[email protected] nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 228 July Oxford’s Music Magazine 2014

JORDAN O’SHEA OXFORD DUPLICATION CENTRE SADNESS IS A BLESSING [email protected] with Oxford’s new master of melancholy Office: 01865 457000 Mobile: 07917 775477 Supporting Oxfordshire Bands with Affordable Professional CD Duplication Also in this issue: FANTASTIC BAND RATES Introducing ADAM BARNES ON ALL SERVICES Professional Thermal Printed CDs plus Full Colour/Black & White Silver or White Discs TRUCK and CORNBURY Design Work Support Digital Printing festivals previewed Packaging Options Fulfilment

Recommended by Matchbox Recordings Ltd, Poplar Jake, Undersmile, Desert Storm, Turan Audio Ltd, Nick Cope, Prospeckt, Paul Jeffries, Alvin and loads of local gigs. LOADS. Roy, Pete The Temp, Evolution, Coozes, Blue Moon and many more... NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 ACADEMY EVENTS BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE AGENCY GROUP AND MI FAMILIA MANAGEMENT PRESENT NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net

HMV OXFORD in Cornmarket CINDYTALK AND BRONNT closed its doors for the final time INDUSTRIES KAPITAL are on the 18th June. The store, which among a slew of new acts added to has been a mainstay of Oxford this year’s Supernormal Festival. music retail since the late-1980s, Mob Rules, The Wharves, Howie and the only CD store in the city Reeve, Anta, Rex Nemo, The centre since Zavvi and Fopp closed Cosmic Dead and Taman Shud down five years ago, had a stay also join a line-up that features PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS of execution earlier in the year as Esben & the Witch, GNOD, Joanna management looked to find a new Gruesome, Death Shanties, Sly & site for the store. The shop’s Twitter the Family Drone, Teeth of the Sea feed declared on the 14th June that a and Thought Forms. The decidedly MONDAY 29th SEPTEMBER new store would be opening in the leftfield Supernormal takes place GAZ COOMBES is set to headline OxfordOxford, a three-day music, autumn but as yet no details of the over the weekend of the 8th-10th film and community festival taking place inSouth Park over the th th O2 ACADEMY2 location have been released. August at Braziers Park, near weekend of the 26 -28 September. The closure of HMV leaves Wallingford. The artist-curated The festival is being billed as “a celebration of the city,” with the th OXFORD Truck Store on Cowley Road as event also features contemporary Saturday (27 ) dedicated to live music. Joining Gaz will be Tunng, Oxford’s sole remaining dedicated art installations alongside three Pixel Fix and Dance a la Plage, with more acts expected to be music store, and the only store stages of music. Visit www. announced shortly. TICKETWEB.CO.UK selling a wide selection of local supernormalfestival.co.uk for Friday will be dedicated to film screenings, while Sunday is set aside 0844 477 2000 releases as well as tickts for local more details and tickets. for local community groups. Tickets for the music day are on sale gigs and festivals. On Friday 11th now, priced £32.50, from www.oxfordoxford.co.uk, alongside more July Truck hosts an album launch RED STAR CYCLE reform information on the event. show from local singer-songwriter for their first show in ten years Adam Barnes. He’s on stage this month. The electro-heavy SWINDLESTOCK AND were rushing to get it done early at 6pm. Keep supporting local prog-rockers, fronted by local FRANCIS PUGH & THE so we could go on holiday), our independent businesses. Once music scene mainstay Jeremy WHISKY SINGERS team up for review of Pierce Artists’ `Raking they’re gone they’re gone. Visit Leggett, will play a one-off gig a travelling gig around the pubs Dead Leaves’ album suggested truckmusicstore.co.uk for more at the Wheatsheaf on Saturday and venues of east Oxford this Flooded Hallways’ Nemrot was news and stuff from the shop. 26th July, where they’re joined by month. Oxford Roots Ramble takes involved in the hip hop collective. Vienna Ditto and Chantelle Pike. place on Friday 11th July, with the It was of course Deeq from that THE PORT MAHON has ceased Tickets for the show are on sale two bands leading fans around band. The reviewer in question has running as a live music venue. The from Wegottickets.com, priced various venues for impromptu live been made to sit in the corner and pub on St Clement’s, which has £4 in advance. The band have music and drinking. Fans should listen to the new Kasabian album hosted gigs in its intimate upstairs recently made a video for their meet at The Port Mahon at 8pm until his brain falls out of his nose. room for many years, is turning the song `Pressman and the Tiredness’, before being led astray for the venue into a dance studio. which you can see on Youtube. night. Visit either act’s Facebook AS EVER, don’t forget to tune page for updated details nearer the into BBC Oxford Introducing time. every Saturday night between 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated FLIGHTS OF HELIOS, Cooling local music show plays the best Pearls, Listing Ships, Family Oxford releases and demos as Machine, Desert Storm and local well as featuring interviews and music blog One Note Forever are sessions with local acts. The show among a host of teams taking part is available to stream or download in the Oxford Music World Cup as a podcast at bbc.co.uk/oxford. 5-a-side tournament this month. Regularly updated local music The tournament takes place at news is available online at www. Court Farm Place, next to Oxford musicinoxford.co.uk. The site City’s ground in Marston, on also features interactive reviews, a Saturday 5th July, raising money photo gallery and gig guide. for homeless charity Shelter. Go Nightshift’s online form is open to DE LA SOUL have been added to the line-up of this year’s Big along and support your favourite all local music fans and musicians Feastival. The festival, hosted by Jamie Oliver and Blur’s Alex James, band, laugh at their skinny wee at nightshift.oxfordmusic.net runs over the weekend of the 29th-31st August at James’s farm near legs and join them for drinks and Kingham in west Oxfordshire. Laura Mvula is another addition to a bill stuff during and after. It all kicks OXFORD BANDS looking for that features Fatboy Slim; Jamie Cullum; Stornoway; Kelis; Norman J; off at midday with the champions members or musicians looking Jack Savoretti; The Cuban Brothers and tribute acts Fleetwood Bac and crowned sometime around 4pm. for bands can advertise for free Bjorn Again. in Nightshift. Simply email More line-up news and ticket details for the music and food festival at AMONG small host of errors in your needs in up to 30 words, to www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival. last month’s Nightshift (hey, we [email protected]. A quiet word with did it together.”

As well as a busy summer of gigging and festival JORDAN O’SHEA appearances, Jordan is recording his second full album, `Ezralake’, a concept album, apparently. The To quote Morrissey, how was based around Berkshire. I went Richard Walters and once I saw them music is QPR’s fault? concept isn’t unexpected given his can someone so young sing words so to school in Maidenhead for a bit, both play at Truck Store I realised “I blame QPR for everything. I grew songwriting tack record, but where sad? right in the prime of teenage angst, how both of them made the most up in London and my dad took me does it take him musically compared “Well you see, I was happy in the so naturally I stuck on Funeral For a beautiful music. Now their music is nearly every Saturday to see them, so to `Desperation, My Dear’? haze of a drunken hour, but Heaven Friend and Alexisonfire and started a always played at my house, and I suppose from about four upwards “`Ezralake’ is the story of a broken- knows I’m miserable now...” post-hardcore band. Seriously, I was again, they made me want to be I was destined to understand what hearted man, who is writing letters to all black hair, long fringe, eyeliner. better. I love what they’ve created, disappointment, failure, and sadness his love as a form of self discovery Nightshift is talking to We recorded two EPs which went but I by no means want to re-create were. Although I did just go to and as an attempt to lure her back to Jordan O’Shea, at a tender 22 years down pretty well, landing us slots it. It would be an insult to their Wembley to see QPR get promoted, a place where they were together and old already staking a claim for the title in Camden Underworld and a few talent.” so hopefully you’ll hear a glimmer of at their happiest. The letters reveal of Oxford’s Master of Melancholy. festivals, but in the end I just found What makes you distinct from any hope in my next release.” dark stories of his childhood, his The fella’s got some stiff competition myself completely drifting from that other singer-songwriter? philosophies, and the reason for his obviously. Oxford excels at many scene, and unfortunately from the “Man, I really don’t know. I think As well as his own music, silence during their relationship. things musically but sad-eyed young band-members.” maybe the fact I have no clue how to Jordan set up Bear on a Bicycle three “Musically, it’s more advanced men with a satchel full of regret and When Let Go Control came to an play a major chord.” years ago to act as both a record label and obviously more dramatic than longing is a particular forte. From end, Jordan formed Camena with a What do you think about for his and others’ releases and as a `Desperation, My Dear’. I have a Thom Yorke through Richard Walters group of Oxford friends. They were contemporaries like Adam Barnes and community for musical and artistic backing band, The Commonwealth, and Phil McMinn to the young short-lived but earned a Nightshift Lewis Watson? friends. It came around the time that performing on this album with me crop that includes Adams Barnes Blessing Force was getting some which adds a lot of elements both to and Jordan here, we’re blessed by serious press; was there an influence the production and now to my live singers who rise above the humdrum “I blame QPR for everything. My dad took from them at all? show too. I’d say `Ezralake’ isn’t too bleatings of the terminally unloved. “No, I really didn’t know who they different, but it definitely shows that Increasingly Jordan O’Shea is leading me nearly every Saturday to see them, so I were to be honest. It was only after I’ve matured musically and lyrically.” the pack on the back of a debut EP, suppose I was destined to understand what starting BOAB and someone telling And you’re making a film. `Her Name is-French Cinema’, and an me that Blessing Force were doing “I don’t like being bored so I do a album, `Desperation, My Dear’, both disappointment, failure and sadness were.” a similar thing did I realise. Bear on million things at once. I have written on Bear On A Bicycle, the label-cum- a Bicycle started as a collective of and I am directing my first short film collective he started with a group of friends with exceptional talent and The Beautiful Minimal in association friends three years ago. Demo of the Month just before they “The Adam Barnes album that’s just the same goal, there was no aim to with The Ultimate Picture Palace Jordan’s songs are awash with poetic split. It was quite a sea change from been released is beautiful. I think he compete with Blessing Force, and still and Bear on a Bicycle chaps Trenton reflections on the less bright side of the post-hardcore of his first band. has more pop elements than I have isn’t, we were just a different group Smith and Heather Lawson. I can’t life (“I reached out my hand for others “I fell in love with Portugal. The in my music, which is by no means of artists and musicians with a very reveal too much right now but it will / But no-one would reach out for Man and a lot of Portland, Oregon a bad thing; it’s a brilliant trait to different style too. We were more see an August release so keep your mine,” from `The Hopeless St Jude’ bands, and just chilled out a bit! I was have hooks alongside melancholic inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory.” eyes peeled! And no I am not starring sets out the mood of the aptly-named bored of the repetitive structures that elements. I have serious beard envy What was the main aim of starting in it, you will be thankful to know!” `Desperation, My Dear’), while became a staple part of writing a post- for that man too. I would love it if Bear On A Bicycle? Do you think You are writing the score, though; offering enough slivers of defiance hardcore song, and I was beginning Adam Barnes knew who I was to be collectives/labels like this can take the how different is that compared to and hope to keep the blackness at to discover I could actually sing, not honest! Maybe we could go on tour place of the old style of record labels? writing an album? bay. His voice, meanwhile, is sweet just scream my lungs out. I still have a together!” “We wanted world domination! No “Not too different now I have and heroically plaintive, occasional massive soft spot for that music, as to not really, it was to give each other a finished `Ezralake’ to be honest. It’s flamenco flourishes and lush horns be honest my music is probably more There was a suggestion platform and help each other in any fun because I am writing songs that bringing warmth to stark songs of loss emo now than it was back then! in an early live review that Jordan way we could to showcase our work. fit the mood and story of the film, not and longing. Starting afresh as a solo act, were sounded like he was haunted by his It just made so much sense, Bear On that fit what I’m feeling or how I feel you becoming more aware of artists own songs. Is there a compulsion for A Bicycle artists doing album artwork my music career should be going. It’s Jordan was one of the around you in Oxford? him to get feelings out through music? for Bear On A Bicycle bands; Bear a very different genre to what I’m star turns at May’s Oxford Punt and in “Since getting older my friends “I like to write stories. I would love On A Bicycle bands playing gigs at used to so I’m having a lot of fun with the next few months is set to step his introduced me to bands like Trophy to be an author but I don’t have the the exhibitions of Bear On A Bicycle it, and I think I’ll end up releasing the work up another couple of notches, Wife and Jonquil who I thought were patience to write a whole book, so it artists. If you collaborate, one of us soundtrack under a different name to starting to play live with a full band great, but it was only on joining the seems to come out in my lyrics. But is likely to make it, and we can bring fully separate the different styles. It’s for the first time, and writing both a scene when I fully appreciated the acts yes, although I hate to admit it most each other up with us. There are so liberating though. new album and a score for a short film around me. I seriously had to up my times as it sounds like I’m a moaning lots of people involved, especially he’s making. game if I was going to make any sort attention-seeker, I do use my music now we’ve just released our culture With so much going on, of impression; every band just always as an outlet for my feelings. I can be magazine ‘Urban Trees’. Most we wonder, given what he said earlier, Jordan O’Shea was born seemed so professional. It was like a joker. Not in an office though. I hate notably though are Heather Lawson, where Jordan O’Shea finds the time and raised in west London, living in walking into this waxwork museum of offices.” Rob Burr, Adam Watson, Matt to be sad enough to get the inspiration Ireland and Australia before moving musical talent, and I was just standing The sense of loss across the EP Chapman-Jones, Jack Olchawski, for new songs. And we wonder, to Oxford at the age of twelve. He there next to the sculptures pretending and album suggests a long life of David Gilchrist, Trent Smith, finally, whether, as such a sensitive claims he started playing music at to be part of the exhibition.” disappointment and regret, and yet Sophie Carwardine, Anna Osborne, soul, does he bruise easily? 