[email protected] nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 206 September Oxford’s Music Magazine 2012 SHHHHHHHHH! it’s

and they’re SecretSecret RivalsRivalshere to save indie pop! Also in this issue: Introducing ToLIESEL WILDERNESS and SUPERNORMAL FESTIVALS reviewed plus Local music news, reviews and four pages of gigs

photo: Izzy East 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: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net

AUDIOSCOPE release a 40-track Oxjam has been running events compilation album in aid of across the UK since 2006, raising homeless charity Shelter this money for Oxfam in its campaign month. `Music For A Good Home to eradicate global poverty. A 2’ features exclusive contributions limited number of early bird tickets, from Ride (a Portishead remix priced £7, are on sale now from of `Moonlight Medicine’), Wire, Wegottickets.com. Visit Four Tet, Karma To Burn, Beak>, www.oxjamoxford.co.uk for more Deso Child, SJ Esau, Warm Digits, news and line-up details. MR SHAODOW releases his new album this month having recently Boxcutter and Spectrum, as well celebrated selling his 10,000th CD, almost entirely while rapping on the as a strong local contingent that WILDERNESS FESTIVAL has streets of towns and cities around the UK. includes The Rock Of Travolta, launched early bird ticket sales for ShaoDow, who made his name on the Oxford music scene while studying Richard Walters, Kill Murray, its 2013 event already after this for a law degree at the University, releases `Cut The Bullspit’ on his Listing Ships, Gunning For Tamar, year’s festival sold out. 10,000 own DIY Gang Entertainment label. He called Nightshift to talk about his The Half Rabbits, Phil McMinn, punters attended the music, arts recent gigging and the new album. Flights of Helios and Message To and food festival at Cornbury “I’ve just finished an eight date UK tour planned and funded between me Bears. Park in August and, following on and (fellow Oxford rapper) Zuby and obviously my album is out now as This year’s Audioscope mini- from a sold-out Truck Festival well. In general, over the last year, I’ve been focusing on making myself festival, in aid of Shelter, takes and big turnouts at Cornbury the best artist I can be. place in November, with the line-up Festival, Charlbury Riverside and “Quite frankly the album sounds like somebody managed to capture set to be announced soon. Before Supernormal across the summer, epicness, drain it of all its essence and then squeeze that all over a bunch then there’s a launch gig for the marked a highly successful festival of MP3s. That’s my album. For me it’s musical freedom, with no label or album at the Wheatsheaf on Friday season in Oxfordshire. industry bigwigs telling me what to do. I can completely say this album 14th September featuring Kranky Next year’s Wilderness, which this came from the heart; I’ve pushed myself with the lyricism and the genres Records signings Felix, with year featured headline sets from range from hip hop to rock metal to house to dubstep to grime, all of it support from The Cellar Family and Wilco, Spiritualized, Rodrigo Y uniquely ShaoDow. I’ve collaborated with artists such as Ghetts, MC DT The Half Rabbits. Buy `Music For Gabriela and Sharon Jones & The (Pied Piper), Serocee, Raxstar and Casso Blax. It’s simply me making the A Good Home 2’ online at Dap Kings, takes place over the music I love, so I’m very confident that you won’t hear or find anything www.musicforagoodhome.com for weekend of 9th-11 August 2013. else like it. a bargain £5. Tickets are on sale now, priced Regarding his 10,000 CD sales, ShaoDow explained his incredible £99.50, from success for a completely independent artist: OXJAM returns for its second www.wildernessfestival.com. “My only advice is be willing to put in the work. Music is my full time job citywide takeover on Saturday 13th Next year’s Cornbury Festival, and it’s taken me a lot of time to get to this level and it’ll take me a lot more October. Fixers, Dubwiser, Kill meanwhile, takes place over the time to get to the next level. Ultimately though, there’s no short cuts or Murray, Secret Rivals, Grinding weekend of the 5th-7th July, with cheat codes – not if you want to be a credible artist with longevity. A lot of Young, We Aeronauts, The Family early bird tickets expected to people don’t want to hear that though but unfortunately it’s the truth.” Machine, Black Hats, Grudle Bay, go on sale shortly. Visit www. You can download `Cut The Bullspit’ at tinyurl.com/CutTheBull or visit The Yarns, ToLiesel and Robots cornburyfestival.com for details. www.MrShaoDow.com for more news and gig dates. With Soul are among a host of local bands playing across venues that RICHARD WALTERS releases include Modern Art Oxford, The his third album in October. `Regret and financed by fan pledges and on Charles Street on Thursday 4th Purple Turtle, The Cellar and The Less’ is released on Beard Museum an auction of Richard’s musical October. Support comes from We Turl Street Kitchen, while there will Records on the 15th. The album equipment and personal effects. Aeronauts and Adam Barnes. Visit also be a Blessing Force takeover, was recorded by Richard with A Richard launches his new album www.richardwaltersmusic.co.uk with acts yet to be announced. Silent Film’s Robert Stevenson with a show at St Alban’s Church for more news.

TROPHY WIFE lead up to the release of their long-awaited debut album with a video collage that will build up over a series of instalments into a full picture. The album, the band’s first release since last year’s `Bruxism’ EP on Blessing Force, is already recorded and due for release early in 2013. Explaining the video collage concept, Jody Prewett said, “We’ve been quiet for a while now and we wanted to show people what we’ve been up to by gradually releasing short videos of images and sounds that are associated with the album; it’s like a treasure hunt that leads you to it”. Bandmate Kit Montheith added, “it’s our way of letting people in to experience what we’ve spent the last nine months of our lives doing. Each video features sections or stems from tracks that will be on our debut album. We feel that alongside the music the most important way for people to experience our band is through its visual elements… thats why we’ve decided to create this evolving art project on our blog to be, for the time being, the only vehicle through which people can discover what our debut record is all about.” To view the videos, visit trophywifeband.tumblr.com. TRUCK STORE plays host to a McKibben. Among current local rare instore set from Cincinnati’s faves featured are The Graceful COMING SOON TO THE NEW THEATRE continued cult rockers WUSSY this month. Slicks, The Cellar Family, Komrad, NEWS The band, who formed back in Agness Pike, Caravan of Whores, 2001, have never played in the UK Mother Corona, Von Braun and before or even had their albums Desert Storm, while names from the officially released over here but past include Sextodecimo, Xmas are making their debut outing in Lights, Ivy’s Itch, Suitable Case For September to coincide with the Treatment and Sevenchurch. Grab release of `Buckeye’, a compilation yourself a copy at tricksteroxford. of highlights from previous blogspot.co.uk. US-released albums. They play an intimate Truck Store set on AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into Monday 24th September and are BBC Oxford Introducing every joined by Dallas outfit American Sunday night between 9-10pm on Werewolf Academy. 95.2fm. The dedicated local music Other Truck instores in September show plays the best Oxford releases SAT 22 SEP TUE 25 SEP MON 1 - SAT 6 OCT include Duotone on Saturday 15th; and demos as well as featuring Undersmile and Ides Of Gemini interviews and sessions with local on Monday 17th; Nightshift cover acts. The show is available as a stars Secret Rivals on Saturday podcast at bbc.co.uk/oxford. LISTING SHIPS release a new 12” vinyl EP in November. In keeping 22nd as part of a live music all-dayer Another locally-themed music with the nautical theme of all their music, the local post-rock quartet that also features Band of Hope podcast is From The Ladder recorded the EP at the Royal National Lifeboat Institute’s station at and We Aeronauts, and an Oxjam Factory, which plays music from Hayling Island, which was converted into a recording studio for a warm-up show on Saturday 29th, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire – get it at weekend. As well as as recording tracks among the lifeboats, on the featuring Cooling Pearls, Nairobi www.fromtheladderfactory.com. slipway and on the seashore, the band sampled the lifeboats in action for and Dallas Don’t. Regularly updated local music use in the music. Stuart Fowkes from the band told Nightshift, “We were For set times and more news about news is available online at www. keen to make the nautical theme running through the band much more than Oxford’s only independent music musicinoxford.co.uk. The site also a gimmick or a name, and we’re collectively obsessed with the practices of store, visit www.truckmusicstore. features interactive reviews, a photo field recording and taking something from the recording environment into co.uk. gallery and gig guide. the final product. We’d have had a hell of a time getting a drumkit up the Nightshift’s online form is open to LEVEL 42 NEWTON FAULKNER stairs in a lighthouse, so a lifeboat station was the obvious choice and the `OXFORD: CITY OF SOUND all local music fans and musicians SUN 7 OCT MON 15 OCT TUE 16 OCT RNLI were into the idea from the beginning. The location is going to come Volume 1’ is a new compilation at nightshift.oxfordmusic.net, through in the title and the artwork, as well as hopefully some samples on of Oxford’s heavier music past while the quarterly Oxfordshire the record too.” and present, available to download Music Scene magazine is available Visit www.listingships.com for release date and live dates. this month. The album has been as a PDF online at compiled by Undersmile’s Tom www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk.

THE CELLAR FAMILY have Our `not final’ gig before Sam says issued a statement denying they `arrivederci’ will be the launch are set to split as the band head for night of the new Audioscope a period of reduced activity due to charity compilation at the members’ jobs and student studies. Wheatsheaf on Friday the 14th of The band have established September, a project to which we themselves as one of the most are also proud to have contributed DEACON BLUE JOOLS HOLLAND ONE NIGHT OF ELVIS exciting live acts in Oxford since an exclusive new track. It’s a good WED 17 OCT SUN 28 OCT MON 12 NOV relocating here from Winchester cause run by nice guys, so you two years ago, including show- should definitely go out and buy it. stealing sets at Truck Festival and We’ve had a good crack in Oxford the Oxford Punt. over the past 24 months and look Drummer Nick Reading told forward to seeing everyone again Nightshift, “The Cellar Family next year.” would like to dispel some rumours circulating that we are to spilt. However, we should make clear that the next twelve months are indeed likely to see a period of somewhat reduced gigging activity as Sam divides his time between Oxford and Italy, where he will be RUFUS WAINWRIGHT JOAN ARMATRADING PETER ANDRE advancing his studies as a painter FRI 16 NOV SUN 18 NOV TUE 20 NOV from late September onwards. Similarly, new job and further education prospects loom for both ATG THEATRE CARD MEMBERS: PRIORITY TICKETS, GREAT SAVINGS. Jamie and me, so although we will MORE INFORMATION - ATGTICKETS.COM/THEATRECARD still be playing live every month (SELECTED PERFORMANCES, TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY)

or two, we apologise in advance * for lack of availability until a 0844 871 3020 return to full form next summer. * In the meantime, our most recent release, `Jumbo’, will continue to be atgtickets.com/oxford available online and at Truck Store. facebook.com/oxfordnewtheatreandofs | twitter.com/oxfordtheatres *SUBJECT TO BOOKING/TRANSACTION FEE

Nightshift_A4_BW.indd 1 16/08/2012 17:00 a quiet word with Wedding Present-inspired indie fuzz celebration of what we love.” so hopefully we will all be aware of that we’d rather mean something band’. It seemed too good to not Given Secret Rivals’ obvious love them soon.” special to one person than be meet him. Reece was the sexiest boy of pure pop, can they see any other Andy: “We felt we got a lot of acknowledged by thousands; that’s in our local dance club, we had to get Oxford bands making music from recognition that week. We played a still true so it’s so exciting for us at him in!” a similar place. Nightshift suggests sold-out show with the Lovely Eggs the moment seeing the responses Together the quartet set out their Alphabet Backwards come at pop and then the Punt, and got the best we’re getting.” Secret Rivals stall with increasing style, beginning from a similarly unselfconsciously local feedback we’ve had. Quite Reece: “I used to watch Soccer AM with 2010’s debut `Start Fires’. effusive direction. a few people said they were won a lot when I was a kid so I was made However, after the release of `Make Jay: “We love Alphabet Backwards around after seeing how the band up when we got our first bit of Sky Do & Mend’ earlier this summer, and I think we are different branches have come on since the early days. play. I used to watch the football Andrew left, to be replaced with from the same tree. They just have a We were on a high after that and highlights not just for the football but Andy Beill. lot more Paul Simon in their record could really just enjoy ourselves for for the music as well so it’s nice to Jay: “We started out wanting nothing collections, where we have The Slits. the weekend in Liverpool.” know that we have picked up a few more that to sound like Idlewild’s I once described us as Alphabet fans like the younger me along the `Captain’ EP. I think now we just Backwards’ scruffy little awkward Sound City and The Punt way too.” want to make scuzzy pop that you brother; they see the positives are all steps on the ladder Secret Andy: “I want Match Of The Day can dance to. The most important while I think we more celebrate the Rivals have been climbing with now; I’m trying to get Jay to write us thing regardless of who we’re hopelessness. Kill Murray I think determined vigour lately. With every a ‘Life Of Riley’.” listening to or what sound we’re probably have a similar kind of thing release they’ve picked up more going for on a particular recording is going on as well. There’s a lot of fans, including some of the most And so the plaudits that we believe what we’re doing. If bands in Oxford putting proficiency influential DJs on national radio. Rob continue to pour in, something we say we’re pissed off we mean it. I over tunes, but there’s something for da Bank for example made `Tonight that `Everything I’ve Lost’ is sure think at the very least, like us or not, everyone