[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 255 October Oxford’s Music Magazine 2016

“One of the best things music can do B is surprise me, and how could anyone predict an Ivor Cutler U song?” G PRENTICE

Sweet songs and nasty noises with Oxford’s oddball pop trio. Also inside this issue: Introducing TWISTED STATE OF MIND Klub Kakofanney turns 25 RIP `Dr Didg’ UNDERSMILE announce split plus All your Oxford music news, previews, reviews, and eight pages of local gigs for October NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshiftmag.co.uk

moment we don’t have the time and energy necessary to move the band forward.” The band, formed by singer- OXJAM celebrates its tenth anniversary guitarists Hel Sterne and Taz with a full day of live music across ten stages in east Oxford on Saturday Corona-Brown, along with bass 15th October. player Ollie Corona-Brown and The Oxford Oxjam Takeover runs from midday to midnight, featuring over drummer Tom McKibbin in 2009, 50 live acts and DJ sets. Participating venues are East Oxford Community were renowned for being one of the Centre (both rooms); Fusion Arts; The Library; The James Street Tavern; The most extreme bands ever to come Ultimate Picture Palace; Joe Perks; The Star; Truck Store, and Annie Sloan’s out of Oxford. Their early gigs upstairs gallery. regularly saw them clearing venues Among the acts performing are: Lowws; Death of Hi-Fi (pictured); Half of all but the hardiest of gig goers, Decent; Kancho; Masiro; The Beckoning Fair Ones; Kid Kin; After The but as their reputation grew and the Thought; Tiger Mendoza & David Griffiths; Hummingbird; Slate Hearts; band began touring further afield, Homeplanetearth; Be Good; Atlanta Swim; The Great Western Tears; Little including tours across Europe, Red, Ghosts in the Photographs; Moogieman & the Masochists; Egrets; Esme notably supporting Dylan Carson, Neale; Holy Moments; Luke Allmond; Overdog; Green Hands; Cosmosis, they attracted a huge following and Sshh! The Deaf Have Aids vs Manacles of Acid; Esther Joy Lane; UNMAN; earned regular rave reviews for their Balkan Wanderers; Dan Rawle; Cherokii; Roberto y Amigos; The Factory original formed of sludgy, tectonic Lights; Crime; Amoral Compass; The Deadbeat Apostles; Ute (acoustic); UNDERSMILE have announced doom-metal that was described in Rose Segal; The Outside; a Young Women’s Music Project takeover; The they have split up. The band put one Nightshift feature as “a spectral Dreaming Spires; Austin Lucas; Jess Hall; No Dice Grandma; The Fusion up a statement on their Facebook moan from the cellar of a haunted Project; Storyteller, and Progressively Less Elephant DJs. th page on the 16 September that dolls house.” Oxjam Oxford, this year sponsored by local construction company Basil said, “We’ve decided, as friends, Undersmile released two studio Wyatt & Sons, is part of a n annual nationwide web of events raising money that Undersmile has come to an albums, `Narwhal’ in 2012, and for Oxfam’s anti-poverty work around the world. All-venue tickets, priced end as of today. We’re all hugely `Anhedonia’ in 2015, as well as just £8 (+bf), are on sale now from Wegottickets.com, or on the day. proud of what we’ve achieved with various EPs and split releases. Wristband exchange will be at East Oxford Community Centre from 11am. the band. We’ve been honoured `Anhedonia’ was hailed as “a doom Regularly updated news will be on the Oxjam Oxford Facebook page. and humbled by the support we’ve masterpiece” on its release. On Friday 7th October Sofar Sounds host their own Oxjam benefit at a secret received from fans of the band and Taz and Ollie continue to play venue that will be made known to ticket holders the day before the show. the international doom community together in their band Drore, but Visit their Facebook page to find out more. as a whole in the seven years that for now, Oxford’s venues are going Abingdon hosts an Oxjam takeover on Saturday 29th October at The we’ve been together. With so many to be quieter, safer, and far less Unicorn Theatre. Kanadia, Coldredlight, All Is Worth and Sophronie will be things going on in our lives at the exciting places. performing. Tickets from the theatre and Remade Guitars.

source. All during the show he would emit these GRAHAM WIGGINS 1962-2016 huge blasts of fire during the performance. The Tributes have been paid to Graham Wiggins, aka temperature in the room became unbearably hot Dr Didg, who has died at the age of 53. Graham’s and it was a minor miracle that the whole place passing was announced by his bandmates on didn’t burn to the ground. Huge balls of fire Facebook on September 8th, with a statement that rising from the stage at random intervals during read, “It’s with a heavy heart and sadness that we the show it; wasn’t really pyrotechnics it was just announce the unexpected passing of our dear friend pyro in its purest form. I helped him purchase a and amazing musician Graham Wiggins (a.k.a. “Dr portable DAT machine and microphone to take to Didg”) on September 7th . We have no details at Australia and asked him for some ambiences if he this time other than he passed in his sleep. This is got the chance. He came back three months later quite a shock to us. We’ve had nothing but amazing with a two hour tape just for me as a thank you. times and learned a lot through our travels with Full of natural ambiences, rainstorms, thunder Graham. He was one of the most well-informed earning him the nickname Dr Didg, and his skills etc. I was knocked out at his generosity. He was a and classiest people you could know.” earned him a slot playing with The Grateful Dead, great musician to work with.” Born in New York, Graham earned a doctorate as well as becoming a staple of the UK festival Graham’s friend and former manager Jon in physics from Oxford University and made scene. Bell added, “Whilst everyone knew what a his name as a pioneering didgeridoo player on Among those to pay tribute were local musicians phenomenal didg player he was, skills honed the local scene – and far beyond – through the and mastering engineer Tim Turan, who said, “I by his living with a tribe of Aborigines in the 1980s and 90s before moving back to the States first met Graham when he came to my house in Northern Territories for three months, few in 2000. Having formed the band Outback with 1989 to record the track `Dingo Go’ with Martin realise what a wonderfully gifted and classically guitarist Martin Cradick in 1988, fusing traditional Cradick, which got released on their first CD. I trained pianist he was too. I’m lucky to have Australian aboriginal music with modern sounds, went on to record many performances of Outback, a tape of Graham playing an extraordinary he later led Dr Didg, releasing some 15 albums but one particular show they asked me to video. beautiful version of The Grateful Dead’s classic and touring around the world. He invented a It was at the Jericho Tavern in 1991. Graham `Dark Star’ on piano. I shall miss him and his keyed didgeridoo while studying for his doctorate, brought with him a huge gas tank and an ignition dry wit.” THE FUSION PROJECT influences in really interesting and will become only the second non- moving ways, but I don’t think classical group to perform at the they’re coming at it from the same historic Sheldonian Theatre when place we are. We try and expose they play the Christopher Wren- people to the Indian classical world NEWS through the medium of western designed concert hall on Friday playing it but the camera didn’t show October 21st. songwriting and English lyrics. I my fingers. Other than that one song, The Oxford ensemble’s fusion of guess, within the music, the western I am really excited about playing Indian classical music, pop, rock stuff acts as a point of familiarity with Joe and Mike again; so many and blues has seen them playing that people can hook on to. of my favourite moments in my 20s alongside Ustad Rahat Fateh “The music community in Oxford were with those guys.” Ali Khan and The Raghu Dixit has been so important in nurturing Ahead of their full reunion, Ollie Project, but the Sheldonian show us. From the very beginning we’ve and Mike play an acoustic Ute set at will be their biggest headline gig had nothing but support and love this year’s Oxjam Oxford takeover to date, organised by Tigmus – the from both the University and the on Saturday 15th October. BLACK SKIES BURN promotions collective featuring Oli town. Yes, there was an Asian Steadman from Stornoway – who community that was always going release a split EP next month and NIKKI LOY releases her third became the first non-classical act to to be a little more receptive to are set to tour with Napalm Death album, `Pivotal’, on the 14th October. play the hall back in 2009 what we did but what really took in 2017. The local singer-songwriter plays The nine-strong ensemble formed us by surprise was how the music Asian music. We all met through beautiful Indian classical dances The local grindcore crew release a hometown show at SAE in when singer and guitarist Rushil seemed to be enjoyed regardless of the Oxford Indian Classical Arts done to some of the tracks, which is a `Brian Blessed Are The Sick’ with Littlemore on Thursday 20th October, KLUB KAKOFANNEY celebrates a quarter of a century of st where people come from and the Society, for example. There are a feature that I’m really excited about. Bristol’s Hategrind on the 31 gigs this month. The long-running club night will host three days of live Ranjan met flautist Praveen which follows a UK tour support music they were used to listening to. whole host of different groups and “Improvisation is pretty central to October on Grindscene Records. music over the weekend of the 7th-9th October at The Wheatsheaf. Prathapan at Oxford University; to Westlife’s Shane Filan. The SAE We’ve been blessed to have started societies that really do invest in the Indian Classical tradition and The EP includes a Black Skies Burn Klub Kakofanney began in October 1991 with the aim of recreating the together they mix original songs show will be a full band gig for up in a scene that is so incredibly South Asian art and culture.” its one of the things that we love cover of Extreme Noise Terror’s spirit of free festivals in Oxford venues, and has proudly continued its with fusion covers of Adele, Ed Nikki. Tickets are on sale now at open minded!” “For newcomers the best way to doing the most! Yes, there will be a `Deceived’, which has become a open-minded, anything-goes policy ever since. The monthly not-for-profit Sheeran and Eddie Vedder, among www.nikkiloy.com describe The Fusion Project is as lot that’s new but at the same time highlight of their live set. The EP club has been forced to move venues a couple of times in its long history others. Explaining the roots of The Fusion an introduction to the world of our aim has always been to keep was produced by local noisemeister NOUGHT make a rare return to but has found a stable, loving home at The Wheatsheaf for the past 15 Talking to Nightshift ahead of the Project, Rushil explains, “I grew Indian and Sufi music through the this music accessible so that people Umair Chaudhry. Oxford in November. The band, years. th Sheldonian show, Rushil said, “I up in an Indian household and medium of western songwriting. who aren’t familiar with it can get In March next year the band head helmed by guitar virtuoso James The celebration weekend kicks off on Friday 7 with sets from Somerset’s can’t really think of too many other didn’t really come into contact with People will hear tabla drums and into it!” off for a tour of Ireland with Napalm Sedwards, currently playing as part techno-punk crew UK:ID, Cherokii, Smiley & the Underclass and Charms acts doing what we’re doing that are any Indian music. I was vaguely Indian classical flute and singing, Death, having previously supported of Thurston Moore’s band, play The Against the Evil Eye. The fun continues on Saturday evening with Peerless in the same place we’re in. There interested in the rhythms and ragas blended into some of their favourite Tickets for the Sheldonian show are Sepultura over there. Guitarist Chris Bullingdon on Friday 4th November Pirates, Callow Saints, Vienna Ditto, The Mighty Redox and Osprey, and are some absolutely mind-blowing but didn’t really get a chance to tracks from artists such as Jimi on sale now, priced from £8 to £18 Marks said, “We Still can’t believe for Audioscope. Support comes winds down on Sunday with an afternoon of free live music in the Sheaf’s fusion artists out there, like the explore it. That totally changed as Hendrix, John Lennon and even (plus booking fee) from we have been handed the opportunity from Tomaga and Rhys Chatham’s downstairs bar with sets from Klub Kak regulars Les Clochards, Beard of incredible Raghu Dixit Project and soon as I got to Oxford. If you’re some Adele and Ed Sheeran! There’ll www.eventbrite.co.uk. Find out to support our biggest influence, not Guitar Trio. In the absence of a full Destiny, Twizz Twangle, Purple May, Mark Bosley and Laima Bite. Anoushka Shankar; there are also a open to it, there’s an amazing scene also be plenty of original materiel more about the group on their once but three times!” Visit Audioscope festival this year, the Phil Freizinger and partner Sue Smith, who play together in The Mighty whole host of artists that use Indian for people who are into South being played. We’ve also got some Facebook page. www.blackskiesburn.co.uk. gig will be a fundraiser for homeless Redox, founded Klub Kakofanney with lighting man and artist Ainan charity Shelter. Addison, and Phil spoke to Nightshift about the club’s origins, enduring success and some of the highlights over the years. UTE are set to reform for a one-off SOFAR SOUND host two live “If you happen upon a Klub Kakofanney night you instinctively feel gig in December. music events this month, including a something different from a regular gig,” he explains, “the bands are not The former Nightshift cover stars free session for children. The regular genre specific, there is a warmth and friendliness in the air and the audience split in 2011 when drummer Joe Sofar Sounds Session takes place and acts are working together to maximise the party feel. The tone is set Gibbs moved to Canada, with singer on Friday 7th October. As is typical by the free festival spirit of openness and sharing and love of music. This Ollie Thomas going on to form The of Sofar shows, venue and acts are ethos remains as strong now as at our first gig in 1991. When we started Old Grinding Young before going announced to ticket holders two days there were few venues that would put on original music; that`s why we solo under the name Salvation Bill, THE before the gig, with this show acting founded the Klub. while bassist Michael Chilcott as a fundraiser for Oxjam. “We’re looking forward to the whole anniversary weekend and welcoming formed Kancho! and co-runs Idiot On Saturday 15th October, Sofar host regulars like Twizz Twangle, who was there from the beginning, and King Records and promotions. a kids music session as part of The new acts who`ve never played Klub Kakofanney before, like the amazing The reunion show will be part of New Theatre’s Family Open Day. Smiley And The Underclass, and UKID back for their third gig with us. But Idiot King’s Christmas party on The session runs from 10am to 1pm it’s as much about the audience: united in party and music.” th CELLAR. OXFORD’S FINEST INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUE Friday 16 December at The Cellar, and entry is free. Visit Phil feels there have been too many highlights over the past 25 years to in aid of the Michael Barry Fund. www.sofarsounds.com/oxford for single any one out but says, “for party music for me it’s got to be Fuzzy Lucy Leave and Slate Hearts support. more details. Logic, for Sue it’s Peerless Pirates; for quirkiness and genius it’s Vienna Talking to Nightshift about the Ditto and Brickwork Lizards, not to forget the brilliant Balloon Ascents, reunion, Michael said, “People are SOUNDWORKS STUDIOS is now Neverlnd. We all have special love for the erstwhile Tongue & often asking about whether Ute will relaunched this month with renowned Groove, but there’s too many great memories. As we say in The Mighty ever play again. Joe’s been living local producer and engineer Umair Redox: `We Love You All’ – every act that’s ever played our nights!” in Canada for the last few years but Chaudhry going into partnership Klub Kakofanney runs on the first Friday of every month at The LIVE MUSIC AND DANCE CLUB he’s coming back later in the year, with Soundworks owner Danny Wheatsheaf. INDIE, ROCK, HOUSE, GARAGE, TECHNO, DISCO, D&B, DUBSTEP and we kind of thought it would be Burbridge. HIP-HOP, REGGAE, SKA & MORE.... a good time to get together and play Danny ran the studio alongside the all that old nonsense again and see if late Dave Norland for many years, The refurbishment will feature new interviews and sessions with local anyone is genuinely still interested. working with myriad local bands and equipment, services and website, acts. The show is available to stream THE CELLAR It’s gonna be interesting to try and pioneering community projects for with a launch party to be announced. or download as a podcast at FREWIN COURT remember those songs again but young musicians as well as homeless Visit www.soundworks-oxford. bbc.co.uk/oxford. we’re really up for the challenge.” musicians and those with mental co.uk for more details. OXFORD Ollie added, “I went to go and health issues. OXFORD GIGBOT provides OX1 3HZ play through some of the Ute tunes Umair previously worked at Keynote AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into a regular local gig listing update WWW.CELLAROXFORD.CO.UK and on the way to my guitar I was and Silver Street studios and has for BBC Oxford Introducing every on Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing thinking things like, `this is going to a long time offered free studio time Saturday night between 8-9pm on you new gigs as soon as they go sound great’ and `I can’t wait,’ then to the winner of Nightshift’s Demo 95.2fm. The dedicated local music live. They also provide a free MUSIC HISTORY BEGINS UNDERGROUND! I tried to play one of the songs and I of the Month each month, which will show plays the best Oxford releases weekly listings email. Just contact couldn’t. I watched a video of myself continue. and demos as well as featuring [email protected] to join. A Quiet Word With to have creative input from my guitar in my teens by playing songs do you find films as influential as presumptions or outright prejudice