[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 241 August Oxford’s Music Magazine 2015

“We’re not perfectionists or slackers, we just got a bit side-tracked by life.”

Oxford’s melancholic pop veterans on what they’ve been doing for the last eight years. Family Machine

AlsoAlso inin thisthis issue:issue: TRUCKTRUCK andand CORNBURYCORNBURY reviewedreviewed IntroducingIntroducing ZAIAZAIA plusplus AllAll youryour OxfordshireOxfordshire musicmusic news,news, reviews,reviews, previewspreviews andand gigsgigs

NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 and The Beatnik Albion Bookstore in Jericho, priced £22.95.

AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into BBC Oxford NEWS Introducing every Saturday night between 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated local music show plays the best Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Oxford releases and demos as well as featuring interviews Phone: 01865 372255 and sessions with local acts. The show is available to stream or download as a podcast at bbc.co.uk/oxford. email: [email protected] Online: nightshiftmag.co.uk OXFORD GIGBOT provides a regular local gig listing update on Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing you new gigs as soon as they go live. They also provide a free weekly BLACK CANDY’S reunion show at listings email. Follow them. the Wheatsheaf takes place on Saturday 5th September, not July as stated in last month’s Nightshift. Sorry, we blame all the drugs we’ve been taking at festivals this summer.

HELL’S GAZELLES won a slot at this year’s Bloodstock Festival after winning the Oxfordshire Metal To The Masses band competition final last month. The Three state of the art rehearsal rooms. local melodic metallers beat off For bookings. competition from Evavoid, The Reaper and K-Lacura in the final at the O2 Academy Call Jamie on 07917685935 and will play on the New Blood stage on Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford Sunday 9th August. Headline acts at the glasshousestudios.org festival, which takes place at Catton Park in Derbyshire over the weekend of the 7th-9th August are Trivium, Rob Zombie and Opeth. Local death/thrash crew Mutagenocide also play on the New Blood SEXY BREAKFAST will reform for Stage on the Friday. Visit a one-off show at The Wheatsheaf on www.hellsgazelles.com for more news. Friday 18th September. The band were huge local favourites on the local scene OXFORD CITY FESTIVAL returns for in the early noughties before splitting its third annual outing in November. The in 2005, gracing the cover of Nightshift city-wide music festival takes place over and playing at Truck Festival as well the week of the 23rd-28th November at the as The Punt twice. In the wake of their O2 Academy, The Cellar, The Bullingdon, split the core of the band went on to form The Wheatsheaf and more. Acts confirmed Borderville. so far for this year’s event include cult punk Talking to Nightshift about the reunion heroes Pete & The Test Tube Babies as well show, singer Joe Swarbrick said, “It’s as local acts Balloon Ascents, The Aureate been almost exactly a decade since we Act, The Mighty Redox and Storyteller. played our last ever gig, and while we Last year’s festival featured over 170 acts. THE OXFORD RECORD all went on to other projects nothing has Bands and solo artists wanting to play DVD & CD FAIR ever quite matched, for me at least, the should contact Mark `Osprey’ O’Brien via response we got from playing in such a the Oxford City Festival page on Facebook. St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE terribly named band. It was like being in 40 Pembroke St, St Aldates, OX1 1BP Take That, only on a very local scale. It AIRSTAR release their debut album st probably ruined us in a way: the crowds this month through Bandcamp. The indie Saturday 1 August were pretty crazy back then and we’d love rockers’ aptly-titled `Retrospective’ is 10am-4pm to see as many faces from that time back available at airstar.bandcamp.com, having Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres in the crowd at the Wheatsheaf. So mainly taken a mere decade to be finished. Accessories/memoriabillia/books. we’re doing it for the same reason as we Meanwhile, SHAKER HEIGHTS release Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl always used to: we’re shameless attention a new single, `Body’, on Soundcloud this www.usrfairs.co.uk seekers. We also reformed for [bassist] month, with a video, directed by local Phil’s wedding two years ago and it was a singer and film-maker Laima Bite, up on lot of fun and it’s something we’ve talked Youtube now. about on and off for a little while now. It’s great to be playing for Joal; he did the LOCAL WRITERS RAY AND sound for our first ever proper gig, a Klub CAROLINE FOULK release Stealing Kakofanney night at the Elm Tree, so it Dylan From Woodstock this month. The feels right that we’re doing it like this. Jericho-based couple’s book tells the story “It should be a lot of fun; we’ve been of the first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968, going through our recordings and trying which Ray promoted with his brother to remember the stuff we didn’t record. Ronnie, and famously featured the first We were just pre-digital in a way, so pre-publicised gig by Bob Dylan for seven there’s no record of any of our stuff that years – the brothers stealing the legendary we didn’t release, but I guess if you can singer from under the noses of Woodstock’s remember 2003 then you weren’t really organisers. The book is published by there, man.” Medina and is available from Blackwell’s A Quiet Word With something. with us.” about until it feels right. are sporadic? “My son Harrison and I worked “Once I’ve got a recording with NEIL: “We’ve had very few together on a few songs on this album. This inclusive attitude some ideas of parts I give it to the periods of doing nothing musical We practically wrote the whole of to guest musicians and producers band to play properly. They then together, but even then we’d still ‘Friends With The Wolves’ together harks back to the title of the write and play the parts better and hang out socially. I think you’ve got on his toy piano, even though a lot of band’s debut album, `You Are together we push the arrangements to be good friends to share what is Family Machine his work was quite out there – all jazz The Family Machine’, and again around in rehearsals until its right essentially a hobby for that long. chords and that.” the trio have recruited a cast of and we are ready to record. It means Mostly though, even if we’ve not NEIL: “I definitely hear the influence fellow local travellers to contribute that we all write together really, gigged or recorded for a while, we’ll of Jamie’s family-man status in the to `Houses…’, from singer and because everyone has input from the still have rehearsed. The line-up new songs. An unintentional – I drummer Cameron AG, renowned rehearsal stage.” changes meant extra rehearsals, but think – theme of the album is home: cellist Barney Morse-Brown, NEIL: “Yeah, we turn Jamie’s it also led to us learning to play a lot comfort, familiarity, security, like a keyboard virtuoso Seb Reynolds sketchy Stylophone demos into of songs in a load of different ways, well worn suit or a nice cuppa tea. (playing saxophone) and even songs! Actually a lot of the time from completely acoustic three- Plus he’s knackered most of the time, vintage acid house aficionado Tim they’re such good recordings bits piece versions up to full band with so a lot of the songs are quite slow.” Midlen from Manacles of Acid. It of them end up on the Machine for samplers and backing tracks. That’s all adds up to an album that sounds live shows. Oops, was I supposed to a really good way to develop new Parenthood invariably much more than a self-produced mention that? `The Less You Know’ parts and work out how the recorded changes a person’s outlook on life; local release. has about six melodies running version should sound. But it does it’s the most significant sign that There’s also some great whistling on through it and they were all on the take time!” you’re now An Adult with all that recent single `The Less You Know’; original demo.” DARREN: “Since Jamie, Jay and brings. The album’s title implies an is it a dying art? DARREN: “`Houses…’ doesn’t try I formed the band way back when, increased sense of mortality. it’s always seemed to be a friendship JAMIE: “It’s definitely about first, just hanging out playing music mortality. But it’s about living as “Jamie’s knackered most of the time and eating macaroons. Soon Neil well, and the simple small stories came along, firstly as a friend then that I’ve gathered along the way. The from being a dad, so a lot of the songs as a band member and then put the track ‘Houses That You Lived In’ first album together. It’s been easy to is about inanimate objects missing are quite slow.” stay together because of this bond. In people. Like a house missing the between then and now we’ve always lives that used to buzz inside it. Or JAMIE: “I’m glad you noticed that. so hard to be good, I think we pushed been playing music together so a field you walk through wanting to Whistling is so underrated. It’s a very our style around a lot more when doesn’t feel sporadic to us.” shout out to you and tell you to look inexpensive instrument, very portable writing `You Are…’ to find out what Given your longevity, and in Jamie’s up, get on with it – but being unable and quite easy to learn.” worked best for us and the songs case a local music history that goes to because fields don’t talk let alone What’s the best whistling on a pop that we came back to play over again back to the early 1990s, with The shout and probably don’t have such song? were the simpler, more heartfelt Daisies and Medal, is there a feeling feelings anyway. JAMIE: “Hmmm… Scorpions – songs. So as Jamie brought us new at all that you’re official elder “‘The Less You Know’ is about a ‘Wind of Change’; Otis Redding – tunes to work on we gravitated to statesmen of Oxford music? friend who died too early. The battle ‘Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”; The those that had that feeling. We got a JAMIE: “We’re definitely older with disease, the horror of what he Bangles – ‘Walk like an Egyptian’…” more cohesive album with a theme or but I’m not sure we’re statesmen. had to face all the way to the end. NEIL: “Ha! Scorpions! Great tune! story as a result.” It’s kind of odd being around for so A few weeks ago Harper glee. So, for example, the spectral to use a computer and all the other “Then there’s the real life stuff as That’s the stuff you don’t need to Otis is a good one too. I’ve always long actually; people aren’t really Lee finally publishedGo Set A thrum of album highlight `Quiet bits and pieces you have in a studio well; I got married, had a kid, have a know about. The stuff I wish I hadn’t liked the whistling on Billy Joel’s What does carry over interested in bands that are older than Watchman, the follow-up to To Kill As A Mouse’ indulges in the nervy too.” new business – all of which changes been privy to. ‘The Stranger’.” from the first album to the new one six months anymore, they kind of A Mockingbird, published 55 years thrill of wandering round a stranger’s NEIL: “We’ve probably written, you a bit and takes up your time.” “‘Skeletons & That’ is about being DARREN: “I’d have to disagree that is the sense of melancholy, either assume they know what you’re like previously. In 2013 My Bloody house, looking through all their stuff played and disposed