Mon 16th Apr • 7.00pm + The Velvet Hands Fri 12th Oct • 6.30pm Little Comets Thur 10th May • 7.00pm Antarctic Monkeys Wed 18th Apr • 7.00pm DMA’s Sat 13th Oct • 6.30pm Cabbage Fri 11th May • 6.30pm Britpop Boys Thur 19th Apr • 7.00pm Marmozets Thu 18th Oct • 7.00pm The White Buffalo Sat 12th May • 6.00pm + Alice Drinks The Kool-Aid The Daniel Wakeford Cold Black & Death Experience Fri 20th Apr • 6.30pm Remains Sat 27th Oct • 6.30pm Rejjie Snow Sat 12th May • 6.00pm + Eblast Guns 2 Roses Seether Sat 21st Apr • 6.30pm Sat 17th Nov • 6.30pm Isaac Gracie Wed 16th May • 6.30pm Definitely Mightbe Barrence Whitfield Oasis tribute Sun 22nd Apr • 7.00pm & The Savages MC Lars Tue 27th Nov • 7.00pm + Koo Koo Kanga Roo Wed 23rd May • 6.30pm Shame

Thu 26th Apr • 7.00pm Coco and the Butterfields Fri 7th Oct • 6.30pm Will Heard Sun 27th May • 6.30pm Pearl Jam UK

Thur 26th • 7.00pm Cocaine Piss Sun 2nd Dec • 7.00pm Don Broco Fri 1st Jun • 7.00pm Bjorn Again

Fri 27th Apr • 6.30pm Carcer City Sat 22nd Dec • 6.30pm Heather Small - Sat 2nd Jun • 7.00pm Faith – The George Michael The voice of M People OMYO Legacy

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