14 when he realized he was never much of it was written in your teens. Kaye Dougall, Kat Buchanan, Josh “Is that a threat? Does someone in going to play for QPR. Learning Oxford excels at “I don’t think age really comes into Woodman and Rhys Baker. Oxford have it in for me? Don’t upset to play the bass his first forays into producing sensitive young men being sad. It’s more a state that you “I think collectives are the way me. I’ll only go and write a song music were far from the introverted playing sad songs. Was Jordan happen to be in. When I’m happy I’m forward in some ways, but it depends about it.” disenchantment we’ve come to love particularly influenced by anyone else too busy actually being happy to write what you want. We can’t compete from him. locally when he started? a song. with Sony or Universal, but the indie Jordan O’Shea plays Cowley Road “I grew up with bands such as “I wasn’t at all actually. It was simply How much of you would your labels are always going win in the Carnival on Sunday 6th July and Tonight Is Goodbye and Hedroom the circumstance of Camena breaking friends recognise from your lyrics? end. They see music before money. at the O2 Academy on Wednesday dominating the part of the Oxford up that left me solo. It was only once “I’m not sure. I hope I’m not like my I can’t speak for every collective out 9th as support to Fatherson. Visit music scene I was involved with, so I met Phil McMinn and worked with musical persona at the pub otherwise I there, but the pride I get when I see jordanoshea.bandcamp.com to hear it was a completely different time to him a bit that I started looking out would hate to hang out with me.” fellow bears succeeding is incredible. `Her Name Was_French Cinema’ now. My first band, Let Go Control, at other acts. He introduced me to How much of the melancholy in your There’s no jealousy because you all and `Desperation, My Dear’. Sponsored by Michael Bublé numbers. `Give Me A Tune’ is Days’ bring a more dancehall feel, but the LEAP ironically-titled in the extreme, a busker-ish dirge overall vibe you get from `Help Me’ and `Bump `Fighting Monsters’ bereft of anything resembling melody, and the in the Night’ is rootsy one-world goodwill to whole thing culminates in the well-intentioned but all brothers and sisters, reminiscent of British (Self released) fantastically clumsy `Take No Shit From Anyone’ reggae’s early-80s heyday. They’re aptly named The late, great John Peel declared that all bands that could be the deformed weakling twin of then and, given the weather, well timed too. RELEASED should release one great song then split up. It’s a Nizlopi’s `JCB Song’. Ian Chesterton RAWZ AMY SIMPSON shame Leap here didn’t take him on his word and Doubtless Leap will live up to their own lyrics and quit after the opening track on this debut album. refuse to take any shit from Nightshift, but maybe `The Difference’ `Fairy Tales, Stories & `Fighting Monsters’ starts with `(You Can’t) Turn they could take a leaf out of Mr Peel’s book, and, Back Time’, a warmly rustic folk-tinged song full like the dinosaurs that grace their album sleeve, FLIGHTS OF HELIOS (Self-released) of defiant melancholy and close harmonies, in the Rakim was, of course, the master of saying Myths’ make themselves extinct with immediate effect. `Succubus’ mould of King Creosote. It makes no great play Dale Kattack what needed to be said without appearing to (Self-released) for drama but is possessed of a gentle power. From (Self-released) need to make any effort to do so. Local rapper At primary school, one of my classmates won a here the album doesn’t so much slide into the mire While Flights of Helios have a well-stuffed Rawz seems to have mastered the art of getting Christmas card competition. When her artwork as hurl itself off a cliff into the void. satchel of cracking tunes to their name – last through an entire album while sounding like was printed, we were horrified to realise they’d The album’s title track finds the first signs of POSITIVE VIBES CREW year’s `Star’ and their recent `Factory’ single for he’s not even awake enough to get out of bed. “childified” it. As we then discovered, it’s often something annoying lurking in the shadows with its `Around the World’ instance – they’re not a band that benefits from The fact he’s already on his third album easier for the young to be accepted if they play silly half-whispered backing vocals and the overall listening to in brief snippets. Instead it’s better suggests he’s no slouch, and as well as his own up to the older generation’s expectations of air of an over-earnest radio jingle, and by the time (Self-released) to catch one of their live shows to experience music he works mentoring young musicians at them, to the expense of their actual capabilities. they get to `City People’ we’re into full jauntily Curmudgeonly bastards that we are at the shifting patterns and dense textures of their the Ark-T project, so such a laidback delivery is Amy Simpson, a seventeen-year-old A-level smug honky tonk territory. Nightshift, if anyone calling themselves Positive variously ethereal and lacerating techno-prog. doubtless cover for a highly active mind. student from North Newington, near Banbury, And this is what really grates – the overbearing Vibes Crew moved in next door we’d arm Which is why this latest release, ahead of an seemingly hasn’t been tempted by this route; `The Difference’ suggests Rawz thinks long jauntiness of it all, like a self-consciously wry ourselves with assault rifles immediately. album that’s planned for the end of the year, feels being more Radio 2 than 1Xtra, with a folky, and deep about what he wants to say, so that It’s little surprise that his back-up is as local newspaper column about not understanding There’s little chance of such a thing happening, rather flat in isolation. It carries the slow-build, delicate and unostentatious voice, she wouldn’t when he does put it down, it’s deliberate and understated as his words, often no more than modern technology (we even get as much in `I’m since despite forming in Oxford and returning sudden-release dynamic a lot of FOH’s songs but have gone far on The X-Factor anyway. She precise. Nowhere is that more obvious than on simple electronic rumbles or hazy horn parps Throwing The Gadgets Away’), which brings back here to play their EP launch party, they seem doesn’t seem to possess much character beneath was discovered during a recording session her `Son Rise’, an acoustic number at the end of the and warbles, which benefits the message no horrific childhood memories of Richard Stilgoe to spend most of their time trying to bring those surface dynamics. Singer Chris Beard parents bought for her fifteenth birthday, and album, one he played alongside Hannah Bruce end. Only the brasher `The Truth’, with the (for younger readers, an odd, beardy man with a sunshine and love to Berlin clubs and festivals. performs neatly-restrained acrobatics, sounding her lushly produced debut EP is entitled `Fairy at the Punt recently, a love letter to his young elegantly soulful Jada Pearl, opts for the more piano who’d pen teeth-grindingly “witty” skits and Festivals being their natural home with a like he’s on the edge of a taut leash but the Tales, Stories & Myths’, which sets the scene son that could be mawkish but tips the right extrovert approach, and while it’s the most play them at the end of lighthearted current affairs mellow cocktail of reggae, dancehall and hip marching snare and spangled guitars and keys before we hear a note. side of the sentimentality coin. immediate track here it perhaps suits Rawz’ programmes for the amusement of simpletons hop of the sort that’s become the sound of are an innocuous muddle beneath and by the So, wistful, flourish-bedecked piano-led stuff Such philosophical musing permeates so much style the least. back in the 1980s). On the flipside of Leap’s summer on these shores in its evolving shapes time it all erupts into a fiery crescendo of squalls it is – and opener `Homemade Rocket’ is, of Rawz’ lyrics, whether it’s the fatalism and He’s best when he allows an almost woozy compositional compost heap are the mawkishly and forms since the 1950s. The vibe of the early and squeals it’s too little too late; you feel it’s despite the presence of “set sail in a homemade cynicism of early album highlight `Mary Lamb’, sense of come-what-may to dominate, allowing sentimental piano ballads that might have grown sound systems is to the fore in the singing and merely the intro to something bigger and better. rocket” and other cheesy celestial metaphors, or the “what would Jesus do if he came back his words to breathe properly and the listener to like mould on the walls of depressing late night toasting, while the sparser, more electronic Stood alone, it’s instantly forgettable. really rather lovely. BBC Radio Scotland and today” questions of `Jesus’. There’s also straight- wander through a train of intelligent but rarely wine bars where sozzled patrons mistake them for production of tracks like `Those Were The Dale Kattack out social commentary on the likes of `The convoluted thought, referencing John Lennon Tom Robinson also think so, and ITV would no Uprising’ (“I’m proud of my country but not its and The Proclaimers as much as Ghostpoet and doubt love it for a drama trailer montage. But it mind / Too quick with persuasion to the right”), Gil Scott-Heron, neatly balancing the personal doesn’t scream, “Look at me! I’m seventeen – but he steers well clear of preaching or polemic, and political into a coherent album that’s as aren’t I clever!” – which is refreshing. seeming to prefer the approach of “these are my accessible as sleep itself. `All I Wanna Do’ sounds like an Echobelly thought, make of them what you will.” Dale Kattack b-side (praise indeed), and `Only You’, a country-esque ballad with some great chord progressions, is reminiscent of the Kylie Minogue 1989 album track `Heaven and Treatment, and they’ve thoroughly impressed Earth’, allowing me to indulge in personal many at a handful of shows in the past few nostalgia for a moment. `Glow’, a jauntier months, including a powerful set at this year’s number, reminds me of the sort of thing Punt. These two tracks accurately capture their we used to enter into Eurovision despite no abounding raw live energy. Like all the best contemporary chart music sounding like it. And punk, its short and sweet - two tracks, just under actually, Malta might do well if they entered seven minutes in total, of some of the most `Everything’. misanthropic, angry hardcore the Oxford scene In short, nothing groundbreaking, but lots of has ever heard. pleasantness, especially the rich orchestration. Taking cues from US greats like Black Flag, It risks teetering into the abyss of cliché to say Girl Power tear chaotically through riffs that, so, but Amy is promising and would do well to whilst volatile and predictable, are undeniably nurture her talent. solid headbangers, revealing hints of a Kirsten Etheridge sludgier undertone that belie an undeniably metallic influence, especially on second track ‘Consumers’. Both tracks showcase a fantastic sense of controlled chaos, with dissonant, fuzzy guitars constantly teetering on the edge of GIRL POWER feedback, whilst rapid drum patterns drive the band forward at a relentless pace. Girl Power `Girl Power’ alternate between hoarse, aggressive yells and (Self-released) expansive gang vocals, screaming “I can sell Self-titled releases are often seen as a kind of you rock’n’roll” in ‘Consumers’ as they assail mission statement for a band who has established the ears of their listeners with a hammering of a good idea of who they are, but applying this powerful, well chosen chords. This is certainly concept to Girl Power’s first release leaves not music for the faint of heart, but for those who us more than a little worried for their sanity. enjoy the darker, heavier, louder things in life, The band are almost an Oxford supergroup, Girl Power are without a doubt one of the most featuring former members of