of a couple of DARREN: “I started working at the scared.” whistling is easy to learn; I’ve never centre stage, or more often lurking or they’ve done that already.” Valentine released `mbv’ 22 years while secretly hoping to get caught. albums’ worth since `You Are The music shop on Cowley Road, took been able to get it to work for me. at the peripheries. Lachrymose is NEIL: “They say you can’t go out after their previous album `Loveless’. Equally the sombre, reflective Family Machine’. Plus we wanted over from Jamie there and had a lot The gorgeously For which I must say I’ve taken some a word frequently used to describe of fashion if you’ve never been in Compared to such cases, the almost `Skeletons & That’ is couched in the to make sure we could all play the of fun; Christ knows how I ended mischievous `Quiet As A Mouse’ ridicule for over the years! It doesn’t Family Machine; is that unfair or is it fashion... in an odd way I hope that eight years we’ve had to wait for a language of childhood fears. new album on any instruments that up managing it! I’ve had some time is a departure for Family Machine, help that Jamie is a great whistler. an accurate reflection of the mood of applies to us.” second Family Machine – `Houses Much of `Houses That You Lived happened to be lying around, so that to put into other projects including featuring as it does, guest vocalist Good whistling songs, though: John your music? DARREN: “There’s loads of That You Lived In’, released this In’ retains that sense of reflection on took some time. composing some overtone singing Anna Wheatley from local indie crew Lennon’s `Jealous Guy’ and Paul DARREN: “That has been said musicians around that are our elders month – is but a blink of an eye, life, but skewed by its perspective on So what have you actually been up with our original drummer and We Aeronauts on lead vocals. Was Simon’s `Me and Julio Down by the about us a few times, mainly by for sure, and I see them having a lot but in the modern musical universe, such classic subject matters. It’s an to in all that time? working it into a live show, the odd the song written with her in mind? Schoolyard’.” one particular journalist... [looks at of fun. I hope we’re still enjoying it at where careers rise and fall in a matter album informed by significant life JAMIE: “Shit, lots of stuff. Like I jazz gig and helping out at the Beard JAMIE: “I wrote and recorded ‘Quiet Nightshift]. It’s an excellent word and their age. We could probably take up of months, eight years is a long time. changes and the abrupt realities of say, life, really. I worked for a time in Museum of course, but mostly being As A Mouse’ with my vocal all the Given the gulf between it’s accurate, although there’s often a the moniker of elder statesmen then.” Family Machine aren’t a band in a adulthood, but at its heart is a part of a studio with the late Richard Haines a godfather to Jamie’s lad; he’s a real way through but I had a nagging the two albums’ releases, what positive message hidden in there.” And will it be another seven years hurry, though, and it’s not like the youth that will never, ever die. Oh, who took pity on me and showed me handful.” feeling it would sound better if do Jamie, Darren and Neil think JAMIE: “I do tend to lean to the until the third album? band have been completely reclusive just buy yourself a copy – you’ll love how to technically work all the stuff someone else sang it. We Aeronauts of `Houses That You Lived In’ sadder side of things. I blame that on JAMIE: “No, we’ll get on with since the release of `You Are The it. If you don’t you obviously have I’d been surrounded by for years. Jamie’s recent are one of my favourite bands ever, compared with `You Are The Family goth teens and listening to The Cure. things now… We just slowed down Family Machine’ at the start of 2008, no real appreciation of beauty. “I began promoting again with parenthood has been an obvious not just in Oxford, and I thought Machine’? I suppose Family Machine do deal in for a bit while we had to do some remaining a regular fixture on the Beard Museum, putting on bigger influence on the tone and lyricism Anna’s voice would be perfect for the JAMIE: “‘Houses…’ is probably the chilled end of things. But whilst life stuff. I should have a solo album local gig and festival circuit and But bloody hell, eight and more unusual shows with of `Houses…’. Does he think it’s song. She came round and sang it at a more cohesive album than ‘You the feel and pace of a lot of our stuff ready for release for the end of this putting out occasional singles along years – what have Family Machine Richard Walters and the Beard changed the way he feels and thinks my house in a little bedroom studio. Are …’. The songs seem to belong is lachrymose it’s usually tempered year or early next year, which will the way. been doing to excuse such tardiness? Museum chaps. We put on some about life and does that feed into the She nailed it straight away. She together more. “You Are…..’ was with a lyric that is a bit odd or not feature songs taken from the Elstree Are Jamie, along with bandmates great gigs; Keaton Henson at the songs? also sang on another song from the all over the place stylistically, actually sad at all.” score. As a band, we’re all up for The new album is worth Darren Fellerdale and Neil Durbridge History of Science Museum, and JAMIE: “Definitely. I’m aware of album, ‘A Long Way From Home’. which was deliberate but sometimes making more music. Mind you, you the wait of course. Sweet, sad perfectionists or just a bunch of more recently the Johnny Greenwood how amazing my parents are in a “She’s not in the band but she difficult for the listener. What also remains a never can tell. If it takes that long, and subtly magical, occasionally slackers? show at St John the Evangelist with way I didn’t properly understand sometimes sings live with us if she’s “I suppose the similarities between constant in Family Machine is the that’s how long it takes.” extravagant but mostly intimate JAMIE: “Ha! It’s an outrageous the London Contemporary Orchestra, before. I’m fully acquainted with the around. I like to think we’ve got the two are the songs; I like to keep core of the band. Together for a and reflective in the way the best amount of time to have passed, and to name but two. feeling of complete and utter love for lots of really lovely friends who do things simple. I always write on my decade and a half, Jamie, Neil and `Houses That You Lived In’ is Family Machine songs always are. it’s totally unacceptable. “I’ve been working on the score a human without doubt or question. bits and pieces with us when they own, usually jotting ideas down on Darren have stuck it out together, released on the 14th August. Family Singer and guitarist Jamie Hyatt “We’re definitely not perfectionists, for Jon Spira’s new documentary “I’m also more understanding of feel like it. Ian Davenport, from my phone. I’ll often video a song although original drummer Jay Machine play a launch gig at writes and sings seemingly with a I think we just got a bit side-tracked for about a year as well. It’s called toddlers having complete meltdowns Courtyard Studios, is someone I’m writing early on so I can remind Stilwell departed a couple of years The Bullingdon on Wednesday fine mist of melancholy around him by life... that and the fact that we Elstree 1976, and is about extras or in the supermarket too. It’s not their else who feels like one of the band myself where to put my fingers. Then ago (he still plays on parts of the 23rd September. Follow the band but equally sees the world with a recorded a lot of the album ourselves. supporting actors on the firstStar fault that they’re tired or need ice because he’s helped bring both our I just start writing and recording with album). Is it hard to keep a band on Facebook, or hear them at puppyish sense of innocence and I spent a bit of time working out how Wars film. cream or don’t like their shoes or albums together and produce them my computer, just throwing things together for so long when activities familymachine.bandcamp.com Sponsored by RELEASED GIRL POWER JACK GOLDSTEIN `Girl Power EP’ `Tonic Of Wilderness’ (Richter Scale) (Attract Vinyl) One of the more depressing chores here at It’s easier these days than ever before for Nightshift while compiling the gig guide is having anybody to make music. A computer – even to find alternative descriptions for bands who a phone – and some cheap / free / knock- describe themselves as hardcore or, worse, post- off software (depending on your moral hardcore, when what we really want to say is proclivity) and you’re all set. Accordingly, “namby pampy big girl’s blouse bedwetter emo `Tonic Of Wilderness’ has the whiff of shit”. Because it’s closer to the truth than making home recording about it; not only in its any mention of the word hardcore. chuck-in-the-kitchen-sink production values Thankfully there are bands like Girl Power (although, hey, maybe that’s expensive lo- in town who can proudly stand toe to toe with fi synthesis we’re hearing), but also in a hardcore as it punches the living daylights out of scrapbook hotchpotch approach to collating passing pretenders. This five-song EP glowers in nine songs / pieces / movements into an on the back of some East Bay Ray guitar squall roamed the earth. Except it’s got sharper teeth album. and when it’s done and dusted seven and a half and a worse temper. Its breath probably smells Jack Goldstein has quite a rich musical minutes later, there’s broken furniture all over the worse too, but you won’t get the chance to find out background, not least through fronting room and the bitter sting of cheap speed in your because it’s already left the house and kicked the fuzzcore grunge types Gunnybunny and sinuses. In between is the no-nonsense (because neighbour’s front door in. the stellar lysergic indie rocker troupe if you start any nonsense they’ll have to stab you) And so the party continues. In the shortest and Fixers, but also with more recent forays scabrous hardcore punk blitzkrieg that Discharge sharpest of bursts. Until all that’s left is rubble and a into experimental areas: John Cage and later Black Flag brought to an unexpecting lingering sense of rage. So tell us again – compared interpretations; collaborations with multi- and slightly nervous world and has remained to Girl Power, are you really a hardcore band? instrumentalist Steve Beresford. `Tonic Of unchanged for longer than Tyrannosauruses Dale Kattack Wilderness’ mixes all of this up and chucks in a spicy dash of head-in-the-clouds weirdness – riffy opener ‘Thuggery Bisque’ giving DAVID ASBOURNE SEX WITH YOUR X way to faux(?)