I suppose.” Matthew’ his tune of the day and to add to. For now, though, Secret we mean everything we say, we don’t invited the band to play at Bestival Rivals are using Pledge Music to try and make a record for a particular Having moved to Oxford on the Isle of Wight last year, on the help finance the recording of an scene. We’re not desperate to be the to start the band, how did Jay and same bill as their heroes The Cure. album, pencilled in for release next next anyone.” Clouds initially see the local scene? It’s a diary date they’re set to repeat March. It’s a route being used by Jay: “There was stuff we loved, this month. more and more bands these days as One of the chief facets there was stuff that made us shake Jay: “We were on the Sailor Jerry they avoid the precarious and often of Secret Rival’s sound is the vocal treacherous record label route. Since interaction between Clouds and the interview was conducted the band Jay. She is all sweetness and light, “We were never going to be one of those have achieved their target amount in a gently swooning presence; Jay is bands that wants to sound like Interpol and donations. the yapping, yelping counterpoint. Jay: “I think it’s a great way to go There’s some real frisson between write about despair and loneliness from the for any band that’s confident they the two lyrically at times. have people out there who will Jay: “I write all the lyrics and comfort of the middle class family home.” pledge; without it we would have yes they’re all based on real life had to wait for the big record label arguments. Dave Gilyeat at BBC our heads, nothing’s changed really. stage last time round. The crew at advance to record an album and Oxford asked me recently, was it Oxford itself is amazing; it’s been Bestival are the best we’ve ever we’re not really ones for waiting. awkward for us to go public with said so I won’t go on about it, we encountered; we were handed about People were asking us for an album our lyrics and that took me aback all know how lucky we are to have four bottles of wine and a bottle of and we realised that if we could work because it would be far more the venues, the dedicated people spiced rum prior to going on stage, directly with the fans we could cut awkward to go on a stage and sing who constantly blog, review, wave the audience all seemed to have out any middle men and work with photo: Izzy East something I couldn’t feel on stage. the flag for Oxford within the scene. enjoyed similar handouts as they and for the fans. We’ve had a fair bit “There is definitely a feeling accentuated by the fractious select group of local acts ready and attitude and joyous pop noise. We were never going to be one of We have the best BBC Introducing were more than a little raucous. It of label interest, there’s a couple of punk rock feel to our live shows; nature of many of Jay’s lyrics which set for a break into a higher league, those bands that decide we wanna in the UK, we really do, and Oxford was mental to be on the bill to be middle-sized indies that have been we want to pour passion into our find him reliving domestic spats armed with an enviable catalogue of Secret Rivals were sound like Interpol so write about is small and big enough that there’s honest, we presumed it was some haunting London shows, but we’re performances. We’re a band that with partner and co-singer Claudia ebulliently serrated electro-tinged formed in Oxford by Jay (originally despair and loneliness from the a band for everyone no matter what sort of trap that we’d been asked just not a band for waiting about. feels its lyrics and we believe in what ‘Clouds’ Saez (choice line: “I’ll tell indie pop songs that fidget and dance from Liverpool) and Clouds (from comfort of the middle class family your tastes. We’re probably the most along.” `Tonight Matthew’ got an offer from we’re doing. Tom Robinson once you when you’ve had enough.”). or just sweet-talk their way into your Chile) after the couple moved here home.” un-Oxford-sounding band you can Clouds: “I love Rob Da Bank, we one of our favourite labels but we said to me, ‘People don’t go to a consciousness, and with a growing following time spent travelling Clouds: “I think everyone can relate get, though!” feel blessed for the opportunities would have had to sit on the track for gig to hear a sound, they go to see The contrasting sides of fanbase that just happens to include around Europe together. “We met to what we sing about, I don’t think Clouds: “We arrived as the Zodiac we’ve received on the back of our five months for a release. We’re not a performance’. That’s something Secret Rivals’ pop coin are all of part Tom Robinson, Steve Lamacq and in college up north and moved our lyrics are exclusive to us as a was closing so although for a year or EPs. Everything is a bonus after deluded at this stage in our career, I’ve taken on as a mantra for Secret of their appeal of course, and Jay hits Rob da Bank, as well as whoever it to Oxford because it reminded group; I’d like to think everyone so it seemed like Oxford was losing we’ve recorded a record we love.” what’s important is winning new Rivals. We’re inspired by bands like the nail on the head when he declares is who commissions the music for us of Amsterdam to be honest,” can relate and has shared similar its crown things have really taken You’ve also been played by Lamacq fans. We’re not too concerned with Idlewild and The Cribs; I see a lot of his desire to present his band as a Sky’s sports programmes. remembers Jay. “The idea of forming problems.” off again what with Blessing Force, and Tom Robinson and `Once More becoming a household name, we’re a similarity between ourselves live and spectacle rather than just another band After a succession of self-released a band came after we’d been here Is there a deliberate attempt to there’s a lot of attention on Oxford at With Heart’ was used on Sky Sport’s fuzzy little indie band that’s gonna sit those bands. Punk is about passion approximating their records. “You singles and EPs over the past couple a few months; we were watching balance spikiness with sweetness in present.” flagship Soccer AM show. in the indie underground. The biggest and being able to play with passion.” don’t get the full sense of what a band of years, Secret Rivals release their bands pretty much every weekend as your songs? Born and bred in Liverpool, a recent Jay: “It’s since been played on the ambition is to make something is if you’re only judging them live or new single, `Everything I’ve Lost’, something to do. The more into the Jay: “No not at all, we want to sound highlight for Jay came in May when Premier League, the F1, the rugby seminal. I don’t really care if it’s in Jamie Corcoran, singer on record,” adds Clouds, “you need to this month, a perfect encapsulation scene we got the more we thought like Placebo’s debut album as much the band were selected to perform and the boxing, all on Sky Sports. the mainstream or not, just that it and guitarist with Secret Rivals, take in both and I believe a band has of everything we’ve come to love we could offer something different to as want to pour our emotions out at Liverpool Sound City – the day It’s odd, I really can’t tell you how means something to people. We just is explaining to Nightshift the to have several dynamics; we have a them for – simple, infectious and it. No one was making 90s sounding on record. I think the two combine after his band played at The Oxford it came about. NME were hosting got a £100 pledge from someone difference between his band’s live kill switch live! I didn’t like The Cribs disarmingly pretty pop that channels indie, so instead of waiting week in and make a spiky yet sweet sound. Punt. That must have provided a nice the vid and apparently someone in London; that really touched us... incarnation and their recorded music. until I was dragged to a live show, the spirit of bands as diverse as week out at the Wheatsheaf, hoping We rarely discuss our sound but like contrast between his roots and his contacted our label and asked for it’s cheesy to say but I think we’re We’ve asked because there really I think like ourselves they only get The Cure, Belle & Sebastian and to see a band that spoke to us, we just a lot of modern indie pop – Pains adopted home. the track... that simple. Getting now at a stage where we can mutter does seem to be a disparity between a certain aspect of themselves over Los Campesinos! via boy/girl formed one.” Of Being Pure At Heart or Dum Jay: “It was great; I got to play in played on Soccer AM did us wonders the immortal words ‘our fans are the sweet, sometimes lush pop of on record; we’re a pop band with a insurrectionists like Bis and Huggy The pair found kindred spirits in Dum Girls – we know there’s an front of my big brother, which was though, the vid went from about 300 awesome’.” recent singles like `Once More With switch, you see this live.” Bear, fight-pop acts like Johnny Andrew Murton and Reece Chapman aspect of homaging a certain sound awesome. To be fair when we were to 3,000 views overnight and since Heart’ and `Tonight Matthew’, with Foreigner and Danananaykroyd Jay: “I met Andrew after he or period in time, it’s just a case of there the only bands we really saw then we can really see a fan base for `Everything I lost’ is released on th their chiming guitars, coruscating A pop band with a kill to the new wave of vintage indie advertised for band members; doing it well and in an honest way. were Jonquil and Spring Offensive, us. It’s awesome times really, we 24 September as a free download. synth lines and cute boy-girl vocal switch. Yeah, that’s kind of Secret acolytes such as Allo Darlin’. I always read those ‘members We know we sound like the 90s and so it would be unfair to comment on get messages everyday from people Secret Rivals play the Wheatsheaf nd parts, and Secret Rivals’ spikier, Rivals in a nutshell. Here’s a band It’s indie pop untarnished by the wanted’ posts at the time in case it’s because we love that period. My Liverpool’s current scene. There’s telling us our song means something on Saturday 22 September often chaotic gigs where voices and who were once renowned in Oxford corporate landfill chug with which something jumped out. His advert favourite band ever is The Cure, so some great bands at present though: to them or they love a particular and Truck Store the same day. instruments can sound like they’re more for their online spats than for the term become associated and in read something like ‘band members of course we bring elements of that All We Are are pretty awesome and lyric; that means more than anything Visit www.secretrivals.co.uk for fighting each other to the death – a their music but are now among that love with a lost age of innocence, wanted for Idlewild/Placebo/ into it as well; Secret Rivals is a I think they’re about to break out for us. I said in an early interview download and gig dates. Sponsored by flying out the window), ASF manage to ably daughter, Philomena, at birth back in 2008. manoeuvre that fine line between heartfelt and Before then he had never even tried to sing but cheesy, using enough other instrumentation to over these three songs he follows a lyrical course transcend the “piano ballad” cliché. of hope and expectation, tragedy and reflection Second track, `Echoes Across A Bowl Of Tears’, and, ultimately, tribute to his daughter. RELEASED exclusive to this EP, is a heady mix of urgent, It’s emotive stuff – how could it be anything differentiates him from the fanciful balletic flow driving Editor’s-esque vocals, soaring effects- else? – but done in an understated fashion, MR SHAODOW of most other literate, theatrical rappers, from laden guitar that channels 1980s Talk Talk-style Andrew possessed of a strong voice that’s `Cut The Bullspit’ Flava Flav to MF Doom. synth and a solid but understated rhythm section, naturally predisposed towards a croon, the music The real jewel here, though, is `Posh Boy’, a that together result in a piece of instantly catchy switching from almost jaunty Hammond-led (DiY Gang Entertainment) hilarious riposte to those who say that Oxford stadium rock brilliance. jazz on opener `Breathe’, with its exhortation Bullspit? How coy is that? OK, swearing Law graduates can’t rap, over a brilliant A piano version of `Danny, Dakota & The “All you need to do is breathe”, to more isn’t always clever, but prissy self-censoring econostep beat that sounds like a broken Xerox. Wishing Well’ completes the EP, albeit with a contemplative, rustic chamber pop, awash with bowdlerisms never look good. Luckily, it’s about “Real” is a complex word in hip hop mythology, rather different tone to the previous two tracks. strings on `English Rose’. Each of these three the only criticism we can make about ShaoDow’s but in being honest about his background, As is often the case with stripped-down songs, tracks would sit easily alongside Radio 2’s outstanding new album (which is really a glorified ShaoDow embodies it better than most UK the lyrics become more vulnerable and obvious, playlist and given the cause they aim to benefit – single, padded with alternate versions, old rappers. Aside from `Actin Up’, a collaboration words that pass in the full band version sound the Sands charity, which helps bereaved parents favourites and skits, but for four quid on pre-order with Zuby that dilutes both performers’ skills, A SILENT FILM occasionally clumsy or awkward here, unable to – you’d like to think the EP would get far wider we’ll not complain). The new material reveals this record is a must. Shaodow’s sold over 10, hide behind the majesty of soaring guitars and exposure. As it is, it’s a fitting tribute to a young ShaoDow’s maturation into an artist of true 000 records by gigging and working constantly; `This Stage Is Your Life’ distortion. Though a perfectly pleasant song, it’s life, born of sadness but made with love. stature, finding an alchemical blend between the his ceaseless dedication should be an inspiration a somewhat anticlimactic ending to an EP that Dale Kattack erudite witticisms of his early tracks, and the roof- to any number of weak-kneed, moaning (CMI) started off with such a huge sound. igniting ringmaster he has become live. Built on a musicians who can’t see beyond their last bad Though still officially an Oxford band, A Silent Caroline Corke loop from Bizet and some barefaced party-down rhythm kicks like a wild Pamplona toro. A nice review or sparse crowd. Have hard work, self- Film upped and left for the US of A a long while handclaps, the title track should be a kitsch mess, alt take featuring reggae star Serocee is fitting, belief and sincerity made ShaoDow a better back, and don’t seem to have any immediate but underneath the frothy fun of the hook, and given Shaodow’s dancehall-like tendency to strip artist? No spit. plans to return. Understandable considering their winking lyrics about minotaurs and Slimer, the mine single rhyme schemes in a way that David Murphy comparative success Stateside. The three track ANDREW MILLOY `This Stage is Your Life’ EP, recorded in Arizona, precedes the release of the band’s second album `Philomena’ `Sister Gestapo’, a `Laughing Gnome’-era Bowie `Sand and Snow’ early next year. (Own label) getting all funky. It might be lazy journalism to describe any To lose a child is quite simply the worst thing that If you like any of the above named artists, vaguely alternative piano-rock band as ‘sounding can happen to any person. To then write about and have open ears, then you’ll find `If I look like Coldplay’, but musically, title track `This the experience and put it into music as tribute to Uncomfortable...’ very entertaining. Which is all Stage Is Your Life’ could have been taken from that brief life and as a way of raising money to you can really ask of anything. `X&Y’. Which isn’t to say it’s bad, (I actually help other bereaved parents requires an ocean of Paul Carrera like Coldplay, but that’s a different story, for a courage. different review. And yeah, that sound you can Andrew Milloy, better known on the local scene hear might well be my journalistic integrity as bass player with Band Of Hope, lost his TOLIESEL `The Light’ (Own label) While it’s fair to say you can barely move for vaguely country-tinged indie bands in Oxford in roll on recent times; the best of them are still an absolute joy. Case in point: ToLiesel, who impressed us THE DOTS & STOPS at the Punt back in May and then again in July YELLOW FEVER Big PartY EVERY at Truck purely by dint of having a set packed tunes THURSDAY `If I Look Uncomfortable, It’s to the gunnels with great pop songs, and here `Masked’ release their debut single, a small thing of no little floor fREE EnTRY Only Coz I Need To Do It!’ splendour, a song that local league leaders in the (Own label) All nigHT (Planet Bohemia) field The Epstein would be happy to count as one Previously kicked sneeringly into the Demo fillers of their very best. Adding a shoegaze shimmer Dumper, few local bands have worked so It’s not often I can hail an Abingdon-Berlin to the sort of haunted alt.country that Band Of successfully to try and earn their spurs as 10pm- collaboration, but this potage of punkadelic, anti- Horses peddle so sweetly, `The Light’ carries an Yellow Fever, now regularly tipped as one of pop pop, sadly only out on thick white vinyl at the 3am air of restrained euphoria about it. In fact, heck, Oxford’s younger bands to keep an eye on and moment, benefits from all manner of UK and Euro much more of this and we’ll be holding a lighter possessed, in the form of Dele Adewuyi, one influences and, well produced as it is by James aloft and discovering Jesus. Lovely. of the more engaging young frontman in town. Warren, hangs together as a satisfying whole. Dale Kattack This debut release might as well be a different Throughout the album the musicianship is top band to the trite, tinny barrel of not much that notch enough to take away any doubt it lacks we first encountered. The primary influences integrity that mainly arise from the atonal singing remain much the same – notably Bloc Party and style, and indeed there might even be a whiff of Foals – but the execution is in a higher league by flawed genius happening in those vocals. far, Dele’s voice richer and more forceful than You spend the first side coming to the notion his years would normally command, while the that it’s Damon Albarn’s younger, evil brother staccato funk rhythms and obstinately trilling wanting to be John Otway, via a mixture of guitars are lean and muscular, just the merest Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, surf rock and Sparks’ hint of a hi-life party waiting to start beneath the tHursDaY `Amateur Hour’. I hope you’re getting the surface. | picture. There is the oddity of track six, `Marvin’, It’s not quite as infectious as the best of their VK £1.50 Jager BomB £2.50 which seems to be a different vocalist, less Jilted live show just yet but again increasing evidence House DouBle+mixer £3.00 | Pints £2.50 John and more like Ian Brown doing a lolloping that Yellow Fever, current line-up changes take on the Happy Mondays, but side two of allowing, should soon graduate from the status frewin Court, the album is back to kooky business, with the of promising youngsters to full-blown local @ tHe Cellar oxford, ox1 3HZ two best tracks: ‘Shakerstylee’ – as if the Super heroes. www.CellaroxforD.Co.uK t 01865 244 761 Furries had teamed up with Gogol Bordello – and Ian Chesterton Delicately-tonsilled songmeister Rich Walters Good Home 2’ compilation, raising money opens his musical bag of emotional turmoil for homeless charity Shelter. Kranky Records at tonight’s pop-up gig, where he’s joined by signings Felix bring their sparse, unsettling, inventive string quartet and Blessing Force piano-led chamber pop to the party, classically- associates Rhosyn. trained frontwoman Lucinda Chua mixing grace BREAK: The Bullingdon and turmoil in a way that’s seen her compared VON BRAUN + THE INDESCRIBABLE to PJ Harvey. Venomous, angular hardcore GIG GUIDE UNKNOWN + RUPERT FLINT CAHAN: noise in the vein of the mighty McLusky from The Port Mahon – Pixies and Nirvana- local heroes The Cellar Family in support SATURDAY 1st + CHARMS AGAINST THE EVIL EYE: The inspired grunged-up rocking from Von Braun, alongside gothic-tinged indie crew The Half THE ROLLING CLONES: O2 Academy – Wheatsheaf – Klub Kak’s traditional monthly alongside Joy Division-styled newcomers Rabbits. The Stones tribute band celebrate the fiftieth SEPTEMBER club night features psychedelic garage-rockers The Indescribable Unknown and accordionist KITES + LOOK, STRANGER: O2 Academy anniversary of their heroes’ inception. SUNDAY 2nd The Graceful Slicks, alongside Kirsty MaColl- Rupert Flint Cahan. – Foppish electro-indie from London’s rising inspired folksters The Hawkhurst and Charms TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM BEARD OF DESTINY + TONY BATEY + TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM starlets Kites out on tour after supporting Gary Against The Evil Eye, which is the new name for 101: O2 Academy – Weekly three-clubs-in-one BLIN’ JOHNNY + DANNY & JEREMY: 101: O2 Academy Numan, Peter Hook and The Maccabees. local stalwarts The New Moon. extravaganza with classic and contemporary Donnington Community Centre (6pm) – Free EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar – FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon SWINDLESTOCK + THE SHAPES: The indie at Transformation, kitsch pop, glam and acoustic session. Weekly house and garage club night. BOSSAPHONIC: The Cellar – Jazz dance, 80s at Trashy and metal, hardcore and alt.rock at Bullingdon – Rootsy, party-hearty Americana W.A.M: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Ska punk classics. Balkan beats, world breaks and nu-jazz club and folksy rocking from Swindlestock at Room 101. rd THE MIGHTY REDOX: The King & night with live bands and resident DJs. HOMEWORK with TEMPLE FUNK MONDAY 3 tonight’s It’s All About The Music show. Queen, Wheatley – Unplugged set from the THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Swan, COLLECTIVE: The Bullingdon LIGHTNIN’ WILLIE & THE POORBOYS: SKYLARKIN’ SOUND SYSTEM: The Cellar local blues-rockers. Wantage THE DIRTY EARTH BAND: Fat Lil’s, The Jericho Tavern – A return to the Famous – Classics ska, soul, reggae, funk and more with EYE-CON: The Red Lion, Witney – Mod Friday 21st Monday Blues for the Texas-born, Pasadena- Witney – Rock covers. Count Skylarkin’ and guests. rock covers. SATURDAY 15th resident electric blues guitarist, a huge favourite NAIROBI + EMPTY WHITE CIRCLES RECKLESS SLEEPERS: The Old MOTHER CORONA + ALUNAH + BUTCH HANCOCK: on the UK circuit with his lively mix of blues, + MATT MIDGELY: The Port Mahon – th Bookbinders, Jericho SUNDAY 9 JACKNIFE HOLIDAY + CARAVAN OF swing, and rock’n’roll, inspired by Otis Rush, Afrobeat-tinged indie from Nairobi at tonight’s OXFORD WHEELS PROJECT: The Cellar – I SILECTA: The Bullingdon WHORES + BLACK SUNRISE: The The Bullingdon Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eddie Cochran. Daisy Rodgers Music night. Joining them are Another treat from the vaults of cult Fundraising gig for the local skate park project. THE DODGY JAMMERS 2012 + Wheatsheaf – Buried In Smoke metal night BLOODY MAMMALS + WITHOUT MAPS delicate Bon Iver and Bright Eyes-styled types Americana courtesy of the wonderful CATCH 23 UK + THE VIBE + EYE-CON with monster-riffmongers Mother Corona + MASIRO: The Wheatsheaf – Punk and Empty White Circles and Intimate acoustic Empty Room Promotions, this time bringing th UNPLUGGED: Fat Lil’s, Witney (3-6pm) – blasting new life into the classic sounds of Tuesday 4 post-hardcore in the style of Jawbox, Fugazi troubadour Matt Midgely. Lubbock, Texas’s influential songsmith Butch Bluenote Guitar Tuition Summer Festival with Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer, alongside the and Archers of Loaf from London’s Bloody TAMARA & A MARTYR + BEN WALKER + Hancock to town for the first time ever. assorted young local bands. likes of stoner-rock types Caravan Of Whores. ALABAMA SHAKES: Mammals, joined tonight by Nottingham’s FLORIAN WOLFF + BETHANY WEIMERS A member of inspirational but short-lived DUOTONE: Truck Store – Intricate, loop- shouty hardcore crew Without Maps and + JESS HALL + GEORGE CHOPPING: country band The Flatlanders back in the 02 Academy th based cello and beats chamber pop from Barney experimental mathcore types Masiro. East Oxford Community Centre - Intimate MONDAY 10 early 1970s alongside Joe Ely and Jimmie Given the monstrous success of Black Keys Morse-Brown and James Garret, playing songs OXFORD UKULELE SESSION: The Port evening of acoustic music from emotionally ROBERT HOKUM & THE GUVNORS: Dale (though they reformed in the late-90s lately, it’s little surprise that Alabama Shakes from their recent `Ropes’ album, including new Mahon devastated songstress Tamara and chums The Jericho Tavern – West London r’n’b outfit and are still going today), Hancock’s brand of are similarly riding a wave of love for all single `Alphabet’. BREEZE: The Duke’s Cut adding funk and Latin touches to their straight- “progressive country” paved the way for the things authentic and vintage in rock’n’roll REPLICA: Fat Lil’s, Witney th down-the-line Delta and Chicago blues at the alt.country movement, attempting to capture, but also coated in a shiny sheen of pop- TUESDAY 4 FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon Famous Monday Blues. TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM as it did, the feel of windswept plains and friendly paint. Already boasting a fanclub ALABAMA SHAKES: O2 Academy – Long- STEAMROLLER: The Bullingdon – Super- 101: O2 Academy prairies. Emmylou Harris is among those who that includes Adele, Bon Iver, Robert Plant, since sold-out show from Alabama’s fast-rising SATURDAY 8th `eavyweight blues-rocking from the local WHAT YOU CALL IT, GARAGE?: The have covered his songs and he’s often been Jack White, Alex Turner and Russell Crowe, rock’n’soul crew – see main preview ALPHABET BACKWARDS + THE veterans, cranking out the riffs in the vein of Cellar hailed as the Texan Bob Dylan, but Hancock Alabama Shakes sold tonight’s show out JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Free live jazz GRINDING YOUNG + THE YARNS + Hendrix and Cream at the Bully’s Haven blues THE PETE FRYER BAND: The has almost wilfully avoided commercial months ago and seem to be the name to drop every Tuesday at the Bully, tonight featuring CORREATOWN: O2 Academy – Oxford’s club. Wheatsheaf, Didcot success for his music over the years, happy to when you’re talking about up and coming veteran reedsman Alvin Roy. effusive electro-pop champs play a hometown HUCK + SCOTT GORDON: The Hollybush, alternate his musical career with a career as rock stars. Corkscrew-haired, bespectacled, SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street show as part of their UK tour ahead of the Osney – “One gig closer to Wittstock” th a photographer. But acclaim from critics and floral frock-wearing singer and guitarist Tavern release of their new album in October, the band’s TUESDAY 11 fundraiser with bluesy troubadour Huck and contemporaries just won’t leave him be and Brittany Howard is hardly your typical pop ebullient, big-hearted pop anthems guaranteed JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Free live jazz supports. now, aged 67, he remains a singularly eclectic icon in waiting, but that just adds to the WEDNESDAY 5th to lift the heaviest of hearts. They’re joined by from The New Jazz Collective. INTRUSION: The Cellar – Monthly goth, talent and cult hero. band’s authentic allure, a full-on rock diva FREE RANGE: The Cellar – Hip hop club emotive folk-popsters The Grinding Young and SUNDAY 16th sultry 80s-styled indie pop types The Yarns. industrial, ebm and darkwave club night. with a voice to match Janis Joplin, Robert night. GUN: O2 Academy – Heavy rocking and BEARD FEST: The Wheatsheaf (12.30pm) – A OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern Pant or James Brown at times and a carefree ACOUSTIC LOUNGE: Fat Lil’s, Witney glam-metal 80s style from the reformed FLIGHTS OF HELIOS + ROWAN full day of music in celebration of facial hair, attitude towards performance. Rough Trade rockers, best known for their cover of Cameo’s COUPLAND + LORD MAGPIE & PRINCE including competitions for best beards of all th snapped the band up in an instant and debut THURSDAY 6th WEDNESDAY 12 `Word Up’. OF CATS + HUCK: The Wheatsheaf – album `Boys & Girls’ will undoubtedly be shapes and sizes (including any bearded ladies). MARY BENDYTOY + THE OMNIVIBES + THE WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN BAND: The Pindrop Performance night with atmospheric in every end of year list going, making a lie Music comes from the appropriately-monikered th MILLION FACES: The Bullingdon – It’s All THURSDAY 13 Three Horseshoes, Towersey – Authentic old- electro and psych-pop collective Flights of the idea that rock’n’roll is dead or dying. Beard Of Destiny, as well as follicle-friendly acts About The Music show with industrial-gothic THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf – time Blue Ridge Mountain folk dance from the of Helios, alongside eccentric folk-rock Instead, the best of it continues to go back like Stem, Superloose, Von Braun, Magic Booka rockers Mary Bendytoy, alongside psychedelic Free gig downstairs at the Sheaf. Virginian family band. troubadour Rowan Coupland. to the source and give it some serious welly. & His Magic Pecker, Welcome To Peepworld, blues rockers The Omnivibes. TYDE: The Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon – You want proper, old-fashioned songs about Dave Tomlinson and Moon Rabbit. Jeremy th ROLL ON THURSDAYS: The Cellar – New Traditional folk from Newcastle’s one-time th TUESDAY 18 dancing and fighting and love gone wrong, Hughes must surely be an odds-on favourite for MONDAY 17 weekly club night playing floor fillers and party Radio 2 Young Folk Awards finalists. THE