local legends exciting bands in Oxford at the moment. Besersicker, Sextodecimo and Suitable Case For Tal Fineman – Music and beer festival hosted by the th th local folk club, featuring sets from Darwin’s Friday 4 – Sunday 6 Wish; Mark Pidgeon; David Menday & Braham Levy; Josh Chandler; Skeptics; Linda CORNBURY Watkins; Toots & Fraser; Scarecrow and Colin FESTIVAL: Greenaway. EYE-CON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Current and Great Tew Estate GIG GUIDE classic mod covers. To read certain sections of the press – national THE ERIN BARDWELL COLLECTIVE: and local – you’d imagine Cornbury Festival TUESDAY 1st contemporary indie anthems and more every The Swan, Wantage – Live reggae. was little more than an elite annual gathering JAZZ CLUB: Art Bar – Free live jazz every week. STEAMROLLER: The Plough, East of the Chipping Norton Set with papped Tuesday, tonight with club regular Hugh SKITTLE ALLEY ALL-DAYER: King’s Hendred pics of everyone from David Cameron to Turner. Head & Bell, Abingdon (midday) – Noel Edmonds and Jeremy Clarkson taking BARREL TRIO: The Old Fire Station JULY Abingdon’s long-running live music club hosts SUNDAY 6th precedence over any mention of the music eleven hours of music in aid of the Yeah Baby on offer, but the truth of the matter is that, – Oxford Improvisers host a collaboration his debut EP, alongside poet/comedian George CORNBURY FESTIVAL: Great Tew and horrors lurk, of course. In the latter camp charity, with sets from Rosee Summers; Mew, Poshstock tag and well-heeled celeb guests between violinists Alison Blunt and Ivor Chopping and Robot Swans singer Laura Estate – Latin rumba and gypsy dance from we find – and avoid stepping in – SCOUTING Wooster and Boon; Ze Ze Ba Ba; Superloose; aside, Cornbury, now in its eleventh year, is Kallin, and cellist Hannah Marshall. Thies. The Gipsy Kings rounding off Cornbury for FOR GIRLS, whose enduring popularity, Beard of Destiny; Purple May; Dale Easthope; becoming something of a rarity in the festival OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon another year – see main preview if nothing else, proves that some people Luke Allmond; Mark Bosley; Les Clochards, stakes: a weekend dedicated entirely to live OPEN BLUES JAM: Jack Russell, Marston CARNIVAL: Cowley Road (12-6pm) – shouldn’t be allowed to vote or breed, while and Mark Sollis. music (and a sizeable dose of comedy) rather nd East Oxford’s annual celebration of a world THE FEELING’s music possesses slightly WEDNESDAY 2 WYCHWOOD FOLK CLUB FESTIVAL: than some kind of lifestyle event, family fun th of music, dance, food and more returns to less personality than an incidental character in PETE DOHERTY: O2 Academy – As he FRIDAY 4 The Swan, Ascott-under-Wychwood (3pm) day or glorified farmers market. Frozen. Still, that’s why festivals have bars, CORNBURY FESTIVAL: Great Tew Estate Cowley Road – edited highlights from various prepares to reunite with Carl Barat once again where you can drink to forget. – Jools Holland heads up the opening day of stages below – see main preview for a Libertines show in Hyde Park in a few In this it’s very much a reflection of its Thankfully there are more treats than the festival – see main preview th COUNT SKYLARKIN + THE DUBLINGS days time, Doherty returns to the O2 in his Sunday 6 founder and organiser Hugh Phillimore horrors and a potential Cornbury highlight SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM: The + ZAIA + TEMPLE FUNK COLLECTIVE solo guise for an intimate warm-up show. whose combination of enthusiasm, ambition will be SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE Cellar – Count Skylarkin’s monthly reggae, + DJ FU + DUTTY MOONSHINE: CARNIVAL: and geniality comes across on a line-up that ASHBURY JUKES, now featuring GARY dancehall and bass party, tonight featuring a Scrapyard Stage rd mixes big-name acts with cult legends and US BONDS, born of the same Jersey shore THURSDAY 3 live set from local roots act Zaia, formed from THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM Cowley Road rising pop acts. What it lacks in cutting edge scene that spawned Springsteen and who BALLOON ASCENTS + THE SEA THE the ashes of long-time faves Raggasaurus, Despite its troubles over the years, Carnival BAND + SOL SAMBA: Manzil Gardens credibility is made up for in an eclectic taste have worked closely with The Boss since SEA + FRAEDA: The Cellar – Divine heavy on the horns and dubby basslines. On seems to be back where it belongs – on NIKKI LOY + GAZ 7 PADZ + GEORGE that in previous years has seen the likes of the 1970s, possessing a similar adherence to Schism hosts rising local indie starlets Balloon the decks Sensible Dancehall’s Robin plays the Cowley Road, an annual celebration of HUXTABLE + DARWIN WISH + IN Sugababes; Half Man, Half Biscuit; Dr John; showmanship, blue-collar storytelling and sheer Ascents, alongside dark-tinted indie rockers Carnival classics, while Melbourne’s Tom east Oxford life that sees myriad stages and ZANADU + THE APRIL MAZE: Cape of Osibisa; Bellowhead; The Damned, and live energy. The Sea The Sea. Showtime spins reggae, rocksteady and hip venues hosting music and dance stretched Good Hope Katzenjammer mixing it up for a genteel crowd R’n’b and legend GEORGIE FAME – just CHRIS ALLARD: The Wheatsheaf – Jazz hop party tunes. from The Plain to Magdalen Road. From FRANZ FRENETIX + SPANSIH MUSIC: in the picturesque surroundings of the Great 70 years young – will be another must- guitarist Allard comes to the Spin Club off the KLUB KAKOFANNEY with PEERLESS the Cape of Good Hope, via Truck Store, Kazbar Tew estate. see act, especially since he’ll be backed back of playing in Russell Watson’s band on PIRATES + MARY BENDYTOY + TORN Art Bar, the O2 Academy, East Oxford DATSOUND: Meli Deli by Guy Barker’s 15-piece big band, while tour. LIKE COLOURS: The Wheatsheaf – Community Centre, Manzil Gardens and LARRY REDDINGTON & AARON Of this year’s three headline acts SIMPLE 80s hitmakers KID CREOLE & THE CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Klub Kak’s monthly shindig brings together Tesco car park, to The City Arms, bands, KEYLOCK: The Music Box MINDS are undoubtedly the pick. Their COCONUTS should provide a health dose Community Centre – Oxford’s longest- swashbuckling rockers Peerless Pirates, solo artists and sound systems bring a little THE MAGIC MANGO BAND + SMUDGE recent reunion gigs show that while there’s of kitsch tropical pop entertainment. 70s soft- running and best open mic club continues its kicking out a Bluebeard-friendly mix of classic of the whole world to one street for the + KYPPTIK + HANNAH & THE LADS + th still a place for their epic mid-80s stadium pop rockers 10CC will roll out the old hits, while build-up to its 20 anniversary in November rockabilly and The Smiths; goth/steampunk afternoon. Among the bands playing are XCS + LIES OF ELIZABETH + EBONY anthems, they’ve remembered what made them SUZANNE VEGA remains a class act as her with an eclectic mix of singers, musicians, crew Mary Bendytoy and grungy blues-rockers the reliably party-starting ORIGINAL KEISHA: East Oxford Community Centre such an astonishing band in their early days, last Cornbury showing proved. poets, storytellers and performance artists, Torn Like Colours. RABBIT FOOT SPASM BAND; young MEGAN HENWOOD + ONE WING LEFT producing six albums of sublime synth-glam Cornbury can even do hip hop, as the booking every Thursday. BATTLE OF THE BULLY: Art Bar – reggae crew THE DUBLINGS; funksters + EDD DONOVAN & THE WANDERING pop that produced such classics as `I Travel’ of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT shows, THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf Independence Day party. TEMPLE FUNK COLLECTIVE MOLES + FRANKIE THE GAMBLER and `The American’, while you can already while you’ll also get Irish folk (HUDSON – Free unplugged show in the downstairs bar STEAMROLLER: Prince of Wales, (pictured); Zulu folk collective COUNT + HOWLING TAILDRAGGERS + JON picture the Cornbury clientele singing along TAYLOR); American country music (KACEY from the local swamp-blues faves. Shippon – First of a host of gigs and festival DRACHMA; rising indie starlets FLETCHER + SARAH FELL: James Street to `Alive & Kicking’ and `Don’t You (Forget MUSGRAVES); eastern European folk MOOGIEMAN & THE MASOCHISTS + shows from the veteran local blues-rock BALLOON ASCENTS and folk singer Tavern About Me)’. They’re built for shows this size. (a radically reinvented SOPHIE ELLIS GEORGE CHOPPING + LAURA THIES heavyweights, keeping the spirit of Cream and MEGAN HENWOOD. COUNT COUNT DRACHMA + OXFORD JOOLS HOLLAND knows how to please a BEXTOR); soulful pop (X-Factor bellower + STUART NEAL + BOB SYKES: Albion Hendrix alive. SKYLARKIN heads a cast of local DJs UKULELES: Truck Store crowd too, having topped the bill here just two SAM BAILEY); authentic Delta blues Beatnik Bookstore – Dolefully humorous pop DISCO MUTANTE: The Library – Disco, playing everything from roots and dancehall SAMITA ATKINS: First Floor years ago. The ivory-bothering boogie-woogie (REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN vignettes from Moogieman, tonight launching boogie and house club night. to funk, soul, hip hop and drum&bass, RAN KAN KAN + TESS OF THE CIRCLE man and all-round diamond geezer was joined BAND); Electro-folk fusion (PEATBOG while the Kate Garrett stage hosts a day of + A RELUCTANT ARROW + PALAHNUIK by Marc Almond back then and the Soft Cell FAERIES) and plenty of folk, blues and nd young acts from the Ark-T project, including + THE MIGHTY REDOX + MADCAPS + Wednesday 2 th fella’s back again this year, along with former- country sounds from the likes of NINA SATURDAY 5 rappers CHUKIE and JACK BUSHROD. MOOGIEMAN + ERROR 54: Art Bar Spice Girl Melanie C, for a set that’ll mix r’n’b NESBITT, LISSIE and HUNTER & THE CORNBURY FESTIVAL: Great Tew Estate Elsewhere there’s traditional Irish folk, HOUSEWURKS: Art Bar PETE DOHERTY: standards, jazz and pop in equal measures. BEAR. – Simple Minds provide suitably epic stadium samba, street dance, ballet, theatre and ZAMIR WHEELER + BEAT THIS + If hopes were high that Tom Jones would be pop headline tunage for the second day of Indian and Indonesian music and dance, and PAIGE MATHIS + SHOTTZ + NADINE O2 Academy Sunday’s `very special guest’, THE GIPSY Plenty more besides, of course, including Pete. Pete! You’re on in five minutes. PETE! Oxford’s most genteel festival – see main that really is just the tip of a highly eclectic FISHER + VOODOO COLLECTIVE + KINGS will probably provide better all-round the festival’s Riverside stage, which WAKE UP! Your audience is waiting. Oh preview iceberg. Add in all the street food and it MIZZ LYRIKAL + CHUCKIE + MARY entertainment, less reliant on a handful of features a host of local acts, including THE Pete, wake up, you’ve soiled yourself. WONK UNIT + GIRL POWER + THE really is the world condensed into a single JAMES + JACK BUSHROD: O2 Academy well-worn hits, and finely-honed for this kind ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM DOWN AND OUTS: The Cellar – The mile of summery joy. SIMPLE: Art Bar – Post-Carnival party with of event over four decades of constant touring. Oxford Wheels Project host a BMX Jam after the long-running house and techno club night. BAND; DUBWISER; BLACK HATS and The French/Spanish ensemble are renowned show party with London skate-punks Wonk BEARD OF DESTINY + MOON BRICKWORK LIZARDS, as well as some for their popularising of traditional Romani Unit, fronted by former-Flying Medallions LEOPARD + DANNY KAYE + MATT big-name comedy from the likes of JEREMY folk and flamenco, and if the sun can bring frontman Alex Johnson, alongside ferocious SEWELL + JOELY: Donnington HARDY, MILES JUPP and AL MURRAY. itself to shine over the weekend, they’ll be an local hardcore crew Girl Power, slamming Community Club (6pm) – Free evening of All in all a damn sight more civilised than ideal closing act, with the festival organisers it out somewhere between Discharge and acoustic music with one-man blues army BOD Metallica at Glastonbury, which suits us just promising a mass rumba dance class ahead of Nashville Pussy, and melodic Liverpudlian and Jeremy Hughes’ Moon Leopard. fine since we won’t have to be within 50 miles punks Down & Outs. Followed by Fresh Out their set so everyone knows the right moves. of walking sewage outlet James Hetfield; instead it’s as relaxing a weekend as festivals the Box DJ session. th PROPAGANDA: O2 Academy – Classic and MONDAY 7 Further down the bill is where the real treats come, and long may that continue. BOB HALL & LIL JIMMY REED BAND: WEDNESDAY 9th up for a moveable feast of a gig, stopping off AMONGST US: The Wheatsheaf – A night THURSDAY 17th THE DANDY WARHOLS: O2 Academy – at assorted east Oxford pubs and venues for of superheavyweight nastiness from Murder BENET McLEAN QUARTET: The They’re bohemian like you, you know – see impromptu giggage. Meet at the Port Mahon at of Crows promotions, featuring excellent Wheatsheaf – Post-bop jazz from rising main preview 8 and follow the caravan of sound. local death-grind crew a Trust Unclean, plus pianist McLean at tonight’s Spin club. FATHERSON + JORDAN O’SHEA: O2 LIES OF ELIZABETH + WARDENS + deathmongers Empire Divided; metalcore and CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Academy – Epic indie rocking in the vein JACK & THE GIANTS: Art Bar – It’s thrash merchants Crow’s Reign, plus metalcore Community Centre of Broken Records et al from Kilmarnock’s All About the Music gig night with jazz and from Banbury’s A Killer Amongst Us. OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon Fatherson, out on tour to promote debut blues-tinged popsters Lies of Elizabeth; indie ORANGE VISION + PUPPET MECHANIC OPEN BLUES JAM: Jack Russell, Marston album, `I Am An Island’, after supporting rockers Wardens and acoustic-pop uni band + IONEYE + RAE ZOE: The Cellar – Scuzzy Jack and the giants. rocking in an Arctic Monkeys vein from Orange the likes of Idlewild, Frightened Rabbit and th Feeder. This month’s Nightshift cover star KINGS OF LYON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Vision