-romanticism in ‘Try 2 Love’, avant-prog-pop with ‘Ronnie James Dio `Matter In Motion’ `Sex With Your X’ Blues’ and even a dash of musique concrete (Self released) (Self-released) with the freeform collage ‘100mph Libber’. Can digital technology ever be successfully fused to Beer. Pie and chips and gravy. Proper music, none It’s an album that’s riffing on all kinds of T H E W H E A T S H E A F classical culture, or will it always require the human of this X Factor bollocks. Footie on the telly. things, and it bring to mind a relentlessly st Saturday 1 August – MOSHKA touch to draw a deeper response. David Ashbourne, Stands to reason. Spirit of the Blitz. Beer. Sex fleeting series of works gone by: Beck’s lead singer of doomy local folk-pop band Samuel With Your X? Yor ‘avin’ a fakkin’ larf, ennit? Beer. early experiments such as `Stereopathetic Zasada, goes a long way to opening the debate with The music of the boozer – solid music, as old as, Soul Manure’; Mike Oldfield’s pastorally- JUNKIE BRUSH his solo album, `Matter In Motion’. okay, not the hills, but probably older than most rich melodies; Vincent Gallo’s damaged/ K-LACURA + AGNESS PIKE 8pm/£5 The album intriguingly starts with some slow, of the houses round here, without too many frills touching `When’; Steve Reich’s minimalist Thursday 6th August – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC considered piano playing and violin which become (but always room for an unfancy guitar solo), vocal research à la ‘Come Out’. It’s augmented by a sci-fi vocal that brings to mind and knocked out with down to earth humour by playful, imaginative and either heartfelt or MIDNIGHT RAMBLER 8pm/£6 Laurie Anderson’s `O Superman’, and continues to decent geezers who know their way around a beer hipsterish-cynical – perhaps each listener Friday 7th August – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC pronounce with cold, but reasonable candour on I’m festival and a few blues chords – in so many ways best decide that. What could be a confusing not sure what, even after multiple close listens. it’s the dark matter that holds the musical universe car crash of styles and sounds is given a It sets the tone, though, since throughout the together. It’s almost invisible as far as the telly or sense of lightness and listenability with LUCY LEAVE album you get the near-future, Bladerunner-esque the radio or the music press are concerned, but it’s Goldstein’s undoubtedly prodigious knack EASTER ISLAND STATUES + THE ILLUMINATI 8pm/£6 Thursday 20th August – BURIED IN SMOKE sense that you’ve stumbled in on a room full of everywhere, just doing its job, unseen, unnoticed. for both songs and composition. Yep, A.I. computers and cyborgs, who themselves have There are a million bands just like Sex With Your anybody can make music: but not anybody chanced upon a set of string quartet instruments and X in existence right now. There’s probably one can do it with this much skill, and to such SLABDRAGGER are discovering the quaintness of old time musical playing in the pub just up the road from you right pleasing effect. OHHMS + HOGSLAYER 8pm emotion. now. Even if it is eight in the morning. Simon Minter Friday 21st August – MD PROMOTIONS Tracks like `I Sold You And You Sold Me’ and Wallingford’s Sex With Your X’s debut album `Battling Obstinance’ demonstrate attempts to blend is twelve tracks of gruff, meaty blues’n’grunge these oil and water components, which ultimately rocking somewhere between Nirvana’s dads’ bar NOÉ & THE PASTEL FRONTIER seem content to settle side by side. These are band and every pub blues band you’ve ever heard, CALLOW SAINTS + CAMERON AG + LIGHTSPILL 8pm Thursday 27th August – OXROX woven between other more urgent, Vangelis-like ever. It’s neither good nor bad; it’s more just there, TV themes and horror whisperings couched in doing its thing over and over again for 52 minutes, chase sequences (`Trying To Forget’, and `Serious’) the tune remaining almost heroically the same at MOTHER CORONA which burgeon on their own merits without every turn. MORASS OF MOLASSES + ARMCHAIR COMMITTEE visuals. Overall, and despite its intended dystopian If The X-Factor/BGT/Voice produced acts are GREENHORN 8pm/£5 unease, these nine, fulsome, mostly instrumental musical fast food – vacuous, unsatisfying, gone- Friday 28th August – MD PROMOTIONS pieces are a finely crafted and satisfying body of in-a-second fluff – then bands like Sex With Your work. X are the Gregg’s sausage rolls or Fray Bentos 8pm/£5 As for the initial question; my answer is tinned pies of music: solid, a recipe that has never REVELLER Saturday 29th August – GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES No. Hand played, hand drawn will always break changed, and the food you’ll stuff down yourself hearts, because it’s what we respond to, and when there’s nothing decent left in the fridge and besides, humans are the greatest, most nuanced you can’t afford a curry. Completely incidentally, CRIME computers ever created. this writer is a lifelong vegetarian. PIPELINE + LAYLA TUTT 8pm/£4.50 Paul Carrera Dale Kattack The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Simple Weekender. TUESDAY 11th EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar – House, THE HUGH TURNER BAND: The Bullingdon garage, techno and drum&bass club night, every – Funky jazz from Hugh Turner and band at the Saturday. Bully’s long-running jazz club. SIN FICTION + FLOURITE: The Jericho INTRUSION: The Cellar – Monthly goth, Tavern industrial, ebm and darkwave club night, with NIKKI LOY: The Three Horseshoes, Bampton Doktor Joy and Bookhouse. GIG GUIDE – First of a series of shows around the county this OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern month from the local jazz-pop and soul singer- SATURDAY 1st psych-folksters tour their new album – see main songwriter, mixing piano ballads with soulful th preview stompers. WEDNESDAY 12 IN THE GARDEN: Restore, Manzil Way BASS NATION: The Cellar – UK and US SCOUT KILLERS + FILTHY PALMS + (5.30pm) – Mini festival in aid of Restore, hip hop, garage and house club night, with DJ BLAME FATE + BLITZKRIEG CITY: The th helping people recovering with mental health AUGUST SUNDAY 9 Platinum. th Wheatsheaf – Atmospheric, overwrought rocking Thursday 20 issues. Bluesy Americana storytellers Huck & the SUPERNORMAL: Braziers Park, Ipsden OPEN MIC SESSION: The Fir Tree Xander Band headline, joined by eclectic indie club night. from Bath/Bristol band Scout Killers, touring their THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Bell, Wantage STRIKE ONE + MOOGIEMAN & THE new `Stand Your Ground’ EP. STEVE HARRIS crew Balloon Ascents, uptight afropop outfit SPARKY’S JAM NIGHT: James Street Tavern th MASOCHISTS + VAGUEWORLD + TORN MIDNIGHT RAMBLER: The Wheatsheaf – THURSDAY 13 Bright Works, folk-tinged indie faves The Family – Open mic and jam session. BRITISH LION: Machine, electro-acoustic singer-songwriter Julia LIKE COLOURS: The Jericho Tavern – It’s All Acoustic blues and folk-rock. FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION: About the Music gig with punk-pop types Strike JAY ELECTRONICA: O2 Academy – Cropredy – Fairport Convention’s annual Meijer and more. MONDAY 10th O2 Academy JUNKIE BRUSH + AGNESS PIKE + One, leaning towards the Blink 182 / Green Day Conscious hip hop from the New Orleans rapper gathering of the clans returns, gradually moving So, what does a multi-millionaire rock THE ANDRE BISSON BAND: The Jericho K-LACURA: The Wheatsheaf – Moshka club scheme of things, plus anti-folk and electro-pop and producer and mate of Jay-Z, with whom he has away from its traditional folk roots to take in musician do with his time while his band are Tavern – Blues, swing, r’n’b and soul from the night brings local punk militants Junkie Brush out eccentric Moogieman, and feisty pop-punkers just released `Road to Perdition’, having made his a wider selection of acts. Today’s bill opens taking a few months off to count their money singer and guitarist, playing originals and covers of hibernation for their first show in two years, Vagueworld. name with a fifteen-minute beatless track based on with the traditional Fairport Acoustic set, and contemplate expanding across the solar of 60s and 70s classics, from Otis Redding and their spleen-venting hardcore and clarion-call sense BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Cornerstone, the soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless followed by folk-trance-reggae party starters system now that every human on the planet Wilson Pickett to Stevie Wonder and Sam & of melody finding a middle ground between The Didcot (2pm) – The Cornerstone’s weekend of beer Mind. Dreadzone; Scandinavian Balkan folkdance crew owns at least three of their albums? Sit by Dave. Dead Kennedys and Crass, although there really is and live music continues, including a headline set THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf – Katzenjammer and a headline set from country the pool drinking cocktails and snacking on nothing middle ground about Junkie Brush. Great from ambient psych-rock crew Flights of Helios. Free unplugged show in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar legend Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell. diamonds? Crash a fleet of private helicopters? Joining them are party funksters Funkinsteins, from the swamp-blues-ska-funk stalwarts. POLEDO: The Library – Homecoming show support from Agness Pike, bringing a sense of Friday 7th – Sunday 9th Buying the football club he’s supported since Hammer Horror theatricality and ridiculousness to Americana and 60s pop champs The Dreaming CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford for local noise-pop trio Poledo, tonight launching a child? In Steve Harris’ case he’s decided to their shrapnel-sharp thrash, and bullish thrash crew Spires, folk-jazz people Kadia, folk collective Band Community Centre – Oxford’s longest running SUPERNORMAL: their new `Egg Catpil Ccun Butfli’ EP on Deadbeat head out on a solo tour of the sort of venues K-Lacura. of Hope and more. and best open club night continues to showcase & Down Records, the band, now spread between he left behind several decades ago. Harris is, WHAT YOU CALL IT, GARAGE?: The Cellar FUSED: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Alt.rock covers. singers, musicians, poets, storytellers and Oxford, Manchester and Sheffield, cranking out of course, bass player with Iron Maiden. But THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Cricketers performance artists every week. Braziers Park a melodic slacker/shoegaze lo-fi noise that flits – New and underground garage, bass and grime The strange, mutant kid sister in the not just bass player. He is the band’s founding Arms, Cowley – Blues rocking from the OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon and crackles between Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Oxfordshire festival family, Supernormal member, the only constant part of the line- idiosyncratic local guitar veteran. BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford Swervedriver and The Cribs. celebrates the unusual, the inventive and up since their formation in 1976 (and along th ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure DEBBIE BOND: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Powerful, Thursday 6 the downright deranged with infectious with guitarist Dave Murray the only one to soulful blues from the veteran Alabama singer- SUNDAY 2nd enthusiasm. Artist-curated and not for profit, appear on every Maiden album), their chief guitarist, inspired by Bonnie Raitt and Maria TREMBLING BELLS: LUKE ALLMOND + FIREGAZERS + MARK FRIDAY 7th the event started just five years ago but has songwriter, sometime producer and video Muldaur. BOSLEY & PETE LOCK + COSMOSIS: SUPERNORMAL: Braziers Park, Ipsden – stamped its identity on this corner of the director. He is, in short Mr Iron Maiden, and The Cellar CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford if you can’t instantly recognise one of his If you judge a band by the company they The Wheatsheaf (2.30pm) – Free afternoon of Opening day of the artist-curated celebration of the summer, mixing contemporary art with Community Centre trademark galloping bass lines, you don’t keep, Glasgow’s Trembling Bells are modern unplugged live music hosted by Klub Kakofanney strange and new – see main preview leftfield music. Among the bigger names OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon know rock music. So, having turned down day folk royalty. In recent times they’ve in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar, including sets from LUCY LEAVE + EASTER ISLAND STATUES on this year’s bill are psychedelic folksters BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford the chance to be a professional footballer for supported The Unthanks and Deep Dark Vagueworld singer Luke Allmond and Moiety duo + THE ILLUMINATI: The Wheatsheaf – Trembling Bells, ethereal 80s soundscapists ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure West Ham, he set about becoming one of the Woods, played back-up to Mike Heron and Mark Bosley and Pete Lock. Ramshackle indie/noise newcomers Lucy Leave AR Kane, former This Heat drummer and most successful rockers of all time, and now collaborated extensively with Will Oldham. BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Cornerstone, channel the spirit of The Wedding Present, percussive pioneer Charles Hayward, and th you get to see him up close and personal as Originally fêted as torch-bearers for a new Didcot (3pm) – North-East singer-songwriter Paul Jonathan Richman and Hawkwind into new, lo-fi recently reformed weird-pop trio Ten Benson. FRIDAY 14 FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION: he tours his `British Lion’ album with the wave of psychedelic folk music, they’ve never Liddell rounds off the Cornerstone’s beer and places. Among a host of acts joining them in the Cropredy – Wretched 80s soul/funk survivors side project band he formed in the 90s with been easy ones to pin down. Drummer, singer music weekender, along with local songsmith Drew ZUZU + COSMOSIS + JACK LITTLE: O2 picturesque and intimate setting of Brazier’s Level 42 head today’s bill, joined by Leith’s singer Richard Taylor and guitarist Graham and chief songwriter Alex Neilson comes from Milloy, plus an open mic session. Academy – Liverpool’s Zuzu come to town, Park will be dissonant brutalists Necro favourite sons, The Proclaimers; former-Marillion Leslie, leaning more towards the 70s hard a free jazz and improv background, while lead CARDBOARD CASTLE: Como Lounge, supported by local Sabbath and Stooges-influenced Deathmort (pictured), Italian noisemongers man Fish, and more. rock sounds that influenced Maiden in the first singer Lavinia Blackwell is classically trained Witney rockers Cosmosis. Father Murphy, experimental harpist BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Dancefloor place. A rare treat to see him in such intimate and has a voice that can touch on the operatic PURE BASHMENT: The Cellar – Platinum Linx Rhodri Davies, atmospheric Irish rhythmists Latin, Afrobeat, Balkan beats, global grooves and surroundings, so off you trot. Or gallop, if you if not downright banshee-like at times. MONDAY 3rd present a night of dancehall and reggae summer Woven Skull, punk-drone crew Spectres, nu-jazz club night, tonight with a live set from prefer. Together Trembling Bells bring elements of vibes, with Yellow Youts Sound and CPL. Brighton rock malcontents Lower Slaughter, FREEFALL: Fat Lil’s, Witney Bristol’s multicultural eight-piece band Mankala, psych and jazz to a traditional folk setting, and th experimental singer and artist Sharon Gal and TUESDAY 4 whose sound spans the grooves of central African if they’ve gradually moved towards a folk- Norwegian riff’n’rancour merchants Arabrot. Willcox, and a host of others. GUITAR SUMMIT: The Bullingdon – Jazz soukous, South African township dance, Afrobeat rock mainstream with time – particularly on SATURDAY 8th Really, there’s too much to cover here, and the A RELUCTANT ARROW + LOST ART + guitar fun at tonight’s weekly jazz club. and the juju and tribal polyrhythms of west Africa. 2001’s `The Constant Pageant’ – their quirky SUPERNORMAL: Braziers Park, Ipsden – real joy of Supernormal is wandering between HUCK: The Cellar – Folk rock from A Reluctant THEO + DAGS! + VAGUEWORLD: The They’re fresh from playing Glastonbury and edge remains, folk legends from Scotland From drone noise to sci-fi disco, it’s all here – see the various stages, simply discovering sounds Arrow at tonight’s It’s All About the Music show, Library – Tigmus gig with local loops and riffs are joined tonight by Kwassa Kwassa DJs plus and northern England delivered by way of main preview and spectacles you’ve never encountered with support from eclectic duo Lost Art, classically master Theo creating dense, fidgety noise textures Bossaphonik host Dan Ofer. medieval song or sea shanties as well as a D-FEST: Lockway, Drayton – Drayton’s annual before, whether it’s a live soundtrack of trained musicians Greg Hooper and Gordo Francis with his layer-upon-layer looping of guitars and DES BARKUS: James Street Tavern – Album powerful folk-rock style that owes as much one-day festival moves to a bigger site for a full Nosferatu by Deathcount In Silicon Valley mixing up jazz, prog, showtunes, folk, bossa nova drums. He’s joined by Milan’s indie types Dags! launch gig for the local singer and guitarist, playing to The Doors as it does Pentangle or The day of live music and comedy. Topping the bill are or a Space Family Robo Disco. It’s all here and more into an artfully cohesive whole. Southern and recent Nightshift Demo of the Monthers and hopefully you’ll return to civilisation a a mix of blues, Americana and Tex-Mex sounds. gothic bluesman Huck opens the show. Incredible String Band. Vagueworld with their noisy pop-punk. Reading’s anthemic power-pop crew Amazons. They’re joined by local sunshiny synth-popsters changed person. EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar HOLLYWOOD ENDING: O2 Academy – The th BREEZE + PUNCHDRUNK MONKEY CLUB Alvin & the Chipmunks of pop-punk head off on a Alphabet Backwards singer James Hitchman, SATURDAY 15 FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION: + ROBERTO & JUAN: The Jericho Tavern – headline tour, making Union J sound like The Dead playing a solo set, Manchester indie people Fruit Cropredy – Final day of the festival, and is Rock and indie covers from local function band Kennedys in the process. Tones, Oxford electro/r’n’b star Esther Joy Lane, traditional, it’ll be a full-on Fairport set to top Breeze at tonight’s It’s All About the Music show, OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern London girl punks Abjects, Reading shoegazers Palm Honey, folk-pop people Water Pageant, everything off, the English folk-rock pioneers alongside alt.rockers Punchdrunk Monkey Club, Witney youngsters Three Empty Domes, rockabilly joined by a cast of friends for a run through and Balloon Ascents side project Roberto & Juan. th WEDNESDAY 5 and 60s pop-inspired trio Boon, Wooster and Mew of favourites old and new, including a rousing SHEPHERD’S PIE: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Hard and more. singalong of `Meet on the Ledge’ at the end. They rock and metal covers, from Maiden and Metallica THURSDAY 6th SIMPLE: The Wheatsheaf – The long-running are joined elsewhere on the bill by blue-eyed soul to Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. TREMBLING BELLS: The Cellar – Glasgow’s house and techno club night warm up for their veteran Paul Carrack; 80s punk-pop heroine Toyah HEADINGTON HILLBILLIES: The Oxfordshire Freeman, Freeland – Bluegrass and Jack returns to Oxford to launch his new solo TUESDAY 25th GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES Americana from the local troupe. album, `Tonic Of Wilderness’, his mix and (ill) THE ROD KELLY QUARTET: with CRIME + PIPELINE + match of folk, electronica, prog and something The Bullingdon – Piano jazz and LAYLA TUTT: The Wheatsheaf SUNDAY 16th strange touching bases with Vincent Gallo, Mike blues at tonight’s free jazz club. – Mix’n’match triple bill as ever Oldfield, Steve Reich and Beck along the way. OPEN MIC SESSION: James at the monthly GTI get-together, Shoegazey noise-pop support from local starlets tonight with Oxford/Bristol/Somerset th Street Tavern MONDAY 17 Beta Blocker. melodic rockers Crime, tipping a NIKKI LOY: The Cotswold Arms, Burford th collective hat to Death Cab For th WEDNESDAY 26 Cutie, Brand New and Biffy Clyro, TUESDAY 18 BASS NATION: The Cellar ALVIN ROY & REEDS UNLIMITED: The th plus local alt.rockers Pipeline, and THURSDAY 20 OPEN MIC SESSION: Fir Tree Bullingdon – Trad jazz, bop and swing with the THE JUNGLE BROTHERS: The Bullingdon Birmingham’s jarring, inventive veteran clarinettist and his Reeds Unlimited band. acoustic singer-songwriter Layla – Hip hop goes house in a jazz style from the th OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern reformed pioneers – see main preview THURSDAY 27 Tutt. STEVE HARRIS: O2 Academy – Iron Maiden’s MOTHER CORONA + MORASS CONTROL THE STORM + th founding father brings the rock – see main preview OF MOLASSES + ARMCHAIR CURVATURE + DED ORSE: WEDNESDAY 19 COMMITTEE: The Wheatsheaf – The Cellar – OxRox host Reading’s TANGLED HAIR + ALPHA MALE TEA SLABDRAGGER + OHHMS + HOGSLAYER: Psychedelic groove-rocking inspired melodic metallers Control The PARTY + 100 OUNCES: The Cellar – Sweetly The Wheatsheaf - Buried In Smoke metal night by Sabbath, Electric Wizard and Storm, out on tour to promote their melodic mathsy post-grunge pop from Big Scary with Croydon’s sludgy stoner doom-metallers Smashing Pumpkins from Mother new album after appearing on Monsters-signed crew Tangled Hair. They do loud Slabdragger, plus Canterbury’s progressive th th Friday 28 – Sunday 30 Corona, plus stoner, sludge and doom Bloodstock’s New Blood stage back bits and they do quiet bits, but mostly they just do doomsters Ohhms, and Cardiff’s sludge-noise noise from Morass of Molasses at in 2012. good bits. Great noisy support from Liverpool’s brigade Hogslayer. THE BIG tonight’s OxRox show. THE BIG FEASTIVAL: Alex smash-rock trio Alpha Male Tea Part, back at the CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford James’s Farm, Kingham – Live Cellar with their fizzing and fuzzing and floral Community Centre FEASTIVAL: Alex Community Centre sets from Dizzee Rascal, Example, frocks, and a song called `You Eat Hummus, Of OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon OPEN MIC SESSION: Half Moon Grandmaster Flash and Ella Eyre at Course You Listen To Genesis’. Thrash-punk with BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford James’ Farm, Kingham BLUES JAM: The Catherine today’s foodie gathering – see main a smile from LA duo 100 Ounces. ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the Obscure Considering it started out as a food festival Wheel, Sandford preview BASS NATION: The Cellar with a bit of music stuck in the corner, ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude the PULSE: The Cellar – Jungle and JACK GOLDSTEIN + BETA BLOCKER & Friday 21st Feastival has come on some in the last couple of years, boasting more interesting acts than Obscure drum&bass club night with Uncle THE BODY CLOCK: The Library – Fixers KING OF CATS + BE GOOD + KITSCH: The some dedicated music events. Friday features Dugs (Rinse FM), Lazcru, B-Ill, frontman and all-round musical boundary-pusher Cellar – Max Levy returns to Oxford to launch a headlining DJ set from EDM hitmakers th D-Ranged, Sound Affect , DFace and his new album `Microwave Oven’, backed up by FRIDAY 28 Groove Armada, who’ll be joined by 80s Snipes. members of Joanna Gruesome. Support from doo THE BIG FEASTIVAL: Alex th synth-pop survivors Heaven 17, Feastival Thursday 20 wop, surf-pop and 50s ballad band Be Good, plus James’s Farm, Kingham – Alex regular and eclectic rare groove merchant th a debut outing for Kitsch, formed from the ashes James and Jamie Oliver’s annual food SUNDAY 30 Norman Jay amongst others, while Saturday JUNGLE of local faves Kill Murray. and music festival returns, today’s THE BIG FEASTIVAL: Alex sees talismanic hip hop and grime MC NOE & THE PASTEL FRONTIER + opening salvo featuring a Groove James’s Farm, Kingham – Final Dizzee Rascal atop a bill that also features BROTHERS: CALLOW SAINTS + CAMERON AG + Armada DJ set, plus Heaven 17 and day of the cheese and artisan chutney rapper/producer Example, hip hop legend LIGHTSPILL: The Wheatsheaf – It’s All About more – see main preview extravaganza, with live sets from Grandmaster Flash, Dublin’s fast-rising The Bullingdon the Music show with epic rockers Noe & the towersey festival: Paloma Faith, The Feeling with Big name hip hop acts coming to town is folk-pop brothers Hudson Taylor and r’n’b Pastel Frontier, indie rockers Callow Saints and Thame Showground – First day Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Roots now such a regular occurrence it’s no longer songstress Ella Eyre. Moving onto Sunday bittersweet songsmith Cameron AG. of the annual folk festival, with sets Manuva – see main preview a novelty, but the more the merrier, and this and it’s soul/jazz siren Paloma Faith heading THE SIMPLE WEEKENDER: Waterstock from Treacherous Orchestra, Kim towersey festival: month it’s the turn of New Yorkers The Jungle up the musical line-up with the likes of UK hip Meadow – Opening a four-night festival of dance, Churchill, Spooky Men’s Chorale, Thame Showground – Joan Brothers, a band who were more critically hop godfather Roots Manuva and Faithless hosted by long-running local house and techno Salt House, Talisk, The August List, Armatrading headlines the third lauded than commercially successful in their rapper Maxi Jazz bringing some serious club Simple, but offering DJs and performances Grace Petrie, Steve Turner and more. day of the folk festival, with sets heyday but have become regarded as one of groove to proceedings. The Feeling are also from across the spectrum, from EDM, bass, house SKYLARKIN’ SOUNDSYSTEM: from Show of Hands, Sally Barker, hip hop’s most pioneering acts with their early playing, with Sophie Ellis Bextor, and you’d and dubstep, to hip hop, reggae, dub, drum&bass The Cellar – Reggae, dancehall and Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and fusion of jazz, r’n’b and African music into hope she’ll breathe a bit of life into their grey and more. Among a host of – mostly local – folks rocksteady party tunes from master Nancy Kerr, The Travelling Band, the genre. The trio of Mike Gee, Afrika Baby soft rock. Of course, this being Feastival, the on stage or manning the decks are Zaia, Xavier, selector Count Skylarkin, back at the Ninebarrow and many more. Bam and DJ Sammy B released their debut chefs are as much the star attractions as the House of Roots, Fridge & Bungle, 1210 Zen, Cellar after a summer of festivals THE PETE FRYER BAND: album `Straight Out The Jungle’ in 1988 and music stars, and it’s as much about cookery Billy Disco, Andy James, DJ Lee, Dan Gascoyne, that’s so far taken him to Glastonbury, Benson Social Club despite its modest indie success, it earned demonstrations and Q&As as it is about Em Williams, Deep Cover, David Shannon, Cornbury and Carnival. BANK HOLIDAY them a deal with Warners, a deal that helped drinking and dancing, and if previous events Document One, Dr Erbz, Effi Brooks, Hollie May, REVELLER: The Wheatsheaf – BACCHANALIA: The Town spawn their classic `Done By The Forces Of have shown us, it is possible to spend all day Leon Sofroniou, Mac White, Man of Science, Splenetic metalcore rage. Arms, Wallingford (midday) – All- Nature’, which in turned spawned `What U eating cheese. In fact it’s compulsory. Rhymeskeemz, Sound Affect, Dublings, Random DIRTY VALUABLES: The Jericho day bank holiday mini-festival with Waiting 4?’, regarded as one of the golden age Character, and many, many more. Four days of Tavern – Grungy melodic metal from live sets from The Mark, Man Make of hip hop’s high points. `Done By…’ owed the local rockers. dancing and chilling, in a field, in summer. Go Royal Blood and Rival Sons, the band having Fire, Sex With Your X, Ginhouse, as much to the likes of Earth Wind & Fire, THE TOM IVEY BAND: Como wild. played at Download earlier in the year, as well as Loosely Blues and more. with its spiritual vibe and heavy grooves, as it Lounge, Witney ABSOLUTION: The Wheatsheaf – Power blues supporting Bernie Torme on tour. did to any rap contemporaries, and the trio’s from Sudbury’s Absolution. ONE WING LEFT + STORYTELLER + st early move into house set them apart, with th MONDAY 31 EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar ICENI: The Wheatsheaf – Album launch gig SATURDAY 29 the pioneering `I’ll House You’ resetting the towersey festival: Thame HEADINGTON HILLBILLIES: James Street from local rockers One Wing Left. towersey festival: Thame borders between hip hop and club music. The Showground – Final day of the Tavern BEDROCK: The Bullingdon – Skeletor’s Showground – Bellowhead top original trio now seem to be back together festival, with Anxo Lorenzo, Chris monthly rock and metal club night, playing classic the bill today, joined by a cast of after departing or doing their own things over While & Julie Matthews, Keston nd tunes and new releases. big-named folk acts, including the years, so hopefully a classic set of old SATURDAY 22 Cobblers Club, Luke Daniels, Roy SIMPLE WEEKENDER: Waterstock Meadow Stornoway, John Smith, Phil Beer, faves is in order. BALLOON ASCENTS: The Cellar – Genre- Bailey, Steamchicken, Slainte and bending pop from the rising local stars, taking – Second day of the weekend dance festival. Lisbee Staunton, Brickwork Lizards, more. inspiration from Radiohead and Stornoway but EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar Swindlestock, Knights of Mentis and muddying the waters to splendid effect by way of more. dub, blues and folk-pop and making their case to be SUNDAY 23rd the most exciting new young band in Oxfordshire SIMPLE WEEKENDER: Waterstock Meadow right now. Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20th of each month BROKEN CHORDS + 48 HOURS: The MONDAY 24th - no exceptions. Email listings to [email protected]. All listings Bullingdon – Classic power trio rocking from SIMPLE WEEKENDER: Waterstock Meadow are copyright Nightshift Magazine and may not be reproduced without Essex/Herts crew Broken Chords, in the vein of permission. photos: Sam Shepherd, except Charlatans, by Marc West

The Charlatans The Augustines over the last Teasers/ guilt and greasy residues”. Teasers/ come close to their The show doesn’t infamous Bully outing a couple of years ago, but their wheedling, sleazy slow-burns please the crowd as much as their onstage charm alienates the also fun to security and engineers. It’s imagine the hip young things going reacting Am Mark E Smith’ wild to `I in the same way to the Mancunian goblin overlord himself. is a cruel mistress, particularly Time if a stage is running mysteriously As anyone that has behind schedule. seen few years will attest they are one of the most incredible live bands around with their stage at the moment. Sadly, time cut short, and as good as the likes are, and `Cruel City’ of `Chapel Song’ they barely have enough time to get into their stride and form a bond with as their set closes, Yet the audience. Augustines still manage to connect with a heartfelt call and response, giving the festival one of the most rousing moments of the weekend. Also running late are Slaves some people With over in the Barn. queuing for over two hours just to not get in, the scheduling of hottest bands in one of the year’s such a small stage seems short sighted. If the intention is to create a buzz by making this some kind of

. The programme amily looking for a good spot for Clean Bandit, we’ve already found the watching best one: a long way away, Ghostpoet. He really is an delivering impressive performer, his vocals in a deep, authoritative sprechgesang which is half Harlem Renaissance and half Blue Aeroplanes, with occasional sidesteps into Isaac Hayes cream and honey or The dramatic gasps. Jarvis Cocker’s band is top notch, but keeps to an approachable blues churn in the vein to highlight of mid-90s PJ Harvey, the vocals but not at the expense of an Add some liberal immersive groove. dubby FX and sweetly bitter backing vocals that bring to mind Martina and you have probably Topley-Bird, the most understated yet hypnotic show of the weekend. Understated not being a term we’re likely to use in relation to Fat White F this year tries to triangulate all the acts on the bill against other bands, which is fine, but some of the choices are a bit odd – and, also, are there really people on site who have never heard of Basement Jaxx but who are au fait with the long and varied career Apparently Fat Audio Bullys? of Wytches/ The Whites are “for fans of TRAAMS”, which just Hookworms/ about works, although we would have The Country Almond/ “Marc offered Augustines have an infuriating Google- has Steventon been hit by Dutch The only Bog Disease or something? downside to a lovely festival is the At one point acute lack of portaloos. we take a walk along the entire length of the campsite to try to find a short be done. toilet line, and it couldn’t Mind you, one in five tents have a sitting outside, and Truckers bunch of a bit of eavesdropping reveals that lots of them are planning on sitting about killing time until Clean Bandit come the spirit, kids: stick to That’s on. bands that have been on telly adverts, otherwise you might see something new and exciting, which would hurt your little heads. Aberystwyth’s whether not sure We’re Mellt maximising spelling, or whether but they’re worth a Welsh, just it’s visit, with strong basslines pulling sweetly against bookish new wave vocals, something in the ballpark The Lemonheads, with Sebadoh of They’re as jovial groundskeepers. good, although may not have quite found that magic ingredient to be truly special. Speaking of ingredients, stall, where beware of the coffee an espresso is a pound, and an Americano is two; just to check, the is still some water, right?difference sell squash. Thank Christ they don’t Whilst the hordes are on the move, Death Of Hi-Fi Perhaps because, in pop, character and and artisanal ideas trump showing off We moustache stylists every time. a vat-grown especially love the singer, Micky Dolenz mini-me who looks as though he literally just got out of bed... and that his bed was made of temazepam and dumplings. back at Speaking of character, Gorwelion Horizons a trio called HMS Morris provide one of the best sets of the weekend, despite not Their being sailors waving hankies. synth-based pop is held together by and provides Tack, charm and Blu warm fuzzy memories of vintage Park Trailer bookings on the old stage. One of them is a cute pop powerhouse, what you’d get if Gwen Stefani had been given away free with Coco Pops; one of them is a keyboard hat, a bushy player with a croupier’s beard and a glorious falsetto; the other is a drummer tight enough to keep but sensitive enough it all together, A to keep the songs bubbly fresh. plinky skank highlight is a gorgeous like with lashings of twangy guitar, Welsh), Ditto in dub (and in Vienna all wonderful. Swnami who but it’s come afterwards are pretty good, too, a in the vein of early Foals, and it’s pity that so few people see it. Perhaps they were all queuing for the toilet. What happened, Truck,