LONG INSIDERS + sung by a former postie? Here you go – eat the Best Natural beard title. MITCH LADDIE + LAURENCE JONES: tunes. STUKA SQUADRON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – A QUADROPHOBE + EYES OF EVE up and enjoy. DANNY GEORGE-WILSON + TREVOR The Jericho Tavern – Bottletop blues, blues- CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford MOSS AND HANNAH LOU + THE bunch of vampire Luftwaffe pilots inspired by rocking and funk-blues from Geordie guitar + HELL’S GAZELLES + RICHARD Community Centre DREAMING SPIRES + CO-PILGRIM: The classic Iron Maiden? That’s Stuka Squadron, then. maestro Laddie, at only 21 already a veteran BROTHERTON: The Wheatsheaf – CIRCUIT CHASE + PRIVATE JET + GO Barn, Braziers Park (6pm) – An evening of CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford of Walter Trout’s band, riding high on the Benefit gig for the Prince’s Trust, featuring ON, DO IT, JUMP + NO CHANGE GIVEN: acoustic alt.country and country rocking with the Community Centre critical acclaim afforded his second album, classic rockabilly and rock’n’roll stars The The Bell, Bicester – Jambox rock night. Danny & The Champions of the World main man OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon `Burning Bridges’ and mixing original tunes Long Insiders, plus funky ska-pop types OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon alongside lovey-dovey duo Trevor and Hannah, ROLL ON THURSDAY: The Cellar with covers of James Brown and Marvin Gaye. Quadrophobe, epic thrash merchants Eyes of BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston local alt.country heroes The Dreaming Spires UNDERSMILE + IDES OF GEMINI: Truck Eve and bluesman Richard Brotherton. and more in the idyllic setting of Braziers FRIDAY 14th Store – Deities of doom Undersmile, who JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Free live jazz FRIDAY 7th Park’s barn venue. FELIX + THE CELLAR FAMILY + THE graced last month’s Nightshift front cover, play with The Hugh Turner Band. KLUB KAKOFANNEY with THE RICHARD WALTERS + RHOSYN + TWO HALF RABBITS: The Wheatsheaf – Launch an intimidatingly intimate instore alongside SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street GRACEFUL SLICKS + THE HAWKHURST WHITE CRANES: Fusion Arts Centre – show for Audioscope’s new `Music For A chums Ides Of Gemini. Tavern FRIDAY 21st resident crew. MONDAY 24th the release of new album `Deja Voodoo’, with a BUTCH HANCOCK: The Bullingdon – The THE UPPER FIFTH: The Port Mahon GILES ROBSON & THE DIRTY ACES: The punky form of blues-rock. Texan Bob Dylan makes his Oxford debut, aged SYNTRONIX: Fat Lil’s, Witney – 80s synth- Jericho Tavern – Swift return to the Famous KOMRAD +AGNESS PIKE + MASIRO: 67 – see main preview pop hits, from Duran Duran and Ultravox to Monday Blues for the rising UK bluesman, Fat Lil’s, Witney – Technical hardcore twixt RACHEL SERMANNI: O2 Academy – Numan and Depeche Mode. discovered playing back-up to Muddy Waters’ Dillinger and King Crimson from the mighty Soulful, occasionally jazz-inflected roots pop TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM son Mud Morganfield and rated as the best Komrad, plus oddball thrash from Agness and from the rising singer-songwriter from the 101: O2 Academy harmonica player on the European circuit, experimental math-noise from Masiro. Scottish Highlands, out on tour to promote SAM KELLY: King’s Head & Bell, bringing a soulful blend of blues and r’n’b to CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford debut album `Under Mountains’. Abingdon town. Community Centre THE BIG TEN INCH: The Cellar – Count WUSSY: Truck Store – Bit of a coup for OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon rd BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston Skylarkin’s monthly celebration of classic jump SUNDAY 23 our chums at Truck Store today with cult Thursday 27th blues, rockabilly, ska and more, with live bands SMOKE FAIRIES: O2 Academy – Ghostly Cincinnati rockers Wussy playing in store as and the Count on the decks. folk madrigals from the south coast duo – see part of their first ever UK tour. Despite forming FRIDAY 28th SHINY DARKLY / THE CORSAIRS: The Duke’s Cut – Classic main preview in 2001, the band have never played over here THEN JERICO: O2 Academy – More 1980s Saturday 22nd rock’n’roll and rockabilly. PHIL GARVEY + MARK BOSLEY + or even officially released an album in the pop nostalgia, this time from the band behind DALLAS DON’T: SKIP THE BEAT: The Port Mahon – MARK ATHERTON: The Wheatsheaf UK. `Buckeye’ is out now, a compilation of hits such as `Big Area’, `Sugar Box’ and `What ULTRAVOX: Unplugged night with sets from Borderville, (2.30pm) – Free acoustic session in the Sheaf’s songs from their career so far, their grungy pop Does It Take’. The Cellar Eutopia and more. downstairs bar, hosted by Klub Kakofanney’s reminiscent of Yo la Tengo, early REM and THE KRAR COLLECTIVE: Old Fire Dark by name, dark by nature; Copenhagen’s The New Theatre FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon Phil and Sue. Drive-By Truckers at times. Check the store’s Station – Oxford Contemporary Music present Shiny Darkly, in the own words, “write Having become increasingly epic to the point HANS THEESINK: The Three Horseshoes, website for stage time. the Ethiopian the collective, featuring Temesgen songs about the gloominess in the young of corpulence towards the end of their 1980s nd Towersey – Delta-style blues from the Dutch Zeleke, a former pupil of legendary Ethiopian human’s heart.” This they do while dressed SATURDAY 22 in black leather motorcycle jackets and lifetime, before finally falling apart in the THE FRATELLIS: O2 Academy – The guitarist. th jazz multi-instrumentalist Mulatu Astatke, TUESDAY 25 utilising enough reverb to provoke a decent wake of Live Aid, Ultravox’s reunion for a Academy celebrates its fifth anniversary in NICK KERSHAW: O2 Academy – The 1980s who plays the krar, a six-stringed harp, here sized tsunami. Listen to songs like `He’s greatest hits tour in 2009 promised little but the company of recently reformed Glaswegian hitmaker returns with songs from his new album electrified for a contemporary edge on Ethiopian Suicidal’ or `Into The Shade’ and you’ll against the odds, delivered plenty, a reminder rockers The Fratellis, back from the four-year rd `8’ as well as hits from his mid-80s commercial traditional music. The collective also features Sunday 23 hear a world of darkly-inclined influences that they were a band, even when helmed hiatus they undertook after the release of peak, including `Wouldn’t It Be Good’ and `I Robel Taye on kebero drums and vocalist-dancer that stretches from The Doors, to Suicide, by Midge Ure, either ahead or outside of second album `Here We Stand’. Annoyingly Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’. Genet Assefa. Based in London they recently SMOKE FAIRIES: to The Horrors, taking in The Jesus & Mary their time. Of course the original Ultravox chipper and prone to wearing silly hats from DEXYS: The New Theatre – Music critics and represented Ethiopia at the Cultural Olympiad. Chain, Loop and more contemporaneously line-up, fronted by enigmatic synth pioneer what we remember. broadcasters of a certain vintage are getting all THE SOCIAL CLUB + THE JIM BAND + O2 Academy Black Angels and A Place To Bury Strangers. John Foxx, were a far superior beast, leading THE JESS HALL BAND + MARIANA Despite growing up together in West Sussex frothed up about the return of Kevin Rowland GURP: The Port Mahon – Indie rocking in Swamped-up surf guitars, vintage synths, the line in post-punk’s electronic revolution, MAGNAVITA + EMPTY WHITE CIRCLES and discovering a love for folk music and new album, `One Day I’m Going To Soar’ – the vein of The Hold Steady, Weezer and Get honey-dipped melodies and howling, but even after Foxx departed, to be replaced + GAVROCHE + PRAXIS BOLD: O2 while working as car park attendants at the the first under the Dexy’s name since 1985. And Up Kids from former Captain Everything and heavily effected vocals, it’s a storm of pure by former Rich Kids singer Ure, the band Academy – The O2’s monthly team-up with Sidmouth Folk Festival, Jessica Davies’ and we’re happy for them. And we’ll freely admit Fireapple Red member The Social Club. Support bloody musical joy for fans of great noise produced some great music, notably the BBC Oxford Introducing gives the immensely Katherine Blamire’s craft was forged over that `Geno’ is a bona fide soul classic. But we from Slough’s Jim Band and local noisemakers rock and psychedelic gloom. The trio are `Vienna’ album, with its mega hit title track talented Jess Hall a chance to shine on the years travelling around America, particularly simply can’t escape the fact that the band are Gurp. over the in the UK for only the second and Billy Currie’s richly atmospheric synth big stage, the singer having impressed at the New Orleans. Hence Smoke Fairies’ music is responsible for `Come On Eileen’, the single HQ: The Cellar – Drum&bass club night, time, and in Oxford courtesy of the ever- and electric violin parts. Subsequent albums Punt earlier this year with her intimate, soulful a comfortably accomplished fusion of British most godawful song ever committed to vinyl and tonight with special guest DJ Marky, from excellent Pindrop Performances, tonight like `Rage In Eden’ and `Quartet’ were acoustic pop that recalled Emiliana Torrini folk-rock – Fairport Convention, June Tabor a pox upon every benighted wedding reception Innerspace Records, playing a two-hour set. playing Oxford’s darkest venue just as the increasingly pompous and mainstream but and Thea Gilmore. She’s joined by locally- and The Unthanks all spring to mind – and disco since 1982. Sorry, we just can’t. FUNKY FRIDAYS: The Bullingdon nights start to draw in. Perfect. Excellent still produced a string of hits that have aged based Brazilian songstress Mariana Magnavita, American blues and roots. No surprise then TWISTED WHEEL: The Jericho Tavern OXEDELIC: The Duke, St. Clement’s local support too from Pixies and Idlewild- surprisingly well if their show at this same harmony-heavy, Stornoway-inspired folk- that the pair got signed to Jack White’s Third – Return of Manchester’s blokey rockers who – Monthly DJ session playing garage rock, inspired noise-pop starlets Dallas Don’t. venue two years ago was anything to go by. rockers Empty White Circles and inventive, Man label – the first UK act to do so – and looked likely candidates for next big thing a psychedelia, soul, electronic, post-punk, And now they’ve released their first new genre-blending pop types Praxis Bold. A great support The Dead Weather at their first UK couple of years ago after they supported Oasis Krautrock and acid house. Go Romano, supported by Australia’s lush, album since their reformation. While the way to discover a heap of emerging local talents show. White also played drums on Smoke at their Heaton Park shows, as well as opening THE PETE FRYER BAND: King’s Arms, orchestral folk-pop outfit The Wishing Well, title, `Brilliant’, might be pushing it a bit, all in one night. Treat yerself. Fairies’ debut album, `Through Low Light & for Paul Weller and Kasabian. Named after Bicester recalling Ryan Adams, The Waterboys and Dave the key elements that made them such an 80s ULTRAVOX: The New Theatre – The Trees’. Along the way the pair have toured Manchester’s legendary northern soul club, their Matthews. Show openers Hot Hooves feature pop behemoth remain intact. reunited 80s synth-pop heavyweights play their with Bryan Ferry, The Handsome Family, sinewy indie-punk mixes up various parts The th SATURDAY 29 local legends Mac and Pete Momtchiloff, plying new `Brilliant’ album – see main preview Richard Hawley (who proclaimed them the Jam, Arctic Monkeys and The Clash. THE COOLING PEARLS + NAIROBI + a sweet line in witty, sardonic post-punk in the SECRET RIVALS + HELLO BEAR + best new band he’d heard in years) and Laura GLASS CITY VICE + TOLIESEL: The DALLAS DON’T: Truck Store – Oxjam warm- vein of Guided By Voices and early Teenage WEDNESDAY 19th ROBOTS WITH SOUL + ALPHABET Marling. All due reward for over a decade Wheatsheaf – Alt.rock in the vein of Biffy up instore, with atmospheric acoustic outfit Fanclub. GREGG WRIGHT: The Bullingdon – Classic BACKWARDS ACOUSTIC: The of playing together, a fact that probably Clyro, Death Cab For Cutie and Futures from the Cooling Pearls and serrated indie rocking from VON BRAUN + THE GRACEFUL SLICKS: blues and rock in a Hendrix style from the Wheatsheaf – Single launch gig for this explains why their new album, `Blood Brighton outfit. Dallas Don’t. The Cellar – Grungy rocking from Von Braun, Californian guitar maestro, a veteran session month’s Nightshift cover stars, kicking out Speaks’ sounds like the work of experienced SOUL TRAIN: The Cellar – Motown, funk, SKELETOR presents DEDLOK + IMPALED plus psychedelia and garage-rock from The man who has worked with Michael Jackson their effervescent brand of 90s-inspired boy- songsmiths rather than merely a second soul, disco and r’n’b club night. EXISTENCE + A TRUST UNCLEAN + Graceful Slicks. and Spencer Davies in an illustrious career, girl indie pop, somewhere between The Cure, album. The mood remains decidedly earnest JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Live jazz with KOMRAD + LEST WE FORGET: O2 TRANSFORMATION + TRASHY + ROOM renowned for his left-handed playing of an Idlewild, Bis and Allo Darlin’. and gloomy but ethereal, the rural idyll of The New Jazz Collective. Academy – Skeletor’s monthly metal team- 101: O2 Academy upturned right-handed guitar. SECRET RIVALS + BAND OF HOPE + their closely entwined vocals bolstered by SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: James Street up with Room 101 sees a headline of extreme SELECTA: The Bullingdon – Drum&bass. JUMPING SHIPS: The Wheatsheaf – Post- WE AERONAUTS: Truck Store – A full electric guitars and an occasional tendency Tavern thrash and punk-tinged uber-metal from Dedlok, INDESRIBABLE UNKNOWN + THE hardcore from the London-Brighton combo. afternoon of live music instore at Oxford’s towards psychedelia, although the name supported by north Wales’ progressive death FREEMANTLE + THE AUGUST LIST: The FREE RANGE: The Cellar only independent music store. This month’s Smoke Faires is entirely appropriate given th WEDNESDAY 26 metallers Impaled Existence, local grindcore and Port Mahon Nightshift cover stars Secret Rivals warm up the music’s often ghostly nature. death-metal crew A Trust Unclean and tech-core EYE-CON: The Red Lion, Eynsham th THURSDAY 20 for their single launch party at the Wheatsheaf th types Komrad. tonight, joined by lush folk-country ensemble THURSDAY 27 GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with GO REEDS + HUMANIZER: The Bullingdon – SHINY DARKLY + DALLAS DON’T + th It’s All About The Music local bands night. Band Of Hope and sweet-natured orchestral ROMANO + THE WISHING WELL + SUNDAY 30 GRACEFUL SLICKS: The Cellar – Dark, FUNK JUGGLERS + ILGHAZI + BAGUL: CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford folk-popsters We Aeronauts. HOT HOOVES: The Wheatsheaf – Another dark, dark – and splendidly noisy – see main The Cellar – Funk-rock from the local outfit, Community Centre THE MIGHTY REDOX + SUPERLOOSE: determinedly mixed bill at this month’s GTI preview launching their new EP. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon The Jericho Tavern – Live album recording with rousing, funked-up singalong rocking from show from enduring local swamp-blues-rock RT-ZED: The Bullingdon – Steve Grantley, for BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston the last fifteen years drummer with Stiff Little faves The Mighty Redox and country-folksters th ROLL ON THURSDAY: The Cellar Fingers as well as The Alarm, and who has also Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion in the gig guide is 6pm on the 20 of each THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Wheatsheaf Superloose. month - no exceptions (not even for you). Call 01865 372255 (10am-6pm), or email listings to FRESH OUT THE BOX: The Cellar – played with Julian Lennon, Glen Matlock and – Free downstairs show from the local blues- Bruce Foxton, brings his band to town ahead of [email protected]. All listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be reproduced rock stalwart. Wonky disco, house and breaks from the without permission photos: Mad Mackerel Crystal Fighters Sharon Jones Spiritualized LIVE WILDERNESS FESTIVAL Cornbury Park FRIDAY In a year when the British public have update brings just the right blend of supposedly fallen out of love with complexity, darkness and danceability outdoor festivals it’s good to find one to proceedings. that has found a definite niche and Don Letts lookalike KING then been rewarded with unexpectedly CHARLES, meanwhile, bravely perfect weather. The general takes on ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, consensus is that the focus here is not Billy Joel’s questionable defence so much on the music as the wealth of of US foreign policy, with updated The Staves Stornoway Grant Lee Buffalo activities, workshops, talks, food and lyrics including references to Robert other hidden treats that could easily Mugabe and Whitney Houston. take a full weekend to sample. In fact Fortunately we’re all too busy dancing it’s odd to find yourself heading to to get into any serious analysis. the main stage to escape the crowds, as modest and gentle as they are. The Back at the main stage THE food deserves a review of its own, so CRYSTAL FIGHTERS are one of a good that Nightshift finds itself eating number of bands coming across as an four meals a day just to keep the awkward collision of musical styles. taste buds happy. And restricting the In this case it’s The Stereos MCs, capacity to 10,000 means short queues The Gypsy Kings and Pendulum, and no pinch points, so nothing feels in an attempt to take a renegade like hard work. crusty attitude and give it a shiny modern sheen. This could prove to Down at the lake dozens of happy be a winning formula but despite the bathers are being carefully watched bombastic energy it doesn’t really pay over by a lifeguard in a canoe. The off, though they could be a hit if you family-friendly festival is a concept like well-toned, long-haired men with often put forward but this really seems hairy chests. to have hit on the right formula, They set the scene for the event weekend, and the best hangover cure. and it’s a pleasure to have them back. decide whether they want to be Blur that sends us all to bed happy. RODRIGO Y GABRIEL & though this perfect setting of a deer with a somewhat refined, rather The Secret Forum tent, meanwhile, or The Eagles. Nels Cline’s virtuoso SHARON JONES AND THE THE CUBA ORCHESTRA park normally kept away from the DAP-KINGS are a solid choice as comfortable-sounding set that pushes close Saturday’s proceedings with is hosting a surprisingly interesting BENJAMIN FRANCIS guitar solos are always worth waiting public is a huge help. The inclusion of headliners. Formed in New York SATURDAY neither volume levels or creative a joyous and vibrant set to a huge, and well-reasoned debate on LEFTWICH talks a lot. The crowd for, as he seems to try to squeeze Northamptonshire’s Vintage Festival, and highly successful as the house Saturday gets off to a shaky start with boundaries. They do, though, enthusiastic crowd. That’s it, though consumerism, though the high point seem to like this. This may be because some forgotten emotional memory who couldn’t make a go of it alone, band for funk/soul label Daptone LOTTE MULLIAN’s stodgy 70s maintain an excitable charm, and it’s - it’s joyousness and vibrancy over is seeing Claire Fox firmly cut off at it breaks up his set to ensure that from it. No band has ever succeeded means we’re regaled everywhere by Records, even before being hired rock. Maybe she’s been booked to get hard not to like their awkward crowd and over, with little diversity in the end of her five minutes. Nearby it’s more than a relatively formulaic in truly encapsulating the rustic folk in their finest tweeds, spats and by Mark Ronson for his ‘Version’ everyone off to a workshop to make a interactions. rhythm, tone or style. Even an eight- there’s a workshop on time in a digital stream of flawlessly delivered, but white American experience, but with pleated dresses, further adding to the album, they’re probably best known wooden plate or ride a camel. minute bongo solo isn’t as hilarious age, but when we’re asked to get into ultimately hollow-sounding soulful REM gone they may be the new best fairytale atmosphere. here for their contribution to Amy Crowded on the bandstand are the THE TEMPER TRAP are another or diverting as one might imagine, groups with pens and paper it’s time indie music. He’s a nice chap, that contenders. Winehouse’s ‘Back In Black’ album largest band of the weekend and car crash of a band; this time it’s and while the group are obviously to head to the art tent to cast our votes much seems evident, but there’s a lot Over at the Future Cinema, ASIAN Friday starts off a little quietly with a and subsequent tour. It’s all a dizzying probably the musical highlight: Bronski Beat in collision with U2. amazingly proficient and professional, in the worst painting competition. of nice things around this weekend. DUB FOUNDATION are playing a visit to the tiny bandstand stage, host blend of punchy horns and driving THE SHOUT CHOIR, from Australian bands are rarely over- they just don’t engage with at least Even SPIRITUALIZED sound nice, live soundtrack to La Haine, Mathieu to many of the weekend’s pleasant percussion, expertly crafted and a treat Stratford-On-Avon, are 25 singers endowed with subtlety but all this this member of the audience. Back at the main stage TO KILL when Jason’s singing about Jesus Kassovitv’s gritty 1995 film about surprises. BWANI JUNCTION’s for the eyes and ears, though Jones plus a small band knocking out energy could surely be put to some A KING have a pleasing complex and getting all gospel-heavy on us. desperation in the outskirts of Paris. breezy indie blows through the site keeps reminding me of Wanda Sykes the likes of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ kind of better use. Back down by the lake once more, sound with more than a hint of Doves, Unfortunately, it sounds rather tired The band still balance thoughtfulness like a reincarnation of fellow Scots in Curb your Enthusiasm. and ‘Wild Horses’ with exactly STORNOWAY are one of a handful the late night masked ball is actually songs building nicely to a satisfying and dated these days, and suggests with a confrontational musical Orange Juice, with a perfect blend of Elsewhere Secret Cinema’s the right blend of looseness and of Oxford bands at Wilderness and a disco in a tent, with the most cutting conclusion. They look the part too, all that a wide open field isn’t the best style that has changed little since jangly guitars, African rhythms and immersive production of Bugsy professionalism. Placing a pure love they, like the others we hear, play a edge tune on offer a ‘Blue Monday’ rolled up sleeves and designer stubble. setting for this music - a dark and the 90s, despite numerous lineup catchy tunes, while over on the main Malone is in full swing. Groups of of music firmly over any need to be well-received and impressively solid remix, not that anyone’s complaining. FIELD MUSIC pick up where oppressive room would be so much changes. After the film they bring on stage WILLY MASON sounds so actors play out scenarios around the cutting edge or even vaguely original, set. They’re a band that always seems But by now we’ve all cottoned on Cloud Control left off, but steer things more effective. However, when he some friends for a suitably chaotic much like Johnny Cash it’s a constant field as we’re invited to buy cans of they’re an as innocently uplifting an to be on form, and in this environment to the fact that this whole weekend in a rather more structured direction. digs into his Spacemen 3 past, such as freestyle lyrical jam, during which shock to look up and see a baby-faced shaving foam, or ‘Splurge’, for seven experience as it’s possible to have, in their chattiness and charm comes is more of a celebration of the past They’re solid and rhythmic, creating with a thrilling and fierce ‘Take Me they announce that they’re taking the 27-year-old, with a maturity beyond quid to spray at each other. a field or anywhere else. across with direct precision. (recent and more distant) than a look traditionally-instrumented pop songs To The Other Side’, it’s a reminder whole experience to Afghanistan in his years. The first act to inspire real JAKE BUGG’s acoustic take on to the future, and there’s absolutely that don’t offer much in the way of everything that’s good about this the autumn. enthusiasm in the crowd, songs like A lucky escape to the bandstand finds an Arctic Monkeys sound with a bit ORCHESTRA ELASTIQUE, on nothing wrong with that. of surprises, but do provide a most band: fantastic, genuinely psychedelic ‘We Can Be Strong’ come across as ROO PANES playing the sensitive of rockabilly thrown in is diverting the cute bandstand stage (which is, pleasing musical backdrop. music that hopefully freaks out some At the end everyone agrees that powerful if a little downbeat. Nick Drake type, and making a decent enough but a bit lacking in originality literally, a traditional bandstand) play GRANT LEE BUFFALO seem to Wilderness straights. Wilderness has been a resounding job of it too, but the night is given a or substance. improvised, meandering jazz-esque SUNDAY be the first act with a bit of genuine success, despite some curious A wander to The London Folk Guild proper send-off in the Folk Guild tent music using a theremin, vocal sounds, Lunchtime and FLIGHTS OF drive to them: fuzzy overdrive, for A line of vintage backline amps musical choices. Yet this wasn’t just tent, tastefully constructed with real by THE STAMP COLLECTIVE, a THE STAVES are a trio of sisters drums and a variety of - for want of HELIOS are the latest attempt to the most part. Back for one of their heralds the arrival of WILCO to close about consuming music, it was to wooden beams, finds the young and collective from the Guildhall School who grew up in Watford. That a better term - ‘ethnic’ instruments. push the definition of folk to its first shows in over a decade, they pick the main stage proceedings. Two years allow people to engage in something eager ORLANDO SEELE AND of Music mixing up various styles of unglamorous backdrop doesn’t seem It’s good listening as the sun slowly absolute limit. Something of an up pretty much where they left off in ago at End Of The Road they came new and unexpected, and to that end THE SWELL. Though clearly well folk including Baltic, west and east to have roughened up their sound, goes down; something non-structured, Oxford supergroup, their multi- the mid-1990s, providing warm and across as self-indulgent musos with it’s been an unqualified triumph. versed in the classic British folk European. Three violins fight for which is rather non-confrontational hypnotic and metronomic like this layered soundscapes and tasteful buzzing indie rock that nods equally too much time on their hands, but traditions of Fairport Convention and attention with brass and percussion in folky guitar music in the vein of fits well and generates a kind of cover of Mercury Rev’s ‘Holes’ make to Americana and early 1970s folk tonight they reveal a more modest and Words: Art Lagun and Simon Sandy Denny, the pleasingly fresh an infectiously danceable whirlwind the Cranberries and the Corrs. comfortable edginess. them the most spacey offering of the rock. They’re enjoyable, charming, subtle side, yet they still can’t seem to Minter Improv! In a field! LIVE SUPERNORMAL FESTIVAL Braziers Park If Supernormal 2011 was a mastery of volume dynamics. charming curio with a patchy line-up that varied from the THE TELESCOPES’ late night inspirational to the shambolic, blast through their classics, backed this year it established itself as an by one-note groove machine ONE essential part of the summer for UNIQUE SIGNAL, is fabulous, anyone of a remotely alternative singer Stephen Lawrie kneeling musical persuasion. desperate on the main stage while his backing band throw shapes With a little help from seasoned amongst the crowd, ultimately Brighton promoters Tatty Seaside handing over their instruments Town, who assume the role to a curious, drunken mass of of musical curators, the high spectators for a very do-it-yourself points are plentiful – this year’s noise finale. The discovery of the headliners SEEFEEL alone weekend, though, is THE FAMILY represent quite a coup, but the rest ELAN, who seduce the entire of the bill features some familiar site with an exquisite weave of names to regular Oxford gig- traditional Azeri and Uzbeki songs. goers, like BILGE PUMP, HEY COLOSSUS and other Gringo There are a few missteps along Records staples. KOGUMAZA’s the way - but then, what good is mesmerising slowed-down an experimental music festival Sabbath grooves set the bar high, if you don’t put a few noses out prompting excitable cries of ‘best of joint along the way? SAUNA riff ever!’ from the assembled. YOUTH are just plain bland, Ex-CharlottefieldersSWEET while QUEER’D SCIENCE WILLIAMS match them blow offer up a distasteful blend of barks. But to dwell on these few Even in the beautiful old hall for blow, trading Unwound and tuneless digitised guitar mewling moments is churlish, particularly itself, strangeness abounds, even Alice In Chains riffs over a underpinning Rolo Tomassi-lite when Supernormal trades on so whether in afternoons dedicated much more than its music. to discussing the cosmic majesty Telescopes of the universe or an impromptu The woods are filled with bizarre experimental drums and cello sculptures hanging from the trees, outfit set up in three corners halfway between The Blair Witch of a field outside, mystifying Project and a St. Martin’s College onlookers. And if that all gets degree show, with impromptu too much, there’s always the film screenings and pop-up raves traditional English afternoon tea springing up in clumps of trees and scones in a country garden, around the site. An old barn which is only weird by contrast. behind the Braziers Park hall becomes an arts village in its What you take away from own right, hosting everything Supernormal is that everywhere from (mostly godawful) poetry you wander on site, something readings to a couple baking life- is happening. You can be sized human corpses made of wandering past the food stalls and bread. There’s an entire afternoon come across a self-performing dedicated to pure improv, which installation made up of washing - as is typical for most improv machines and vacuum cleaners programmes - varies from humming away on its own moments of inventive joy to the through a rack of effects (take kind of abject ‘just hit anything a bow, POOLYPHOONUS and make some swirly noises’ POOLYPHOONY and take that, depths that give the form a bad Nightshift’s spellchecker). The reputation in some quarters. Some entire site is buzzing with a sense of the weekend’s most beautiful of ‘anything’s possible’ creativity musical moments come beneath and community unmatched by the hay loft, though: the winsome any other festival, the boundaries and intimate folk of MARY between performer and audience HAMPTON COTILLION and member at times close to non- a brittle, precious performance existent. That spirit, and by from ex-Bat For Lashes backer extension the whole festival, is CAROLINE WEEKS are something to cherish. stunning. Stuart Fowkes photos: Giulia Biasibetti