at tonight’s It’s All About the Music FRIDAY 18 th th TRUCK FESTIVAL: Hill Farm, Steventon Saturday 12 Wednesday 9 Jordan O’Shea supports. Kings of Leon tribute. show, plus acoustic country blues from Puppet HEADINGTON HILLBILLIES: James Mechanic and acoustic pop from Ioneye. – Opening day of Oxfordshire’s flagship music IRREGULAR THE DANDY Street Tavern – Americana, country-folk and THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: The festival – see main preview th WARHOLS: THURSDAY 10 bluegrass from the local regulars. Amphitheatre, Saïd Business School – Back MIKE DIGNAM: O2 Academy – Polished FOLK’S SUMMER JAMES: O2 Academy – altogether now... THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Bay Tree, for its second annual outing the extended gig acoustic pop from the Preston singer- O2 Academy “Oh sit dow…” okay, maybe not – see main Grove in the business school’s amphitheatre this time songwriter who’s previously provided tour ALL-DAYER: The best Christmas song ever isn’t `Fairytale preview round aims to raise money for charities SSNAP support for Gabrielle Aplin, Elliot Minor, of New York’, or even `Christmas Rapping’ ANATOLI VYCAHESLAVOV & STUART th and All As One. Headlining are local country- Roachford and most recently Lewis Watson. The Perch, Binsey SATURDAY 12 One of our absolute favourite things about by The Waitresses. It’s actually The Dandy HENDERSON: The Wheatsheaf – A rock heroes The Epstein, who are joined by alt. SHEDONISM: The Cellar – The Disco Shed IRREGULAR FOLK’S SUMMER ALL- 2013 was the emergence of Irregular Warhols’ version of `Little Drummer Boy’. double dose of horns at tonight’s Spin Jazz country crew Empty White Circles; 60s-styled comes to the Cellar in the middle of festival DAYER: The Perch, Binsey – Not yer typical Folk’s club nights, showcasing an eclectic Check it out on Youtube if you don’t believe Club with tenor saxophonist Vycaheslavov r’n’b outfit The Shapes; country-blues people season with an eclectic mix of house, breaks, folk all-dayer. And all the better for that – see selection of acts around various venues that us. Just don’t actually watch the video; it’s a alongside trumpeter Henderson, `Tolly’ having Swindlestock; ceilidh-disco merchants Saedly disco, dancehall, hip hop and funk floor fillers. main preview could in the very loosest sense be described bit odd, and not in a good way. Christmas is played alongside Don Weller, Peter King and Dorus & the Hoolie Crew and folk-rockers The THAMESFEST: The Rock of Gibraltar, A TRUST UNCLEAN + EMPIRE as folk music. But, like, not really. Sadly still a long way off, but The Dandy Warhols Mornington Lockett as well as recording with Dreaming Spires. Enslow – First day of the three-day free blues DIVIDED + CROW’S REIGN + A KILLER the club has been quiet this year but today’s have songs for any season, some of them Yusuf Islam and Nick Heyward over the years. STRUMMERFEST: Castle House, Banbury and beer festival, moving canal side at Enslow one-off all-dayer is a perfect opportunity unlikely hits, like `Not If You Were the CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford (midday) – Full day of free live music across from last year’s Eynsham setting. Today’s th to remind yourself what they do so well. last Junkie On Earth’, and `Bohemian Like Community Centre Thursday 10 two stages in aid of the local care hospice. line-up is topped by local blues-rock veterans And in a perfect setting too – the idyllic You’. Unlikely since the band, despite singer THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Among a host of acts playing are 2Twenty2; Steamroller, keeping the spirit of Hendrix and historic Perch. Club curator Vez Hoper Courtney Taylor-Taylor’s pin-up looks and Wheatsheaf – Free gig in the downstairs bar JAMES: O2 Academy Aural Candy; Punch Drunk Monkey Club; and Cream alive. They’re joined by Aussie If your primary experience of James is claims they don’t do headliners, but star seemingly effortless cool, exist in a strange from the veteran local blues-rocker. Spinner Fall; Beaver Fuel and Missing Persians, bluesman Ian `The Pump’ MacIntosh, The having to endure gangs of drunken students / turn are likely to be theatrical torch song druggy drone-pop netherworld upon which OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon while the acoustic stage plays host to Cardboard Matt Edwards Band; Hippy Haze; Caddyfins workmates / imbeciles braying `Sit Down’ at ensemble THE IRREPRESSIBLES, the sunshine of public gaze so rarely settles. OPEN BLUES JAM: Jack Russell, Marston Castle; Charlie Leavy; Rob Lanyon; Jack Little and Slippers & Beer. some ungodly hour, you have our sympathy. centred around the angelic, operatic Which is why so many of their songs seem and more. We’ve been there too. Luckily we’ve also vocal talents of Jamie McDermott. Their to be about drugs. But in a fantastically th PROPAGANDA: O2 Academy th FRIDAY 11 experienced the good bits of James, which SATURDAY 19 recent show at The Cellar was something poppy kind of way. And anyway, compared WHAT YOU CALL IT, GARAGE?: The ADAM BARNES: Truck Store (6pm) – is a lot of the stuff that isn’t `Sit Down’. TRUCK FESTIVAL: Hill Farm, Steventon very special. They’re joined by gothic to former chums and Portland neighbours Cellar – Garage, house and grime with DJs Soulful, lovelorn acoustic pop in the vein of Like the relentless, joyous `Sometimes’. Or – Second day of the festival – see main blues troubadour SALVATION BILL; The Brian Jonestown Massacre, they’re as Charris & B-ILL, Naughty Nath, Ramsay and Damien Rice and Bon Iver from the rising the rude but great `Laid’. Or loads of the preview sombre, atmospheric folk-popsters THE clean-cut and stable as any Simon Cowell- Elements. local songsmith, launching his debut album – excellent stuff like `What In The World’ WITTSTOCK: The Plough, Long MAY BIRDS; cello’n’loops maestro mentored group. Which isn’t saying much WOLFBAIT: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Rock see Introducing feature they did back in the 80s when they were Wittenham – First day of the weekend free DUOTONE; gorgeous sea songs and given what a monumental lunatic BJM’s covers. YARDFEST: The Courtyard, Bicester – Manchester’s best kept secret and supported festival, with Peerless Pirates and more – see love ballads from JESS HALL; musical Anton Newcombe was and possibly still is. THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Dolphin, Bicester’s excellent Courtyard youth arts The Smiths on tour, while self-financing main preview comedian BEN CHAMPION and the utterly That’s all documented in the fantastic film Wallingford centre hosts its second Yardfest, a one-day early records that placed them atop the Indie ANNERO + TAKE TODAY: The divine loop-crazy chanteuse YOU ARE Dig! Which charts the two bands’ relative STEAMROLLER: The Red Lion, Eynsham mini-festival organised and curated by the charts on a regular basis. Come the 90s and Wheatsheaf – Old-school metal, thrash, WOLF (pictured), possibly our favourite rises and falls. The Dandy Warhols rose, kids who attend the centre each week. A main the band, led by the enigmatic, philosophical grindcore and hardcore punk from Annero. artist to appear at Irregular Folk last year, and while BJM fell. And while they’re not so hit th stage features a selection of national alt.rock (or downright nutty, depending on your SUNDAY 13 HOW DO YOU CALL BURLESQUE - that’s really saying something. Plenty more heavy these days, the Warhols continue to bands, while a second stage is for mostly local viewpoint) Tim Booth, were fully-fledged JULES PENZO + LAIMA BITE + EMMA THE RETURN: The Jericho Tavern – Live besides, and as idyllic a day by the river as create fine, fine music, with new live album hip hop and acoustic acts. Headlining the big time stars, going on to sell 25million HUNTER + PETE MOORE & CORRINE burlesque show from Mercury Flame. you could hope for. Folking great, in fact. `Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia’. former are Cheshire’s Blitz Kids, anthemic records across the world, including `Come CLARKE + BEARD OF DESTINY: The THAMESFEST: The Rock of Gibraltar, punk-pop merchants in the vein of Taking Enslow – The second day of the free blues fest The Jericho Tavern – The Famous Monday Home’ and, yes, `Sit Down’. Booth quit in Wheatsheaf (2.30-7pm) – A free afternoon of Enslow – Third and final session of the free Back Sunday, You Me At Six and 30 Seconds features Debbie Bond & the Trudats; The Lost blues plays host to semi-legendary blues 2001 to do his own thing, but rejoined in unplugged music in the downstairs bar hosted blues fest, with The Backbone Blues Band; to Mars. They’re joined by Chelmsford’s Art Duo; Missing Persians; Telephone Bill veteran Lil Jimmy Reed, whose 50-plus year 2007 and the band release their fourteenth by Klub Kakofanney. Crayfish; Beard of Destiny and Adina and sugary, melodic Hype Theory, who’ve played & the Smooth Operators; Voodoo Stripe and career has seen him playing with Ike Turner album, `La Petite Mort’, this month. They’ll Johnson, while Twizz Twangle should give Sonisphere and Download as well as the Punch Drunk Monkey Club. and Bobby Blue Bland among a host of others. be playing songs off it at tonight’s long-since th everyone an insight into a very different take Warped UK tour; poppy post-hardcore crew MONDAY 14 PROPAGANDA: O2 Academy Tonight he teams up with the grand old man of sold-out show. As well as `Sit Down’, no on the blues. Scholars; Reading’s Attention Thieves, recent PIG: Nettlebed Folk Club – Feast of Fiddles WHAT YOU CALL IT, GARAGE?: The British blues piano playing, Bob Hall, for an doubt. All together now…. tour support for Enter Shikari and Canterbury, spin-off featuring Hugh Crabtree on vocals Cellar intimate night of blues and boogie-woogie. st plus The Loud and Lazy and Fault lines. and melodeon, alongside saxophonist Alan MAETLOAF: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Tribute MONDAY 21 HOME SERVICE: Nettlebed Folk Club – Local rapper made good Shaodow brings his Whetton; guitarist Martin Vincent; bass player act. THE JOHN NEMETH BAND & PADDY John Tams fronts his eight-strong band formed energetic hip hop to the party, joined on the Dave Harding, and whoever they can get on THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Three MILNER: The Jericho Tavern – Idaho’s from the nucleus of The Albion Band line-up second stage by Flynn Davies; Jack Little; drums for the night. Explosions and bizarre Horseshoes, Garsington blues-soul harpist and singer Nemeth teams that produced `Rise Up Like The Sun’. Makeout Kids; Young Spide and Morrell. gardening accidents no doubt allowing. VALERIE VALE AND HER AYLESBURY up with Scottish blues pianist Paddy Milner at STRUMMERFEST: Castle House, Banbury AYLEVATORS: The Swan, Ascott under tonight’s Famous Monday Blues, the American TUESDAY 8th – Opening two days of free live music in aid of TUESDAY 15th Wychwood – Wychwood Folk Club hosts bluesman having previously played with JAZZ CLUB: Art Bar – Groove-led funky the Katharine House hospice, with 60s-styled old-time bluegrass, country, hillbilly and Robert Cray and Junior Watson. OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER: jazz from The New Jazz Collective. psychedelic pop from headliners Reckless JAZZ CLUB: Art Bar – Live jazz with Alvin rockabilly fiddler Vale and her band. INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, industrial, Sleepers, plus Kastaphor, Small Time Heroes Nettlebed Folk Club – Feast of Fiddle and Roy. Fairport fiddler Knight teams up with guitarist ebm and darkwave club night with Doktor Joy and more to be announced. th and Bookhouse. ROOTS RAMBLE with SWINDLESTOCK SUNDAY 20 Roger Flack and percussionist Vincent th WITTSTOCK: The Plough, Long OXFORD ACOUSTIC CLUB: The Jericho + FRANCIS PUGH & THE WHISKY WEDNESDAY 16 Salzfaas for a night of intimate and innovative Wittenham – Second day of the free festival – Tavern SINGERS: Various venues – Two of SPARKY’S JAM NIGHT: James Street folk music. see main preview OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern Oxford’s finest blues and country crews team Tavern – Open mic and jam night. THAMESFEST: The Rock of Gibraltar, nd th PROPAGANDA: O2 Academy TUESDAY 22 THURSDAY 24 Friday 18th – Saturday 19th TOO MANY POETS + PUNCH DRUNK PEERLESS PIRATES + THE MATT EXTRA-CURRICULAR: The Cellar – MONKEY CLUB: The Jericho Tavern – It’s EDWARDS BAND + LUCKY CLUB + TOO Techno, bass and house club night. TRUCK FESTIVAL: All About the Music gig night with Witney MANY POETS: The Cellar – Swashbuckling WHITE MAGIC PRESENTS A NIGHT OF indie crew Too Many Poets and Banbury indie and rockabilly from the pirate-obsessed MUSIC pt.3: Art Bar Hill Farm, Steventon rockers Punch Drunk Monkey Club. Peerless Pirates, plus electric blues from DIRTY EARTH BAND: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Festivals and come and festivals go. There JAZZ CLUB: Art Bar – With The New Jazz singer-guitarist Matt Edwards and band, plus Rock covers. are plenty bigger but Truck remains the heart Collective. more at tonight’s It’s All About the Music STEAMROLLER: The Eight Bells, Eaton of the Oxfordshire music calendar with its OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern show. origins and story so tightly bound with the HATEMAIL: The Library – Smash Disco’s SUNDAY 27th local music scene and its bands. rd free monthly celebration of noise continues Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL: Mill Field, Founders Robin and Joe Bennett may have WEDNESDAY 23 with punk and hardcore crew Hatemail, plus relinquished the reins since the financial BE LIKE PABLO + DALLAS DON’T: The Charlbury – The Shapes, Knights of Mentis support. troubles of 2011 but their presence can still Wheatsheaf – Local noisenicks Dallas Don’t RIVERSIDE and The Mighty Redox head up the bill on NIGEL PRICE: The Wheatsheaf – Breezy be felt and the brothers’ latest band, THE make a welcome emerging from hibernation the second day of the free festival – see main swing and blues-tinged jazz from the hard- DREAMING SPIRES, one of a host of it’s