bandmates, and the possibilities are by the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, other musicians? about yourself as a musician because so much greater with just a couple Jeff Buckley, Eels, and early “You’re right, there’s definitely you are a wheelchair user? of extra instruments to work with. It Radiohead. Some of that probably a cinematic influence, as well as “Things have been better in the past inspires me to be more adventurous still lingers in my musical DNA, television and books. I like to pay few years, but I remember being BUG PRENTICE as a musician and a songwriter. And but hearing stranger, more dissonant homage to some of my favourite patronised quite frequently when I it means we can make more horrible and enigmatic bands like Cardiacs, things, and I happen to be a massive was starting out playing solo. Bar noises. Also I don’t have to play Shudder To Think, and Shellac film nerd. My solo sets also include staff and punters would speak to me guitar constantly during every song, really changed my priorities. There covers of songs from films like The with newfound respect after actually which is great for lazy people like are other, less obvious influences Muppet Movie, Harold & Maude, hearing me play; it was clear that I me.” too – Debussy, Thelonious Monk, Gilda and Cool Hand Luke, which is had defied their expectations by not Fred Astaire... I try to keep my ears a project I’d like to develop further.” being crap.” While Bug Prentice has open.” been a going concern since 2008, While most musicians Increasingly it is major it was only last year that things Born with Muscular take gigging for granted, the majority festivals and the biggest indoor really stepped up a gear, first with Dystrophy, Ally developed his own of venues, particularly smaller venues venues that have taken the lead on the release of the single `Nicholas style of guitar playing that suited where artists cut their teeth and access for performers and punters Ray’ (named after the film director) him as a wheelchair user – more like make their names, are inaccessible alike. Ally has been lucky enough to early in 2015, and then a full debut a lap steel player. It’s a technique he to musicians and punters with play both Glastonbury and Liberty album, `The Way It Crumbles’, last had to teach himself, and in itself has disabilities. We wonder how much Festival, held in the Olympic Park November. been a major influence on the music Ally feels his own progress has been to celebrate the 2012 Paralympics. This month Bug Prentice release a he makes. thwarted. And, given most smaller While he considers both among the follow-up EP, simply titled `EP’, a “Sitting in a wheelchair makes it venues are rooms above or below highlights of his career so far, Ally five-song collection that expands the pretty awkward to play guitar in pubs with little or no budget – or has mixed emotions about both, and band’s sometimes sparse sound over typically looks back on a more low- a set that ranges from an understated key show with the greatest fondness. damnation of sexual harassment, “It never occurred to me not to play guitar, “It was an honour to be involved `Don’t Be That Dude’, with its so I approached it in the way that felt most in both of those big events. But tipsy jazz timing and dirty, dirgy Glastonbury was huge and daunting guitar and bass, through the urgent, natural to me. I have to play in keys where and exhausting, and our set at hysterical sheet-metal stagger of Liberty Festival was preceded by a `Couldn’t Tell You’, to the almost open strings sound fitting – or at least the speech from Boris Johnson, so you Eno-esque instrumental `Naamloos’. good kind of weird.” can’t have everything! Probably Connoisseurs of great abstract music my proudest moment is playing at might hear the diverse influences of a fundraising gig for Tim Smith of Deerhoof, Captain Beefheart, Devo the traditional way. But it never willingness – to make themselves Cardiacs, and seeing several former and The Breeders, as well as all occurred to me not to play guitar, so more accessible, what does he feel Cardiacs members grinning and those other acts already mentioned, I approached it in the way that felt most needs doing to make venues dancing along to our music.” while lyrically the songs concern most natural to me. Technique-wise more accessible? surrealist model and artist-turned- I’m completely self-taught, and “The lack of accessible venues is While venue accessibility war photographer Lee Miller, Polish when I started I hadn’t seen anyone a huge hindrance to lots of other and attitudes have been obstacles to “I love harsh, noisy music, In particular Ally is a huge fan of it’s a deliberate trick – the songs just school years, so I’ve never been a sci-fi author Stanislaw Lem, and else playing like I do. It influences musicians and punters as well as overcome, for the foreseeable future, but I also love beautiful tunes, so... cult Scottish poet and humorist Ivor come out that way sometimes.” stranger to collaboration. The band how depression and anxiety can my music hugely – my playing style me. My energy is also quite limited, it is simply a case of getting all why not both at the same time?” Cutler, and that tangential whimsy was called Taprobane, but the poster affect creativity – “but in a fun has a different set of restrictions and so there’s only so much gigging I three bandmates in the same room runs through much of Ally’s writing, While Bug Prentice are for our first gig billed us as Taliban. way!” exclaims Ally. possibilities. For example, I can’t could do even if I could get into more at the same time that provides Bug Bug Prentice frontman thrown into starker relief by his desire a trio – singer and guitarist Ally We never played further afield than It’s a short, sharp and very sweet play barre chords at all, so I have places. I can’t put all of the blame on Prentice with their biggest logistical Ally Craig is discussing the to mix it up with far more angular, alongside bass player Ruth Goller, Wantage. My solo sets always went statement of intent from a band to play in keys where open strings venues. nightmare. conflicting but oddly complementary abrasive guitar noises, inspired by and drummer Stephen Gilchrist, both down well, but I never enjoyed it as whose watchword, you imagine is sound fitting – or at least the good “Attitude Is Everything has been “It can be harder to make plans, forces that make up his band’s songs. the likes of Shellac, Thurston Moore acclaimed and busy musicians with much as playing with other people, `restless’. kind of weird.” doing incredible work for years, considering Ruth’s commitments Songs that can be simultaneously and Slint. assorted other bands, and based in and the songs I was writing towards improving access to live music and with more bands than I can count, sweet-natured yet serrated; romantic “One of the best things music London – Ally is the band’s central the end of that period really needed Nightshift is talking With `EP’ out now, how putting on great club nights. But Melt Yourself Down and Let Spin yet abrasive; humorous yet can do is surprise me,” says Ally driving force. He started gigging bass and drums to make any sense. to Ally a few days before `EP’ is does Ally feel the new songs as you say, a lot of smaller venues among them, and Stephen’s new aggressive and awkward. when Nightshift expresses a love back in 2005 under his own name, “I met Ruth and Stephen through released on Bandcamp. First off compare to `The Way It Crumbles’? lack the means, and sometimes the solo project, Stephen Evens, as well They are songs that, according to for his deliberate culture clash of including an opening slot at the gigs. I supported Acoustic Ladyland he guides us through his formative It’s a fuller sound for starters. willingness, to improve. as his work running Brixton Hill Nightshift’s review of Bug Prentice’s influences that finds his melancholic Oxford Punt in 2006, but quickly at the Zodiac in 2006, and met music experiences, and the way his “`The Way It Crumbles’ was an “And my particular disability isn’t Studios. It’s quite handy to have debut album last year, “like to sneak and plaintive voice, which recalls became frustrated by playing solo Stephen when I saw him play with influences have changed since he attempt to present a fairly spartan the only thing that needs to be taken a bandmate who owns a rehearsal up on life from the far side.” both Robert Wyatt and Jeff Buckley, and wrote and performed with long- Stuffy & the Fuses, in which he was began playing music. live sound. All the instruments were into consideration; it’s not all about space, though! surrounded, skewered and taken for time friend Rebecca Mosley (of the eponymous singer-drummer “The first album I bought for recorded live together in the studio, ramps and lifts. Often it’s as much “I plan to keep working with That reference to giddy, convoluted rides by wayward Cogwheel Dogs) before he teamed Stuffy. They were both lovely, and myself, aged nine, was a cassette with as few overdubs and fixes as about attitudes. If accommodations Rebecca. Unfortunately life keeps whimsical, absurdist cartoonist Gary hardcore, post-rock or jazz, almost up with Ruth, who he met when he both really enthusiastic about my of `Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts we could get away with. The only aren’t made, or if staff are unhelpful getting in the way for both of us, Larson is wholly appropriate when it as if the band are deliberately trying supported her old band Acoustic songs, so I asked them on a whim Club Band’, so the Beatles were guitar effects I used were a couple of and dismissive of people’s needs, it but eventually we’ll manage to put comes to Bug Prentice’s music and to sabotage the songs from within. Ladyland at The Zodiac, and to record some demos with me. probably my earliest influences as different overdrive pedals, nothing can leave us feeling very unwelcome. out some music together. The songs lyrics, which come filtered through “I just love it when a song goes Stephen, with whom he bonded over None of us had ever played together a songwriter. But I’ve loved music fancy. Basically we were going for Renovations may be expensive, but she’s been writing lately are some of Ally’s constantly open eye and ear for somewhere I couldn’t possibly have a shared love for The Cardiacs. He’s before, and Ruth and Stephen had for longer than I can remember. My a sparse, Steve Albini-esque sound, an open mind isn’t. And if we’re her best; I can’t wait for more people inspiration that stretches way beyond predicted,” he adds, “whether that’s also found time to play alongside never even met before our first parents say I was singing before I and with a few exceptions we were not coming to your place we’re not to hear them. just musical influences into movies with sudden stops and starts and jazz pianist Kit Downes and session, but it all came out sounding was speaking: my first song was quite strict with it. giving you our money, so there’s an “I don’t consider myself particularly (of which he is a self-confessed buff), unexpected shifts in dynamics, or a double bassist Ben Bastin, the trio even better than I expected. Those apparently something by Huey “The new EP used the same starting economic incentive if basic human prolific; it’s not like I have five new literature, television and everything surreal turn of phrase. And how could supporting Sarah Gillespie in 2013. first sessions also featured Acoustic Lewis and the News. Later on, point of recording live together, decency isn’t good enough for you.” albums already written. But I have a beyond (“If it amuses me and there’s anyone predict an Ivor Cutler song? Ladyland saxophonist Pete Wareham I picked up the basics of music but this time I incorporated a wider Other than accessibility, what do few exciting new songs waiting to be not already a song about it, I’ll “I’m also a big fan of They Might Ruth and Stephen on one track and were released under theory from my music teacher uncle variety of guitar tones and effects, you feel are the factors that make life given the Bug Prentice treatment, so probably at least try to write one,” Be Giants, who often set quite sad provided Ally with the added my name, but we gave ourselves a Stewart, and the basics of guitar and added extra tracks for a fuller harder for musicians with disabilities? hopefully it won’t take too long for he says, “there’s a song on the last lyrics to bouncy pop tunes. Perhaps armoury he needed to take his songs proper band name, if you can call from my brother, so they influenced sound. I even played piano on a few “Music is not a steady source another single or EP.” album inspired by a famous clip of a merging the sound of Shellac and where he wanted them – as often as Bug Prentice a proper band name, my understanding of how music is songs, not that you’d notice...” of income. The government’s drunken Orson Welles trying to make Shudder To Think with the surreal, not to places the listener isn’t quite in 2008. actually made.” There seems to be a strong movie commitment to austerity does not `EP’ is out now at bugprentice. a champagne commercial. `Ahhh, the wistful sensibility of Ivor Cutler is expecting. “Working with them definitely “My influences have changed influence in your lyrics, going back help.” bandcamp.com, as is `The Way It French...’”). doing that trick in reverse. Not that “I did play with a band during my changed the way I wrote. It’s great drastically over the years. I learned to the very start of your songwriting; Have you experienced particular Crumbles’. Sponsored by only belatedly got the recognition and kudos intricacy, exhibiting all of the facets that make they deserve. metal, when done well, such a fascinating genre. It’s title track `Bad’, though, that leaves the Similarly successful is the title track, in which deepest imprint – ghostly spaghetti western Ben calls on his audience to “give up everything harmonica and tremolo-heavy gothabilly creep for false ideals and misinformation” and to RELEASED and crawl that sounds like Jody Reynolds via “lie to yourself, as it all collapses”. As already like an old steam train chugging across icy The Cramps – a song just waiting for a David alluded to, what really breathes life into the very RICHARD WALTERS tundra, while Richard sings about visiting the Lynch reimagining of Ghostrider to soundtrack. fabric of the EP is that the effect is perversely `A.M.’ top of the Empire State Building at night and Top notch revivalism from a band who manage all the more invigorating; although replete being unable to see anything through the dark the difficult task of bringing a generations-old with negative, almost nihilistic statements (the (Self released) and the clouds. sound to life with real conviction. equally excellent `Heartburn’ opens with the line It’s some twenty years since Nightshift first While the mood can feel unrelentingly Dale Kattack “What can you know about truth, when all you encountered Richard Walters, then a fifteen- downbeat (hey, it’s what he does best; the hear is lies?”), `Collapse’ is an impassioned and year-old hopeful with a very obvious singing moment Richard Walters starts singing “I thrilling exposition it’s hard not to recommend. talent. love a party with a happy atmosphere” we’ll PERCEPTION Interestingly, the EP’s weakest moments Two decades, four albums and a whole host begin to worry about his state of mind) there’s are when it relents, such as on the closer of collaborations later, he remains one of the actually romance and optimism – most notably ‘Collapse’ `Aftermath’, giving credence to the fact that finest vocal talents Oxford has ever produced: in closer `New Heart’, a hollowed-out piano THE LONG INSIDERS (Self released) Perception are at their best when at full throttle. a fragile, cracked choirboy falsetto that can ballad that recounts the magic of hearing his In the pipeline, or at least being worked on Ben Lynch carry the entire weight of the world on its firstborn’s heartbeat for the first time. `Bad’ since 2013, Perception’s new EP ‘Collapse’ is a slender shoulders. It takes a special kind of There is a feeling that `A.M.’ doesn’t take (Self released) work that has obviously spent some time being voice to get away with opening lines like “I Richard’s music to a new level or into any The Long Insiders have got a whole lotta assessed and refined. Preceded by the release of was somewhere lost in London / I was far strange new lands, but the counter to that is shakin’ going on. Since they lost co-singer the brutal `Delusions’ earlier in the year, it’s a from you / Thinking about the words we chose most lovelorn young singer-songwriters can that he does what he does so well, too much Sarah Dodds a couple of years back and Nick dense and riveting EP that, after several listens, to use.” He gets away with it with consummate only dream of; simplicity is key, both in the change could only spoil what we’ve got (his Kenny took centre stage, the trio have played clearly doesn’t completely sit with its title. ease, infusing every word with a sense of mostly sparse instrumental arrangements and over-produced `Pacing’ album should serve true to the roots of classic rockabilly, infecting Although relatively commonplace for a band desolation and wintry dejection, and when the key lyrical lines that become mantras – as a quiet warning). In fact, if we have a it with just enough of The Cramps’ sleazy which places itself squarely alongside the likes the song – `U’ – reaches its end and Richard’s “Where were you?” he repeats during the song complaint, it’s that album highlight, `Adeline’, venom to make it’s strut and swagger feel fresh of Architects and Monuments, as with both pleading “Come back to me,” it feels like of the same name about the sudden death of a awash with a gorgeous, romantic warmth, and contemporary. those acts the result is rather more invigorating poetry rather than self pity. friend. Songs like `Get Heavy’ and `Arches’ is, at just two minutes long, way too short: The track `Red Hot’ here is pure Carl Perkins than destructive, a result of the intensity and The song sets the mood for the rest of typify the atmospheric production (courtesy a criticism you could equally level at `New stomp and shake, Dan Goddard’s freight train pace of the performances, and the impressive `A.M.’, Richard’s crowd-funded fourth solo of Aidan O’Brien, whose name you’ll be Heart’. Better to be left wanting more, of beat underpinning Kenny’s Gretsch twang and technicality of the playing on show. album, one that doesn’t deviate too far from hearing a lot more of in years to come) which