photo: Paul Carrera The Crooked Fiddle Band / LIVE Brickwork Lizards / Bird Radio The Wheatsheaf SAVAGES / PALMA Quel dommage, missed the start, so missed Wheatsheaf would happily make the journey Bird Radio, his multi looped flute, his red as long as the Lizards were on board too . VIOLETS suitcase bass drum and storytelling vocals. The Crooked Fiddle Band come on stage From the net, his medieval troubadour- looking like stereotypical extras from a The Jericho Tavern tinged folk and electronica is definitely not film in the Australian outback. At the end It’s a long time since we took any notice of music Jethro Tull re-visited. Hope he gets invited of a long European tour they are as tight industry hype when it came to reviewing new back to Oxford soon. as the Lizards but outscore them on song bands but tonight’s double bill arrives on the back Tonight the Brickwork Lizards are minus titles heavy with significance. `Countess of enough music biz excitement to fuel an entire trumpet and keyboard. But joined by Giles Bathory’s Finishing School For Girls’ could year’s worth of toddlers’ birthday parties. Lewin, once of Bellowhead and now often possibly be the band’s sponsors, while ‘All London’s Palma Violets (renamed from their playing with Oxford harpist and vocalist These Pitchforks Make Me Nervous’ is original Parma Violets due to their being another Steph West, they are still eight strong. If surely not so much a personal statement but band of the same name – one which, legend has everyone was present there would be ten rather a universal truth we all share. And it, an over-eager record company scout flew all of them, The Brickwork Lizards Orchestra then there is ‘The Clockwork Bride’, about the way to Scotland to see in error) couldn’t be perhaps. which no more need be said. more stereotypically old-school indie looking if They use the ‘Turkobilly’ tag to introduce The band’s set is almost entirely an entire fashion department had been dispatched their set, which does them no favours as instrumental. They move easily across from 1986 to clothe and style them. That’s no bad again tonight they show they are much various folk traditions and high energy thing of course. Nor is the fact that their opening classier than this label implies; they perform klezmer and Balkan and punk doing what number sounds like Bauhaus’ `In The Flatfield’ like a finely honed machine but with added the band call “chainsaw folk” and what remodelled by Adam & The Ants in the style panache and integrity, right down to vocalist others have called “14th Century Romanian of The Cramps. In fact, just reading that back Spencer Williams suffering for his art by metal”. The nearest equivalent I can think reminds us how bloody great it sounds. From wearing his trademark trilby and topcoat of are 3 Daft Monkeys. Gordon Wallace here we’re on a ramshackle rampage through in the sweltering room. From the opener hammers the bouzouki like a lead guitar alternative pop’s darkest forests – from The Doors ‘All That We Are’, a jolly tune but a serious and Jess Randell’s violin is sometimes to The Bunnymen, via The Teardrop Explodes, song about imperialism and war, they take Dave Swarbrick in early Fairport, and until we see light through the trees in the form the ‘Sheaf with ease. As ever their lilting sometimes the violin of Grinderman and of a song that might well be a cousinly cast-off mix of 1930’s western swing and Turkish Bad Seed Warren Ellis. Both sometimes THE OXFORD RECORD from The Go-Betweens. There is Burundi-style and Middle Eastern traditions is infused dazzle and they certainly keep the crowd DVD & CD FAIR drumming and an almost primal sense of chaos as with rap and other more hard driving recent going. But what might distinguish The the band do their damndest to look like they JUST influences. But there are surprising twists, Crooked Fiddle Band from other Balkan OXFORD TOWN HALL DON’T CARE. Secretly they do of course, and as in ‘When Will I See You Again, Tariq mash-up bands is the superb double bass of th on tonight’s showing, so should we. gives his oud a big western swing work- Mark Stephens and that just when all the Saturday 15 September Being an all-female band plying an unabashed out, something all those oud quarter tones frenzy might be becoming a tad tedious, post-punk sound, Savages – also from London – weren’t built for. It shouldn’t work but they come up with a cinematic, epic ‘What 10am - 3.30pm have already drawn comparisons with the likes does. Spencer’s rap growl does swallow The Thunder Said’, which even if the Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres of The Delta 5 and The Slits, but this is denser rather too many of the words, but that’s a Enya-style influence induces slight nausea, Accessories/memoriabillia/books. and darker than either of those bands. That their small criticism on a night where the Lizards hints that this might be four Australians opening gambit might be not too distantly related sparkled. When they cheerfully sing “you’re with bigger ambitions. Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl to Siouxsie & The Banshees’ `Love In A Void’ going straight to hell,” you know the Colin May www.usrfairs.co.uk points the way we’re headed – right back into that deep, dark forest where every song casts a long shadow and doubtless wears way too much eye-liner. Singer Jehnny Beth is possessed of a The band’s sound, meanwhile, veers towards the Whether there’s enough substance beneath all HEART OF A COWARD / AETHARA / ZAOS remarkably similar voice to Siouxsie – all whoops murky at times, an onward rush that lets in little this to carry Savages further is up for debate; it’s and swoops, screams and ghostly wails, her cut- light or space as it crunches through body parts difficult to discern much by way of songs here / REIGN UPON US / SLEEPWALKERS glass jaw perfectly offsetting a pair of eyes that of Killing Joke and X-Mal Deutschland, staccato tonight, but as a live spectacle, there are few new seem to stare right into your soul, like a female Ian tribal beats and an ocean of reverb powering bands around who’ll match them right now. O2 Academy at THE JERICHO TAVERN Curtis as she stands rigid with determined intensity. fanning the circling storm. Dale Kattack The prospect of a multi-band metal night that if listened to whilst playing Resident 56 WALTON STREET, OXFORD, OX2 6AE can present a reviewer with all manner of Evil 5, would result in severe parental 01865 311775 preconceptions, be it wall-to-wall long hair trauma, if not an immediate section under THE SEVENTH OXFORD MUSLIM MUSIC Overall though, the band’s set of new age-style and goatees or dropped headstock guitars the mental health act. We like them; they keyboard led arrangements and harmonies is too in the non traditional mould. Every genre rock. September FESTIVAL bland for my taste. show doubtless brings with it similar clichéd Even so, Aethara are a cut above the local SIMO LOGNAWI, originally from Morocco, is expectations obviously but few modern metal pack. The lead singer is as lean as 3rd LIGHTNIN’ WILLIE anything but bland. He plays the Gimbri, a small The Jaqueline du Pre Building musical styles are capable of offering such a butcher’s pencil and has great moves to & THE POOR BOYS (USA) The aim of the day, according to the organiser, is Sudan, is much better. He has a fabulous baritone African bass lute with three strings and his music stylistic homogeneity. But let’s wait and see... boot. They’re all angular dynamics, as you’d to show Islam has something to offer musically. voice and his music really swings, with a touch is an exciting mix of desert blues and gnawa Even arriving early we mange to miss expect from the best modern metal, but 10th ROBERT HOKUM The seven-hour event remains the nearest to a of Trinidadian calypso rhythm and warmth to trance, not dissimilar to Tinariwen. He has a great openers Sleepwalkers, but a chat with a possessed of great washy soundscapes too. & THE GUVNORS (UK) world music festival Oxford has. A pity then that it, which makes it all the easier to forgive his voice and presence too even if finishing every couple of punters reveals mixed opinions, Very definitely ones to follow. it appears to be shrinking, with the earliest outings occasional high vibrato notes. number with a dramatic pose starts to irritate by so we’ll just have to find out for certain at a Heart Of A Coward show why they’re 17th MITCH LADDIE having been held in the Town Hall and Playhouse Kora player MOSI CONDE, dressed in a white the end of his set. future date. headlining. The Milton Keynes five-piece and this one in the much smaller JDP and then robe, comes over as a devout man dedicated to his Bengali singer NAHID NAZIA restores a sense We do see Reign Of Terror, who deliver deliver great muscular slabs of sonic & LAURENCE JONES (UK) very poorly attended. art. A griot from Conakry, Guinea but now based of dignity to the proceedings before SIMO a set of awesome abandon, all thundering force. Having heard their `Killing Fields’ 24th GILES ROBSON The thin crowd – if you could even call it a in London, he sings too but is more at ease when LOGNAWI takes to the stage again to jam with bass drum and melody in abundance and and thinking how it reminded me of crowd – is a downer that most of the musicians do just playing the kora. Mosi Conde, which turns into a mass jam with with a singer adept at engaging with the Evanescence’s big hit ‘Bring Me Back To & THE DIRTY ACES (UK) manage to overcome but unfortunately that can’t Billed as the headliners, the six piece DESERT every musician left in the building joining in. It enthusiastic crowd. Life’, I never expected them to go down so be said of comedian JEFF MIRZA. If he was ROSE from South Africa have a terrific djembe could be a horrible mess but becomes a joyous Perfectly L’oreal-ed hair metal up next in well, but tonight that recorded smoothness is Check our website for info gigs, photos etc on the bill to show that Muslims can be funny he player whose hands become a total blur when he spontaneous celebration of music, ending the day the form of Zaos; because we’re worth it I swept away and they’re all the better for the fails; instead he’s simply embarrassing. goes for it, and a player of both the mouth bow on a real high. suppose. Hair-based gymnastics and pyjama raw show of power on show. www.famousmondayblues.co.uk Fortunately ADEL ABRARY, originating from and the African harp which are special to hear. Colin May wearing guitarists aside, this is the music Eggbastd DR SHOTOVER: Go, Team OX4! So, here we are in the East Indies Club beer garden, smoking Gold Flake and INTRODUCING.... drinking Gold Label, listening to Rolled Gold… Still with me, Haversham? Oh, Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under try and keep up at the back. We. Are. Celebrating. Yes, it’s the magnificent showing by Our Boys at the Ox-Lympics. I refer of course to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Honorary Oxonian Frank Turner at the warm-ups, backed by those lovable local scamps Bachman Turner Over-Dive. (We remember when they were Dustball and we used to, ahem, fancy their mums at the ToLiesel Point…). Then, at the closing shindig, it was only Andy ‘Stardust’ Bell jamming Who are they? good with Weird and Gallagher in Beatley Eye. Gold discs all round, chaps. The Country-tinged local indie rocker ToLiesel are Jack Olchawski (vocals, bit in the middle? No, fool, I fell into a two-week gin-ravaged sleep in between guitar); Rob Taylor (keys, vocals); Gabriele Catalano (bass, vocals); Adam the musical segments. All those Muscle Marys (of both sexes) gyrating, James (guitar); Tom Jowett (guitar, vocals) and Steve Wilson (drums). They hugging, shrieking and blubbing. If I wanted to witness THAT sort of carry-on formed after friends Jack and Rob fell in love with Bon Iver, Band Of Horses I’d attend more regimental reunions and/or visit the East Indies Club gym. and Death Cab For Cutie at a similar time, and decided it would be fun to SEPTEMBER Mind you, last time I was there, it was full of Young Knives, Foals and their emulate their heroes. They spent the next five years gigging with various line Blessing Force offspring, vogue-ing around the room doing ‘math-letics’ and ups, before convincing local veterans Adam, who was playing in Message To trying to look detached and ironical… a bit like those kids at school who shrug Bears, and Steve, from Phantom Theory and now Robots With Souls, to join. Mondays and say, ‘No, I haven’t revised for the test AT ALL’, then get top marks and a Gabs joined after producing the quartet’s recordings, and Tom was forced in th pat on the head from Teacher. The heats were won – obviously – by Trophy for being a great guitarist. The band played at the Oxford Punt in May and Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: 10 THE HAVEN CLUB presents STEAMROLLER Wife, after Fixers were disqualified for being over-refreshed. In true Olympian July’s Truck Festival and release their debut single, `The Light’, this month. “The Grinding Young, although there are tons of great local bands.” spirit, Blessing What do they sound like? If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: Force are now Mixing a dreamy campfire intimacy with an epic, widescreen rock sound, “‘Narrow Stairs’ by Death Cab For Cutie, or some vintage Neil Young.