Cardiff’s roustabout indie bouncers as they bring their chums from Forres in FESTIVAL: preview working guitarist at tonight’s Spin. Oxfordshire acts who continue to lend what is LOS CAMPESINOS! Or Brighton’s Scotland, Be Like Pablo, to town, plying a BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3pm) – CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Mill Field, Charlbury now an established national event its enduring garage rocking duo BLOOD RED SHOES, skewed fuzz-heavy power-pop that owes much Open jam session. Community Centre It’s easy to forget just how spoilt we are local feel. while Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly’s SAM to Weezer and Teenage Fanclub alongside The OPEN MIC CLUB: The Half Moon in Oxfordshire for festivals. Especially DUCKWORTH is such a regular fixture Beach Boys and Granddaddy. th OPEN BLUES JAM: Jack Russell, Marston free stuff. In a busy summer of musical MONDAY 28 Among the other Oxford-based talent on we’re starting to suspect he’s simply never weekends large and small, Riverside still DEBBIE BOND: The Jericho Tavern – show over Truck’s two days in the sun (we found the way out. stands out for both its quality of bands and Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th th Soulful country-blues from Alabama’s veteran keep fingers and toes firmly crossed) are the FRIDAY 25 quantity of punters making the journey out guitarist Bond, who’s previously backed reliably entertaining ORIGINAL RABBIT Among almost guaranteed high points of GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with to west Oxfordshire (the festival site is right Eddie Kirkland, Jerry McCain and Willie FOOT SPASM BAND; the reliably bonkers this year’s festival will be two acts who can WITTSTOCK: WARDENS + THE PINK DIAMOND next to the railway station so leave the car King before fronting her own band. 30 years and unclassifiableGOGGENHEIM ; the justifiably lay claim to be truly seminal in REVUE + ELOIS REES: The Wheatsheaf – The Plough Inn, at home). There are some 40 acts across playing the blues have led to her founding the reliably noisy and serrated POLEDO; the their art. GANG OF FOUR laid down the Another musical lucky dip with a prize every three stages over the two days. Saturday’s Alabama Blues Project, to help preserve the reliably sunshiny and poptastic ALPHABET template for so much of modern alt.rocking time from Gappy Tooth Industries. This month Long Wittenham main stage line-up features alt.country traditional music of her state, that’s inspired BACKWARDS; the reliably spaced-out with their skewed, uptight, highly-politicised Having led a somewhat nomadic life in they’re joined by local indie types Wardens, faves THE EPSTEIN; exotic popstrels her own music. FLIGHTS OF HELIOS; the reliably punk-funk which has informed everyone from recent times, the annual Wittstock returns plus Reading/London synth-rockers The Pink CANDY SAYS; post-punk rockers THE legendary and tweedy RELATIONSHIPS; The Red Hot Chili Peppers to Supergrass to its spiritual home this year, once again Diamond Revue, mixing classic 50s rockabilly SCHOLARS; doleful indie sweeties th the reliably romantic and rustic RALF BAND; to Foals, while ROOTS MANUVA now offering a varied selection of local acts reverb and psychedelic swirls into their synthy TUESDAY 29 THE FAMILY MACHINE; reggae party the reliably doleful and dreamy FAMILY stands as something of a godfather of modern all for free, while raising money for local soundscapes, and sweet, soulful acoustic folk- JAZZ CLUB: Art Bar – Free live jazz from crew DUBWISER; indie-country stars MACHINE , and the reliably woozy and British hip hop with a bleak, existential lyrical charities. This year’s recipients of cash from pop songstress Elois Rees. Hugh Turner. TOLIESEL and more, while a more spectral PIXEL FIX. There are others dotted outlook that stands at odds with so many on the door donations and raffles, will be ABSOLVA + GOSBANE: The Cellar – OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern blues and roots-orientated Sunday features about the bill and they’re all splendid. You can preconceptions of rap, while, oddly managing The Young Women’s Music Project and My Classic metal in the vein of Iron Maiden from 60s-styled r’n’b band THE SHAPES; rely on that. to produce party-friendly hits alongside a Life, My Choice. Manchester’s Absolva, touring their new th Americana ensemble KNIGHTS OF WEDNESDAY 30 dizzying array of collaborators and producers. Musically the two-day bill leans towards album, `Anthems to the Dead’ at tonight’s MENTIS; swamp-blues veterans THE Beyond the local names is a bill that loosely There can’t be many more quintessentially local bands and solo artists who tend to OXRox show. Local Nordic-infused rockers MIGHTY REDOX; folk singer JESS st tends towards the indie scheme of things but English rappers out there and now, in his 20th exist beyond or below the radar of most Godsbane support. Followed by indie disco GOYDER, and indie-funk types GRUDLE THURSDAY 31 mixes and matches styles with ease and never year as a musician, he’s approaching national gig-goers. One dead cert for a highlight Ultra Plaid Shirt. SARAH JAROSZ: St John the Evangelist BAY among others. Truck and Rapture underestimates the audience’s ability to enjoy treasure status. will be PEERLESS PIRATES, whose THE MIGHTY REDOX + PETE MOORE – Bluegrass, country and Americana from host the second stage, with synth-blues duo something new and different. rambunctious mash-up of classic rockabilly; & CORINNE CLARK: James Street Tavern Texas’s Grammy-nominated singer and multi- VIENNA DITTO; gothic rockers DAMN So this year’s twin headliners are WHITE What else, what else? Well how about a solo eastern European folk; The Smiths and THE STONES: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Tribute instrumentalist Jarosz, over in the UK to VANDALS; ambient electro chap AFTER LIES, whose darkly euphoric synth-laden set from one-man rock riot ANDREW WK swashbuckling hornpipes is pure rock and roll act. promote her third album, `Build Me Up From THE THOUGHT; rising indie stars pop sits alongside Editors and Interpol with as part of Alcopop! and Big Scary Monster’s entertainment. They’re joined on the Saturday HEADINGTON HILLBILLES: The Bones’, released on Sugar Hill Records. BALLOON ASCENTS and funky blues its lush reinterpretation of Joy Dvision and Barn takeover? Or GNARWOLVES’ spindly by country-blues crew SUPERLOOSE; Chequers, Headington Quarry crew LITTLE BROTHER ELI among a Echo & the Bunnymen’s post-punk blueprint, hardcore punk, which has seen blood, sweat hazy 60s-styled psych-popsters RECKLESS STEAMROLLER: The Nag’s Heads host of acts. There’s also a Riverside Fringe and THE CRIBS, who played here at Truck and beers splattered liberally across the SLEEPERS; grungy rockers FRACTURE; Abingdon stage as well as the usual array of family- exactly a decade ago, albeit rather lower Wheatsheaf’s walls recently. On a different gothic rock poet MARK BOSLEY; punk friendly stuff going on, this year involving down the bill. The brothers Jarman, from kind of dance tip house producer JULIO bands DIE IN VAIN and THE FIRE ANTZ, th interesting and fun stuff to do with sticks. West Yorkshire, have survived 14 years and BASHMORE will be topping of the late- plus bluesman MATT EDWARDS, who SATURDAY 26 RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL: Mill Field, Watching free live music in a field in the six albums, for a while augmented by Johnny night revelry in the barn, while there’s nimble headlines the day. Charlbury – Opening day of Oxford’s biggest middle of summer being one of the top Marr, whose temporary membership doubtless mixing skills, quick cuts and knowing samples Sunday’s afternoon session features and best free festival with a headline set from things that is far better than a poke in the boosted their popularity. Feisty and spiky and from the drum&bass party starter JAGUAR Chipping Norton rockers MAN MAKE The Epstein – see main preview eye with a sharp one. heroically singular of purpose, they’re almost SKILLS. FIRE; swamp-blues and psych-funk HALFWAY TO 75: The Isis, Iffley Lock – the definition of a proper cult band, but with veterans THE MIGHTY REDOX and A one-day mini festival leaning towards the enough familiar tunage to keep a festival All of which leaves us very little room to the beautifully downbeat poetic pop of the Red Lion will be rockers Orange Vision; roots side of things, taking in blues, rockabilly, crowd happy. mention Cardiff’s punk power-pop crew BETHANY WEIMERS. Free music for bluesy heavyweights Empty Vessels; rising country and more along the way. Star turn KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES; spangly, funky two worthy causes? You should be on your young indie-pop crew Balloon Ascents and Another band who are no strangers to is Nashville act Ward Thomas, twin sisters Wiltshire’s arch indie rockers Nudy Bronque, indie darlings PEACE; Brooklyn’s riotous way already. Truck, and who boast Oxford heritage, who have been recording their debut album while an acoustic stage hosts Bronwyn lo-fi punksters CEREBRAL BALLZY, or are STORNOWAY, who should need no with country mainstay Vince Gill. They’re Leonard; Nikki Loy and Beard of Destiny Sheffield’s sweet folk-pop duo SLOW CLUB. introduction in these pages. But since we’ll joined by local nine-piece folk, country and among others. In fact it leaves us so little room, you’ll just never tire of expounding their musical virtues, Americana ensemble The Knights of Mentis, RED STAR CYCLE + EYES FOR have to do what Nightshift does every year we’ll just say, they are an awesome band, plus Radio 3’s jazz presenter Alyn Shipton and GERTRUDE + VIENNA DITTO: The at Truck and rush around the half a dozen or and one who possess that rare gift of making his band; `Ameripolitan’ singer-songwriter Wheatsheaf – Back together for one last so stages dotted around the Truck site and try music that’s intimate and highly emotive but Ags Connolly; former Candyskins frontman- job… After a ten year break local electro-prog and see as many different acts as is humanly perfectly suits the big outdoor setting and a turned kids songsmith Nick Cope; folk-rockers rockers Red Star Cycle reunite for a one-off Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclu- possible, while attempting make room for the good rousing mass singalong. Empty White Circles, and more. show, joined by groovetastic electro-blues sion is the 20th of each mont - no exceptions. Rotary Club’s burger tent and the organic ale D-FEST: The Red Lion, Drayton – Mick faves Vienna Ditto. Email listings to [email protected]. bar. We know you can do it; we’re just not Further into the bill you’ll find plenty of other Quinn’s DB Band headline this year’s SCARLETT VIXENS: The Cellar – All listings are copyright Nightshift Mazine and taking responsibility for your physical state acts making return visits to Truck, whether Drayton-based mini-festival. Joining them at Burlesque night with the Reading-based outfit. may not be reproduced without permission. come Sunday morning. photo:Celina MacDonald Dittothe headlineactwho getsthingsunderway withachiming front ofsuchasmall audience,theystillsparkle. their offerings andalthoughyoucanseethem struggleforconfidencein man andhisdog aretheretoseethemisnoreflection onthequalityof Eastwood’s Cocteaus-stylevocalssoaringoverthelow din. That one Firstthough,JupiterCtreatusto asetofbuzzenshroudedbeats, Mercury Prizenominationfor‘Total StrifeForever’. festival circuitandprovidedhim withagoodoutsidechanceof artful electronicahavingsecured himomnipresenceonthissummer 2014’s moreinnovativeandtalkedaboutnewartists; William Doyle’s tonight –puzzlinglysogivenEastIndia Youth’s emergence asoneof Despite areasonablypricedticketdeal,the Academy isfarfrombusy O2 Academy EAST INDIA YOUTH /JUPITER C Academy inDecember, it’s goodtoseethey’ve HavinglastseenDrengesupportingPeaceatthe set andimpeccablecolour-coordination. slightly dated,butit’s hardnottoenjoythesolid lend itslyricsasinisterfeel. The overallsoundis whose insistentguitarriff and urgent bassline with latestsingle`xxx’,aska-tingednumber, backing vocals. The four-piece winduptheirset heavy guitarseffectively with 60s-boyband-style appearance attheboxoffice. Thefastsongpairs invisible aroundthebaraftertheirnecessary whose parentshavedutifullymadethemselves circle ofdeathfromthosemembersthecrowd wrapped inleatherjackets.