course. And really, everyone could do with superbly authentic vocals, while the lighter, The chief example for this is `Castles’, for his winning formula of loss and longing, maintains a frost-bitten grip throughout. In fact more Richard Walters in their life. livelier `Twist Of Love’ owes its life to Sun-era which the band have just released a new video. conjuring, at its best, a spectral bleakness that `Zero Visibility’ runs on a rhythm that sounds Dale Kattack Elvis but reminds us a lot of The Stray Cats, the A formidable onslaught of instrumentation and 80s rockabilly revivalist hitmakers who have singer Ben’s guttural vocals, it’s relentless in its But the trick? Third track ‘Naamloos’, a sub- place in an American coming of age film. With two-minute, vocal-free exploration of post-rock a catchy melody and simple song structure, it timbres and minor key meanderings, is followed harkens back to the early Noughties, in particular by ‘Don’t Be That Dude’, which builds on the the music of bands like The Moldy Peaches. aforementioned songcraft with some twisty-turny The rest of the EP follows in a similar vein, passages, and a sparse, taut arrangement, coming with spritely bursts of poppy punk, complete off like a good-time Shellac playing Young with distorted guitars and half sung, half spoken Marble Giants covers. ‘Sally Six’ winds things vocals, delivered in a fantastically feisty manner. down for the end of the EP, with an insistent `Coco Sleeps Around’ is a strong offering from bassline leading us through a rich, subtle piece Rainbow Reservoir. Although at time the tracks that draws on Slint as much as it does grunge. can seem overly simple, the lyrical offerings and Well done, Bug Prentice – with this EP incessantly catching lyrics on tracks like the title you equally reward the short-attention- track more than make up for the less complex span millennial who just wants a couple of instrumental lines. The EP’s full of the kind of cracking guitar pop tunes as you do the more tracks that are meant to be blasted out live in curmudgeonly self-appointed music snob, who small, sweaty rooms; there’s more than enough wants a bit of depth and a few impressive muso here to suggest those venues won’t be so small BUG PRENTICE reference points to cling to. for much longer. Simon Minter Hannah Mylrea-Hemmings `EP’ (Self released) Bug Prentice, a three-piece ‘avant-punk trio’ RAINBOW led by sometime solo singer Ally Craig, pull off RESERVOIR a sneaky trick with this new EP. ‘Couldn’t Tell You’ and ‘Lee Miller’ initially place the band `Coco Sleeps Around’ on an axis of melodic indie guitar schwing, (Oddbox) following the lead set by XTC, Dartz!, The Short and and pleasingly sharp, `Coco Sleeps Futureheads and Young Knives. It’s all `Goo’- Around’ is hard to pigeonhole. Rainbow ey noise mixed with pop-bothering tunes; arch Reservoir vocalist Angela herself describes lyrical twists with vocals like “I couldn’t tell their music as “punk and spirit and upbeat”, you if I were dead or alive / I couldn’t tell you adding that “it can be romantic, but with a dark if I were Derek or Clive”. side”. So far, so good – in fact, very good – and EP opener `Kate Moss With A Moustache’ lives what these tracks lack in terms of outwards up to that description; it’s quirky and upbeat, emotional honesty, they more than make up for with snappy lyrics and scuzzy guitars, the kind in pleasing, highly listenable songcraft. of angst-ridden song that wouldn’t be out of drum machine blues still sounds pretty cool, with Cradle of Filth. echoes of The Velvet Underground, Suicide and NIGEL GARAGE feat. DJ PIED PIPER: The Patti Smith. They probably smoke cigarettes in Bullingdon – Garage club night with UK garage their sleep. veteran Pied Piper, best known for his number NE OBLIVISCARIS + OCEANS OF 1 hit `Do You Really Like It’, having toured SLUMBER: O2 Academy – Now here’s a extensively with Public Enemy, De le Soul and treat we never expected to hear in Oxford – Buster Rhymes along the way to becoming one of GIG GUIDE Melbourne’s New Obliviscaris, the Aussie sextet’s the genre’s most innovative stalwarts. violin-led melding of black metal, prog and UK FOO FIGHTERS: O2 Academy – Like Foo SATURDAY 1st THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Standard, symphonic rock laced through with classical, Fighters but British. FLIGHTS OF HELIOS + HORNS OF Headington – Rocking blues from the local flamenco and folk styles, their extended songs UB40: O2 Academy – It’s easy to dismiss the st PLENTY: Salter’s Steamers, River Thames veteran singer and guitarist and his band, still awash with complex technicality and virtuosity raggle-taggle remains of Birmingham’s enduring Saturday 1 OCTOBER th – Psychedelic, space-rock, electro-grief-core going strong after celebrating the 50 anniversary and a bloody great slice of bleakness, like a gypsy cod reggae hitmakers as an abomination, but people Flights of Helios set sail on a voyage, not Less Elephant DJs. Launch is at 7pm from Folly of his first gig in the summer. folk troupe discovering Opeth and Wolves in the that’s to ignore their genuinely astonishing BETH ORTON: into outer space, but down the Thames, aboard a Bridge; boat arrives in Svalbard sometime around THE TOM IVEY BAND: The Brewery Tap, Throne Room, getting a bit down about it all and achievement, being the only band in existence that Tuesday. Abingdon – Funky blues. making something magnificent. After supports can actively put Nightshift off drinking red wine. O2 Academy bloody big boat. The three-hour trip features live TH sets from them and street jazz ensemble Horns DONNINGTON COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: to Cradle of Filth, Enslaved and Soilwork – and KLUB KAKOFANNEY 25 ANNIVERSARY After emerging in the 1990s as the comedown/ of Plenty, plus indie tunes from Progressively Donnington Community Centre (2-10pm) – nd after some prolonged visa issues with their WEEKEND: The Wheatsheaf – Kicking off chillout queen for her mix of subdued The fifth annual free Donnington community SUNDAY 2 French guitarist, they’re out in the world, touring three days of live music partying to celebrate electronica and folky confessional pop, Beth ANARCHISTWOOD + UNMAN + OLD festival features sets from Beard of Destiny; their `Citadel’ album. Music to soundtrack vast their quarter century of hosting gigs, Klub Orton became something of a byword for ERNIE: The Wheatsheaf – Scuzzy, political/ Daisy Delnavaz; The Jesters; Johnny Hinks; Mark mediaeval battles. Kakofanney gather a selection of their favourite tasteful blandness – something to stick on st psychedelic punk noise from London’s Saturday 1 Atherton & friends; Matt Sewell; Moon Leopard; THE HUGH TURNER BAND: The Bullingdon acts. Tonight’s show features a return visit to town in the background at dinner parties while Anarchistwood, with support from math-drone Oxford Ukuleles; Phil & Sue; Richard Brotherton; – Funky jazz from Turner and chums at the for Glastonbury’s excellent rap-rave-electro-punk discussing Ofsted reports and mortgages, but outfit Unman and atmospheric noise-rock explorer PETER MURPHY: STEM; The String Project and Superloose. Entry Bully’s free weekly jazz club. crew UK:ID for their third Klub Kak appearance, with new album `Kidsticks’, she’s re-emerged Old Ernie. is free but food, raffles and merchandise sales will SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: The James the festival regulars reminiscent of early-90s as an artist of serious depth and invention. Part O2 Academy PAVES + NEO HOMELESS MAN + help raise money for Donnington Doorstep and Street Tavern – Weekly open mic night. rave crossover acts like Senser and The Shaman. of this has come in the wake of becoming a The godfather of goth? Arguably. One of RAMONA ROSA: The Bullingdon – Musicians Donnington Youth Group. OSPREY & FRIENDS: St Aldates Tavern – They’re joined by Smiley & the Underclass; the mother, which has brought a new emotional the most startling rock and roll performers Against Homelessness show, with London’s BETH ORTON: O2 Academy – The Comedown Weekly jam session with local blues, rock and recently-renamed Cherokii and Charms Against edge to her lyrics, and part from working of the last four decades? Indisputably. As blues-flavoured roots rockers headlining, and Queen becomes the Ice Queen on her latest, and funk veteran Osprey and guests. the Evil Eye. alongside Fuck Buttons’ Andrew Hung on the frontman with goth originators Bauhaus Pete joined by Oxford’s own homeless busking best, album – see main preview SOFAR SOUNDS DOES OXJAM: Venue new album. Tracks like the spectral `Moon’, (latterly Peter) Murphy had probably the most sensation Neo, who’s `Homeless Man’ album PETER MURPHY: O2 Academy – The gothic th tbc – Sofar Sounds host their own Oxjam party, and `1973’, with its sleepy-eyed positivity, recognisable cheekbones of the 1980s – best came out earlier this year. WEDNESDAY 5 overlord returns to reclaim his realm from the and true to their traditions, it’ll be at a secret are among the best she’s ever made – easily seen in the old Maxwell tape advert – while THE MIGHTY REDOX + PUPPET PANGOLIN + MACACO PROJECT + forces of light – see main preview venue only announced to ticket holders, two days equal to anything off breakthrough album he and his band crawled out of a subterranean MECHANIC: The Whitehouse – Blues, funk, CONNOR PATTERSON: The Bullingdon – VOODOO VEGAS + PILGRIM + CROSAW: ahead of the show. Acts to be confirmed too, but `Trailer Park’. While her music remains Northampton alcove to wreak stark, artful, ska, psychedelia and more from the local veterans. Acoustic Americana and traditional British folk The Cellar – Classic rock, metal and glam in the knowing SS, it’ll be proper quality. insular, the cracks in her voice have deepened, poetic, sometimes brutal musical destruction. WATERFAHL: Brewery Tap, Abingdon (5pm) music from Welsh duo Pangolin, with support vein of Led Zep, Judas Priest and Guns’n’Roses SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Classic disco, everything’s got a bit trippier, even funkier, If `Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ is the goth anthem – Acoustic blues and pop from the local duo. from Bristol’s jazzy neo-soul and r’n’b septet to which all others must bow down, debut from south coast rockers Voodoo Vegas at Macaco Project. soul and funk from the 60s, 70s and 80s with KD, and rhythmically someone’s definitely been album `In The Flatfield’ is the genre’s defining tonight’s OxRox show, the band back in Oxford Cal, Fudd and DJ SDusk. listening to Kraftwerk. It’s no exaggeration to rd SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE say that Orton has produced one of the finest masterpiece. Unafraid of accusations of after previously supporting Y&T last year as MONDAY 3 th pretentiousness, Bauhaus took the Ziggy well as going out on tour with Status Quo, Uriah RED BUTLER: The Bullingdon – Brighton’s THURSDAY 6 & SPOTLIGHT JAM: James Street Tavern musical rebirths of any pop act in recent years LUNA + CO-PILGRIM: O2 Academy – Stardust blueprint and painted it black. Post- Heap and The Answer, and now out on a headline rising young blues-rockers hit town after their – Sparky’s monthly live bands night and jam – a frosty, fiery electro-folk-pop siren who Former-Galaxie 500 frontman Dean Wareham’s split (a brief reunion aside) Murphy explored tour to promote debut album `The Rise of Jimmy showing at this summer’s Wallingford Blues & session features sets from Martini Russa, imbue lines like “The phonebook is filling reformed dream-pop and alt.country band perform ever artier paths, including the short-lived but Silver’. Double dose of south Wales support from Beer Festival. The quartet head out on a headline Waterfahl and The Talc Daemons. up with dead friends” with an iciness that’s their 1995 mini masterpiece `Penthouse’ in its superb Dali’s Car with the late Mick Karn, heavy rockers Pilgrim and Led Zep and Hendrix- UK tour to promote new album `Nothing To RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS: The properly haunting. entirety – the album declared one of the best and when he moved to Turkey in the 90s he inspired blues riffers Crowsaw. Lose’, following supports to Laurence Jones Cornerstone, Didcot – a celebration of the world albums of the decade by Rolling Stone, featuring submerged himself in middle eastern musical KANADIA + SLEEPERS’ DOME + SLATE and Billy Walton, and having won this year’s famous venue with vintage photos and videos as it did, Tom Verlaine on guitar and Laeticia drawing a line between Guns’n’Roses, Nirvana and traditions (much to the chagrin of diehard HEARTS + WOLFS: The Wheatsheaf – Part of European Blues Challenge in Italy. alongside performances of jazz greats from The Sadier on guest vocals. Considered alt.country Soundgarden on their new album `Worldstarlove’. goths). In recent years he’s returned to the the nationwide Musicians Against Homelessness PRIDES: The Cellar – Stadium-sized, daytime Ronnie Scott’s All Stars Quintet. support from local faves Co-Pilgrim. TURF: The Cellar – House club night with club glam-goth-industrial sound that made his name, series of gigs initiated by Alan McGee. Tonight’s radio-friendly electro-soul pop from Glasgow’s WARD THOMAS: The Bullingdon – Back in scene faves Alexander Nut, Josey Rebelle and working with Nine Inch Nails and Tricky, as Oxford leg features rising local rockers Kanadia, Prides, back in town after headlining the O2 last th town after performances at Cornbury Festival and SATURDAY 8 Dimensions Soundsystem. well as members of Skinny Puppy and Porno mixing the expansive, stadium-filling sounds of year, taking a post-Bastille route to big things via TH Halfway To 75 in recent times, Hampshire-born, KLUB KAKOFANNEY 25 ANNIVERSARY WILLIE & THE BANDITS: The Jericho For Pyros, and his last solo album, `Lion’, Radiohead and Muse with delicate, Coldplay- a big sound, all pomp and passion, reminiscent of Nashville-based twin sisters Ward Thomas come WEEKEND: The Wheatsheaf – Part two of the Tavern – Epic, intricate prog-roots rocking and produced by Killing Joke’s Youth, is as dark inspired melody. They’re joined by Aureate Act mid-80s bands like Wet Wet Wet, Tears For Fears to the Bully to promote new album `Cartwheels’, Klub Kak anniversary celebrations, with rollicking blues from Plymouth’s Willie & The Bandits out hearted and intense as you’d hope. Old school offshoot Sleepers’ Dome; scuzzy grunge crew and Hue & Cry. the follow-up to their debut, `From Where We rockabilly grog swillers and seafaring romantics on tour, the band having variously been compared fans will get plenty of Bauhaus favourites (if Slate Hearts and garage pop duo Wolfs. CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS: Stand’, recorded with country music mainstay Peerless Pirates, alongside Aylesbury rockers to Led Zeppelin, Cream and Santana as they mix not always the hits), and Murphy certainly BOSSAPHONIK with OZI OZAA: The Nettlebed Folk Club – Powerful harmony Vince Gill. Callow saints; Klub Kak hosts The Mighty Redox; up rootsy rocking and blues with electronics and hasn’t turned into a shrinking violet onstage. A Bullingdon – Dancefloor Latin, Afrobeat, global singing from the Albion Band and St Agnes THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf – synth-crazed sci-fi rockabilly blues duo Vienna convoluted song structures. true showman. One from the dark side. grooves, Balkan beats and nu-jazz club night, Fountain duo and leading ladies of English folk, Ditto, and funky bluesman Osprey. hosted by Dan Ofer, tonight featuring a live set out on tour to promote their tenth album together, Free gig in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar from the veteran local blues, funk, ska, and psychedelic MEILYR JONES: The Bullingdon – Orchestral th from Ozi Ozaa, playing songs in the heritage of `Shoulder To Shoulder’. chamber pop, expansive 90s-style indie glamour SUNDAY 9 Ghanaian music of the last 50 years, featuring an OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim – rock faves. IDLES + SLATE HEARTS + WARDENS: CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford and 60s-style psychedelia from former Race Horses international cast of musicians drawn from Ghana, Weekly open mic session. frontman Meilyr Jones, whose debut album `2013’ The Bullingdon – Scuzzy slacker noise-pop and Nigeria, Spain, Italy, Israel, France and the UK. THE BLUESWAMP BAND + JODY WYATT: Community Centre – Oxford’s longest running barnstorming garage rock from Bristol’s Idles, out open club night showcases singers, musicians, comes from a similarly cosmic welsh pop mine as FREERANGE: The Cellar – UK garage, grime The Jericho Tavern – Famous Monday Blues Gruff Rhys and Euros Childs’ solo works. on tour to promote new single `Well Done’ – a and bassline club night, playing the best new night. poets, storytellers and more every week. Huw Stephens record of the week. Great grunge SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half Moon SIMPLE with NICK HÖPPNER: The underground sounds. Bullingdon – Raw, energetic melodic house and noise support from Slate Hearts, coming on like a SUNJAY: Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under-Wychwood th – Weekly open mic club night. scrap between Nirvana and Placebo, and QOTSA- TUESDAY 4 ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure – techno from the Berlin-based DJ, producer and – Folk and blues at the Wychwood Folk Club THE KILLS: O2 Academy – A decade and remixer at tonight’s Simple, Hӧppner best known inspired rock beasts Wardens. Weekly unplugged open mic night. TH tonight from rising young singer and guitarist a half on from their enigmatic conception for his residency at Berlin’s Panorama bar as well KLUB KAKOFANNEY 25 ANNIVERSARY Sunjay, whose blending of traditional sounds from BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford WEEKEND: The Wheatsheaf (3-7.30pm) – For (mysterious pseudonyms and no interviews given) – Weekly open blues jam. as his releases for his own Ostgut Tom label. both camps has drawn praise from the likes of Vin and The Kills continues to ply a blacker shade FROM THE JAM: O2 Academy – Bruce Foxton those still possessed of enough energy to keep the Garbutt and Terry Reid as well as earning him of blues on new album `Ash & Ice’. If singer keeps the old classics alive. party going for a third day, Klub Kak host a free th nominations at both the BBC Young Folk Awards Alison Mosshart has found far greater success FRIDAY 7 SLAM CARTEL + MOLOTOV SEXBOMB afternoon session in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar and the British Blues Awards. with The Dead Weather, and