Every Tuesday apparently sponsored ToLiesel’s chief strength is the sheer strength of their songwriting – their When is their next gig and what can newcomers expect? by Shockwaves. melodies are often simply huge and yet creep up on you almost unnoticed, “The Wheatsheaf on the 25th September, supporting Glass City Vice. Expect THE OXFORD JAZZ CLUB Personally I am happy such is the gentle hand with which they’re steered. Like Deerhunter or Band an upbeat collection of country-tinged indie pop tunes, delivered from a Free live jazz plus DJs playing r’n’b, funk and soul until 2am to be sponsored by Of Horses, they escape the confines of the term Americana by dint of being bunch of guys as eager to have a good time as you are.” 4th ALVIN ROY & REEDS UNLIMITED anyone who’ll stump just too good a pop band. Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: up… Ah, Mr Putin, What inspires them? “Favourite would be the excellent standard of local acts and publications. th th 11 / 25 NEW JAZZ COLLECTIVE how nice to see you. “Incredible songs. We all love bands who are sonically ambitious and Having real platforms for bands to get reviews, be they good or bad, is Pull up a pew, old boy, progressive, but excellent songwriting is what truly drives us.” integral as it encourages artists to up their game, and allows quality to float th have a vodka-and- 18 THE HUGH TURNER BAND Career highlight so far: to the top. Worst is probably the reserved nature of Oxford audiences; head generic-cola, and just “Truck Fest and the Oxford Punt this year. Both were just so much fun, and nodding is cool, but dancing is for the real men.” pop that briefcase of we were so surprised at how many people came to check us out.” You might love them if you love: roubles over there Wednesday And the lowlight: Band Of Horses; Death Cab For Cutie; Deerhunter; The Epstein; Aztec where I can see it… th “Probably an early venture into Birmingham to support hyped local heroes Camera. 19 THE HAVEN CLUB presents GREGG WRIGHT NA ZDOROVE! Down The Arcadian Kicks. It’s fair to say it was a quiet evening; a nearby pool Hear them here: the hatch! Competition hots up in the East Indies Club game drew more attention than our set.” toliesel.bandcamp.com Thursdays Next month: Pussy Who? Gym (sponsored by Shockwaves) 6th It’s All About The Music presents MARY BENDYTOY THIS MONTH IN OXFORD / THE OMNIVIBES / MILLION FACES MUSIC HISTORY th rd ALL OUR YESTERDAYS 20 It’s All About The Music presents REEDS / Monday 3 September HUMANIZER + WITHOUT MAPS + MASIRO 8pm/£5 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO 5 YEARS AGO th th Leaping and cavorting and shaking their Dustball were the featured band in September After being closed for a few months for a major 27 RT-ZED – featuring Steve Grantley from Stiff Little Friday 7 September impressive manes on the cover of September 2002’s Nightshift. The quartet were set to release a rebuilding, the Academy opened its doors for Fingers. 7.30: £5 1992’s issue of Curfew magazine were local heavy new single, `Name & Number’ on local indie label the first time, taking over from the much-loved rock hopefuls 2 Die 4, who had recently been Vacuous Pop and reflecting on the circumstances Zodiac. An opening night party featured The HAWKHURST + CHARMS AGAINST THE EVIL EYE 8pm/£5 Saturday 8th September signed to American major label Morgan Creek, at that saw their dalliance with various major labels Magic Numbers, while the official first night Every Friday the time also home to Bryan Adams. The teenage fall apart and what a lucky escape they’d had in saw electro-popsters New Young Pony Club + STEM + SUPERLOOSE rockers had been flown out to LA to indulge in the long term. “If we’d signed to a major we’d headlining. Little Fish became the first Oxford FUNKY FRIDAY the sort of corporate-financed blow-outs and have ben chewed up and spat out after our first act to play the new venue when they supported WELCOME TO PEEPWORLD + MAGIC BOOKA & HIS AMAZING PECKER Funk, soul, boogie, house and R&B. 11pm-2.30am; £3. video shoots that the rest of us mortals can only album failed to go platinum and we’d have ended Supergrass. VON BRAUN + BIG SOCIETY + MOON RABBIT 2pm – 11pm/£5 Friday 14th September dream about, or maybe read about in Motley Crue up hating music,” stated singer Jamie Stuart. A Rescheduled Truck Festival took place in biographies. 2 Die 4 featured brothers Nick and Who would have guessed back then that ten years Steventon after the original event was flooded off. Early Friday shows Simon Kenny, who would later go on to feature later two of the band – Tarrant and Ben – would Idlewild and The Brian Jonestown Massacre th + THE HALF RABBITS + THE CELLAR FAMILY 8pm/£5 7 It’s All About The Music presents SWINDLESTOCK / THE Saturday 15th September in Oxford favourites Thurman, The Four Stories be playing to an audience of over a billion at the headlined. Wallingford’s Bunkfest was cancelled SHAPES and latterly The Long Insiders. The pair recounted Olympic opening ceremony with Frank Turner? due to a shortfall in funding. st + ALUNAH + JACKNIFE HOLIDAY stories of bungee jumping off bridges, replete Local music news was dominated by the return September 2007’s Nightshift cover star was rising 21 Empty Room Promotions presents BUTCH HANCOCK with instruments, for the video to single `You Got ofSupergrass with a new single, `Grace’, ahead local rapper Mr Shaodow, whose debut single CARAVAN OF WHORES + BLACK SUNRISE 8pm/£5 Tuesday 18th September What It Takes’ and getting mobbed at gigs after of their eponymous third album, the trio having `Look Out, There’s A Black Man Coming’ had appearing on national TV rock show Raw Power. spent the summer recording on the French Riviera. rapidly become a local anthem. Shaodow – real Saturdays In local music news, and in the days before Elsewhere Goldrush and The Rock Of Travolta name Elliot Haslam – had taken the local gig scene st + QUADROPHOBE 1 HOMEWORK with TEMPLE FUNK COLLECTIVE Oxford bands played in London as a matter of were set to headline a brace of gigs at the Zodiac by storm after moving to Oxford from London to HELL’S GAZELLES + EYES OF EVE + RICHARD BROTHERTON 7pm/£7 plus supports & DJs. 8.30; £5 B4 10; £6 after Wednesday 19th September course, a showcase gig at the Mean Fiddler was to celebrate the success of Truck Records and its study law and chatted about travelling to China as th announced, organised by Jericho Tavern promoter offshoot Juggernaut. Goldrush also released their a teenager to study kung fu at a Shaolin temple in 8 BREAK - `The Other Side’ album launch 8pm/£5 th nd Mac, featuring Squid, Death By Crimpers, new album `Don’t Bring Me Down’ on Virgin. the mountains, how racism had inspired his rapping 15 / 22 tbc Saturday 22nd September th Sevenchurch and Arthur Turner’s Lovechild? Sugababes and Atomic Kitten headed up the and how Oxford gave him the space to hone his 29 SELECTA – Drum’n’bass. 10-3am Elsewhere this month post-rock pioneers Bark late, unlamented Fox FM’s Party In The Park in rhyming craft. Five years on, the man has just th HELLO BEAR + ROBOTS WITH SOULS + ALPHABET BACKWARDS 8pm/£5 Psychosis were at the Jericho Tavern, while The South Park, while Audioscope provided a musical celebrated selling his 10,000 self-released CD. Tuesday 25th September Bhundu Boys and The Frank & Walters played antidote to such chart-friendly frivolity with sets Other local releases this month included Foals’ Sundays the Oxford Venue. Local names treading the board from Pram, Nought, Appliance and Cat On `Mathletics’ and Witches’ `Heart Of Stone’ 9th It’s All About The Music presents I SILECTA 8pm/£5 Saturday 29th September included Grey Lady Down, The Elmores, Pie, Form. One of these two events is still going strong singles, as well as Sunnyvale Noise Sub- Fuzzgun, Why Thursday? and Root-de-Toot, a decade on. Elements’ `Box Three, Spool Five’ debut album. while local gigs for Jools Holland and John Cargo Cult were Demo Of The Month for their 50ft Panda were Demo of the Month, who had + THE WISHING WELL + HOT HOOVES 8pm/£4.50 Otway suggest that some things never really “spartan, occasionally inspired lo-fi funky art- “riffs you could use to bang nails into concrete Join us on Facebook: Backroom @ The Bully The Wheatsheaf, 129 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4DF [email protected] / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford change. pop”. with.” bodily decay and cellular degeneration. afflicted is `One Night Girl’, where Lucy’s This is a good thing. Decent folk might started warbling unnecessarily, perhaps to suggest it’s all just shouting for no good try and compensate for the lack of a hook reason, but there’s always good reason for or melody to grab your attention. Some DEMOS shouting. Particularly in the case of the salvation comes in the form of `Every Demo of the Month wins a free half day at Sponsored by next couple of demos. Waking Day’ where her voice is more Silver Street Studios in Reading, courtesy vulnerable and varied, the melody prettier of Trojan Horse Recordings. Visit www. by far, riding on a marching snare beat and trojanhorserecordings.co.uk PIANOROCKETSHIP showing signs, as it peeks timidly into more Having seen the name Pianorocketship in adventurous places, that the trio might have the gig guide a few times we’ve always something worth listening to after all. nothing more than sticky blobs of day-old imagined it to be some exotic steampunk DEMO OF bourbon and a party spirit, while `Oxford experimental outfit, a fetish wear musical Summer’ resurrects the ghosts of New York interpretation of an old H Rider Haggard Dolls and The Wildhearts and demands novel. The reality, sadly, is rather more THE DEMO THE MONTH they get their bloody round in and pronto. prosaic, akin to a tipsy bray-along to some old Weimer Republic cabaret after DUMPER too many lunchtime G&Ts in front of the TREVOR OVERLORD aga. Pianorocketship is the work of Karen This lot have got to be metal – they’ve Kay, a singer and – ta da! – pianist with BLUE MOON TRAIN WILLIAMS We sometimes wonder if people send No-one will be more surprised that Trevor even got a proper metal font band name a line in jaunty, slightly wonky cafe jazz us demos with the express purpose of Williams has just scored his second and everything. And thusly the sludgy old that’s less Cat Power, more Victoria Wood irritating the mcfimble out of us. Case in Demo of the Month than Trevor himself riffs roll in. Except, hmmm, something’s without the jokes. Her songs are low-rent point: this demo is entitled `Chillaxe’. in all likelihood. We have, after all, been not right. Opener `Crawl On’ feels like it’s tales from coffee house floors, replete with Anyone who ever uses the word chillaxe, equally kind to and damning of his songs rocking on half power, those riffs failing exotic metaphors (“Here he comes, what even ironically – in fact particularly if they in the past. This new offering – a single to hit home with necessary force. And a skyscraper / And she a Ferris wheel”) use it ironically – should be immediately song demo entitled `Skeleton’ – further vocally they’re completely incongruous, that are doubtless too deep and poignant beheaded with a fucking axe. It’s what exposes the gulf in quality between Trev’s like someone pretending to be stoned for shambling troglodytes like us to fully etymological scholars call a `wanker’s recorded works and his live shows. The rather than genuinely being out of their comprehend without slow and patient word’ for reasons we shouldn’t really need latter tend to find him coming across like gourd on prime bong smoke. It’s all explanation (Napalm Death’s “You suffer, to explain. So there you go – irritant factor an over-excited, angst-ridden tribute to the a bit weedy, and that won’t do, no sir. but why?” is as close as we ever got to Thankfully `What The Hell’ brings a little poetry). At her best Karen tones her voice is up to 9.5 already and we haven’t even late, great Frank Sidebottom, but not in a .co.uk taken the CD out of its sleeve yet. Initially TURAN AUDIO good