`Rampage’ startsa bouncing around like a collective bundle of energy The Bohicasareprettyrock’n’rollasanoutfit, O2 Academy DRENGE / THE BOHICAS LIVE brush off allthegrossemotionsandstuff with themed topicwithatiredtoneofvoice,butthey singer/guitarist Eointakingtoanyrelationship- The songs occasionally approach sentimentality, which swayingisnotanappropriatereaction. The restofthesetiscompiled fromtracksto arms fromsidetoside. circle ofdeathperpetuatorsnowswayingtheir sparks revellersintoaconfidentsing-along, at theirmostanthemicwith`Fuckabout’,which tonight byalarge androwdy crowd.Drengeare certain airofconfidenceaboutthem,bolstered from aself-declaredshitvilleupnorth,have increasingly luxuriantmane. The duo,brothers nothing, savefordrummerRoryLoveless’ now grown intotheheadlinerrolebychanging Ashiya ’s Robert Langham Oxford weren’t theretoseehim. experience isrichly confirmedhere.It’s justapitythatmorepeoplein confirmation of Doyle’s talentandhis abilitytoconvertthisthelive already treatedustoalmosttwo hours ofgroundbreakingmaterialis parent composition,isnotafforded anairing. That EastIndia Youth have accompanied theprintedrecording, attimeseverybittheequalof It’s aneclecticsetthatcloselymirrorsthealbumand thebonusCDthat producer’s bobbingmoptop. more upbeatnumbersareaccompanied byvisionsoftheBournemouth Long’ and‘LookingforSomeone’ arepowerfullydeliveredwhilethe facelessly behindasetofkeyboards–hisvocalson‘Heaven,How a reputationformodestyandself-effacing charm,isn’t oneto cower that recallsDeadCanDanceattheirmostornamental.Doyle,despite rendition ofalbumopener‘GlitterRecession’,agorgeous sequence Celina Macdonald humanity. of self-awarenessandgeneralloathing stepped uptosupplyuswithourdailyallowance only beenquiterecentlythatDrengehave `Bloodsports’, remindingusthatit’s actually They finishwiththeirdebut single which enduppracticallylostinthenoiseanyway. missing abeat–intimeforhisbackingvocals, He managestocompletethisprocess–without inadvertently knockingitawaywithhissticks. Rory repeatedlystraightenshismicbefore at whattheydo. Amidst onecomplicatedfill obvious thatthebrothersareextremelyskilled the extendedoutro-introsbetweentracksitis until itsalmosthilariouslyfreneticfinale.During into abreakdownthatgraduallypicksuppace crawling alongwithdarkintentionuntilgrowing Pretend’. The songhasquite amovingbuild-up, extremely audiblevigour, suchason`Let’s hesitancy inimmediatelydoingso. All body” mostofthepackedroomhasno and straightawayorderusto“rockyour headliners fromNewOrleanscomeon warming uptheaudience,forwhen They certainlyappeartodo agreatjob crowd enjoyingthemselvesevenmore. band enjoyingthemselvesandthesizeable Heywood’s excellenttrumpetsolos,the despite theoccasionalslip,Steve indefatigable upbeatensembleplaying Better surelyjusttoenjoytheentertaining, many, thismightbemissingthepoint. and ifit’s temptingtosuggestthisistoo to sevenoreighttunesinasmanyminutes medley theygivethebrassfunktreatment be dizzyingtolistenwheninasingle both ofarrangingandplaying.Italsocan by Pendulum,whichisabitofmarvel the themefrom including `Satisfaction’,`Superstition’, numbers fromdifferent erasandgenres medleys theycoverasmanyforty Temple Cowley. Inabouteightornine unsurprisingly afunkcollectivefrom Firstup Temple FunkCollective, guitar-free zone. over theupperroom,tonightO2isa With twobrassbandensemblestaking The Cellar COOLING PEARLS JEFFREY LEWIS AND THE JRAMS/ THE around Lewis withguitar anddominant his songs. Tonight, those songs–based strand ofhumour andcuriositythrough artist, aRenaissance manthatwendsa is asinger, songwriterandcomic book Peaches, Jeffrey Lewis And The Jrams ‘antifolk’ scenethat begat The Moldy Tied inwiththeNew York 1990s beauty. vocals andacharmingsenseofdour they makeupforwithpleasinglynaive they maylackinclearly-definedsongs, enriched byaccordionandviolin. What they createamellifluoussoundthat’s Bunyan’s hope-for-the-best folkstyle, more thanahintofNickDrake/Vashti – they’remusicallyasolemnbunch. With stuffed teddybearacquiredinGermany jokes aboutfootballandintroductiontoa – typifiedbyfrontman AidenCanaday’s and theirrelaxedjollygrouppersona fun thebandseemtobehavingonstage, a-downer set.Despitetheknockabout with amellow, Belle And Sebastian-on- The CoolingPearlsgetthings started quiet nightin. draws of(1) The World Cupand(2)a this evening,despitethetwinalternative would seem,astheplaceisnicelybustling evening ina Who wantstospendtheirsummerSunday O2 Academy TEMPLE FUNKCOLLECTIVE THE HOT 8BRASSBAND/ cellar Star Wars and‘Slam’ ? A lotofpeople,it Simon Minter informed. spend aSunday evening? Considerme be arelaxing,educationalandfun wayto So,whoknewthatcellar-dwelling would his talentlist. skill ofmoderationdoesnotseem tobein wearing. This isaverytalentedman;the the noveltybeginstobecomeslightly more thanshort’n’sweet UKgigsets), empty coffee shopsin’90sNew York, speak oflongafternoonsplayingto but aftera75+minuteset(whichmay is fascinatingandhugelyentertaining, Part 7: Vietnam’. The latter, especially, focussing on‘A HistoryOfCommunism illustrations heldaloft,thisevening lecture, augmentedbycomicbook that buildoutatypeofmusicalhistory of anongoingdidacticseriespieces respectfully anddiligently;finally, part a trilogyofReed’s ownsongs,played Reed – indeed,thesettonightincludes vocally andmusicallyinfluencedbyLou life; second,straightersongsthatare many aspectsofLewis’ ownpersonal content thatriffs onwhatseem tobe songs’ withrelentless,richlyrical into threebroadcategories:first,‘funny drum andbassrhythmsection–fall vocals, backedupbyasparse,effective Colin May serious partystartied. tempered theensemble’s abilitytogeta has experienced. Tragedies thathaven’t defiance ofthemanytragediesband transformed intosomethingupliftingin showing anysuchstrandswouldbe sombre sideinthemix,butontonight’s which thereareelementsoftheirmore makes itdifficulttopickuptheextent polished –andexuberantperformance Their highlypolished–possiblyover time. tonight aremainlyabouthavingagood hip hopstylechantsandsongs,which impressive playingwithshortburstsof featuring strongly, theyoverlaytheir instrumental bandwithBig Al’s trumpet their tuba’s basslines.Fundamentallyan in additiontothethumpingbeatsof have plentyofdirtybottom-endoomph and withthreetrombonesintheirline-up marching traditionwithrapandbeats, Hot8combineNewOrleansbrassband and hardlypauseforbreath. which thebandandcrowdcreateaparty know, andthepreludetoasweatyhourin rather un-Englishandun-Oxforddon’t you [email protected]. 30wordsmax. Musicians wanted adsarefree.Email adsto email [email protected] reliable andhave anopenmindto allgenres’ ifinterested please Two piece bandlookingfor third memberto play drums.Must be Christina-Kowalchuk/42874368676 r&b/pop/rock. Contact Christina songwriter for gigs, writing, recording. Samples available. Soul/ Singer-songwriter/guitarist seeks keyboard player/singer- loud thing- Ex Caravan ofWhores frontman/bassist available for riffheavy Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all othergenres THE OXFORDRECORD Flash HarrySoundSystems St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE Brand newandbackcatalogue/RareVinyl or [email protected] Allthegraphics,gates &compressors 40 PembrokeSt,St Aldates, OX11BP Accessories/memoriabillia/books. Bose Speakers,Chevin amplifiers, [email protected] DVD &CDFAIR Compact &potent PA systems, Please contactJamesSerjeant necessary to makenecessary your band Saturday 19 ranging from 1.5k toranging from 5.5k 1.5k or event sounddelicious. Musicians wanted Midas Goldmixingdesk. www.usrfairs.co.uk on 079 1914 7350 10am-4pm www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ th July photo: Marc West ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’, Tame IftheFlamingLips hadn’t recentlycovered what provestobe astupendouslygoodshow. headliners’ set,isstunning, settingthebarfor the songofthatname,justtwotracks intothe what IwashavingduringCallinan’s slot,but needn’t havebothered. Apocalypse dreamsare just tomakethemselveslookbetter, they If Tame ImpalahavebroughtCallinan along against ears. be usedtobludgeonhimdeathforcrimes Rammstein –thoughthattrophyshouldthen an improbablemidpointbetweenMGMT and medium ofpretentiouselectro-rock,tolocate some kindoftrophyformanaging,viathe Aussies Tame Impala.Intruth,hedeserves other sideoftheworld,ontourwithfellow for us,inthecaseofKirinJCallinanit’s the idiosyncratic haircutcangetyou.Unfortunately might beeuphemisticallydescribedasan There’s onlysofarthat abadshirtandwhat O2 Academy TAME IMPALA /KIRINJCALLINAN LIVE experiences. “Itried Fostersforthefirsttime your mindandopening yourselfuptonew do seemssteeped inthehippyidealsoffreeing changed fromLSDtocoke.Everything they 1970s, themusician’s drugofchoicenever happened and,asthe1960sgave waytothe a paralleluniverseinwhich Altamont never Ortoputitanotherway, they’reaglimpseinto capture it. basslines and,mostimportantly, thesongs to have thepsychedelicvisuals,bobbing Soft Bulletin’ isfairgame,and Tame Impala central groundpreviouslyoccupiedby‘The further off intotheleftfieldgloom,more and tourmates)graduallyshufflingfurther latter (whohappentobeformercollaborators Beatles and Wayne Coyne’s crew. With the – wouldbethemissinglinkbetween his bedroomprojectoutintothewiderworld others whohelptotakewhatwasoriginally Impala –essentiallyKevinParkerandfour Ben Woolhead aside, I’mnotdisagreeing. could havehoped”. OurfriendMrCallinan “Tonight’s goneamilliontimesbetter thanI of acroakfest”,butbytheendhe’s beaming: having aheavycoldandfearing “the danger the beginningofevening,Parker admitsto high hastohavesomekindofcomedown. At perhaps peakabittooearly–but thenevery IfIwastobecritical,itwouldthatthey be immortalisedinterracechants. Nation Army’, yousense itcouldbedestinedto bellowed outwithsuchgustothat,like‘Seven ‘Elephant’, whoseriff andsolo arecollectively their mostanimatedforthumpingfootstomper enveloping fogofweedsmoke. They’re at rabidly excitedthanyou’dimaginegiventhe response fromacapacitycrowdmuchmore bonus track‘BeverlyLaurel’ receivingawarm first timetoday, thelivedebutof‘Lonerism’ isn’t theonlything Tame Impalatry forthe Itturnsoutthatpseudo-Aussiecookinglager know theydon’t evensellit in Australia.” today”, announcesonebandmember. “You NUDYBRONQUE / CHARMS HUCK & THE XANDER BAND

AGAINST THE EVIL EYE / TORN The Old Fire Station you’re Not INvIted! LIKE COLOURS / MARK SOLLIS The moment tonight’s premiere cinema, but it’s told through the performance of `Alexander the lyrics of this twelve-song suite, The Wheatsheaf Great: A Folk Operetta’ starts I so both elements are one and the Mark Sollis’ voice sits somewhere from Trivial Pursuit, which is a know I am stuck in a quandary. same. The visuals put together MUSIC FESTIVAL between a supper club crooner and refreshing change from the norm, Not as to whether I like what I’m by Matt Halliday and Billy a wounded bear. He has a song and the songs are neat, built on seeing, or even as to the quality - Quarterman are a series of visual about sheep, replete with melodic unexpectedly muso-ish fretless there’s no debate there - The issue contexts and cues for the story bleating, and a song about local bass and precise drums, and topped is what I am seeing. Now before that root the show in narrative 19/20 JULY musical miserablist and walking off with guitar that jumps between you think I have arrived to review a more than music performance. Gallifrey Base discussion board, Peter Buck chiming and blurred show in the middle of some kind of The music is clearly rooted in the Acts include: THE PLOUGH INN Mark Bosley. Put it like this: he Gedge hyper-strums. Highly hallucinogenic episode, I’m talking deep south, and the projections add Peerless Pirates has character, and character goes enjoyable, if lacking spark at some about categorising the show; is it the dust of the highways and the a gig, a musical, a film with a live brash city lights of New Orleans; Bethany Weimers a long way. But, sadly, not always junctures. LONG WITTENHAM soundtrack? I think the answer is the grounding and purpose of Fracture far enough. Our beer-soaked gig notebook Torn Like Colours, on the other simply reads “floppy Suede probably of all of the above. We truly well-constructed art. The The Mighty Redox FREE ADMISSION hand, have apparently had all their dweebs” under the heading are in a theatre space; the audience two round screens show symbols The Lucky Club character removed, possibly by the Nudybronque. Not really fair, is seated, though some definitely so from the surrounding artwork Twizz Twangle sort of high-spec vacuum packing as their music has the melodic in the ‘standing’ area; there is one that almost act as a codex for the Man Make Fire device used to seal an astronaut’s sensibility and feeling of restless large traditional projector screen events, were you to have got lost in Mark Bosley band risotto. Their music is a hideous invention that typified pre-fame and two photographer’s reflectors the guitars/keys/drums or bass and melange of suburban rocking, Pulp, as evidenced by their recent for further imagery. The band are missed some story. Matt Edwards Band Tony Batey something like Lita Ford without demo which reached the final of on the floor in front of us, and give Like many others here tonight the leather, and relentlessly joyless Nightshift’s Demo World Cup an eclectic and mesmerising show. I come along not knowing quite Our Biscuit Selves `Alexander The Great’ is what to expect and leave thankful Reckless Sleepers chirpy pop, something like drive last month, but in a way they’re time on Satan AM. They try to more a bundle of proto-Britpop obviously a narrative piece, and I took the plunge. It’s not often True Rumour.. inject some interest by knocking signifiers than a band; probably adding that constraint has let Huck you come out of a gig having seen out a tired mash-up and nicking an great to start a cultural studies and his team go wider with the something genuinely new but I this Also: children’s activities, food, stalls… raffle… and more intro from `Eye Of The Tiger’, but discussion with, but not great to music than any one band would. time we did. How often do you none of it saves a moribund set. listen to. We suspect this set, in We get folk, Americana, blues, see beautiful animation, poetry, a SUPPORTING LOCAL MUSIC AND RAISING FUNDS FOR tHe CeLLAr … Charms Against The Evil Eye a hot empty room, after the band rock’n’roll and in the darkest tragic coming-of-age story, and a available for Private Hire YOUNG WOMEN'S MUSIC PROJECT & MY LIFE MY CHOICE also sound like they’re stuck in missed soundcheck when stuck moments we stray as far as the performance by a band so tight and [email protected] about 1988, where their lives were in traffic on a blocked A34, is not prog of early Pink Floyd. On paper well arranged that it feels they’ve For more info and full lineup see www.wittstock.co.uk filled with erudite indie, poetry the one on which to judge them, this sounds like a terrible mess, been doing the circuit for decades. and occasional caches of scratchy and our notebook’s dismissive but being in aid of (tragic) story That may have been a rhetorical Oxfam psychedelia. The lyrics damnation is probably a long way and not the ego of a songwriter, it question but the answer should me could mostly have been culled from describing a promising band. works. much more often. from Science & Nature questions David Murphy The story evolves like left-field Matt Chapman Jones