guitarist Jamie Hince THE ARKYARD SESSION: The Bullingdon + RAISED BY HYPOCRITES: The Cellar – with a host of old friends, including Francophile EYE-CON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Mod, indie and is better known as (the soon to be ex-) Mr Kate – Christian rock package tour with sets from Growly, blues-tinged hard rocking from London’s café folk and lounge pop people Les Clochards; Britpop covers. Moss, together their growling, punk-infused Rivers & Robots, Chariots, Written in Kings and Slam Cartel at tonight’s OxRox show, the band blues duo Beard of Destiny; oddball songsmith having previously endured an enforced lay-off panto at times, but the band remain – after The entertainment with Tyneside’s Balkan music atmospheric garage rock and blues from Nick due to line-up, label and management issues. Ramones – the best punk band ever to come out heroes, themselves out on a 20th anniversary Cave and the Bad Seeds guitarist George Now they’re set to release a new album, `Helter of America. tour, renowned for their exuberant cocktail of Vjestica’s new band at tonight’s Club UFO show. Seltzer’, the follow-up to `TV en Français,’ and THE ESKIES: The Jericho Tavern – Superb Balkan melodies, ska, Latin grooves and brass, KUIPER + CRYSTALLITE + while their infectious, chorus-heavy fuzz-pop, sea-soaked gypsy folk from Dublin’s Eskies, the all delivered with furious energy and theatrical STORYTELLER + NEON TEEPEE: The inspired by everyone from Bowie and Weezer to ever-gigging quintet mixing sea shanties, rag humour. Support comes from local accordion Wheatsheaf – It’s All About the Music local Hall & Oates, is never less than fun, it’s often the time, Italian tarantella, kletzmer, close harmony talent Faith with husband Branko, who is one of bands showcase. witty onstage banter between Keith Murray and singing and traditional Irish folk to make a the most highly-rated Serbian Roma violinists PARAMORE OR LESS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Chris Cain that provides the best entertainment. seriously party-hearty brew that makes room for in Europe. They play in a five-piece band of Tribute band. FAUSTUS: Nettlebed Folk Club – Folk a lively take on Chris Isaak’s `Wicked Game’ virtuosic fiery kolos, spirited Gypsy rumbas, fun from the award-winning trio featuring along the way. Best bring your dancing shoes swing and jazz improvisation. SATURDAY 15th Friday 14th / Saturday 15th Bellowhead’s Benji Kirkpatrick and Paul Sartin, and drinking suit. FAY HIELD & THE HURRICANE PARTY: th SOFAR SOUNDS FOR KIDS: The New Wednesday 12 alongside Waterson-Carthy collaborator Saul CC SMUGGLERS: Fat Lil’s, Witney Quaker Meeting House, St. Giles – Oxford Theatre (10am-1pm) – As part of The New WHAT BECAME OF Rose. – Rough’n’ready roots ramblin’ from Contemporary Music host an intimate evening Theatre’s family fun day, local promoters Sofar CHRISTY MOORE: OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim Bedfordshire’s busking ensemble, back in the with leading English folk singer, academic and Sounds will be hosting a live music session for US: The Bullingdon Future Perfect have been one of the best shire after their showing at the Bullingdon in folk song archivist Fay Hield and her Hurricane kids. Plus there’s a chance to meet Peppa Pig star independent promoters in Oxford over the The New Theatre TUESDAY 11th March, inspired by old-time Texan folk and Party band, which features the cream of the crop Mr Potato. Which, frankly, tops anything else in He’s battled ill health and addiction and past year or so, delivering myriad up and AURORA: O2 Academy – Ethereal, swing and starting a bluesy bluegrass barn dance of folk musicians, including Sam Sweeney, Andy this month’s gig guide. had his songs banned both by radio and the coming bands to town, and this weekend melodramatic electro-pop from the Norwegian wherever they do roam. Cutting, Rob Harbon, and sometimes Martin WHAT BECAME OF US FESTIVAL: The courts, but Christy Moore has never given serves as a celebration of their success so singer best known for her version of Oasis’ `All CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Simpson and partner Jon Boden, tonight playing Bullingdon – Yuck and Toy are the stars of the up; in 2007 he was voted Ireland’s greatest far with some of those acts returning for a Around the World on last year’s John Lewis Community Centre songs, ballads and shanties from her latest second day of the festival – see main preview living musician and this year he celebrates two-day mini-festival, alongside a host of Christmas ad, over in the UK to tour her debut SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half album, `Old Adam’. OXJAM OXFORD TAKEOVER: Various his fiftieth year in music with a new album, local stars on the rise. Topping Friday’s bill album `All My Demons Greet Me As A Friend’. Moon BANDANTE: The Jericho Tavern – Moody, venues – The annual Oxjam Oxford Takeover `Lily’. The album showcases what Moore has are GENGAHR, whose psychedelia chime THE STUART HENDERSON QUARTET: ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure celebrates its tenth anniversary with a full day of always done best: reinterpreting other writers’ and sun-frazzled pop pitches them between The Bullingdon – Free live jazz from trumpeter BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, th music across ten venues on and around Cowley songs and poems while penning his own Thursday 13 Aerial Pink and Tame Impala. They’re joined Stuart Henderson and band. Sandford Road, with live and DJ sets at East Oxford material that ranges from angry to thoughtful by former-Youthmovies man HUDSON INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, industrial and PETE FRYER BAND: The Wheatsheaf – Free Community Centre; The Library; James Street to comic. `Lily’ finds him taking on a range FEWS: The Bullingdon SCOTT; moody Bear on a Bicycle honcho ebm club night with residents Doktor Joy and gig in the downstairs bar from the local blues Tavern; Fusion Arts; The Star; Joe Perks and of Irish writers, including Mick Blake’s Not familiar with Fews? You will be soon. JORDAN O’SHEA with his new band Bookhouse. rock veteran. more. 50 bands and counting, so a non-stop trail reflection on the Easter Uprising, `Oblvious’, Really, you will be. After a year or so of FRIDAY NIGHT FILM CLUB, and ambient SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: The James of fun in a great cause – see main news article as well as Peter Gabriel’s 1980s lament for slowly (but not exactly quietly – of which electro/math-rock chap KID KIN, plus more Street Tavern FRIDAY 14th THE SMYTHS: O2 Academy – The Smiths political prisoners, `Wallflowers’. Passion has more later) building a reputation with a slow- to be added. Saturday is a real treat, with OSPREY & FRIENDS: St Aldates Tavern WHAT BECAME OF US FESTIVAL: The tribute celebrate the 30th anniversary of `The always been Moore’s driving force, both for drip of new singles, including debut `Ill’ and shoegazey noise-pop crew YUCK kicking Bullingdon – First day of the weekend mini- Queen Is Dead’. the traditions of his country’s music and for `The Zoo’, the Swedish-American quartet, it out in the vein of Dinosaur Jr, Ride and th festival, with sets from Genghar, Hudson Scott SWITCH X FLUID: O2 Academy – Two of myriad political causes – Irish republicanism; WEDNESDAY 12 based out of Malmo, signed to Play It Again more. Potential high point of the event are and more – see main preview Oxford’s most established club nights team up nuclear disarmament; Palestine; El Salvador, CHRISTY MOORE: The New Theatre – The Sam and released their album `Means’ to TOY (pictured), whose motorik psych- SON OF DAVE: Old Fire Station – Great, for a night of bass, garage, jungle, drum&bass and more, his more reflective songs often greatest living Irishman celebrates 50 years more than a little acclaim. After supporting pop, inspired by The Velvet Underground, raw, rootsy 50s-style blues, beatboxing, and more with a three-hour B2B set from TQD, championing the ordinary man in a brutal making music – see main preview Ghostpoet on tour they’ve spent much of the Spacemen 3 and tourmates The Horrors, footstomping gospel noise, loop pedal genius, Royal-T, DJ Q and Flava D, plus sets from world. Through the 70s with Planxty and the LAST GREAT DREAMERS + THE BLACK last few months playing festivals, including is intense and thrilling, especially when harmonica-blowing, maraca-shaking and manic Swindle, Masp and Blair, hosted by MC KIE and 80s with Moving Hearts, and beyond under BULLETS + MOLOTOV SEXBOMB: The End of the Road and Rockaway Beach, but it’s cranked up full volume. Elsewhere on the alcoholic merrymaking from Canadian polyglot Wissla. his own name or in collaboration, he’s never, Wheatsheaf – London’s sleazy rockers return the end of this year that will bring them fully day are rock’n’stroll troubadour WILLIE Son Of Dave at tonight’s Glovebox show, the FREE RANGE meets DUB POLITICS: The ever got too comfortable, even as national to OxRock with their take on Hanoi Rocks into the spotlight as they’ve been handpicked J HEALEY; ferocious, dark-hearted former-Crash Test Dummies man with close Bullingdon – Dub, roots, dancehall and reggae treasure status was conferred on him, and live and Dogs D’Amour’s power-pop, following to support Pixies on their European tour. post-punkers OCTOBER DRIFT; recent to a thousand gigs under his belt, out on tour party vibes. he’s similarly unpredictable, his pick of songs tour supports with Tigertailz and ex-Runaway Before that, though, a short headline tour Blossoms tour supports CABBAGE, and local to promote his new album `Explosive Hits’, ((RSJ)) + K-LACURA + DOOM CROW + always difficult to second guess, whether Bob Cherie Currie. Suitably sleazy support from of the UK, and what better way to acquaint indie starlets ORANGE VISION and HAZE, recalling the likes of Little Walter, Jimmy Reed SPREAD THE DISEASE: The Wheatsheaf – Dylan, Ewan MacColl or Natalie Merchant. Basingstoke’s tattoo-heavy rock’n’roll, punk and yourself with quite possibly your favourite who are this month’s Nightshift Demo of the and Muddy Waters with his earthy, timeless Great, monstrous metalcore from York’s bearded He is, though, a living legend, of that there’s biker rock crew Black Bullets. new band. Like Ghostpoet they carry an air Monthers, so go and see why we love them so. sound. noise bruisers at tonight’s OxRox show, the band no doubt. Make the most of tonight’s chance MOVE: The Cellar – Bassline, house and of moodiness about them, but like Pixies they With Future Perfect’s keen eye for a band on YOU ME AT SIX + VANT: O2 Academy – on tour to promote new album `Giant Glenn’, to join him on whatever road he chooses to garage club night. can be abrasive, aggressive and angsty, their the rise, quality is pretty much assured, and as Long-since sold-out show from Surrey’s pop- including new single `Hit The Road Jack’, take us down. songs cresting on linear grooves and mantric the days get darker and colder, where better to punk/post-hardcore crew, out on a UK tour ahead featuring Raging Speedhorn’s John Loughlin th repetition, inspired by Krautrock, post-punk, spend a weekend than immersing yourself in THURSDAY 13 of the release of their new album `Night People’ on guest vocals. They’re utterly brutal, but, as psychedelia and shoegaze, there are elements lovely, warming noise. and KK regular Twizz Twangle; Purple May; FEWS: The Bullingdon – Ahead of supporting in January – the follow-up to 2014’s Number 1 of Neu!, PiL, My Bloody Valentine and the video for their `Collectively We Are Tall’ Laima Bite and Mark Bosley. Pixies on tour, Sweden’s psych-pop noisemakers `Cavalier Youth’, the band having initially made Interpol about them and they’re earning a single showed, also pretty funny. They’re joined FOLLY & THE HUNTER: The Cellar – hit town – see main preview their name supporting Paramore, 30 Seconds To reputation as a seriously incendiary live act, by Banbury’s thrash behemoths K-Lacura, and SUNDAY 16th Emotive, shimmering indie-folk from Montreal’s BARS & MELODY: O2 Academy – Fresh Mars and Fall Out Boy along the way. Support one that shares some DNA with Autobahn Swansea’s costumed heavy rockers Doomcrow. ALL TVVINS + 31HOURS: The Bullingdon – Folly & the Hunter, over in the UK to promote from slaying the moshpit at Bloodstock with a from London’s garage-rockers Vant, in the vein and October Drift. So there you go: brilliant TINA MAY & DAVID GORDON: St Giles Anthemic indie and electro-pop from Dublin duo second album `Awake’, their gently atmospheric two-hour rendition of the title track from their of The Strokes, Pixies and Vines. and noisy and soon to be considerably more Church – Jazz At St Giles’ autumn season All Tvvins, out on tour to promote debut album sound compared to Broken Social Scene, Bon Iver recent `Humanity Is Cancer’ album, Jeremy Bars LITTLE BROTHER ELI + LUCY LEAVE famous than they are now. We’re surprised continues with internationally renowned diva `IIVV’, mixing the bold 80s pop of U2 and INXS and Luna at times. and Cuthbert Melody celebrate their joint eighth + WOLFS + MY CROOKED TEETH: O2 you’re not queuing up already. Tina May, regarded as one of the UK’s most with some Foals fidget and a bit of Steve Reich’s JOE BUCK YOURSELF + TRAUMA UK + birthday with jolly pop fun, cake, balloons and a Academy – Funked-up blues rocking action expressive and technically gifted jazz singers, minimalist insistency. Support from rising local BEAVER FUEL: The Wheatsheaf – Sleazy pavement drill solo. from rising local stars and recent Nightshift alongside pianist and composer David Gordon. ambient electro-pop crew 31Hours. country-rock, bluegrass punk and growling DEAD KENNEDYS: O2 Academy – Dead cover band Little Brother Eli, bringing some THE KNIGHTS OF MENTIS + THE LISA HANNIGAN + HEATHER WOODS swamp rock from Kentucky singer and guitarist Kennedys’ last visit to town, in 2014, put to moonshine-fuelled rock action to the O2, with LOAFING HEROES: Old Fire Station BRODERICK: O2 Academy – Alternately serene Joe Buck, out on a solo tour 20 years into a career rest most of the doubts over whether the band support from quirky noise rockers Lucy Leave, – Party-starting bluegrass from the newly- and haunting minimalist pop from Dublin’s Lisa that’s seen him play with Hank Williams III and could continue without singer Jello Biafra, grungy alt.rock duo Wolfs and emotional expanded ten-piece band, playing a rare seated Hannigan, out on tour to promote her latest album in Th’Legendary Shack Shakers. Local support latest replacement Ron `Skip’ Greer enough acoustic travelogue from My Crooked Teeth. show to showcase a set of new songs, with `At Swim’, produced by The National’s Aaron from heavy rockers Trauma UK and punked-up of a soundalike without trying too hard to OXFORD SOUL TRAIN: O2 Academy – support from Lisbon’s folk, poetry, world music Dessner, the one-time harmony foil to Damien indie noisemakers Beaver Fuel. actually be Biafra, and the band’s serrated surf- Classic soul, funk, disco and Motown tunes and pop ensemble The Loafing Heroes. Rice continuing to explore darkness and death with RORY EVANS: The Brewery Tap, Abingdon punk retaining its ability to inspire shock and across two rooms at the quarterly extravaganza. THE OXFORD BEATLES: The Cellar – Does hushed understatement and crystalline voice. (5pm) – Acoustic guitar virtuosity. awe, with `Chemical Warfare’, `Let’s Lynch BOSSAPHONIK with THE BAGHDADDIES what it says on the tin – Beatles classics done LEVEL 42: The New Theatre – Officially the the Landlord’ and in particular `Holiday In + FAITH I BRANCO: The Cellar – A 12th Oxford style. worst band of the 1980s. Shut up, yes they are. MONDAY 10th Cambodia’ still potent punk rock weapons – ones anniversary celebration for Oxford’s long- MOVE: The Cellar MONKFISH + BEAVERFUEL + PURPLE the band used to great effect as the scourge of running jazz dance club night, mixing dancefloor A SPECIAL KIND OF MADNESS: Fat Lil’s, MAY + JULES PEZO: The Wheatsheaf WE ARE SCIENTISTS: O2 Academy – The the Christian right in the States throughout the Latin, Balkan beats, global grooves, Afrobeat Witney – Joint tribute to the Two Tone legends. (3.30-8.30pm) – Free afternoon of music in the irony-heavy Californian indie-punks return 1980s, cutting through the crap with equal parts and nu-jazz under the guidance of host Dan Ofer. downstairs bar with gothic rockers Monkfish and to town two years after their last show here, vitriol and dark, sharp humour. It can be a bit Tonight’s party features a double dose of live more. songs from his recent `If Wishes Were Horses’ SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half Moon main preview `I Don’t Mind’, `Love You More’ and `Promises’ album and more. ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure FLIGHT BRIGADE: The Cellar – Return just a handful of their timeless hits, and with Pete OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford to town for Hampshire’s dark, orchestral folk- Shelley and Steve Diggle showing no signs of THE POWER OF LOVE: The Cornerstone, rockers, who like to keep it in the family, their mellowing with age, tonight’s another spectacular TUESDAY 18th Didcot – Tribute to Celine Dion. What treats! parents having met at Glastonbury in the 70s, the step back into history for fans of peerless pop LONELY THE BRAVE + TALL SHIPS: O2 Such riches! band’s haunting, contemplative songs, earning everywhere. Academy – Cambridge’s epic, urgent alt.rockers REBEL STATION + TRAUMA UK: Fat Lil’s, them supports with Turin Brakes and Dry the FORT HOPE: The Cellar – Polished rocking continue their rise and rise, their arena-friendly Witney – Punk and rock’n’roll from Oxford- River as well as slots at Glastonbury, Bestival from last year’s Kerrang! Best British Newcomers sound recalling Pearl Jam, Biffy Clyro and Swindon-Gloucester outfit Rebel Station, plus and The Great Escape while drawing admiring winners, fitting neatly into the You Me At Six Glasvegas at times; after tour supports to Lower local metallers Trauma UK. comparisons to early Arcade Fire and The scheme of stadium-sized riffage things. Than Atlantis, Marmozets and Deaf Havana they Decemberists. PITCH BLACK: The Cellar – The techno club head off on their biggest headline tour to date in FRIDAY 21st TERRAFORMS: The Cellar – Drum&bass club night celebrates its firth birthday with a guest slot support of third album `Things Will Matter’. GLASS ANIMALS: O2 Academy – night. from DJ Perc. th Wednesday 19 TEMPLE FUNK COLLECTIVE: The Homecoming headline show for Oxford’s latest USA NAILS + SNOT + GIRL POWER + PENNY RIMBAUD + EVE LIBERTINE + Bullingdon – Horn-led funk at tonight’s Bully world-conquering pop heroes, and last month’s BASIC DICKS: The Wheatsheaf – Quality LOUISE ELLIOT: East Oxford Community MICHAEL jazz club. Nightshift cover stars, celebrating the chart noise courtesy of Idiot King tonight with noise- Centre – While Buzzcocks kick out the hits and SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: The James success of second album `How To Be A Human rock supergroup USA Nails – featuring members keep the punk nostalgia merry-go-round going KIWANUKA: of Future of the Left; Oceansize, Kong and Silent up the road tonight, prime movers of punk’s most Street Tavern Being’. Tonight is their biggest Oxford headline Friday 21st OSPREY & FRIENDS: St Aldates Tavern show yet, but they’ve been selling out US shows Front – mixing incendiary walls of abrasive militant, thoughtful and challenging band, Crass, O2 Academy in far bigger venues for the last couple of years, noise with motorik Krautrock and sheer, blinding Penny Rimbaud and Eve Libertine bring their When Michael Kiwanuka sang “I’m a black volume. Get in. Great hardcore punk support from poetry, spoken word, and song performance to PETER BRODERICK: th so come and revel in their psychedelic r’n’b party man in a white world” on the lead single WEDNESDAY 19 vibes. London’s Snot, plus a return to live action with east Oxford, the duo teaming up with flautist and from his second album `Love & Hate’, he MICHAEL KIWANUKA: O2 Academy – The a new drummer for local hardcore and D-beat saxophonist Louise Elliot to enhance readings St. Barnabas GUNS 2 ROSES: O2 Academy – Oh great, From his formative years in Oregon, was nailing not only his personal situation as London soul star tours his second album, `Love & wreckers of civilisation Girl Power, and vegan- that will doubtless challenge eveything, their another Guns’n’Roses tribute. Consider us through session work with M Ward and an artist (“There’s not many black people at Hate’ – see main preview core punk from Basic Dicks. anarchist view of war, peace, love and everything suitably thrilled. Zooey Deschanel, onward through his my gigs,” he observed) but the wider socio- AMBER ARCADES + ELLA + RAINBOW PETER BRODERICK + BRIGID MAE in between unbowed after all these years. STRAY BIRDS + ROBERT CHANEY: time with Danish etherealists Efterklang political situation where protesters are forced RESERVOIR: The Cellar – Airy, shimmering POWER: St. Barnabas – Elegant pianism and PROMETHEAN REIGN + CONFRONT THE The Bullingdon – Class-A Americana from an onto a prolific solo and collaborative to pronounce that black lives matter. As indie-electro-pop from Dutch singer and multi- John Cage-inspired experimentalism from the CARNAGE + VIOLENCE IS GOLDEN + Pennsylvania’s bluegrass stars Stray Birds – see career, composer Peter Broderick has such the new album is part of a lineage that instrumentalist Annelotte de Graaf, a lawyer former Efterklang man – see main preview MASIRO: The Wheatsheaf – Blackened metal always celebrated unpredictability in music, goes back to Marvin Gaye’s `What’s Going who’s taken time out from jobs working as an THE FUSION PROJECT + ABI SAMPA: and angular noise tonight with local Behemoth and made a virtue out of making himself On’ and Gil Scott Heron. Just 29, Kiwanuka aide to the International War Crimes Commission st The Sheldonian – Local Anglo-Indian ensemble and Fleshgod Apocalypse-inspired heavyweights Friday 21 uncomfortable in what he’s doing. Something sounds far older, possessed of a voice to and working as an assessor for the Dutch refugee Fusion Project play their biggest show to date, Promethean Reign alongside grindcore and death he’s taken to the extreme on latest album die for, as well as a broad canvas approach council to produce a delicious debut album, STRAY BIRDS / in the Christopher Wren-designed concert hall, metal crew Confront the Carnage, metal and `Partners’, inspired by John Cage’s fascination to his music and lyrics that owes as much `Fading Lines’, that swims in similar atmospheric mixing classical Indian music with rock and southern rock beasts Violence is Golden, plus with chance and landscape in music. Verses to Dave Gilmour and Leonard Cohen as it pop waters to Broadcast and Madder Rose at ROBERT CHANEY: bhangra rhythms – see main news feature visceral math-core from Masiro. of poetry and even the order of musical notes does soul greats like Bobby Womack, Bill times. Local riot-grrl-inspired pop faves Rainbow XOGARA + OWL LIGHT: Wolvercote Village RAWDIO: The Bullingdon – Jungle and were decided on the roll of dice, including a Withers and Terry Callier. He might be the Reservoir open the show. The Bullingdon Hall – Acoustic equinox-themed night with drum&bass soundsystem, with guests Bladerunner More class-A Americana courtesy of Empty version of Cage’s own `In a Landscape’. All Later… watching crowd’s current soul singer BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar – Anglo-Welsh-Galician folk trio Xogara and feral- and Saxxon. Room Promotions tonight with an Oxford very arty and potentially an absolute shit to of choice, but he’s a genuinely visionary Alternative 80s, new wave, glam, disco and synth- folksters Owl Light. TWISTED STATE OF MIND: The Rock Barn, debut for Pennsylvania’s Stray Birds, the listen to, but as ever Broderick creates music writer and musician who sounds rootsy and pop club night. WISHBONE ASH: Kidlington FC – The 70s Witney – The local rockers launch their new classically-trained acoustic three-piece, led that’s fragile and melancholy but capable of timeless but also stands tall among a morass LET THE LADY SING: The Wheatsheaf – mellow rock giants keep on keeping on, guitarist EP, mixing up classic 70s rock, thrash and post- by singer and guitarist Maya de Vitry, having drifting into the widest of wide open spaces of post-Drake soul singers. The follow-up to It’s All About the Music’s monthly showcase of Andy Powell now the only original member still hardcore – see Introducing feature earned a global audience as well as plenty of and retaining a sense of urgency, utilising 2012’s debut `Home Again’, which helped female singers, with sets from Cora Pearl, Holly with the band. THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Black Swan critical love for their stark, emotive, harmony- little more than vocals, loops and piano. Often win him that year’s BBC Sound Of Award Ford Jones, Waterfahl and Laz Cunliffe. TALC DAEMONS: Jericho Tavern – Album THE INFLATABLES: Fat Lil’s, Witney – laden country-folk, inspired as much by lumped in with other so-called neo-classical (the last time it was won by anyone decent), launch gig for the local blues band. Classic ska tribute. The Beatles and The Band as by The Carter artists (and Erapsed Tapes label mates) like `Love & Hate’ is intimate, introverted, self th THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE: Fat Lil’s, THURSDAY 20 Family and Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm and A Winged revealing and awash with doubt. Produced PAT McMANUS: The Bullingdon – Metalled-up Witney – Tribute act. rd by Dangermouse, Inflo and The Bees’ Paul Boys. Having played several hundred gigs SUNDAY 23 Victory For the Sullen, Broderick is as at Celtic folk-flavoured blues rocking from the Irish DRIVIN’ SIDEWAYS: The Woodman, North SPRING KING + THE BIG MOON: O2 Butler, it’s almost a shoe-in to win most across the length and breadth of the US, this home in club venues as classical concert halls, blues veteran, whose musical history goes back Leigh – Blues rock. Academy – Laddish garage rocking in the vein of album of the year awards going, and rightly rare foray into the Shire comes as they tour but tonight’s show, hosted by the irrepressibly to the 80s with The Mamas Boys, and through the Palma Violets, Vaccines et al from Manchester’s so. The guy’s a star – even if he’s far too Europe in support of `Best Medicine’, their inventive Irregular Folks, is in the suitably 90s with Celtus, but having fronted his own band nd Spring Kings, back in town on tour to promote modest and self-doubting to realise it. second album, released on Yep Roc; with de SATURDAY 22 ornate and grand setting of venue, where he’s for the last 20 years, inspired by Rory Gallagher Vitry having played in various bands with THE LONG INSIDERS + THE SHAPES new single `Detroit’. joined by Brigid Mae Power, who he covers and Thin Lizzy among others. Charlie Muech since their school days, the + KUIPER: The Bullingdon – Hot Gretsch ASYLUMS: The Cellar – Anthemic guitar pop on `Partners’. JP COOPER: O2 Academy – Intimate soul, chemistry within the band is something else. rockabilly action from The Long Insiders, with from Southend’s Asylums, out on tour to promote th gospel and folk from Manchester’s rising star MONDAY 17 Great support from Florida singer-songwriter rough’n’ready nods to The Cramps, Jerry Lee debut album `Killer Brainwaves’, a livewire together, singing close-harmony songs of social of acoustic-urban, the former gospel chorister HOLLIS BROWN: The Bullingdon – A Robert Chaney, whose bitter acoustic balladry, Lewis and Little Richard as well as a hefty pelvis collision of Nirvana, Weezer, Ash and Three comment and more. beloved of Stormzy and Shaun Mendes. Welcome return to town for the New York band inspired by French new wave cinema and bump in the direction of Sun-era Elvis. Great Colours Red and likely to be heralded as one of THE BLUESWATER: The Jericho Tavern – DEADBEAT APOSTLES + COUNTRY after their debut here last year, steeped in classic southern gothic literature, points a dusty, support from The Shapes, with poetic 60s-styled the albums of 2016 come the end of year polls. Famous Monday Blues night. FOR OLD MEN + BEARD OF DESTINY 60s and 70s rock and roll, blues, and traditional existential lense at southern American life, nods to Ray Davies, Van Morrison and The OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim American country rock, songwriting partners + AUTUMN SAINTS: The Cellar – Bluesy harking back to the sounds of classic Bob Beautiful South. MONDAY 24th Mike Montali and Jon Bonilla naming themselves country hoedown crew Deadbeat Apostles at THE DOORS ALIVE: O2 Academy – Doors Dylan and Townes Van Zandt. THE LOVELY EGGS + TENDER PREY + th after Bob Dylan’s classic `The Ballad of Hollis tonight’s It’s All About the Music show. Support TUESDAY 25 tribute. LUCY LEAVE: The Cellar – Idiosyncratic Brown’. His influence is apparent in their music, from bluesy Americana types Country For Old HAWKLORDS: O2 Academy – Psych/space- BUZZCOCKS: O2 Academy – Peerless grunge-pop genius from Lancaster’s odd couple – alongside Neil Young, Tom Petty, The Band and Men; blues duo Beard of Destiny and country rock overload and a visual spectacular from the proponents of pop-riddled punk since 1976, see main preview Credence Clearwater Revival, , while they also grungers Autumn Saints. reconvened Hawklords, helmed now by original Buzzcocks have been no strangers to Oxford SUNSET SONS: O2 Academy – The former knock out a respectable version of The Velvet NIKKI LOY: S.A.E, Littlemore – Album launch member Harvey Bainbridge who formed the venues since their reformation in the late-80s, BBC Sound of 2015 longlisters head out on their Underground’s `Sweet Jane’. gig for the local singer-songwriter, releasing her band back in the 1970s with the late, great Robert but tonight’s gig is special even by their high biggest headline tour to date as they promote new THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW: third LP, `Pivotal’, and playing the SAE audio th Calvert ad now out on tour to promote new album standards as they celebrate their 40 anniversary. album `Very Rarely Say Die’, the shaggy Anglo- The New Theatre – Big production Floyd tribute. college with her full band following a UK tour `Fusion’. Following on from the seminal, self-released Australian surfer dudes’ slacker grunge coming in KRIS DREVER & IAN CARR: Nettlebed supporting Westlife’s Shane Filan, mixing up HAVE YOU SEEN THE JANE FONDA `Spiral Scratch’ EP, the Manchester legends somewhere between Kings of Leon, Killers and Folk Club – After his superb show at The Old jazzy acoustic pop, power ballads and soulful AEROBICS VHS?: The Cellar – If nothing else, followed it with two timeless punk-pop pieces, Doves. Fire Station earlier this year, Orcadian singer- stompers. this month’s best band name winner, Finland’s `Another Music In A Different Kitchen’ and its COOPE, BOYES & SIMPSON: Nettlebed Folk songwriter, Lau member and young folk gun for GLUE: The Cellar – Detroit techno, acid house, HYSTJFAVHS (don’t make us type it out in full follow-up, Love Bites’, which featured the band’s Club – A farewell tour for the South Yorkshire/ hire Drever goes deeper into the Shire for a show Italian house and more. again), come to the UK to tour their new album, signature tune, `Ever Fall In Love’, but beyond Derbyshire vocal trio, calling it a day with one at the legendary Nettlebed Folk Club, tonight CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford mixing 60s girl groups, 80s synth-pop, garage the albums Buzzcocks are one of the great singles last album and tour after 23 years on the road joined by virtuoso guitarist Ian Carr for a set of Community Centre bands of the 70s and 80s, with `What Do I Get’, rock and 90s dreampop into a lush, excitable tour, still possessed of one of the most intensely honed at festivals around the world, from Secret SATURDAY 29th songstress Stolby, inspired by the likes of Edie CLEAN CUT KID: The Jericho Tavern emotive voices around. Garden Party to Croatia’s Outlook. Boomtown’s THE TRAVELLING BAND: The Bullingdon Brickell and Juliana Hatfield. – Languidly funky electro-pop in a Vampire MOVE: The Cellar AAA Badboy makes his Cellar debut while the – Return of Manchester’s rootsy psychedelic THE DAVID GORDON TRIO: St Giles Weekend style from the Liverpudlian quartet, out Count plays reggae, ska, soul, dancehall and folk-pop collective, in the vein of Crosby, Stills Church –The Jazz at St Giles season continues on their biggest tour to date to promote new EP THURSDAY 27th more. & Nash and The Band with local pianist and composer David Gordon’s `We Used To Be In Love’. TELEMAN: O2 Academy – Continuing to THE CHRISTIANS: O2 Academy – Soft- AFRO CELT SOUNDSYSTEM: O2 Academy trio, mixing melody and improvisation. MAEVE BAYTON & SHARON NORRIS stake a claim as one of the best electro-pop centred soul and a capella pop from the enduring – A bitter split in the ranks last year means we’re OXJAM ABINGDON with KANADIA + + THE MONKEYFISTS + THE JESTERS bands in the UK with their second album 80s and 90s hitmakers, revisiting old favourites not entirely sure which version of Afro Celt COLDREDLIGHT + ALL IS WORTH + ASH LEWIS + THE FIREGAZERS: The `Brilliant Sanity’ – if anything even better than like `Ideal World’, `Harvest For the World’ and Soundsystem this is, but almost certainly the + SOPHRONIE: The Unicorn Theatre, Wheatsheaf (3.30-7pm – Klub Kakofanney their joyously retro-futurist debut `Breakfast’ `Words’ as well as songs from last year’s `We’ one that just released new album `The Source’, Abingdon – Expansive stadium pop from host an afternoon of free unplugged music in the – Teleman mine the more accessible side of album. taking world fusion from the Scottish Highlands Kanadia at the Abingdon leg of Oxjam, plus downstairs bar. Krautrock and the dancier side of post-punk GENTLEMEN’S DUB CLUB: O2 Academy to India via west Africa, the band mixing kora, spooked blues and alt.pop from Coldredlight and OLD DOG HORNS BIG BAND: Florence pop to come out the other side sounding like – Leeds’ livewire nine-strong roots, ska and dub balafon and Guinean chants with Bhangra dhol more. Park Community Centre (2-5pm) – The a heroically chirpy fusion of Neu! Franz reggae collective bring the party back to the O2 rhythms and the pipes, flutes and reels of Gaelic PETE FRYER BAND: The Dolphin, Sunday Sessions hosts a family-friendly Ferdinand, Sparks and The Motors. after last year’s show here, the band having spent folk tradition. Jazz bagpipes, Gaelic rapping and Wallingford afternoon of live music, cake and more, today RAVENEYE: The Bullingdon – Hard-rocking the summer playing at just about every European African choral singing? It’s all here, often within BREEZE: Fat Lil’s, Witney with twelve-piece swing band Old Dog Horns. festival going, and having previously played a single song. BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3pm) th blues from Raveneye back in town for this Monday 24 Haven Club show after playing here in January. alongside Madness, Roots Manuva, The Streets GARAGE NATION: O2 Academy – UK SUNDAY 30th Then they were fresh from supporting Slash and The Wailers. garage club night Garage Nation returns to JAPANESE HOUSE: The Bullingdon – MONDAY 31st THE LOVELY EGGS: on tour around Europe, Canada and the States, STONE BROKEN + TEQUILA action for a pre-Halloween party. Ambient electro and heavily-treated vocals JACK GOLDSTEIN + THE POTENTIALS + as well as dates with Deep Purple and The MOCKINBYRD + DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY SYD ARTHUR: The Cellar – Funky psych- from Amber Bain’s The Japanese House, back THE GOLDEN WILDERNESS: The Library The Cellar + GUNS OF ANARCHY: The Wheatsheaf tinged folk-pop from Canterbury’s Syd Arthur, Despite describing themselves simply as “a Darkness. The band are fronted by Norfolk’s in town after her well-received show here last – Weird psychedelic spook pop from Fixers – Quadruple bill of heavy rocking courtesy of out on tour to promote new single `Sun Rays’ punk rock band from northern England,” it’s young blues starlet Oli Brown, who’s played year, now touring new EP `Clean’ and drawing man Jack Goldstein at tonight’s Smash Disco OxRox, with Walsall’s chunky, melodic hard ahead of their forthcoming fourth album, the fair to say there isn’t another band around at the Haven before under his own name, the comparisons to The Postal Service and Imogen Halloween party, plus Buffy the Vampire-themed rockers out on tour, with support from Aussie band having supported Vampire Weekend on tour anything like The Lovely Eggs. Formed singer and guitarist having won best new artist, Heap as well as label mates and occasional pop-punk from The Potentials and synth-goth rockers Tequila Mockingbyrds and more. as well as playing Lollapalooza, sounding like by married couple Holly Ross and David best singer and best album at the British Blues collaborators The 1975. noise from Dublin’s The Golden Wilderness. THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Mad Hatter Maroon 5 if they’d grown up in the company of Blackwell, the pair, from