, who are the musical altz or subtle American strummer who, or subtle although sometimes good, have got the This year, lost on the breeze. promoters have worked out just what from people want, rightly or wrongly, The Take a festival main stage. Bohicas. Nobody knows who they are, we suspect, but they go down a storm with their broad-stroke thumping pop, and chunky melodies that seem to fall somewhere between The power Adams. XTC and Bryan mid-song, and everyone goes off back hangs around cheering till it’s on, which is as much evidence of winning the crowd over as we can They’re quite good. Pity, imagine. we were hoping we’d be able really, to just say they were Bohollocks. After buying some food from the are Rotary Club, we ever-lovely accosted by a wandering woman from know the church snack stall: “You what goes really well with chips? Sweets!” Full marks for dedicated have to be but you don’t sales patter, not true. Her Jay Rayner to know it’s culinary error comes back to us for Neon W equivalent of a Haribo melting over a spud, having ill advisedly taken the harmonies, the electric piano and The Band and the rootsiness from melded them with Flowered Up’s brash proto-Britpop. How on earth is rather delightful? this any good? Nay, Hi- HMS Morris Slaves days number, `When Country Was Was `When Country days number, Proud’, which starts with someone holding a CD. CDs still feel new- fangled to some people, since in the Ags tries to put his chorus poor old CD “on the turntable”, which can’t have gone well. Still, this lyrical slip is the one single criticism we can make of an excellent set by a naturally gifted musician who knows exactly when embellishments get in the way of a song, and when to give his rich melancholic voice space to has had its fair Truck communicate. Americana over the years, but share of alt or nu or avant, country isn’t Ags’ just fantastic. it’s Similarly keeping the local flag stage are Virgins proudly aloft on the Of the frankly glorious Death Fi, who have tempered their dark and brooding hip hop with some lighter, slinkier songs, pick of which is `Roses And Guns’, wherein punchdrunk electro synths stumble through the picture window of Portishead’s Top cabaret refined drawing room. marks for featuring a lightning quick costume change on a small stage, and throwing flowers to the crowd with download codes attached. Truck In the past, the main stage at has featured some surprisingly slight acts. For every Fixers or Bellowhead, been some wispy indie band there’s

Ribbons whose glacial

Orange Vision, though. Cut

guitar pop is beautiful and elegant. made all the more icy by the It’s stage dressing, which appears to be a castle battlement crafted from Glacier The festival outside might mints. have grown, but in this one little tent, Truck’s a distinct reminder of there’s 20 would Vic roots, when the likes of entertain a handful of baked locals. a place we retire to regularly It’s whenever the crowds or predictable main stage gestures are getting too They also have a giant wooden much. which wins them ghetto blaster, points, as does Hannah Grace, a singer who edges towards blues fire and soul sultriness, but without losing sight of the bullseye of good tunes. She would do well at Cornbury. from the Most Improved shy away We award here at Nightshift, as it either looks like a snide backhand or a sop for rubbish musicians who don’t have the decency to give up and concentrate on procreation or move somewhere else. Praise is deserved for When we first saw them they were trading in pseudo-baggy and infuriating wackiness, but nowadays they use driving indie-funk basslines point for woozy, as the jumping-off reverb-drenched flights which send stage into a Virgins half the crowded misty reverie and half into a dancing trance. Going to festivals always makes amplified by us feel old, but it’s good old ’s Ags Connolly a number of independent people area number of independent wiressporting: it looks like some of got crossed in the organisation People reunion. Still, it’s Village a in Charliebetter than the four guys of whom hasChan villain get-up, one Numbercome in full yellow-face: One Cock. additionsOne of the most interesting ofto the festival is the showcase The talent at Welsh up and coming Palm City/Gorwelion Horizons tent, as we decide to re- World Welsh or name it. Cruelly hidden from sight by a hessian covered fence, the only clue to its existence is a couple of made from flower pots at Trees Palm fairly quiet, the entrance. Inside, it’s and a refreshing escape from the hoards outside. Over the course of the a diverse and high weekend there’s quality mix of music on offer. The first band we encounter here is

Boy

LIVE m, who sing o Stockhol Native American head-dresses that Native only outweighed in oddness by the popular amongst punters this year, popular amongst punters this year, Said dungarees are inexplicably horrible Hale & Pace dungarees. swagger and drugs replaced by some a bit like baggy with the attitude, playing floppy inoffensive pop that’s pop that’s playing floppy inoffensive could make more of an impact by not tent was pitched. Of course, they extra bendy pole left over when the whether it’s bad that there was an whether it’s checking their phones and wondering sitting in the Market stage, idly perform to a smattering of people, What really happens is that they be supporting all these cool bands!” We can imagine Sulky can imagine We There’ll be 6,000 people and we’ll squeaks, it’s an impressive set. squeaks, it’s Truck! we’re going to play ago. “Hey, the weekend by making some odd checking their emails a few months down, and the PA is limbering up for down, and the PA style. Considering they are 40% electronic percussion in winning T delicate melodies over icily precise port Pass London’s on Friday, Take the first act we see properly Take the smaller, more curated stages. the smaller, discoveries are squirreled away on bit of nous, but as ever the greatest with an internet connection and a could have been predicted by anyone instigate, and as such a third of the bill festival circuit that it helped to that now Truck is part of a boutique Truck that now The biggest difference, of course, is The biggest difference, yore. changed from the great Trucks of Trucks changed from the great realisation that really not much has wonderful over these two days is the of cosmetic work done, but what is we all? – and has clearly had a bit bigger in the past decade – haven’t bigger in the past decade – haven’t festival underneath. It may have got hard to see that it’s clearly the same hard to see that it’s very different from Truck 8, it isn’t 8, it isn’t Truck from very different And whilst Truck 18 is in some ways Truck whilst And remains recognisably the same. shift and alter slightly, whilst the face shift and alter slightly, isn’t it? As time goes by, features As time goes by, it? isn’t from 1963. But that’s how it works, how from 1963. But that’s look a wee bit different from photos look a wee bit different but mostly because photos from 1967but mostly because photos bassist just snuffed it”, or something, bassist just snuffed g’joob” is ancient Etruscan for “theg’joob” is ancient Etruscan records and the fact that “goo goorecords and the fact that has to do with flowers and backwardshas to do with flowers replaced by a lookalike. The proof replaced by a lookalike. Paul McCartney died in 1966 and wasPaul McCartney died in There are people who believe thatThere are people who believe FRIDAY Hill Farm, Steventon Hill Farm, TRUCK All photos: Sam Shepherd exclusive performance, it backfires Allusondrugs are a messy spectacularly. In the chart of gripes we potage of Mudhoney riffs, twitchy Haula King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys Basement Jaxx hear over the weekend in second place Biffy Clyro vocals, windswept guitar behind “lack of toilets”, is “Not seeing lines and half-inched Blur tunes is Slaves and queued for hours”. When fun, but we love the fact that at any they finally take to the stage it’s clear one point one of them is going off on to see why they’re probably the most a freakout, but at no point all of them anticipated act of the weekend. Their are. They’re simply intriguing. “I like energy is infectious and drives the herpes more than I like Irn Bru”, they Barn to levels of excitement last seen announce unexpectedly, which is a when Foals played here. Ridiculously thousand times more worth saying good fun. than, “Truck fest, how ya doing?”, you have to admit. Why does Tim Burgess look like your funny uncle who’s come to a family Walking past the Veterans stage (no picnic disguised as Andy Warhol? Virgins left after the first day, which is It’s a question that nags throughout how all good festivals should be), we The Charlatans’ set. The intend to skip The Shapes, but are band trudges a little, taking songs drawn in by the magnetic power of at a leisurely pace when some of their classic pop, which is grown up them would benefit from a bit of fire: without being washed out. We then go Bo Ningen `North Country Boy’ is a Madchester and see The Magic Gang just in Dylan sneer, and `Just When You’re case they sound like The Magic Band, Thinkin’ Things Over’ is imbued which is the sort of logic you end up Temples Public Service Broadcasting with classic Stones strut, and needs with having decided to skip lunch due to be presented with more vitriol. It’s to queues and fall back on beer. They certainly not a bad set, and a long don’t. In fact, they sound like The way from the lackadaisical effort of Housemartins, Weezer and very, very Evan Dando years ago, but it sends us well-behaved young men. We rather into the night feeling quietly satisfied enjoy it, but they’re hardly kicking out rather than electrified by rock ‘n’ roll. the jams; in fact, they’d probably be considered limp by the WI who made SATURDAY the jams. Musically, Sunday starts slowly, More veterans, Flowers Of but then perhaps Sundays always Hell endear themselves to us should. Wallflower are a immediately by being notably sonically muscular emoid bunch, relaxed and sounding like The Velvet let down by some kidney-rippingly Underground with extra fiddle and bad vocals; Fox Chapel make trumpet, and then they prove us her electronic torch songs are just too clanging reverb of the Barn can ruin. Cornbury. It’s old school rock and from the tassels on James Bagshaw’s left off for the entirety of the set: fun which seems like splitting hairs and pleasant enough pop, that might right by playing a really great cover studio-smooth and her onstage drama roll played with a grin and the band’s jacket. The result of these problems time is over, mortals, taste the ritual. evidence of one contract clause too have forgettably inaugurated some of “Heroin” with extra fiddle and the stuff of Eurovision heats. If she “Who likes Saint Raymond?” asks the clear love of their craft and the history is that the band plays a single note many, but blimey, they don’t half T4 all-dayer a few years ago; Safe trumpet. And then they honour Czech stopped trying so desperately to affect, visibly refreshed singer of soft-centred of the music they play turns their set for the first five minutes of the set. Psych-punk noise still ringing in bring things to a conclusion. The To Swim are rhythmically very dissident freaks Plastic People Of The she could be someone to watch, hardcore Leeds lads Brawlers. into another of the highlights of the Whether this foray into near drone our ears we grab another pint or band has taken the concept of a “soul strong, all rubbery goth indie that Universe, which should happen more though. “I mean, we’ve never