that roots singer JACK DAY, dressed all in WOOD FESTIVAL black in defiance of the sunshine, has become Braziers Park a duo with BRYONY AFFERSON, who’s With the organic-everything infrastructure in Accompanying himself just on acoustic guitar, dressed in white, and together they had become place, and with nature in Braziers Park doing his is an extremely self-assured performance SUGAR MAGNOLIA. Very confusing as its thing in abundance, the sixth WOOD is as despite apparently missing his band at times; there’s nothing sugary about Jack’s rough, green as ever. And the sun shines. “you have to imagine the bass player doing a almost haggard whisper of a voice even when Given the weather, along with the workshops solo here,” he announces at one point. Such is it blends appealingly with Bryony’s purer tone. and so much else besides, the music could the nimbleness and wit not only of his lyrics but As Jack knows his way round a lyric they seem like a sideshow, but it remains the heart of his banter with the crowd, that Nightshift can could have a future but they need to ditch that and soul of WOOD. Arguably the weekend’s forgive that the set falls a bit short on variety. saccharine name. highlight is Stornoway front man BRIAN Most of the rest of the weekend’s bill tends It’s also on the second stage that we hear two BRIGGS’ solo debut in a setting which could towards, as Nightshift’s preview had it, “the entertaining Birmingham bands, the Neil Young hardly have been more intimate, since as the folkier and organic side of things,” including influenced GOODNIGHT LENIN who have Kindling tent only holds about twenty lucky WOOD regular and kora maestro JALI added more substance since last sighted at punters. He is in confident form vocally, and the FILY CISSOKO who gets one of the biggest WOOD 2011, and BOAT TO ROW, an alt. stripped-down renditions of Stornoway’s songs cheers of the weekend. Several of the folk folk band with similarities to our own Cooling work well in this environment, particularly performances have moments of captivating Pearls, and a harmonium and a drummer who ‘I Saw You Blink’. Between numbers he beauty entirely suited to the ethos and setting of lay down subtle minimalist grooves. entertains with duck trivia; Nightshift now the festival, JACKIE OATES, O’HOOLEY No minimalist grooves on Sunday night knows that half the world’s duck population is AND TIDOW, and RACHEL DADD to though, when the festival has a big party in Vietnam, and his set includes a duck song as name three, but folk dirge overload does start courtesy of the reliably boisterous ORIGINAL well as the new ‘Love Song of the Beta Male,’ to set in and the alt.psych electric guitar and RABBIT FOOT SPASM BAND. Their a Stornoway number in the making. His whole synth pulses of MY SAD CAPTAINS comes uninhibited brass riffs and uptempo vintage set is a delight. as timely relief; the longer we listen the more sounding jazz numbers follow hotly one after The choice of a solo set from SWEET absorbing becomes their understated sound the other and get the entire festival site, even BABOO to headline the main stage on and appealing melodies. It seems they might Nightshift, shaking a leg. It’s an invigorating Saturday night seems as quirky as the man have some flair with lyrics too, but it’s hard to if undignified way to end what’s been another himself but his idiosyncratic style turns decipher much on that score. enjoyable WOOD festival. out to be both absorbing and entertaining. Over at the Tree Tent second stage we discover Colin May Fri 04 Jul Battle of the Thu 25 Sep The Haven INTRODUCING.... Bully – Independence Day Club: Will Wilde 7pm Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under Party 5pm; £5 Sat 04 Oct Tom Vek 7pm; Sun 06 Jul Simple’s Cowley £11adv Road Carnival After Party Fri 10 Oct Chuck Prophet Adam Barnes Doors: 6pm; £6 & Mission Express 7pm Who is he? Adam Barnes is a singer/songwriter from Oxford. He started performing Sun 13 Jul World Cup Final Sun 11 Oct Dan Croll three and a half years ago, releasing a debut EP, `Blisters’. Subsequently he – Kick off 8pm; FREE 7pm has toured the UK, the US and Europe, including shows at SXSW, a three- week tour of Germany and Switzerland with Richard Walters at the start of Sun 20 Jul Humour Sat 11 Oct Simple 11pm last year and a four-week tour of Holland, Germany and Italy with American Tumour Comedy Club Sun 12 Oct Humour songwriters Chris Ayer and Matt Simons in November 2013. This month sees the release of his full debut album, `The Land, The Sea & Everything Lost Doors: 7:30pm Tumour Comedy Club Beneath’. The album was crowd funded via KickStarter. Sat 26 Jul White Magic 7pm; £5 What does he sound like? 10am the next morning before we had to head to the next city.” presents A Nite of Music Thu 16 Oct Billy Lockett Adam’s own description of himself, “melancholic yet uplifting contemporary His favourite other Oxfordshire act is: folk music, inspired by the likes of Damien Rice and Ray LaMontagne “Richard Walters for the aforementioned reasons. He was kind enough to Part 3 11pm 7:30pm; £9adv that every now and then flirts with folk rock before retreating to a lyrically take me out on tour with him and include me in his band, which was great Sat 02 Aug Seani B (1Xtra) Sun 18 Oct Wittstock melodic sombreness,” is pretty spot on. His album is a distillation of the experience. He’s an amazing songwriter and person.” plaintive soulfulness that has always permeated his reflective acoustic songs If he could only keep one album in the world, it would be: 11pm Fundraiser 7pm with their dedication to sorrow and longing. “Ray LaMontagne: `Til The Sun Turns Black’. It’s a record I have on vinyl Sat 16 Aug OP21 plus Sat 01 Nov Simple 11pm What inspires him? and it never ceases to amaze me. It’s just one of those complete albums that “Other songwriters mostly. Richard Walters was a big influence when I was you can listen to from beginning to end with no hesitation. Well, except to flip guests 7pm Mon 03 Nov The Haven Club - Kirk Fletcher 7pm 16: it was amazing to see a local act achieve what he has done. More recently, the vinyl over every 5 tracks.” Sat 23 Aug Wittstock Fundraiser 7pm Sun 09 Nov Humour Tumour Comedy Club 7pm; I’ve been listening to a lot of Aidan Knight and Noah Gundersen, whose new When is his next local gig and what can newcomers expect? albums make me want to step up my game.” “I’m hoping to be playing a big full band show this autumn. It’s quite a Sun 24 Aug Humour Tumour Comedy Club 7pm; £5 Career highlight so far: different show to my usual acoustic gigs and it’s nice to showcase a different £5 Mon 17 Nov The Haven Club: The Brew 7pm “I’d have to say my first ever show in Germany. It was a headline show in side to my music.” Berlin, a sold out evening in a small basement venue in the sweltering heat, His favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: Sat 30 Aug As it is Above launch party 7pm Sat 22 Nov Salvage / I Cried Wolf / Evavoid / but despite the temperature and the lack of air conditioning/windows, it was “So many awesome small venues in the city, as well as the ability for nearly Fri 05 Sep Andrew Combs Trio 7pm; £10adv Godsbane 7:30pm the most incredible atmosphere.” every space to be turned into some kind of venue. On the other hand, not And lowlight: 7pm; 7pm; enough small capacity all-ages venues. I think we’re missing a trick there.” Sun 07 Sep Humour Tumour Comedy Club £5 Fri 05 Dec Dreadzone £16 “Playing a set at 11pm in Munster midway through a club because the You might love him if you love: Thu 18 Sep The Haven Club: Marcus Malone 7pm Sat 06 Dec Simple 11pm promoter thought it would have died down by then, which it hadn’t. I got Damien Rice; Bon Iver; Frightened Rabbit; Elliot Smith; Gregory Alan Isakov Sun 20 Sep Wittstock Fundraiser 7pm Sat 20 Dec Simple 11pm about 4 songs in before they realised it was best to cancel and move it to a Hear him here: better place where people could listen, which ended up being a coffee shop at adambarnes.bandcamp.com DR SHOTOVER: SPACK FM T H E W H E A T S H E A F Good morning, pop-pickers. You may approach the presence. The usual THIS MONTH IN OXFORD rd tribute of beers and cheap brandies will be exacted, so form an orderly Thursday 3 July –THE SPIN JAZZ ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY queue at the East Indies Club bar. Lord Torville and I were just devising Glorious days. Never mind, head over to The Pit The Brummie balladeer had made his name locally 8pm/£10 our soon-come radio show, SPACK fm – listen and marvel, newbies. There 20 YEARS AGO CHRIS ALLARD in Witney on the 23rd and you could see Lesbian while at Brookes University, teaming up with Friday 4th July – KLUB KAKOFANNEY will be a plethora of amusing chat, eg anecdotes about Torville’s cheesy “Friends cross the road to avoid me since they read Biker Sluts In Wheelbarrows. welsh violinist Angharad Jenkins, making a dark, 80s metal band Leerdammer, and news’n’views on everything Oxon, from those reviews. Everyone thinks I’m some kind of emotional kind of electric folk-pop that was melting William-Morris-dancing to Smilex’s favourite deadly sinkholes. At no point terrifying nutcase.” PEERLESS PIRATES hearts among local sceneseters. Good to know he’s MARY BENDY TOY + TORN LIKE COLOURS 8pm/£5 will Oxfordshire be pronounced ‘Oxford-SHEER’. The playlist, meanwhile, So said James Green, singer with Underbelly. His Thursday 10th July –THE SPIN JAZZ 10 YEARS AGO still going for it. will emanate from the ancestral Shotover jukebox… which means plenty of band were gracing the cover of Curfew magazine A moment of poignancy looking at the front back in July 1994 and we might have mentioned Sadly the big news this month was the death of 8pm/£10 scratched Hawkwind, Crimson and Sabbaff, and absolutely no Young People’s cover of July 2004’s Nightshift, featuring as it did ANATOLI VYCAHESLAVOV & STUART HENDERSON Kate Garrett at the tender age of just 37. Kate, Friday 11th July –IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC Music. Requests? Of course… if accompanied by a sports bag full of used the band were a little on the scary side, what with local electro-pop trio Trademark, whose album who’d made her reputation first in The Mystics, tenners. Though Kasabian will never be played. Never. (Kasabian think they their piercings and tattoos and Very Loud Music. `Want More’ was released that month. Back then and then under her own name, had succumbed to LIES OF ELIZABETH 8pm/£5 are ‘it’… and in fact they are. ‘It’ with a capital SHH). Yes, Baylock, there Of course, as is ever the case, the band are never Nightshift was enthusing about the band’s techno- th cancer, but not before leaving behind both some Saturday 12 July – MURDER OF CROWS PROMOTIONS will be adverts… but not that one for a nursery which is ‘second to Mum’ as monstrous as the music would suggest. “We’re savvy update of the classic synth sounds of Human awesome music (seriously, track down a copy of her with a man pretending to be a friendly bear. As we all know, the average the puniest band in Oxford,” claimed bass player league, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys and wonderful `King of the Birds’), and The Oxford A TRUST UNCLEAN friendly bear would rip the children’s arms off if they had the misfortune Pete Marler during a conversation revolving around chatting with lifelong friends Oli Horton and EMPIRE DIVIDED + CROW’S REIGN + A KILLER AMONGST US 7:30PM / £4 to encounter him, whether or not he is called ‘Mr Mellow’ and enjoys sticking James in a boxing ring with Henry Rollins. Young Women’s Music Project, which carries th Stuart Meads as they prepared to perform at Truck Thursday 17 July –THE SPIN JAZZ on to this day, providing support and tuition to the ability to talk. And believe me, I have met a few talking animals in my Underbelly were, back then, Oxford’s nastiest, Festival at the end of the month. Tragically Stuart girls hoping to make their mark in music. Mystics time… pass me that curiously legal yet extremely potent e-pipe, Torville… noisiest grunge-metal warriors. And age hasn’t died, alongside partner Gavin, in November last BENET MACLEAN QUARTET 8pm/£10 frontman Sam Williams and Baby Gravy drummer th PFFWWTT, PFFWWTT… Ahhh, there you are. It’s Mr Grumblecute the chatty mellowed any of them one iota. James now fronts year. Saturday 19 July –MD PROMOTIONS Zahra Tehrani, who would take over the reins of badger, isn’t it? How ARE things on the riverbank this week? Marvellous, the carnage-wreaking Komrad, while Pete still Joining Trademark at Truck this month were Strobes flicker; Dr S falls off his barstool in slow motion and summons hell in musical form with Agness Pike the project, were among those paying tribute to an TAKE TODAY 8pm/£5 marvellous. [ headliners The Eighties Matchbox B-Line ANNERO inspiring woman. Wednesday 23rd July sinks into some (alongside fellow Underbelly brothers Mike and Disaster and Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez, In happier news, Sugababes were headlining this large beanbags; Chris Brown) and lately Girl Power. along with perennial Truckers The Electric Soft clamping Talking of 20 years ago, can it really be so long ago month’s Cornbury Festival, where they were joined DALLAS DON’T BE LIKE PABLO 8pm/£5 Parade, and Goldrush; Million Dead; Electric Eel th by The Pretenders; Magic Numbers; Peter Green; Thursday 24 July –THE SPIN JAZZ headphones over that `Strange Ones’ by Supergrass was released? Shock; Dive Dive and The Cribs, who have moved The Lightning Seeds and, Scouting For Girls, who his ears, he listens Well there it was, in all its glory, Curfew’s reviewer up the bill somewhat for this year’s event. NIGEL PRICE 8pm/£10 to the ‘bustle in declaring the band “re-affirm my total belief in local are back again this year. Like a dose of herpes. Sat 25th July – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES your hedgerow’ music with their blistering two-and-a-half-minute There was a strong Oxford flavour about the section ofStairway collision-pop gemstones.” Soon a substantial 5 YEARS AGO Sunday of Truck Festival with Supergrass topping WARDENS to Heaven on proportion of the planet’s population would agree. Talking of things coming back round at a bill that also featured a reformed Candyskins; THE PINK DIAMOND REVUE + ELOISE REES 8pm/£5 repeat play until conveniently placed points in time, only last month Dive Dive; The Long Insiders; The Epstein; Jali th A typically quiet summer month found Fatima Sat 26 July he falls asleep]. Mansions and Tansads as highlights of the gigging