Lancaster, plough a Awards in recent times as well as playing in John TIBET: The Library – Stomping glam-boogie HALLOWEEN PARTY: The Cellar CURE HEADS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Cure Canterbury scene greats like Caravan and Gong. singularly idiosyncratic furrow, bashing out Mayall’s band. revivalism from Cardiff’s Tibet, out on a OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim tribute band. GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with PETE gorgeously exuberant indie-thrash gems like ROB HERON & THE TEAPAD headline tour to promote new single `There Is THE FURROW COLLECTIVE: Nettlebed ROCH + LADY NADE + STOLBY: The `Allergies’ and `Goofin’ Around (In Lan- ORCHESTRA + THE AUGUST LIST: The a Place’ on Alcopop! following a summer spent Folk Club – Traditional folk balladry from a Wheatsheaf – GTI continue to mix and match cashire’)’ one minute, potty-mouthed grunge Cellar – Hot jazz, western swing, hokum blues playing Reading and Leeds Festivals, Latitude quartet of folk luminaries – Rachel Newton, th to excellent effect with their monthly live rants like `Don’t Look At Me (I Don’t Like and country from Newcastle’s Rob Heron and Wednesday 26 and Truck, as well as supporting Amazons on Lucy Farrell, Emily Portman and Alasdair music club, tonight featuring Oxford-London It)’ and `People Are Twats’ the next, every- his Teapad Orchestra at tonight’s Tigmus show. tour. Roberts. rockers Pete Roch, with a riff-heavy form of thing smothered in a quintessentially northern Great local support from dustbowl Americana STEVE MASON: psychedelia; support comes from Bristol’s satin- gravy of daft humour, oddball lyricism and couple The August List. voiced singer Lady Nade, sounding like Nina Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month - no exceptions. Email Holly’s unrefined Lancastrian accent. On the MAWKIN: The Jericho Tavern – Boisterous O2 Academy Restless and often pretty bloody angry about Simone taking a wander through soulful blues, listings to [email protected]. All listings are copyright Nightshift Magazine and may not one hand they’re so determinedly anti-com- trad folk-rock in the vein of Fairport Convention stuff (check out `Fight Them Back’), Steve country, jazz and folk, and airy summer-pop be reproduced without permission. mercial they released a single called `Fuck and Bellowhead from the acclaimed quintet, out Mason has never sounded as at peace as It’ on a bank holiday Monday so that DJs on tour to promote new album `The Ties That he does on his third solo album, `Meet The couldn’t play it and no-one could actually buy Bind’, a return to form for the band, with more Humans’, released earlier this year to across- it, but on the other, pretty much everything songs amid the lively instrumentals, which take the-board acclaim. The music press loved The they do comes tinged with pop magic. Last inspiration from Scandinavian and Breton folk Beta Band of course but that never translated year’s `This Is Our Nowhere’, championed as as well as English traditions. They supported into major league record sales, while with ever by Number 1 fan Marc Riley, cemented Bellowhead on their farewell tour and are being King Biscuit Time Mason dipped well below their reputation as one of the most under- tipped as the band to fill that particular hole, the radar of all but his most devoted fans rated pop gems around, and any band that while their members have worked with Kate (and they really are a devoted bunch – not can rhyme “digital accordion” with “Richard Rusby and Eliza Carthy and Norma Waterson, without good reason). `Meet The Humans’, Brautigan”, “Deadly scorpion” and “Beef among others. produced by Elbow’s Craig Potter, finds him bourguignon” has got to be genius, right? CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford at his commercial peak and might be his best Nightshift sometimes dreams that if we’re Community Centre ever album with any of his projects. Warm really good, when we die we’ll go to Heaven SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The Half and hopeful, weightlessly euphoric, joyous and The Lovely Eggs will be our new mum Moon THE MAGIC GANG AMBER ARCADES MUTUAL BENEFIT and almost anthemic at times, it still carries and dad. The afterlife would never be dull. ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure O2 Academy 2 The Cellar, The Bullingdon BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, his trademark genre-blending approach and 29.09.16 | £8 19.10.16 | £7 25.11.16 | £10 Sandford as usual sounds for the most part like it’s MEILYR JONES ASYLUMS HONEYBLOOD whole. Energetic, aerobic dancing is encouraged. coming at you through a lysergic fog, but is The Bullingdon The Cellar The Bullingdon 08.10.16 | £9 Leotards optional. th his most stripped-down and straightforward 23.10.16 | £6 26.11.16 | £10 CATCH FIRE + THESE MINDS + BETTER FRIDAY 28 work, one that reveals him as a great singer – FOLLY & THE HUNTER FEROCIOUS DOG LANTERNS ON THE LAKE FEROCIOUS DOG: The Bullingdon – THAN NEVER + ONE STATE DRIVE: The gravelly and soothing in equal measures – and The Cellar The Bullingdon The Bullingdon Nottingham’s folk-punk road warriors hit town 09.10.16 | £7 27.11.16 | £12 Wheatsheaf – Pop-punk and post-hardcore mixed a fantastic songwriter. Funny and extremely 28.10.16 | £12.50 ahead of a tour support to The Levellers later this bill with a headline set from Nottingham’s Catch likeable onstage, Mason’s passed through IDLES + SLATE HEARTS SYD ARTHUR DREADZONE year. Having become the first unsigned band to The Bullingdon The Cellar The Bullingdon Fire. town a few times on his travels, but there’s sell out their hometown’s 2,000-capacity Rock 09.10.16 | £6 29.10.16 | £8 02.12.16 | £17.50 SPARK’S SIDE OF THE MOON: The James no better time to see him live, and tonight City venue, they played on the Leftfield stage at FEWS THE JAPANESE HOUSE THE NIGHT CAFE Street Tavern will probably find him playing to his biggest Glastonbury in June and are earning a reputation The Bullingdon The Bullingdon The Bullingdon OSPREY & FRIENDS: St Aldates Tavern Oxford audience so far. Can’t say he doesn’t as one of the most hard working and entertaining 13.10.16 | £7 30.10.16 | £9 05.12.16 | £6 deserve it. WHAT BECAME OF US TRAAMS CLAY th live bands in the country, drawing on the punk WEDNESDAY 26 spirit of The Clash and Celtic folk traditions, w/ GENGAHR The Bullingdon The Cellar The Bullingdon | 14.10.16 03.11.16 | £8 11.12.16 | £7 STEVE MASON: O2 Academy – The former- they’re in the traditions of bands like The Men WHAT BECAME OF US MINOR VICTORIES Beta Band man brings his lovelorn psychedelia to They Couldn’t Hang, Tansads and Flogging TIGERCUB town – see main preview w/ YUCK + TOY The Bullingdon O2 Academy 2 Molly: angry and uplifting in equal measures. The Bullingdon | 15.10.16 06.11.16 | £7 13.12.16 | £15 RICHARD WALTERS: The Library – Long- SKYLARKIN SOUND SYSTEM: The Cellar time local hero Walters returns to Oxford for an ALL TVVINS FICKLE FRIENDS CATE LE BON – Count Skylarkin hosts an early Ska-lloween The Bullingdon The Bullingdon intimate show to promote new Kickstarter-funded The Bullingdon party, with a live set from Chainska Brassika, 16.10.16 | £8 21.11.16 | £8 17.12.16 | £15 album `A.M’, his fourth, having recently been a horn-heavy horror show of Jamaican brass, working with Newton Faulkner and poet Simon as recorded at Harry J’s studio in Kingston and t h e f u t u r e i s p e r f e c t . c o . u k | @ f u t u r e p e r f e c t t Armitage as well as supporting Stornoway on photo: Jordan Curtis Hughes ScrapBrain –aquartetspread betweenOxford, Bathand London–areall great. followed byasong called`Now You’re Fucked’.Stillangry. Stillbloody followed byasong aboutJeremyBeadlebeingdead, whichinturnis on therageandnihilism–asong aboutaskydivingdwarfwhodiedis Adverts occasionally)keepsitstraight andsimplewhileneverskimping UK punk(thinkMinor Threat crossedwith The Exploited, oreven The superfuzzed mixof80sDChardcore, andabolshybutmelodicstrainof now andareataut,well-drilledlesson inhowtoplayhardcorepunk. Their tonight thebandhavebeenaround thelocalsceneforwelloveradecade seen themliveforacoupleofyearsatleast.StandinginBasic Dicks It’s greattoberemindedjusthowgoodJunkieBrushareafternothaving that havingoneorallofthosecanmakeadifference. production valuestoohighlycomparedtoattitude,buttonight’s gigproves Punk idealism,it’s fairtosay, nevervaluedtechnicalvirtuosityor The Library MYSTIC INANE/SCRAP BRAIN/JUNKIE BRUSH and clearstandouttrack`Drop’; with theiraudienceuntilset-closer tight, punkysetbutfailtoconnect to Marmozets. They delivera quartet fromCardiff, comparable a female-frontedindie-punk Tour supportcomesfromEstrons, sold outwithintwominutes. show, alongwiththe14otherdates, predictably, tonight’s Bullingdon second album,‘Take Control’,and have pre-orderedtheirimpending shows, exclusivelyforfansthat duo areembarkingonarunoftiny Yes, please. The Mercury-nominated were borntobutlongagooutgrew? the sortofdark,sweatyvenuethey A Slavesgigforundertwoquid,in The Bullingdon SLA VES /ESTRONS

onto thestage,strippingdowntoa drummer IsaacHolmanasheclimbs just has,”declaresvocalistand didn’t thinkitcouldbetopped– played ourhottestshoweverandI and very, veryhot.“Lastnightwe the venueispackedtorafters BythetimeSlavesarriveonstage they returntoOxford. a moreenthusiasticcrowdwhen and youhopethey’representedwith seem likeanexcitingyoungband set suffers asaconsequence. They energy fromtheroomandEstrons’ and Slavesalone. This sapsthe who areclearlyhereforSlaves young andsoberteenagecrowd, tonight’s 14+showhasanoticeably Dale Kattack punk rockshould everaspireto. to theshops,and isultimatelydullandformulaic – notacombinationthat fronted byacartoonish Lydon/Biafra hybridfeels morelikeatiredtrudge galloping towardsacliff edge,butMysticInane’s pedestrianpunkriffage, As ScrapBrainprove,ramshackle isagoodthingifyoufeellikeyou’re Orleans, seemtolackeithertheattitude ormusicianshiptoentertain. A shamethattonight’s headliners,havingcomeallthewayfromNew probably aren’t foryou. building. Ifthatdoesn’t appeal,thenSmashDisco’s DIY gignights lo-fi noisethatmakeyoufeelyou’rewatchingagiginsidecollapsing Kathleen Hannahyelpingandhissingherwaythroughserratedchunks of particular BikiniKill,withasingerpossessedofthespirityoung Their short,musicallychaoticsetisarudimentary takeonRiotGrrl,in about attitudeovertechnicality. formula establishedondebutalbum deviate toofarfromthestyleand The newsongsdon’t attemptto naturally resultinginchaos. don’t kickthemout!”Laurieteases, naked crowdsurfer. Security– thing thatwe’veneverhadisa causing thevenuetoerupt.“One `Sockets’ and`CheerUpLondon’, treated tomasssing-a-longsof Control’. Foursongsin,we’re favourites andsongsfrom`Take Tonight’s setissplitbetweenfan passed overhead. pits startandcrowdsurfersare crowd surges forwards,themosh kick off thepreviouslysubdued pair ofshorts. The momenttheband

Dan Mordente more isimminent. massive UKtourdueinNovember, sweaty fanswantingmore. With a leavingaroomfulof `The Hunter’, 45-minute setwithfansfavourite They finishashortbutsweet rousing liveexperience. amusing stageanticstocreatea tight, shortpunksongswith masters ofthestage,combining few years,Slavesareundoubtedly touring relentlesslyforthelast trait they’veleftbehind,butafter like `TheHunter’ seemtobea the newsongsandcheekyriffs `Spit ItOut’ sumsupthetoneof riffs alongtheway. Leadsingle but theyseemtolosethecatchy anything, they’reslightlyheavier `Are You Satisfied’;if

Smiles Over Here’,`Egg’ and`Red, Green, Highlights ofanhour-long setare`All a heavydependence onadrumsampler. set-up comprises bassguitar, drums and in facepaintandraringtogo. Their unusual Ha’ The Gardenflyontothestage,covered a worldtourinsupportof2015album `Ha Wyatt andFletcherShears,currentlyon ConsistingoftwinCalifornianbrothers the perfectwarmupfor The Garden. make themonestowatchlocallyaswell band’s infectiousenergy andonstageantics EP `DigitalFulfilment’ alongtheway. The while debutingtwosongsfromtheirnew and whippingthecrowdintoafrenzy through a30-minuteset,incitingmoshpit on theOxfordcircuit. The four-piece fire as oneofthemostexcitingyoungbands Haze arerapidlyestablishingthemselves The Bullingdon THE GARDEN/HAZE Ben Woolhead yet. it’s ajokethatcertainlyhasn’t gonetoo far Elvanamayhavestartedoutasajoke,but manage topulloff. headfuck, inotherwords–butonethey pretending tobeDavidBowie. A complete be ElvispretendingtoKurtCobain The World’, andaGeordiepretendingto The encoreendswith‘TheMan Who Sold `Nevermind’ turns25. songwriting chopsinthemonththat Nirvana’s powerandCobain’s considerable and surprisinglypoignantreminderof and especially‘All Apologies’ areatimely Shaped Box’,‘You Know You’re Right’ potent renditionsof‘Lithium’,‘Heart- provokes ananimatedresponse,while Up’ (“We liketocallit‘AllFuckedUp’”) of it. A grunged-upcoverof‘AllShook Disrespectfultobothartists?Notabit Winkelman. offspring ofDavidDickinsonandClaudia tan thatmakeshimlooklikethevarnished that resultsinasweatygroinandsporting for hisart,cladinasnugly-fittingjumpsuit straight fromthe Vegas strip.He’s suffering bejewelled behemothofthe70s,dragged sex symbolofthe1950sand60s,but ‘Aneurysm’, thisElvisisnottheclean-cut hand ashispreppilydressedbandkickinto Emerging stagerightwithhamburger in standards, thenwhycan’t theKing? Jett andLordecouldallhaveacrackatthe of Fame.IfKimGordon,St Vincent, Joan band’s inductionintotheRock&RollHall for theliveperformancethatmarked inviting aquartetofsingerstotakehisplace play CelebrityKaraoketwentyyearslater, a gun,theremainingmemberschoseto proven in1994thathedidindeedhave essentially endorsedit.KurtCobain,having forgetting thatNirvanathemselveshave tribute actintheworld–isconveniently described) bestElvis-frontedNirvana proclaimed (thoughprobablytruthfully about theconceptbehindElvana–self- immediately. Any po-facedpissantcarping Right, let’s getonethingstraight O2 Academy ELV AN Dan Mordente come. lot morewillwant todiscoverinmonths something unique aboutthem–somethinga band’s onstagepersona. There isgenuinely little sensebutitdoesbeginto capturethe and ideals.” All ofwhichmakes very that disregardsallpreviouslymade genres decentralized… purecreativeexpression, of thenewworld:borderless,informed and up describingthebandas“auditoryinvaders show intowords; Wyatt attemptstosumit It’s hardtoput The Garden’s vibe andlive the audience. the crowdandthrowingplayingcardsinto cartwheeling aroundthestage,climbinginto and dancing alongtoabackingtrackwhile twins ditchtheirinstruments,insteadsinging Yellow’. Halfwaythroughtheirset,the Edit Paksi amount ofintimate. to explosivepopmoments,istheperfect show, fromstarttofinish,stellarvocals Until thenwehaveanighttoremember. The fact theyareexpectedtobebackinJanuary. Neverlnd arenotgoingawayforever;in frontman Thomas Robertsdeclaresthat Returningforonelastsong,`Tundra’, never hadthisproblemonthatcount. for ittomattertoomuch.Neverlndhave charisma andcharmpouringfromthestage something tobedesired,butthere’s enough it’s stillinanexperimentalphaseandleaves A raremisfire,`MyHeart Away’ feelsasif wraps thesongup. fusion ofcrunchingdrumsandgentleriffs hypnotic yetplayfultunesuntilthesmooth Used To’, unadornedlyricscollidingwith vibrant andcatchy`We Don’t Talk Like We hide”. Another gemisthealmostannoyingly wanna seeyoureyes/Icanrunbutcannot `Aberration’: “Iwannaseeyoureyes/I audience singalongoftheclosinglines inclusiveness,typified byamass feel andanoverwhelmingsenseof show there’s alsoacelebratory Despitethefarewellnatureof `Easy’. down, asonyet-to-be-releasedballad term fans,whiletheycanalsoslowthings Ditto ‘No’,somethingofaclassicforlong- forget” makethewholesongirresistible. expect /OraconversationIdon’t wanna of lyricslike“Let’s dosomethingIdon’t its groovytuneandthewarmsimplicity songs, particularlythefrenetic‘Neighbours’, It’s easytogetlostintheatmosphereof contagious energy. like `Cutout’ thatopensthesetandradiates a newshapethataffects oldersongsaswell, from Balloon Ascents, growingandtaking past yearsincetheychangedtheirname The band’s stylehasmutatedalotoverthe mood feelsmildlyriotous. band facedwithacapacitycrowdwhose au revoir, andgoingoutwithabang,the tonight seeslocaltreasuresNeverlndsaying With halfthebandheadingforuniversity, The Bullingdon NEVERLND photo: Wendy Page O2 Academy TRAINROBBERS MOON HOOCH/MARCOBENEVENT things we’d seenallyear. Still,therest oftheset minutes, itwould havebeenoneofthegreatest Had thetriostretched thistrackoutfor25 melding ofFlowered UpandLieutenantPigeon. and barrelhousejoannawhichislike arelentless number, ajuggernautofdelayunitbaggygroove doesn’t live uptothepromiseofhisopening As issooftenthecase,Marco Benevento say, “HALF!”,yousay, “ARSED!” not reallyverygood, ACTUALLY! When we Cypress Hilland Trevor AND SIMON! They’re to MID-NINETIES!Bywhichwemeanboth In thebluntedstyleoficonsfromearly Their setislow-slung,slapdash AND SLOPPY! which swiftlybecomesrather ANNOYING! admittedly quaintlyOLD-FASHIONED! But the lastSYLLABLES!It’s atechniquethat’s Trainrobbers aretworapperswhojoininfor crafting a singlenon-stop hourofclubmusic cynicism aside,they areabsolutelyastonishing, CD thatwe’llliterally neverplay!”).Except, have watchedthem for90seconds;wegotthis saw for clickbaitvideosortouristanecdotes (“We with jazzinflectionscouldeasily bedesigned drums reproductionsofdancemusic tropes to pleasethecrowd,andtheirdouble saxand Moon Hoochlikewisenevermiss anopportunity As anactthatstartedoutbusking,Brooklyn’s for thisSillyBillyJoel. him agenius,butwedofindplaceinourhearts reliability ofthe70sboogiepiano. We can’t call simple whoop-alongvocals,tothechunkyknit Such-And-Such wackysuitandtophattothe to makeanimpact,fromtheScreamingLord is stillgood,honestfun,ifaweebitdesperate best musicianseveronthesubway, must O / David Murphy sound likea303 is prettygood,too. from greatelectronica. Although makingasax perhaps thebiggest thingMoonHoochhastaken leftfield noiseanhourlater;this lesson is have themcheeringhandsaloftfor themost Get peopleonsideanddancing, youcan that revealstheband’s truly experimental side. but it’s thelongstriateddrone ofthefinaltrack like Distancetoleaventhebouncy disco-funk, military-industrial dubsteprhythmsofproducers a euphorichouseanthem. There’s atasteforthe between anEvanParkerskronkexcursionand tabla, andanotherexploringtherelationship one trackplacinganMFDoomstylerapover feel tothem,othersectionsareincrediblysubtle, circular breathingspotlightshaveasideshow Ifthequick-switchtemposandeye-popping employed). explain thesnarlingJohnHarletoneoften Michael Nymanarpeggiation(whichmight breakdowns, withoccasionalforaysintovintage from full-throttlehonkingandexpertlyplaced Karlyn King Oxford’s mostexcitingrockbands and buildonthemwillmakeoneof that howtheytakethoseolderinfluences right nowandeverythingtonightsuggests That’s probablynotafuturetheyenvisage band. suggesting they’dmakeagreatwedding showcases yetmorevocalacrobatics,while `I Believeina Thing CalledLove’ pop hooks/punkattitudevibe. Billy Idol’s `Rebel Yell’, linksinwiththeir Hell’s Gazelles,andsethighlight,acoverof something modernandpunkrockabout Despitesuch80s-styleinfluences,there’s vein ofJudasPriest’s `BreakingtheLaw’. chorus refrainof“Doctor, fixme”inthe Maiden speedriffs anddrums,withthe Strangechild’, meanwhile,isallearlyIron a bandwhoaremusicallywellinsync;`Dr Nobody’, withanextendedoutroshowing from thenewEP include`You Ain’t are controlledandfierce.Standouttracks SingerColeBryant’s pitchperfectvocals delivery fuellingastrongsetofsongs. justified, tightmusicianshipandaconfident and thelocalhypesurroundingbandis have packedouttheBullingdontonight Launching theirnewEP, Hell’s Gazelles say I’mimpressed. 