heard of them, weekend. It’s impossible to take your territory is deliberate is uncertain, two and head back to the Market revue”, and run with it to create a closely resembles Placebo, which is often. And, all this whilst the engineer and we only ask because we just stole eyes off of double-bass player, Shark but it’s possibly their finest moment. stage for Peter Hook & The “house panto”. There are guys in fine so long as you don’t mind things has left a vintage soul CD playing It’s funny to think of Alphabet their fucking beer”. He then proceeds Von Schtoop, who is perhaps the most Once they get rolling however, their Light. Now, Joy Division are one gorilla suits and a couple of girls that sound like Placebo. To stave off on the PA throughout. They probably Backwards being classed as to share said bevvies with the crowd. energetic performer at the festival. blend of 60s rock and psychedelic of the truly great British bands, New done up like the Tweedledum and boredom we invent the game Gaffer thought it was messages from the Veterans, because they still act like Now accessories to the crime, we Their cover of `Tequila’ is huge crowd tones reaches for the stars, or more Order are not short of a classic or Tweedledee of soul sisterhood, and Tape Vs. Jaffa Cake, the rules to ether. naughty kids, leaping around the stage have no choice but to give up and pleaser and culminates in a gigantic specifically, the heart of the sun. two, and Peter Hook’s aggressively a huge woman with a huge voice which we sadly can’t tell you until and trying to get people to wind up enjoy the band, which despite being conga line, and presumably a huge The band are probably at their melodic bass playing was a big getting all gospel pop on us whilst you get a special tattoo and give us Yet again Gorwelion comes up the security guy. This is pop, not as musclier and much louder and far, queue at the bar. most effective this afternoon when part of that, but sadly his voice is looking uncannily like the fortune your house. trumps, with ultra-super-mega-perky youthful rebellion, but as childish far more tattooed is actually a good Bagshaw stops singing and the just rubbish, in the least interesting teller from Monkey Island. The indie pop outfit Seazoo, who are fun, like The Red Hand Gang getting analogue to Alphabet Backwards: Public Service band concentrates fully on creating way possible. We only keep from single segue of a show contains hits So, it’s back to the reliable Gorwelion blessed with an infections sense of hopped up on tartrazine. All this, and they are working very hard for you to Broadcasting’s appearance surprisingly forceful wigged out dropping off by imagining that we’re and equally interesting connecting Horizons stage, who keep delivering fun, a knowledge of how catchy tunes their playing is inch perfect too, never have a good time, and are not worried on the main stage is an interesting expositions. watching Peter Cook & The Light material, reliably banging beats, an strong acts on Saturday, although they work, relentlessly bouncy basslines, missing the opportunity for maximum about anything else. Pop music, in proposition. Having to perform in (“She’s lost control again, Dud”. interestingly stripped back `Romeo’ seem to have cheated and sneaked a and a synth made out of a doll’s bounciness. The keyboards are a wee other words. bright sunlight, the band are stripped Tellingly, Bo Ningen are the “Bloody Greta Garbo!”). This and even a timbales solo. The band few non-Welsh musicians in, such as head that goes whoodly-wheep in bit too quiet, but this is balanced by of their usual film visuals and we’re only act for whom the programme music deserves celebrating, but this never revisited on the dense layered London-based Ugandan Haula. a seemingly random fashion. They Steph’s ultra-summery Sandie Shaw Peasants King finish off the intrigued to find out how they will compiler couldn’t find any other slightly moribund trot through the intrigue of their debut LP - in a She has an outstanding contemporary do a song which sounds like Free’s dress. They are ten times more fun Gorwelion stage. Shouldn’t there cope. With two pairs of extra hands bands to reference. Perhaps back catalogue isn’t the best method reminder how experimental they were, soul voice and a commanding but `Alright Now’ played by excited than Summer Camp, whom we’d be an apostrophe in that name on samples, their sound is expanded we shouldn’t compare them to to do so. The Wire listed `Remedy’ in their not over-egged stage presence, which Care Bears. They are superb. Oxford just watched briefly, not to mention somewhere? Hell, don’t bother significantly. `Spitfire’ positively roars musicians, but to forces of nature. top 20 releases of 1999, just above makes her set a pleasure. Musically promoters Swiss Concrete should be summerier and camper. answering, we gave up after finding over the Truck audience and sounds With arcane hand gestures, manically A far more welcome hors d’ouevre Captain Beefheart and The Fall! she leans on r’n’b, both in its brought back for one night, just to no fewer than 19 errors on the first totally rejuvenated. They’ve also got garbled lyrics and streaming hair to the headline set comes from Truck – and we never expected anything contemporary sense, and the original book this colour-saturated joy of a Decidedly unsummery in any way, page of the Truck programme alone. a satellite stage prop that initially entangled in fretboards, the quartet favourite Piney Gir, in a sugary other than crowd-pleasing from this coinage: there’s a tasty moment when band, where they could raise many shape or form Cassels possess a Peasants King make a decent Britrock looks like a Blue Peter project. When look like demon witches, the bassist whirlwind of pirouetting skeletons set, but it is still a beautifully put the band drop into a Chickenshack a flagon of speed-laced Tizer; hell, political vim and vigour rare these sound, but it all feels a bit old hat, the LEDs light up, it still looks like and vocalist particularly looking like and lollipop percussion and a polka together show and a barrelful of fun. type blues glide that really suits her play them loud enough, they could days. Of course, songs about the from the guy playing a separate floor a Blue Peter project. The addition of someone has shoved some haunted dot frock and kids onstage and a What else should we have expected delivery. Sometimes the backing gets raise the spectre of John Peel, his privatisation of the NHS or the concept tom - so 2008 - on up. Perhaps at the an astronaut and a full brass section coathangers into a black windsock. bumblebee costume and synchronised from the people who had psychotic sterile and sessiony, and the lyrics Ooberman T-shirt barely creased by of not having children as a form of other end of the festival we’d have for `Gagarin’ and `Everest’ is a nice Although they start somewhat tambourines and girlpop and field monkeys run amok over Gary Numan tend towards the platitudinous, but it’s the afterlife. population control are all well and got more from them, but on the home touch, and proves that the band is not tentatively, they soon explode, and mice and grins and the glorious riffs and now have a video featuring a strong showing all the same. Closing good, but if the songs aren’t there, it’s straight we need more to grab us. just a one trick pony. the set concludes with waves of “Greetings, Salutations, Goodbye” a twerkbot? First festival headliner? song `Freedom’ gets a glorious main Hoping to strike gold twice, we return just sloganeering. Fortunately wry coruscating noise and a bass wielded and not enough synths. Job most emphatically done. stage singalong reaction from the to Gorwelion for Violet Skies. observations are married to fizzing King Pleasure And The On the mainstage, Temples are like a sacramental axe. The silly crowd; apparently she has a following She shares some ground with Haula, hardcore fury which gives them a Biscuit Boys, are a band that suffering with technical difficulties, fake snow machines that have been Basement Jaxx are billed as Words: David Murphy and Sam in Wantage, somewhat oddly. not least an impressive larynx, but powerful cutting edge that not even the would absolutely slay the crowd at some of which seem to be stemming infuriating us all day in the Barn are Truck’s “first festival headliner”, Shepherd. CORNBURY FESTIVAL Martha Reeves Chas (Dave not shown) Felice Brothers Great Tew FRIDAY between Neil Hannon and Phil Oakey. Chairs. Row upon row upon row of chairs. Thousands of them. There There’s no doubting they are in long, neat rows across LARKIN POE’s credentials. Having Cornbury’s main Pleasant Valley toured as backing musicians with arena, from the beer tent at the back, Elvis Costello, they’re well honed to within a dozen metres of the and almost too smooth, particularly main stage, like troops at the Battle when the voices of the Lovell sisters of Waterloo. Even when there are begin to snake around each other breaks in the action and the arena is with effortless elegance. As the relatively quiet, the chair army sits weekend progresses, the presence of in malevolent anticipation, ready to country-inspired bands begins to get block your way through the field with a bit wearing, but Larkin Poe’s song a round of beers or an urgent journey writing and way with a tune (their to the loo. take on `Bang Bang (My Baby Shot And there, to the left of the arena, Me Down)’ is positively haunting) Roger Hodgson Billy Ocean Trevor Horn like lords and generals overseeing sets the bar impossibly high early on. the conflict from on high – and safe from the blood and mud and general The festival site at Great oomska (as if Cornbury would ever Tew is undeniably stunning, acres have oomska) – is the festival’s VIP of beautiful scenery as far as the pavilion, a structure that wouldn’t eye can see. So it seems unfortunate shame a Roman emperor. Is that that for part of Friday evening it’s Orlando Bloom we spy? He was a being encroached by landfill of prince once, albeit of a fictional realm. the indie variety. First up are THE And was that Sienna Miller who just FRATELLIS a band who have one glided by? She’s royalty as far as the great song, but as catchy as it might movie world goes. No sign of our be, `Chelsea Dagger’ just isn’t enough lord and master David Cameron this to carry an entire set. year, though. Maybe he’s too busy Following them on the main stage smashing a fox cub’s skull in with the are RAZORLIGHT, a band so vapid hammer he bought with the money he that they threaten to suck all the life stole from a passing orphan earlier in from the festival before it’s really got the week. going. From a distance we can hear them doing that one about America Over in the campsite, in the centre of Similarly, THE SHIRES, whose best than their actual set when it happens. might have rankled with some in Several pints of plenty of the ladies in the vicinity into over the course of an hour, things a circle of tents, is a full-length dining and briefly consider booking an emergency flight to the States just to song of the afternoon is their cover of They turn up, prance around to a the audience, but it’s actually quite everything they’ve got down at the raptures. He sings `Kiss From a Rose’ do begin to flag a little for all but the table complete with candelabra; it Fleetwood Mac’s `Dreams’, prove to backing tape and look thoroughly refreshing to hear `It’s Not Unusual’ nearby Falkland Arms later we’ve and `Crazy’ and that’s pretty much most hardcore of Supertramp fans. looks like The Last Supper if