way, whereas in the studio his voice bit more, well, Hell, to the party, the beats down a bit, as on `Sandman’, which might Professional, independent CD mastering we’re not sure if Chillaxe is the name of can possess a strength and soulfulness and riffs bigger and heavier and with a have escaped from the contemplative the band, or Blue Moon Train, since it’s not he loses on stage. `Skeleton’ is a trotting decidedly more psychedelic edge to them, middle section of a lost Andrew Lloyd Artists mastered in the studio last month include; made clear at any point. Because they’ve semi-acoustic lament that seems to exist rolling in with a greater sense of purpose. Webber musical, but on `Coffee House’ SLEAZE, SAMATHA TRUST, DISCLOSURE, PETE GALPIN, failed miserably to include any information under a shroud of autumnal melancholy, Again, though the singer sounds like he’s it’s all wailing and warbling and over- ORESTEA, THE TREAT, ACE, EMPEROR, DEEP PURPLE, whatsoever, besides a contact number. And the opening line “Who are my real friends, dancing to a different tune, even if we’ll emoting like a harpy that’s sat on a TWISTED SISTER, ZZ TOP, REBEKAH DELGADO, yes we are typing this with our fists now. why are they so afraid”, carries a distinct concede it makes a change from yer typical carelessly discarded drawing pin. If this HONKEYFINGER, ELLIE JAMISON, SPIDER, DEER CHICAGO, Irritation factor 10 and counting. Could it air of taut, almost paranoid self-doubt gruff’n’growly stoner-metal singer shtick. was all camped up a bit and kicked out HEAVY METAL KIDS, SONDURA, THE EPSTEIN, DAVID `Blind’ introduces a darker, almost gothic with some humour and sense of abandon get any effing bloody shitfuckery worse? about it, while musically the subtle moods CASSIDY, DUNCAN REID, FEELFULL, JAMIE BEALE, Why, certainly. Let’s make this a laidback and shadows cast by the song are deftly mood, closer to early Siouxsie & The it might be fun, but for now, it all sounds jazz-funk party shall we, and give the SURGICAL EYE, K ANDERSON, VALERYAN, WITCHCRAFT. handled. If Trevor can translate the quality Banshees initially, before it billows and like it’s taking itself way too seriously with Nightshift demo reviewer a fucking stroke? he’s shown on his last couple of recordings bulges into monstrous life, somewhere precious little justification. Amble, amble, funkety funk; ain’t we the to a full album, or even just an EP, and then twixt Led Zep and Opeth and it’s a decent 01865 716466 [email protected] cool, laidback bohemian types with our work on presenting it in a more reined-in enough effort from a pretty new young ethniky snazz? “Chillaxing / Checking out fashion, perhaps the talent he’s obviously band on the local scene. They’ll need to LUCYSAMANDDAN There’s no info here to explain who the action / Chain reaction.” Those are the THE COURTYARD STUDIO capable of will make itself more fully work on those vocals a bit though if they’re Lucysamanddan are, so we’ll just have lyrics, dear reader. Do you see; it’s almost apparent. going to cut it with the likes of Desert PROTOOLS HD2, MTA 980 CONSOLE 32/24/24, Storm and Caravan Of Whores. Might to guess they’re three people called Lucy like poetry? But, like poetry written by an we suggest they offer to take Sober Dave and Sam and Dan who are in too much utter fucking total ruptured bollock of a OTARI MTR90 MK2 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE, out for a pint or nine and learn something of a hurry to write great pop tunes to semi-human tosspot. Six minutes of this. 2 TRACKING ROOMS, SUPERB CONTROL ROOM SOBER DAVE & undesirable from an old hand? bother separating their names, like Peter, Six steaming great turd minutes. And then it WITH GOOD SELECTION OF MICS & OUTBOARD Paul and Mary or Ben and Jerry. Except, fades out. Maybe we’re safe. But no. Back GEAR + MIDI FACILITIES (Inc LOGIC AUDIO, AKAI THE DRUNKEN u-oh, seems like they’re in such a hurry it comes, for another three sodbastarding S1000, OLD SKOOL ROLAND etc.) LUBU they’ve forgotten the great pop tunes bit minutes of wankstomping jazz-funking RAMBLINGS Talking of shouty people, Lubu’s singer too. They’re nice enough to start with; shitmongery. “Chillaxing / Checking out Residential facilities included. The man calling himself Sober Dave might well be a particularly inebriated, `Holiday’ is a simple acoustic strum- the action / Chain reaction.” Like musical www.courtyardrecordings.com should be no stranger to followers of local degenerate meths drinker from a corner along with sparse bass and sultry female salt and vinegar rubbed gently into a gaping PHONE PIPPA FOR DETAILS on 01235 845800 rock music, having been part of Thirty of Manzil Way into which even the most vocals (Lucy, we presume, though might wound. We’re not ones prone to demanding Two and Pistol Kixx among others over the fearless vagrants dare not enter. Not even be Sam if Sam is indeed female and not a musicians be butchered with blunt industrial year, a man very much ironically named when they really, really need a wee wee Samuel). Lucy’s got a sweetly un-showy machinery. Okay, we are, but usually in given his propensity for always singing like and there’s a community police patrol in voice (Pianorocketship please take note), jest. In this case, though, we really would he’s just injected two pints of neat whisky the vicinity. There he is bellowing and but you’d like her to maybe let go at least be happy to be the ones to press the `On’ for breakfast and thinks his furniture needs shouting and growling and making no a little bit instead of letting the whole song switch on whichever rendering machine a good kicking. Here with his latest – and sense at all over some standard noisy simply coast to an innocuous conclusion looks likely to cause maximum suffering. aptly named – band he’s knocking it out like bastard heavy rocking of a fun but generic having gone not very far at all. Similarly Bastards. the gruffest bluesman in Hicksville’s Last variety. The band name sounds like it Chance Saloon. `Campfires & Rum’ pretty should be a brand of sexual lubricant, much reviews itself, sounding like the two though there’s precious little that sexy here, things bashed together with a severe lack unless you’re into a bit of goblin humping of subtlety, a roustabout punk-skiffle racket action. They do have a song called Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links that would be asked to leave any more `Autophagy’, though, which suggests an to [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without refined premises. `The Sky’ teeters on the affinity with the mighty Carcass, a band a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you brink of utter tunelessness, held together by on first name terms with the gory side of can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Fri 26th Oct • £12.50 adv Fri 16th Nov • £10 adv 7pm - 10pm Yashin Evile + We Butter The Bread With Butter + Wolf + Shadows Chasing Ghosts + Azriel Fri 26th Oct • £15 adv 11pm - 4am • over 18s only Sat 17th Nov • £13 adv Hospitality 7pm - 10pm ft. Danny Byrd, London Elektricity, The Wedding Present Camo & Krooked, Fred V & Grafix, Performing ‘Seamonsters’ in full Enei, Med School Sun 18th Nov • £18 adv Sat 27th Oct • £18.50 adv 7pm - 10pm Gong Sat 1st Sept • £10 adv Fri 5th Oct • £7 adv Bowling For Soup Thurs 22nd Nov • £5 adv 7pm - 10pm Rolling Clones Sat 27th Oct • £12.50 adv Dance a la Plage 50th Anniversary Meals On Wheels Tour Kyla La Grange + John Wean Gaz Coombes + Yellow Fever Tues 4th Sept Sat 6th Oct • £12.50 adv 7pm - 10pm Mon 29th Oct • £22.50 adv + Northmoor Alabama Shakes Azealia Banks World Party Fri 23rd Nov • £11 adv Sat 8th Sept • £5 adv 7pm - 10pm 7pm - 10.30pm Sat 6th Oct • £9 adv Tues 30th Oct • £10 adv The Rifles (Acoustic) 7pm - 10pm Little Comets Alphabet Backwards Dan le Sac & Friends + The Grinding Young Sat 24th Nov • £7 adv + Special Guest Merz Weds 31st Oct • £16.50 adv + The Yarns + Correatown 7pm - 10pm Skeletor Sun 7th Oct • £15 adv Fri 14th Sept • £5 adv Owl City Mon 26th Nov Kites & Look Stranger! The Selecter Frank Turner & ft. Pauline Black Thurs 1st Nov • £24.50 adv Tour The Proclaimers The Sleeping Souls Mon 8th Oct • £8 adv + Tim Barr + Jim Lockley & the Solemn Sun Sun 16th Sept • £10 adv Thurs 1st Nov • £9 adv Turbowolf + Black Moth Gun Katzenjammer Thurs 29th Nov • £18 adv Tues 9th Oct • £14 adv Alabama 3 Fri 21st Sept • £7 adv 10pm - 2am • over 18s only Fri 2nd Nov • £20 adv Rachel Sermanni 7pm - 10pm Fri 30th Nov • £10 adv Foreign Beggars 7pm - 10pm + True Tiger + UZ Heaven 17 Sat 22nd Sept • £15 adv The Luxury Gap Tour The Milk 7pm - 10pm Thurs 11th Oct • £16.50 adv The Fratellis Fri 2nd Nov Sat 1st Dec • £11.50 adv Cockney Rejects 7pm - 10pm 7pm - 10pm O2 Academy Oxford 5th Birthday Celebration Fri 12th Oct • £15 adv ∆ Alt-J Netsky Live 10.30pm - 3am • over 18s only Sat 22nd Sept • £6 adv Jaguar Skills & Sat 3rd Nov • £16 adv Sun 2nd Dec • £21.50 adv Upstairs 7pm - 10pm The Saw Doctors His Amazing Friends Ska Cubano ft. The Jess Hall Band + Count Skylarkin Thurs 6th Dec • £17.50 adv in association with BBC Introducing Fri 12th Oct • £12 adv + Mariana Magnavita + Empty White For Those About to Rock T.Rextasy Sun 4th Nov • £14 adv with Livewire AC/DC and ZZ Tops Circles + Gavroche + Praxis Bold Sat 13th Oct • £19.50 adv Mystery Jets Tues 11th Dec • £18 adv Sun 23rd Sept • £9 adv 7pm - 10pm Julian Cope Tues 6th Nov • £25 adv The Damned Smoke Fairies + Bear’s Den Adam Ant & The Good The Thurs 13th Dec • £24 adv Mon 24th Sept • £13.50 adv Sun 14th Oct • £8.50 adv Mad & The Lovely Posse Motion City Soundtrack Submotion Orchestra Orbital + Nathan Fake Weds 7th Nov • £10 adv 7pm - 10pm Fri 14th Dec • £12.50 adv Tues 25th Sept • £22.50 adv Mon 15th Oct • £20 adv Nik Kershaw and his band Marina and the Diamonds Pulled Apart By Horses Electric Six 10th Anniversary Tour, Fri 28th Sept • £18.50 adv Tues 16th Oct • £7 adv Thurs 8th Nov • £12 adv performing FIRE in its entirety 7.30pm 7pm - 10pm Life In Film Then Jericho Big Area Tour 2012 Limehouse Lizzy Sat 15th Dec • £7 adv - performing ‘Big Area’ in its entirety Fri 19th Oct • £7 adv Skeletor Fri 9th Nov • £12 adv Skeletor 7pm - 10pm Sat 29th Sept • £7 adv Sun 16th Dec • £15 adv Fri 19th Oct • £12 adv Mike Peters of The Alarm 7pm - 10pm Skeletor ft. Dedlok (Red Poppy Tour) + Impaled Existence + A Trust Unclean 10pm - 3am • over 18s only Dappy Keep It Unreal (5 hr Set) Rescheduled from 28/9/12 • original tickets valid + Caravan Of Whores + Lest We Forget Mr Scruff Fri 9th Nov • £15 adv Mon 1st Oct • £11.50 adv Sat 20th Oct • £15 adv Punch Brothers Fri 21st Dec • £8 adv Gathering Festival 8pm - 12 midnight Aiden Grimshaw Sat 10th Nov • £10 adv The Original Rabbit Foot ft. Dry the River, Spector, Liars, 7pm - 10pm Tues 2nd Oct • £12.50 adv Lucy Rose & Jake Bugg Complete Stone Roses Spasm Band Mayday Parade Multi Venue Festival around Cowley Rd Christmas Knees-Up www.gatheringfestival.co.uk + Summer Set + Natives Tues 13th Nov • £14 adv ft. The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band (Live), Count Skylarkin’ & more Weds 3rd Oct • £17.50 adv Sun 21st Oct • £11 adv The Revival Tour 2012 7pm - 10pm Reckless Love + Mallory Knox ft. Chuck Ragan, Jay Malinowski The Enemy (Bedouin Soundclash), Cory Brana, Fri 1st Mar 2013 • £14 adv Mon 22nd Oct • £13 adv Rocky Votolat, Emily Barker. Of Monsters and Men Fri 5th Oct • £12.50 adv Lianne La Havas Also featuring: Jon Gaunt (Fiddle) 7pm - 10pm & Joe Ginsberg (Bass) Fri 19th Apr 2013 • £22.50 adv 7pm - 10pm Flux Pavilion Weds 24th Oct • £17.50 adv Standing On A Hill Tour 7pm - 10pm Weds 14th Nov • £14 adv Michael Schenker’s + Dillon Francis Space Noisettes Temple Of Rock

Tickets for Saturday night shows include FREE ENTRY TO PROPAGANDA AND TRASHY (or £6, £5 NUS / members, £4 NHS on the door)

facebook.com/o2academyoxford 190 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE twitter.com/o2academyoxford Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-5.30pm ticketweb.co.uk • wegottickets.com • seetickets.com • gigantic.com youtube.com/o2academytv