16 yearsoldit’s quiteanunderstatementto when I’minformedthattheseladsarejust the confidenceofaseasonedperformer, so all Incubusstyleriffs andthefrontmanhas Support band Twisted StateofMindare wrong. kind of80sthrowback,I’mquicklyproved If I’mworriedtonightisgoingtobesome a timewhenrocksstarsreallyweregods. World, withan80skindofswaggerfrom could tooeasilyremindyouofWayne’s Hells Gazellessportthesortoflookthat TWISTED ST HELL The Bullingdon MIND A tongueincheekcoverof The Darkness’ ’S GAZELLES/ A TE OF Thame Showground even harder tohate. music gets,ofwhatever genre.Hardtolove; but thisisaboutas uncompromisingasrock little reliefcourtesy ofaswapinvocalduties anyone who’s everbeentoDidcot. Taz, whosescreamswillstrike anotewith and areveryloudheavy, withasinger, Crippled BlackPhoenixandGirlPower, Drore featuremembersofUndersmile, experience live. the bestnewbandofyear, atleastto rapid-fire lyricsdirectlyatthewall. Possibly while thesingerstandssideways,delivering is awallofangrychordsandfeedback her kitlikeshe’s chasingawasp,theguitar noise bands. The drummerthrashes around recapture theexcitementofearly80slo-fi bandmates areplaying,theystillmanageto or reallynotthatinterestedinwhattheir of thebill.Eitherseriouslyunder-rehearsed lay downaverylarge gauntletfortherest are threepartsLondon,onepartOxfordand Sloane Rangersbarinthe80s. Library, whichit’s easytoforget wasa ridiculously intimatesurroundingof The Another greatSmashDisconightinthe T the steelpan. The duoofKRISDRIVER originality inmixingfolkwiththesoundof and dance andworkshops,the52 A packedline-upacrossfourvenues,plus like thesublimeblendofWILL Oftheotheracousticactswecatch, vengeful boltoflightning? what isanotherwisesunnyday. What next,a an immediateshort,sharpdownpouron a sacrilegiousverseaboutbabyJesusthere’s wanting themtossing-a-long. When hesings the crowdGeordiepronunciationwhen rooted inhisnativenortheastandteaches JEZLOW’s earthystyleandhumouris more surprisingly, ajazznumber. her expressivevoicetosingingabluesand, singer folk duowiththeSandyDenny-influenced WA LKER, onehalfofanawardwinning more fineacousticguitarplayingfromBEN lose ourselvesinhisperformance. There is He makesitallseemsoeasyandwehappily and aprodigioustouchontheacousticguitar. songwriter withawonderfullywarmvoice stands out.He’s gotitall:aconsummate TILST on today’s bill,amongwhichSTEVE Graceisoneofarosteracousticacts with avegan. about ameateaterwantingrelationship when shecomesupwithatender, wrysong stadium anthem,soit’s abitunexpected and getsaroarofappreciationtomatchany to Welfare’ hasbecomehersignaturenumber matched byherguitarplaying.Her`Farewell PETRIE, whosepassionatesingingis from youngleft-wingsongwriterGRACE Saturday’s daytripstartswithadynamicset its intimate,welcomingvibe. probably thebiggestever, yetitstillretains The Library / THE ANRQUI OWERSEY ROSIE CALVERT’s voicesandtheir who also turns JOSIENNE CLARKEwhoalsoturns , forty years in the business, ON, fortyyearsinthebusiness, SWELL FESTIV VERTICAL nd Towersey is The Swell FINN There’s a

AL Art Lagun going: abandinneed ofsomefocus. sense thatthey’re notquitesurewhereit’s all are singingabout. Despite theenergy there’s course we’venoideawhateitherof them less approachablethanUltra,though of with thepunkreferencepoints,and they’re guitar runsrevealametalinfluence along Boys orGrease . The frequentscreeching looks likehe’s juststeppedout of than theircompatriots,singeroddly switched toguitar. Lessmelodic,moreangry drummer withUltra,andabassistwho’s now Headliners Anarquia Vertical sharea good producercoulddowiththem. impressions, andmakesyouwonderwhata and tightnessthatbeliesthenihilisticfirst closer listenrevealssignificantproficiency breathlessly fastcontinentalpunkpackage. songs withdiscernibletunes,deliveredina the eveningtoengagewithconceptof tiny spacewhilethebandarefirstof athletic singerhurlshimselfaroundthe languorous beachvibesinevidence. The from sunnyBarcelona,notthatthere’s any Ultra arethefirstoftwobandstonight midst ofcelebratingtheir30 THE WONDER rapturous reception. They’re followedby however, inaminorityofoneastheyget good jokeswearsthinafterawhile. We are, pop hitsandrockclassicsso-bad-they’re- their highlypolishedformulaofversions playing isimpressivethroughout,wefind BRIT UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREA Firstuparetheformally-dressed night’s eclecticlineup. heading backtothemainstageandSaturday and enthusiasmsetsusupnicelyfor dance house,whichisbuzzingwithenergy scene andenjoyhangingoutatthefestival Lateintheafternoonweoptforachangeof instrumental andDrever’s `PoorMan’s Son’. only picksupneartheendwithasparkling gig inOxford. Their setisratherflatand especially afterDrever’s recentfantasticsolo and Colin May uplifting finishtoour Towersey day. times we’veseenthem,they’restillatotally quite hitthedizzyingheightsofprevious reggae treatment. Though thebanddoesn’t the industrialrevolutiongivenrocksteady/ including broadsideballadsfromthetimeof a setofoldfavouritesandnewmaterial, take Towersey pastthemidnighthourwith and vocals. A much-lovedpartyband,they Morris tuneswithreggaebeforeaddingbrass 80s asaninstrumentalgroupmixingEnglish HeadlinersEDWA RD IIstartedoutinthe savour, evenforafolkiercrowd. of EricaNocklasstotheforethere’s plentyto frontman MilesHuntandtheviolinplaying they playatightset,andwithcharismatic with thespikinessoftheirbackcatalogue, Splicing morerecentreflectivematerial /ULTRA /D RORE is disappointing, though, IAN CRRisdisappointing,though, and while their collective ukulele AIN andwhiletheircollectiveukulele STUFF who are in the who areinthe th anniversary. The Jersey T

A Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all othergenres www.shs.brookes.ac.uk/hand-clinic phone 01865485250tomakeanappointment. Oxford. [email protected] or The clinicisopenonWednesdays atMarstonRoad, yourself ormayrecommend furthertreatment. your hand(s)andadvisewhatyoucandotohelp Therapist willmakeadetailedassessmentof At theHandClinicanexperienced hand therapymayhelp. a recent sportsinjury, injury, orhavehad repetitive strain as arthritisor your handssuch problems with If youhave St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE A 50minuteassessmentcosts£65. open tothepublic The Oxford Brookes HandClinicisnow DON’T IGNOREHANDPAIN Brand newandbackcatalogue/RareVinyl RECORD &CDFAIR 40 PembrokeSt,St Aldates, OX11BP Saturday 12 Accessories/memoriabillia/books. THE OXFORD www.usrfairs.co.uk 10am-4pm th November THE QUENTINS / BESNARD LAKES / WEDNESDAY’S BLUSHES / WOLVES ROSE SEGAL O2 Academy The Wheatsheaf Wednesday’s Wolves’ name is audience of shoegaze fans, while It’s good to note the musical genes surfacing a composite of two of English the touchpoints are numerous: The in Rose Segal and brother Jack, also here Football’s most storied clubs, but Earlies, Toy and Wooden Shjips playing double bass, seeing as they are it’s a breezy, undemanding offering among the likeminded. As if punk the offspring of the late, great Oxfordshire of folk they treat us to. With one of never happened, this is a stripped- Blushes photo by Paul Carrera bluesman Danny Segal from the band Mojo the duo sitting on top of a box and down prog only minus upturned Bones. tapping it and the front woman’s collars on school jackets and vinyl Rose tenders a more English drawing room guitar displaying a certain quiet LPs under arms. pop with her octave-vaulting trill, reminiscent lushness, it’s all pleasantly acoustic Are the nods to Pink Floyd of an All About Eve `Martha’s Habour’ folk- but offers nothing that Laura Veirs and the like okay? Kind of. The gothic, or Judie Tzuke in a captivating `All hasn’t brought to the table before. disappointment comes in the set as The Colours’, while the upbeat tropic swing of It’s a sonic experience that doesn’t an ensemble with tracks bleeding `Torrent or Shower’ is the ear-catching coda to really prepare the audience for into one another, if not literally, an ever improving set. Besnard Lakes. Notorious as studio then certainly in mood. Frontman Aylesbury’s Blushes might well have tinkerers, there is anticipation in a Jace Lasek hides behind a curtain stumbled into the lucrative vogue of girl/boy room filled with members of some of blonde curls, any interjections duelling vocals, a la funky indie Jackie Abbot of Oxford’s best local bands as to are politely Canadian and inaudible / Paul Heaton, but it’s a real joy to see Tiffany how the palate of innovation on and there’s a feeling that the Lakes Marie Evans blooming from her present display on albums such as ‘Until need to be more arresting and more backing vocals/keyboardist role to genuine foil in Excess, Imperceptible UFO’ and striking. As the drummer becomes to Bradley Ayres’ teenage dilemmas, with their their 2016 offering, ‘A Coliseum engulfed in more and more dry eyes and voices searching for each other in the Complex Museum’, will be realised ice and as the guitars soar and neat aural dance of songs like `Crocodiles’. in a more spontaneous setting. crash, there’s a tendency on the It’s something they should keep in mind when Siren-like guitars create basilicas part of audience members to check writing new songs. of sound, drums are unintimidated Facebook on their phones, for, sad The Quentins all look like they are called by the general sturm und drang of to report, the band are just a tiny bit Quentin, when in fact only drummer Quentin the other instruments and the bass dull: a muso’s treat with precious Dercon actually is. He, along with Nick pierces and pulsates. Vocals are little chance of winning over any Ormrod, are taking time out from the prog- harmonised in the way Panda Bear new members. rock of The Aureate Act to join forces with reinvented the Beach Boys for an Rob Langham Harry Wragg and Jonathan Henry to bring a certain bookish gusto to the stage, as if Lloyd Cole was fronting the Arctic Monkeys and `Rattlesnakes’ and `Mardy Bum’ had morphed into their songs `Shit Weather’ and `Do Me A Favour’. It’s the kind of mix and match, dare I say musical genetic modification, that ultimately keeps Oxford stage aprons such a vital, elevating place to be. Paul Carrera

SLOW DOWN, MOLASSES / FLIGHTS OF HELIOS / THE BECKONING FAIR ONES The Cellar Tonight’s show starts with a noisy grunge quandary: ignore what I know and review like the bitter-sweet drone-folk mood that still racket of the best kind. Local newcomers they’ve touched me for the very first time or makes FOH special. The Beckoning Fair Ones feature former compare and contrast? Canada’s Slow Down, Molasses have built Dallas Don’t lead man Niall, and at first It’s hard to ignore the past, but the harsher, up a bit of a history with Oxford, which, if glance you can hear his legacy pretty clearly. guitar-driven version of their stalwart track nothing else, shows there is still a place out However, the further TBFO move into their `Factory’ wins me over pretty quickly. Tonight there for tiny promoting companies with set a more complex and subtle whole reveals they feel more contemplative and closer than enthusiasm for interesting music. The band itself. In addition to guitar/bass/vocals, they ever to the explorations of early Pink Floyd, play a mix of Bunnymen-esque indie and also include a guy hidden behind a bank of with a couple of mad tempo changes and blasts traditional Oxfordshire shoegaze. They take synths and it’s this that adds the depth to their of cosmic energy thrown in, just in case you the conventions of shoegaze, polish them to sound. From grunge/shoegaze openings they felt too safe. Violin and accordion players join perfection, lose the British misery and add swiftly add in long, instrumental Krautrock- them for the last number, `A Sailor’s Life’, some North American bright-eyed enthusiasm. style wanderings that are layered with some a traditional song popular with the 60s folk To cement their shoegaze credentials they end post-rock guitar which is a really compelling revivalists, which builds to a beautiful chord- their set with a cracking Galaxie 500 cover concoction. drenched haze and just when you expect the and if you missed this visit to the Shire, or the Flights Of Helios have been around for such post-rock guitar lead, you get a thumping bass last couple of times, then make damn sure you a long time I know their songs inside out and line and even more build, which eventually check them out next time. They will be back am always left smiling when I see them, but resolves, unexpectedly, to an almost anti- and they will be very welcome. their recent line-up changes present me with a climactic denouement, which highlights really Matthew Chapman Jones INTRODUCING.... Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under Oxford’s only centrally located Twisted State of Mind music shop Who are they? Witney heavy rockers Twisted State of Mind are Ben Comley (vocals); Luke Ashby (guitar and vocals); Joe Wastie (bass) and Damon Marshall (drums). Luke and Damon formed the band in 2011 aged just 11, “wanting to explore music further than playing clarinet in a primary school classroom”. They have spent the last five years gigging around the UK as well as three USA east coast tours. Now all aged 16, they are preparing to release dual- EP `Set In Stone’ on October 22nd, recorded in the summer of 2015 with Grammy-nominated producer Chris Tsangerides (Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest). What do they sound like? Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: Heavyweight alt.rock possessed by the spirit of 80s thrash and classic 70s “Too many names that come to mind; the music scene in Oxford is hard rock, kicked out full throttle with theatrical zeal. Even in their early days currently thriving. A recent favourite, though, are Hell’s Gazelles, who we the band played with a technicality beyond their years and if their more recent were lucky enough to share the stage with.” Oxfords oldest music shop is the place to visit for 01865 333581 recordings have toned down the speedfreak tendencies, they still come at you If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: with energy to spare. In their own words: “hard-hitting rock fused with raw “We spent half an hour duelling rock paper scissors for this question. In the [email protected] • Rock, Pop & Chart CDs from £5 • 3 for 2 on selected sets of guitar strings funk grooves, Latin jazz rhythms and gritty yet melodic vocals.” end it came down to Trivium’s `In Waves’, as it has played such a massive Blackwells.co.uk/oxford What inspires them? part in our band’s history.” • DVDs, giftware & t-shirts • Printed music and books “One thing that sparks our passion for writing music is our unique When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? @blackwellsmusic • A selection of vinyl and record players • An ongoing programme of musical events individual musical inspirations. From the likes of scat jazz to progressive “The Rock Barn, Witney on October 22nd. It’s the night we release our two fb.com/blackwellsmusic djent, or straight-up rock, we love finding ways to convert information to EPs, `Set In Stone’ (Red and Blue). It will be sweaty.” • A range of instruments & accessories 53 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ inspiration and injecting this into our music. Bands that have played a big Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: inspiration in our writing process include, Trivium; Periphery; Slipknot; “Favourite has to be the mass amount of diversity in genres played amongst Stevie Wonder; Alice in Chains; Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Abba.” Oxford. Least favourite is the under-18 restriction to a lot of great music Career highlight so far: venues, yet there are so many cool young bands.” “Having our first ever US performance sold out and watched by the You might love them if you love: drummer of Iron Maiden, Nicko McBrain.” King’s X; Judas Priest; Red Hot Chilli Peppers; Bring Me The Horizon; And the lowlight: Biffy Clyro. “Getting escorted offstage by the police after throwing a water balloon at a Hear them here: car before a gig at 12 years old.” www.twistedstateofmind.com