Nightshift was waxing lyrical about Montmartre at Fily Cissokho and The Relationships. It was a Next month: month in Oxford, both at the Jericho Tavern, The Wheatsheaf. The band is fronted by Joe Allen proud day to be an Oxford music fan, not to say a RED STAR CYCLE Illuminati? No while local names treading the boards included who – ta da! – was on the cover of Nightshift back rather emotional hour or so while The Candyskins EYES FOR GURTRUDE + VIENNA DITTO + 27B/6 8pm £6 thanks, just put ‘Hello, SPACK traffic news? I’d like to report a tailback on The Fatbelly Blues Band; Ned Kelly Blues Band in July 2009 with his band, The Joe Allen Band. reminded everyone just how bloody brilliant they The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford one out… the A40… and so would my talking horse’. and Richie Rich and the Rich Boys Blues Band. Must have thought long and hard about that one. were. listened further into Simon’s Soundcloud violently) from the Pavement songbook, and his dance stuff is much more fun and while `Looking Down’ is doleful to the interesting. Simon, if any of this change point of gothic, the whole thing sounding in musical tack is due to you stopping like it’s being sung from the bottom of DEMOS taking party pills in order to save yourself an abandoned well. The band doubtless Sponsored by early-onset liver damage, have a rethink, unwilling to expend the necessary effort to Demo of the Month wins a free half day at please. Surely an ignoble death in a high- climb out. Silver Street Studios in Reading, courtesy dependency hospital ward is preferable to of Umair Chaudhry. people thinking you sound like Sting. Visit www.silverstreetstudios.co.uk/ nightshift-demo-of-the-month/ THE DEMO FRACTURE do tend to stumble and mumble a fair bit Desperation rarely looks or sounds DUMPER 01865 240250 DEMO OF but now they seem to have a semblance of appealing and Fracture do sound purpose about where it’s all going. Possibly remarkably desperate for much of to an early grave. Possibly to the next this three-song offering. Singer Mark THE VENETIAN THE MONTH whisky bar. `Yellow Moon’ in particular Brandish at least, whose strangulated, has a maudlin frosting of melody atop pleading voice dominates an easy, vaguely BAND its grungy blues shell, though the overall bluesy rock that’s otherwise going to A band fronted by a trained opera singer MR WOLFE impression you’re left with is of a band struggle to stamp its identity on your dressed as a Harlequin cavorting around in As we sit down to wade through this mere seconds away from collapsing into memory. Which isn’t to say they’re a videos featuring band members in masks month’s demo pile it’s so sunny and their twelfth pint of the night. A state we’re hopeless case. Opener `Stand in Line’ and cowls, simulated sex and strange old summery that even England’s wretched fully able to empathise with. is unimposing but Mark’s voice aims synthesizers. This has just got to be the World Cup showing can’t dampen for an almost epic sense of anguish and best, most rock and roll thing ever, right? Nightshift’s mood. So, cheery smiles and we’re given to thinking about Augustines’ Oh reader. Dear reader. This is fucking sunshiny dispositions all round, right? JOE TRUBY tales of familial desolation for a few dreadful. And so wretchedly dull to boot. Bring on those demos. In particular bring Joe here has been popping in with pleasing minutes. Nothing as grandiose On `The Black Cat’, poncy-meant-to-be- on Mr Wolfe, the pick of the pile and a occasional one-track demos for a while or emotionally shredded as that band but sinister clown opera man reclines on a sofa band who we guess have only the most now, the last one as recently as March, and decent enough; they could do to ramp up while barely-clad young ladies clamber fleeting familiarity with the concept of we must be doing something to encourage the pressure a couple of notches towards over and around him, but all we can focus sunbathing or uplifiting piano house. him since he’s back again, this time with the end for full stadium-sized catharsis. on is the stultifying soft rock that seems They’re from Banbury, which possibly to have crawled, or seeped out of an another floor-shaker called `Horizon’, From here, though, Fracture sound like .co.uk explains their downbeat demeanour and TURAN AUDIO which sounds like the name of some giant they’re trying to force the despair out abandoned LA recording studio sometime Professional, independent CD mastering boast The Doors, Cold War Kids, The warehouse club near Ayia Napa, where through cracks that aren’t there, the around 1986. It’s so lame there are value National and, inevitably, Johnny Cash, as this squelchy slab of electronic epic would brands of cat food that would turn it down gentle twinkle of `So Cold’’s introduction Artists mastered in the studio last month include; influences. Which would go some way to fit in like a hefty dash of vodka in a can making way for thumping post-grunge as unfit for slaughter and rendering. On explaining their hangdog bourbon-steeped of Redline energy drink. If, as the old bombast and 80s hair-metal pleading but `Dancing Angel’ poncy-meant-to-be-sinister MAYHEM, CARPATHIAN FOREST, MICK country-blues, which emanates from that cliché goes, writing about music is like all sounding like something formulated clown opera man stands enigmatically POINTER BAND, NATHAN MAJOR, UK SUBS, corner of an old roadhouse where the ghost dancing about architecture, perhaps we’d for an advertising campaign for soft behind his microphone with a guitar, the MADNESS, THE DARK SINATRAS, BURZUM, of old Seth doubtless still lingers, haunting be better doing a dance about this track rock fans’ grooming products. Mark’s footage intercut with him getting shagged strangers to the bar with rumbling tales instead of attempting to put its shimmering quavering voice actually works best on something mental by a barely-clad LOU REED, FRANK ZAPPA, LAURA SEIJA & THE of lost harvests and murdered spouses. tranciness into words. Can you see us out `Tonight’ where it sounds less forced, but young lady, but all we can focus on is the HAWKMEN, JUSTIN STEPHENS. Singer Matt Davy has an easy baritone, there in Readerland? That’s us wiggling the anonymous backing and melody (or directionless clutter of soft rock clichés authentically American in its accent with that mingle and curdle like a warm pint of and cavorting with something akin to wild lack of) fails to do it justice. We’re not 01865 716466 [email protected] hints of Chris Isaak and particularly Matt abandon. It’s not pretty, we’ll give you sure whether to tell them to stop trying so condensed milk and bin juice. And then Berringer about him, while the music is that, but it’s the best we can do given our hard, or to try twice as hard. there’s the whining. The incessant whining. pitched between driving electric blues overbearing social awkwardness and lack We think that’s the opera bit, but it sounds (`Never Call’) to ruminating, rootsy country- of any sense of rhythm, but it’ll have to do. like someone’s stuck gaffa tape over Ronnie THE COURTYARD rock (`Bet With The Devil’), the band rarely In essence, we like this and would, given BLOOD RED STARS James Dio’s mouth and is torturing him straying far from a set of musical rules and the requisite amount of drugs and caffeine In contrast to Fracture, Blood Red Stars with a scrotum clamp. On `Sometimes’, RECORDING STUDIO moods that’s remained unchanged since supplements, dance to it most of the night. don’t sound like they’re particularly trying poncy-meant-to-be-sinister clown opera Custer made his last stand. We’ll not hold at all, from the singer’s lazy rock drawl man serenades a thankfully fully clothed PROTOOLS HD2, MTA 980 CONSOLE 32/24/24, OTARI such things against them any, since this to the band’s passable if somewhat by- young lady on a (different) sofa with some MTR90 MK2 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE, 2 TRACKING is fine wintry drinking music and knocks SIMON ROWE rote grunge chug. `You Beg’ us all fuzz vaguely funky soft rock, but all we can ROOMS, SUPERB CONTROL ROOM WITH GOOD SELEC- several spots off pretty much everything Simon, like Joe before him, usually and bluster and dismissive nonchalance, focus on is the full-length window and TION OF MICS & OUTBOARD GEAR + MIDI FACILITIES (Inc else laid before us this month. We stick it on makes dance music. But, being a guitarist kind of like if the Gallagher brothers had balcony behind them, over which he is LOGIC AUDIO, AKAI S1000, OLD SKOOL ROLAND etc.) repeat play and we swear a few leaves fall originally, he’s decided to stray from the grown up listening to Dinosaur Jr rather getting thrown very soon if he doesn’t shut forlornly from a nearby tree. path of soundtracking hedonistic mating than The Stone Roses, its momentum the fucking fuck up. But, hey, what’s this? Residential facilities included. rituals to indulge in some navel-gazing seemingly governed by the simple laws Young lady is cutting out a line of drugs on www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk fretnoodlery. Bad move Simon, old chap. of gravity rather than too much effort on the coffee table. Whoo, crazy rock and roll Phone RICHARD WALSH on 01235 845800 Of the two instrumental tracks here `M anyone’s part. No bad thing in itself, since behaviour. That or she’s so fucking sick of CLEVEDON Theory’ is just about the more bearable, much great music sounds effortless. The his incessant whining she’ll do anything to Clevedon, the collaborative affair between an extended soft-rock guitar solo over Abingdon three-piece continue to churn numb her senses to buggery. And here come now disbanded Demo of the Month a nominally funky bassline and heavy- a singularly grungy furrow on `Cadence’, some more masked men in cowls, circling winners Jeff Wode, and folk-popsters handed drum machine. We guess such here at least straining enough to include the apartment. They’re doubtless symbolic Sweet William, return with a second demo, musical indulgences have their place – a guitar solo amid the dreamy squall of something. A huge steaming pile of shit, continuing to sound as unsummery as it’s stadium gigs in the mid 1970s perhaps, that could have been torn (but not too perhaps. possible to be without actually being Greg or communal wheelie bins, but it don’t Lake’s `I Believe In Father Christmas’. half go on a bit. `Molasses’, meanwhile, Like a depressed Low fan spiked with sounds like a collaboration between Mark crystal meth and let loose on a steel guitar, Knopfler and Carlos Santana, but with they hack away at country-folk’s sense neither of them particularly on top of their Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links of restraint and come up with lacerated game and with the unnerving feeling that to [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without thumbs and an overwhelming sense of at any moment Sting is going to stumble a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you inescapable melancholy. As before they in and start singing about turtles. We can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

Sat 13th Sept • £10 adv Fri 31st Oct • £10 adv EVERY SATURDAY 6.30pm - 10pm 6pm - 10pm £5 adv / members, £4 students + NHS OTD 10.30pm - 3am • over 18s only The Doors Alive The Subways

Sat 21st Sept • £15 adv Sat 1st Nov • £11 adv 6.30pm - 10pm The Magic Numbers The Smyths Mon 29th Sept • £8 adv ‘Hatful of Hollow’ 30th Anniversary Eliza and The Bear Fri 7th Nov • £17.50 adv 6pm - 10pm Thurs 26th June • £12.50 adv Thurs 2nd Oct • £15 adv 6pm - 10pm Band Of Skulls Parquet Courts Wayne Hussey + Bo Ningen + The Wytches + Ultimate Painting Fri 3rd Oct • £20 adv Fri 7th Nov • £12.50 adv 7pm - 10pm 6pm - 10pm Sat 28th June • £7 adv 6.30pm - 11pm From The Jam Kate Tempest ‘Setting Sons’ 35th Anniversary Tour Skeletor ft. Salvage Thurs 13th Nov • £14 adv + The One Hundred + Dead Mesa Sat 4th Oct • £13 adv The Wedding Present + K-Lacura + Retribution 6.30pm - 10pm • Show starts 7pm Watusi Tour Weds 2nd July • £17.50 adv Ultimate Genesis Fri 14th Nov • £8 adv Peter Doherty Tues 7th Oct • £15 adv 6pm - 10pm Circa Waves Weds 9th July • £15 adv Supersuckers

The Dandy Warhols Thurs 9th Oct • £15 adv Sat 15th Nov • £17.50 adv + Dark Horses 6pm - 10pm Nine Below Zero La Roux Weds 9th July • £6 adv + Meanwhile Fri 10th Oct • £10 adv Fatherson 6pm - 10pm Sat 15th Nov • £8.50 adv Bipolar Sunshine 6.30pm - 10pm Thurs 10th July Saedly Dorus and James Sat 11th Oct • £12.50 adv 6.30pm - 10pm the Hoolie Band Fri 18th July • £9 adv / £25 VIP Dry the River 6pm - 10pm Sun 16th Nov • £10 adv Mike Dignam Sun 12th Oct • £12.50 adv Boy & Bear 7.30pm - 11pm Sat 19th July • £12.50 adv Nick Mulvey Sat 29th Nov • £19.50 adv 6pm - 10pm 6.30pm - 10pm The Midnight Beast Thurs 16th Oct • £15 adv Little Dragon The Orb Fri 25th July • £25 adv Sat 6th Dec • £10 adv 10.30pm - 3am • over 18s only 6.30pm - 10pm • on stage 8pm Fri 17th Oct • £11 adv Sanchez Live in concert 6.30pm - 10pm UK Foo Fighters Guns2Roses Fri 8th Aug • £20 adv Fri 12th Dec • £26 adv & Metallica Reloaded 6pm - 10pm NOFX Only UK Club show this year Saxon Fri 15th Aug • £10 adv Mon 20th Oct • £22 adv 35th Anniversary Tour 6pm - 11pm Heather Peace + Hell Skeletor Fri 24th Oct • £13 adv Sun 14th Dec • £18.50 adv ft. Karma To Burn 6pm - 10pm + Desert Storm + Hatemail Taking Back Sunday + Evavoid + Overlord Skeletal Family Fri 19th Dec • £7.50 adv & Salvation 8pm - midnight Tues 9th Sept • £10 adv The Original Cate Le Bon Sun 26th Oct • £14 adv + H. Hawkline Kids In Glass Houses Rabbit Foot Spasm Band Knees Up 2014 Thurs 11th Sept • £9 adv Mon 27th Oct • £28.50 adv ft. The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band Luke Sital-Singh UB40 + The Long Insiders + Special Guests

o2academyoxford.co.uk Tickets for Saturday night shows include free entry to Propaganda 190 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE • Doors 7pm unless stated (or £6 / £5 members / Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-5.30pm £4 students / NHS on the door) ticketweb.co.uk • wegottickets.com • seetickets.com • gigantic.com