3989 Nightshift Magazine Advert_v4.indd 1 04/07/2016 13:35 Dr SHOTOVER: Age of Aquariums THIS MONTH IN OXFORD T H E W H E A T S H E A F Ah, there you are. But where am I??? Follow the sound of my voice (voice, voice) – ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY Saturday 1st October – MUSICIANS AGAINST HOMELESSNESS past the echo chamber and through the clouds of strangely sweet-scented purple smoke. Over here… over here… Ouch! Yes, that’s me, you blithering id… I mean, er, Before)’, while Paramore, Cerys Matthews, KANADIA SLEEPERS DOME + SLATE HEARTS + WOLFS 7:45pm MAN. Pull up a bean bag and order us a pot of special mushroom tea, why don’t 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO Klaxons and Seth Lakeman (Zodiac); The nd Something of a purple patch for local music of After a major refurbishment The Exeter Hall Sunday 2 October you? Welcome to the East Indies Club Happening and Lightshow. We are, in case Lemonheads, Embrace and Plan B (Brookes) the kind we now take for granted back in October reopened as a live venue in October 2006, with The you hadn’t, erm, grocked it yet, celebrating the latest New Psychedelic Revival. Yes, and Kate Rusby (New Theatre) were among the ANARCHIST WOOD UNMAN + OLD ERNIE 7:45pm 1996, with twee-core heroes Heavenly appearing Drug Squad and The Epstein playing the opening Friday 7th October – KLUB KAKOFANNEY yes, the latest of many. And here’s to many more! [Slurps special mushroom tea highlights of the local gig calendar. while sitars play loudly]… One caveat: avoid Simpkins and his Tantric body-painting on The Chart Show with their new single `Space night. With the future of The Wheatsheaf in UKID CHEROKII + CHARMS AGAINST THE EVIL EYE 7:45pm troupe at all costs. They’re a Totally Bad Scene. Otherwise, hey, relax your mind, Manatee’ in the same week that The Bigger The serious doubt, with the pub up for sale and rumours Saturday 8th September – KLUB KAKOFANNEY turn off and float downstream, as The Monkees once said. (Before they turned God were picked to perform on Top of the Pops that it would become a wine bar, Klub Kakofanney 5 YEARS AGO into Supergrass and drove that bed round that beach). (Or was it just a dream?) 2 to plug their single `Pentonville’. Even local relocated from there to the Ex. Of course the Ex While psych-pop faves Fixers were announced as PEERLESS PIRATES MIGHTY REDOX + VIENNA DITTO th Talking of Wheatley’s finest, all the local acts have obviously had to reinvent Sunday 9 October – OXROX rockers Swim the Atlantic were getting some telly was sadly soon to be no more – difficulty attracting BBC Oxford Introducing’s Band of the Year; themselves, in the dawning of the New Age of Aquarius. So look out for Laughing action, appearing on morning show The Time & music fans up to Cowley coupled with financial a previous winner of the title, Ute, announced JOE BUCK YOURSELF TRAUMA UK + BEAVER FUEL 7:30pm Gaz Gnomes… Ryde… Swervedryver… The Bakelite Wireless Heads… Glass The Place. Meanwhile The Candyskins slid into issues with the PRS would spell the end for the pub, they were splitting up, as were another previous th Wednesday 12 October – OXROX Onions… Grooveaway (now with extra flutes)… and Glastonbury pyramid-toppers the Top 75 with a reissue of `Mrs Hoover’, which while thankfully the Sheaf survived and remains a Nightshift front cover act Keyboard Choir, one of UFOals. And may we really be seeing reunion gigs by such luminaries as Timothy precipitated a short succession of chart hits. cornerstone of the local scene. whom, Woody, featured in this month’s Nightshift LAST GREAT DREAMERS BLACK BULLETS 7:45pm Leary’s Lovechild, Biba, and The (Got) Anyskins? I couldn’t possibly comment, Friday 14th October – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC Heavenly’s TV appearance came in the wake of the In other local music news, techno duo Lab-4 cover stars, Borderville, talking about their new though the answer is almost certainly ‘Forget it’. Actually, with the number of release of their fourth and final album, `Operation announced they were to split after 12 years together. concept album `Metamorphosis, based on Kafka’s CRYSTALLITE + STORYTELLER + NEON TEEPEE 7:45pm cups of special tea I’ve had today, it’s a miracle that I can remember anything at KUIPER Heavenly’, the band disbanding in the wake of Delays over the release of new album `None of novella. Meanwhile Klub Kakofanney celebrated Saturday 15th October – OXROX all. Man. Oh, now I look closer, you’re not a man at all, are you? You’re a rather, th erm, far-out drummer Mathew Fletcher’s death in June. “The Us Are Saints’, and the threat of legal action over their 20 anniversary with a weekend of live RSJ K-LACURA + DOOMCROW + SPREAD THE DISEASE 7:45pm young woman. best Heavenly album by far,” ran Nightshift’s a cover version were cited among the reasons for music at The Wheatsheaf, with sets from Vicars th LET THE LADY SING Wednesday 19 October – And when I say review, “It’s dedicated to the memory of Mathew, the end of the band who remain Oxford’s most of Twiddly, Fuzzy Logic, The Relationships, ‘far-out’… may I and there can be no finer tribute.” successful dance export, regularly playing to Mary’s Garden, Space Heroes of the People and CORA PEARL HOLLY + WATERFAHL + LAZ CUNLIFFE 7:45pm Friday 21st October – IDIOT KING call you Alice in On the local gig front there were visits to town crowds of 15,000 at major raves and festivals. Twizz Twangle, among others. Wonderbra? [Dr for Morcheeba, The Wedding Present, June Another local act splitting this month were punk A host of local releases included new records USA NAILS SNOB + GIRL POWER + BASIC DICKS 7:45pm S picks up some Tabor, Sneaker Pimps and Courtney Pine (all band Harlette, who played the Punt earlier in the from The Workhouse, Laima Bite, Trophy Wife, nd Saturday 22 October – TWO FACE PROMOTIONS wind chimes, dons at The Zodiac), while spectacle of the month was year, with members heading off to university. Duotone and Agness Pike, while the month’s big a paisley dressing PROMETHEAN REIGN CONFRONT THE CARNAGE + MASIRO 7pm Earl Brutus’ astonishing show at The Point – the Celebrations of long-term success – or at least gig was Leylines Festival on the Cowley Road, Tuesday 25th October gown and Afghan notoriously riotous Liverpool electro-glam-yob- endurance – from Gappy Tooth Industries, the the one-day, multi-venue boasting a line-up that slippers, and rock crew systematically demolishing their own monthly live music club celebrating its 50th gig in featured Jamie Woon, Futures, The Big Pink, THESE MINDS + ONE STATE DRIVE 7:45pm CATCH FIRE floats away, equipment and the venue’s lighting rig during a set the Zodiac’s downstairs bar with sets from rapper Friday 28th October – OXROX Toddla T and Little Fish. The Horrors, Ed tinkling gently]… that was musically incredible and featured a band Zuby as well as Life With Bears, Delta and Sheeran, Enter Shakiri, Bombay Bicycle Club Cheers! Down the STONE BROKEN TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD member whose entire raison d’être was to stand Amberstate. Good to see GTI still going strong. and Benjamin Francis Leftwich were among a rabbit hole! DEAD MANS WHISKY + GUNS OF ANARCHY 7:45pm on stage drinking beer, shouting nonsense between Local releases this month included Fell City Girl’s host of big names playing the O2 Academy, all at th Next month: Saturday 29 October – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES songs and eventually wetting himself. A shame that `February Snow’, Witches’ `Taking Myself Home Being For the a price normal people could afford back then. Go recent visitors to town Coldplay weren’t there that Again’ and This Town Needs Guns’ `Hippy Jam and see more gigs, people. You never know which LADY NADE + STOLBY 8pm Benefit of Mr Dr S: ‘Why don’t you come and see my joss stick collection? PETER ROCH night taking note. Fest (The Likes of Which Has Never Been Seen The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Shite Er, man’. future stadium stars you might catch early on. executed and succinct. It comes wrapped in a Eye) and his song `Island of Grey Skies’, a dense blanket of guitar spangle, which gives jolly skiffle romp that in another world might it an airy sense of grace, and if the lyrics and have found its way onto Peerless Pirates’ delivery can tend towards the heavy handed, recent roustabout album. But, oh my days, DEMOS it’s pretty appealing, if hardly fun. A shame that voice. First off it could just be someone Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day that `Knots’, which follows it, is shrill and trying a bit too hard to sound like an old at Soundworks studio in Oxford, messy where `Prozac’ was solemn and tidy. time soul singer (or, rather more worryingly, courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit The vocals become adenoidal, the attempt join the Black and White Minstrel Show) at getting funky is entirely unsuccessful while over-enunciating every word, but www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift and Henry manages to conjure possibly the as the song picks up a head of steam and most horrible guitar sound we’ve heard in things get more intense, we’re into full pile- you feel let down after getting your taste buds sodding ages, one that stomps garishly all inducing, sphincter strain territory. Probably DEMO OF all excited. Singer Ash Watson here boasts over any subtleties the song might once have this month’s demo most likely to get Jools 01865 240250 Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Bon Iver, Curtis possessed. Clumsy understatement over brash Holland excited, but rather than stand here Mayfield, Public Enemy and Led Zep as chief bolshiness every time, dearest ones. stroking our chins and muttering about THE MONTH influences, which is a hell of a melting pot. authentic rootsiness and stuff, we’re going The finished dish is closer to Jack Savoretti, to point and shout stuff like `Island of Grey HAZE or maybe one of Van Morrison’s lesser recent INAIR Skies’? Toilet of Brown Poos, more like. Having been around the local scene rather efforts. It’s rootsy and earnest, soulful enough Blimey, talking about brash, InAir would longer than half the musicians we now review with just a hint of blues about it, but couldn’t no doubt have little truck with the notion have been alive, we’ve encountered a good he at least have sprinkled some chopped of bedroom recordings. In their minds at half dozen or so bands called The Haze, or coriander on top to make it all a bit fancier? least they are already topping the bill at THE DEMO slight variations of (and that’s just from the `Knife of the Long Nights’ (see what he every festival next summer (except maybe Shire, so extrapolate at your leisure), so these did there?) is standard breathless acoustic Supernormal, which is too weird, Cambridge fellas might want to think about changing soul, while `Just Another B Side’, as the title which is too folky, and Bloodstock, which DUMPER their name in future. Because they do sound suggests, has an air of second best about. `Old would be too scary and they’d get bottled like they might have a very good future on Gregg’ is, apparently, a dark satire on a love off as a bunch of pantywaists). But yeah, all the strength of this debut outing. There’s song, but we can’t help imagine it’s about a them other ones. Everything here is about WILLY REW Then again, we could always just point and eight songs here but it’s rarely a chore as the man who’s in love with a sausage roll from being bold and brash and big and possibly laugh at anyone called Willy. Because humour band alternately scurry and wander through Britain’s favourite bakery chain, and as the other words beginning with b. That the band should be intellectual like that, particularly in a roughneck post-punk wasteland, a barrow- words tumble from Ash’s lips in a manner quote Fightstar as their primary influence an age where the internet has given everyone boy bark and yelp vocalist backed up by that makes us think he’s shivering and damp should guide you towards where this is all the right to be offended and we don’t want to music that can be urgent, angular and yobbish in a tumbledown shed on a remote Scottish coming from and going too: grungy, emo- let them down. But anyway, Willy here (stop TURAN AUDIO.co.uk (lead track `Baggy’), or strangely unfocussed hillside, we can only imagine the comfort and ish power rock with enough snarly bits in Professional, independent CD mastering sniggering at the back!) is new in town and (the actually slightly more baggy-ish `Park’). succour that a warm mush of reconstituted to attract fans of the melodic end of the while we’d rather make him feel welcome Seemingly taking Wire’s art-punk fire and meat-style matter in a flaky pastry casing metalcore spectrum, but anthemic and poppy Artists mastered in the studio last month include; he’s a bit of a miserable, mopey old sod from the original incarnation of Adam & the Ants would bring him. enough not to alienate grown-ups who need the sound of this demo. It’s another of the THE MISSING PERSIANS, THE TOY DOLLS, as their starting point, Haze dig up discarded to bring their kids to gigs. They’re best when solemn, sensitive singer-songwriter efforts YOUNG ROMANCE, CAMERON AG, MAL, body parts of Beefheart-inspired bands like they’re trying to be nasty and gruff and where some poor hapless, lovelorn young Stump and Bogshed and use them to create DAZY CROWN turn everything up to 11 as on `Meant To GREAT WESTERN TEARS, 1000 CHAINS, chap bares his soul by way of impersonations a sleazy, queasy undercurrent to their songs Dazy Crown sound like they could do with Be’, which at least hints their declared love of Nick Drake / Elliot Smith / Sam Smith (feel DEMON, SHAKER HEIGHTS, URBAN DOGS, which seem to have almost self-descriptive a decent meal inside them. They could also for Gallows and Skindred isn’t just a pose; free to choose the one that fits best with your OWEN PAUL, BLITZKRIEG, CLOVEN HOOF, titles (`Scratches’ is suitably scratchy; do with a better band name. Daisy Crown when they try for acoustic and sensitive, generation). The opening lines are a peach: `Bent’ sounds like it’s been bent slightly would be passable for the sort of twee jangly as on a shrill, constipated version of their HELLANBACH, JAGUAR, RAVEN. “Caroline / I’m over here / I stand in no corner out of shape etc). They sound like they’re bands who followed in Talulah Gosh’s song `When I’m Gone’ with guest singer / I sit on no chair / I’m standing in front of deliberately trying to make everything they wake but Dazy Crown makes them sound Marisa Rodriquez, they sound like failed 01865 716466 [email protected] you / Completely butt naked…” nah, just do sound unappealing, like someone who’s like horrific hippie throwbacks, or the sort auditionees for Eurovision, or the worst kidding, “Here today / To show you how I’ve smeared their make-up all over their face and of band who tried to cash in on Flowered band at every regional battle of the bands changed / My crazy, crazy ways.” Not sure we chopped their hair into odd clumps. Even the Up’s post-baggy success 20 years ago. But heat ever. Although, saying that, the original can picture Willy being crazy, crazy but we’ll COURTYARD deliberately daft `Café’, with its opening line anyway, shit band name aside, this is okay, if rocked-up version isn’t much better – all take his word for it. Those days are gone now steal from Cbeebies’ Big Cook, Little Cook a bit of a rubble-strewn puddle of a song, a hollow stadium bombast, over-emoting and of course and he’s sad, possibly remorseful. RECORDING STUDIO feels unhinged rather than self-consciously strung-out indie strum and jangle with hints hair-metal boy band cliché. Union J meets 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: And sensitive – did we mention this is all NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 wacky. Terribly dull people with little that something a bit more psychedelic was Enter Shakiri. Now there’s a Frankenstein’s very sensitive? Gotta let the ladies know you MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb imagination will say this is all just a tuneless at least imagined during the writing process. Monster hybrid to avoid contemplating too really are sorry, right? Right! But come on, Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear racket made by people who are likely to run Imagine a socially awkward mix of one of fully in the dark nights of winter to come. Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern let’s lighten the mood, shall we? Too much off with the next circus in town, but, early Andy Bell’s songs off `Going Blank Again’, Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules melancholy already – let’s have some full-on days though it is, and though they’re not yet something the Weather Prophets thought Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. slapstick. And right on cue, we get the line, Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. fully formed and tend to run out of creative better of and about half of The Pastels’ back HUGH EDDY & THE “Now when I walk / I walk right into a tree”. www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk steam towards the end, Haze already sound catalogue. It’s all emotional strife and angsty Ooh, that’s gotta hurt. Well, yes, obviously In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk like they might be the band by which all other intensity while simultaneously sounding CARNIVAL Lyric sheets; pretentious videos; lists of he actually said “dream” not “tree” but on Email: [email protected] bands called Haze must be compared. cataclysmically foppish. It’s almost like the entirety of mid-80s indie pop condensed influence that bear no relation to the music first listen we misheard and it gave us a right Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 into three minutes. Shame Sarah Records no we’re hearing – all things that fuel our ire. old belly laugh. Gotta make the ladies laugh, longer exists; they’d lap it up. But if there’s anything guaranteed to raise a kid, else all that bleeding-heart sensitivity and chuckle and get us onside here at Nightshift earnestness will get you nowhere. Ditch the WATSON & THE Towers, it’s a singer who sounds like he’s guitar and get yourself a swanee whistle for WILDFIRES NAUSEA straining really hard to have a poo while he’s next time. You’ll thanks us for this sage advice Artists who list exciting, eclectic lists of The tortured young bedroom artist is the singing. Comedy gold. So here’s Hugh Eddy in years to come when you’re sat round the influences that bear little or no relation to the demo pages’ most frequently recurring cliché, (who we’ve already nicknamed Huge Jobby, pool with Nina Conti, laughing like a pair of music they make do have a tendency to get but not all hormonal navel-gazers are hopeless probably because we’re after a job at Private drains. Three state of the art rehearsal rooms. on our metaphorical tits, it must be said. It’s cannon fodder. Henry Plumridge here might have adopted a musical moniker that For bookings. like a chef presenting you with a worktop of Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to fresh, exciting ingredients – ghost chillies! reflects the feeling we sometimes get when [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a Call Jamie on 07917685935 Fennel seeds! Za’atar! Dwarf aubergines! – confronted by another angst-ridden sensitive contact address and phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your soul, but his first track here, `Prozac’, a before serving up a Tesco value microwaved demo. We make no pretence to being fair, objective or open-minded and reserve the right to Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford meditation on depression, self-harm and, glasshousestudios.org lasagne. So even when the end musical use juvenile insults while almost completely ignoring your music should we feel like it. Your we think, accidental overdose, is both well product isn’t anything to get too upset about, Facebook friends are welcome to get all huffy on your behalf, but we’ll laugh at them too. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford youtube.com/o2academytv

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