it’d been make sure we’re completely out of earshot. When Johnny Borrell appears be quite a hit, and the Rapture tent is disinterested throughout their entire re-tooled as a Parisian salsa. One regained our appetites and after lunch how everyone goes. BILLY OCEAN, though, like Tom organised by Liberace. Toto, I don’t inundated with punters buying their performance. `One Love’ just about thing never changes though, and it’s time for what turns out to be not This could have been a hacked-out Jones before him, knows how to work think we’re at Download any more. on the campsite a little later for a sing song we consider pushing him into the albums after their set. elicits a response from the audience, that’s those vocal chords. The just the highlight of the weekend, but set of old standards by a bunch of a crowd. Certainly his appearance is but the truth is that Blue suck. timeless strains of `Green, Green possibly the best set Cornbury has superannuated old mates with one eye startling – his face framed by snow Of course not, we’re back fire as retribution for ruining the peace and quiet. Ordinarily having a LULU’s set begins in bizarre Grass Of Home’ cut through the seen in its twelve year history. on their private swimming pools, but white beard and dreads – and once at Cornbury again. Poshstock as its cover as your best song is a sign fashion with the singer apparently air like a knife, although the real TREVOR HORN has worked with instead it’s the perfect festival party, he’s got over talking about Jesus, he’s regulars dub it. People do festivals that your songwriting isn’t quite up more concerned with playing to her highlights of a genuinely astonishing some serious greats in his time, and a and for once, every single person in off into a litany of hits, from `Get differently here, but if it’s going to Wrapping up the Songbird stage are cockney geezers CHAS to scratch. When covers are all you granddaughter than anyone in the set are an imperious take on Leonard lot of them seem to be onstage with the arena is up and out of their seats. Out of My Dreams and Into My Car’ take something special to get some do, that’s a different story. It’s easy audience. Her requests to bring the Cohen’s `Tower of Sound’ and a him today, not least Lol Creme who to `Loverboy’ and onto `Caribbean of those people up and out of their & DAVE. They seem insistent on playing new material, but thankfully to sneer at covers bands, but HOPE youngster to the front continue well cover of Gillian Welch’s `Elvis plays guitar and exchanges casually Pity the man who must Queen’, bringing Cornbury to its feet chairs, it’s still really all about the AND GLORY’s set of feelgood ska into her set, which is at best lumpen. Presley Blues’. Tom’s been on top funny banter with Horn throughout follow that. JACK SAVORETTI is again for `When The Going Gets music. And fret not, that something most of it sounds like the old material, and it’s the old material that everyone – from Laurel Aitken to Bad Manners For someone famed for her vocals, of the showbiz game for night on 50 the set, which starts and ends with a in possession of a quite phenomenal Tough, The Tough Get Going’. Which special is heading towards Great Tew, and Madness – is undeniably one of she’s surprisingly quiet and seems to years now and tonight’s performance pair of Frankie Goes To Hollywood voice, but for some reason it doesn’t is exactly the sort of thing you’d with bells on. is here to hear. Yes, it’s a shame when performers are trapped by their own the highlights of the entire festival, be off her game. Even `Shout’ is more shows you exactly why that’s so. We hits, alongside a brace of Horns’ own seem to be cutting through today. expect from an old master like Billy. and the crowd reaction is startling. of a whimper than we’re expecting. love discovering new music here at Buggles classics - `Plastic Age’ and, Like a Joe Cocker lite, his vocals First though, making a hits, but when you’re sunburned, The band has what is possibly the Someone whose voice has held Nightshift, but sometimes it’s worth of course, `Video Killed The Radio possess a gravelly low end that really Closing the festival is a return trip to Cornbury are POLICE three sheets to the wind, and need largest audience we’ve ever seen at up far better is the very legendary witnessing a legendary old hand to Star’. And then on comes Stewart impresses, but whether it’s the fact hard task, after three days of relative DOG HOGAN, exactly the sort nothing more than a knees up and a the Riverside Stage moonstomping MARTHA REEVES. Despite the remember how it should be done. Copeland. Stewart Fucking Copeland! these Leonard Cohen-inspired songs debauchery (or as much debauchery of band you’d call on to get a party jar of whelks, only `Snooker Loopy’, for the duration of their set. Whilst tendency for meandering into drawn- At the age of 75, Tom Jones is still a For one song – The Police’s `Message are being performed in a sunny field as is possible at Cornbury – there’s started. Maybe they’re better suited to `Rabbit’, and `Margate’ will do the they might not register on the Richter out arrangements, and moments master of song. In a Bottle’. By God the man knows or that he’s not particularly feeling it a snuff shortage at The Falkland a cosy indoor venue at an hour when trick. ‘Ave a banana. Scale like Madness managed on their when the backing singers sound like how to hit a drum kit. Anyone here today, or simply that he’s following Arms) a band needs to find a balance everyone’s sunk a few and lost their triumphant return in Finsbury Park, a pair of owls trapped in a crockery fancy a quick singalong to Tatu? Here Trevor Horn onstage, there’s a that sums up the enjoyment of the inhibitions, but even here in a field SATURDAY it’s quite possible that there were more shop, the set consists of a series of SUNDAY you go - `All The Things She Said’ distinct lack of intensity to his set experience and the relative sadness late-afternoon their Pogues-y folk- There’s a serious country flavour to than a few ripples on the cups of tea songs that defined an era, including There are apparently far more songs belted out by seemingly the entire today. Bums have either returned to that it’s all over for another year. punk and footstomping bluegrass, all Saturday afternoon. Following the being served up in the Tea For Tew `Nowhere To Run’ and `Heatwave’, about fish than we ever imagined, arena. It doesn’t get much better than seats or wandered off in search of THE FELICE BROTHERS just run through with a sense of humour self-effacing HANK WANGFORD tent when the band launch into `One and to hear them sung with such and most all of them are sung by this. either food or Joss Stone. about find a happy medium. Their that ranges from wry to plain daft, is there’s WARD THOMAS. Formed Step Beyond’. conviction is astounding. It’s a little FISHWIVES CHOIR. We’ll admit Except it does. On comes country rock sums up the main infectious. by twin sisters Lizzy and Catherine, like an exercise in audio archaeology, we were expecting something a little SEAL. SEAL! All the way from LA Supertramp are famously musical themes of the weekend, On the Riverside stage are SHEENA, they channel the Nashville sound with On the main stage BLUE and at times, it is breathtaking. more choral, in line with Fisherman’s (where he’s just finished recording his a favourite of Cornbury regular but the likes of `White Limo’ pack who are introduced as punk rock, but considerable aplomb, despite having are running late. Rumours of a Friends but there’s a full band with fifth album with Horn), to sing Grace Jeremy Clarkson but it’s uncertain enough of a punch to get people up are most definitely not punk at all. grown up on a farm in Hampshire. running order squabble sulk abound, Similarly breathtaking is the Wives, which takes things in a Jones’ `Slave To the Rhythm’. He’s whether or not he’s here for ROGER and dancing for the last time. Or at Their songs are pretty well crafted, However, songs like `Town Called and such rumours are far more TOM JONES. Age has not withered slightly different direction. All this having the absolute time of his life by HODGSON’s set. least tapping their feet whilst sat in but it’s the vocalist we’re most Ugly’ are a little over polished and entertaining than the probable truth, his voice although it has turned talk of fishies on dishies at this hour the look of it, leaping into the front With songs like `Dreamer’ and `The their chairs. taken by, who croons in a strangely lack the grit to get the more grizzled which is that they’re stuck in traffic, him a peculiar shade of orange. does manage to make us feel a little row, to emerge moments later adorned Logical Song’ it’s a set that certainly intriguing manner that is somewhere country fans on board. and considerably more entertaining Peculiar arrangements of his classics queasy though. with a garland of flowers and sending has plenty of crowd pleasers, but Dale Kattack and Sam Shepherd IRREGULAR FOLK SUMMER Lowpines photo: Giulia Biasibetti LIVE SESSIONS The Perch, Binsey One of Oxford’s many riverside new man. Cue puns along the lines of photo: Leo Bowder watering holes, The Perch is noted ‘We don’t need no Caffe Nero’ and a as being one of the first places Lewis set that closes with half the audience Carroll gave public readings of Alice led on an enforced conga out of the in Wonderland. Appropriate really, venue. It shouldn’t work, but it really since if Alice had fallen down the does. rabbit hole and found herself in a Elsewhere, Bastardgeist belies music festival rather than a surreal his confrontational artist name with fantasy land, Irregular Folk would 90s-era Warp beats augmented by probably be that festival. a thumb piano fed through a load What sets it apart, aside from of effects, doubtless the first time Irregular Folk’s excellent a thumb piano has gone glitch. C. programming, which has over the Duncan, about to head out for a years managed to define its own summer seeing them play various Saturday night headliner Laura On Sunday, the last word goes eponymous genre, is the attention to festivals, are lovely fresh-faced Moody is unfortunately unwell, so to The Little Unsaid, combining detail. Artists are individually baked Scottish boys pouring out neatly- at just a few hours’ notice, local hero strings, crushed velvet and a sense their own cakes; the venue is dressed constructed if somewhat polite Salvation Bill jets in to save the day. of lyrical pomposity to come across from top to bottom with vintage anthems that are perfect for a It’s a barnstorming performance of as the previously-untrodden middle ephemera doubtless plundered summer afternoon. new and old, with some of his newer ground between Nick Cave and Belle from hours of car boot/charity shop Lowpines are one of the most material decidedly louder and more and Sebastian. scouring; it all takes on the feel of a classically folk-ish of the artists, and aggressive, but tempered with the Perhaps the greatest compliment special event, not just another show. come as this year’s highlight for us. same unique sense of humour that we can pay to Irregular Folk is that Take Tina Turner Tea Lady – part Honest and evocative songwriting indicates that in the unlikely event of after two days of Summer Sessions, comedy, part cabaret, she imagines with stark, measured arrangements, his beautiful voice and outstanding we completely and instinctively a world in which a long-retired every song strikes home with a purity songwriting not paying off, there understand what irregular folk Tina Turner returns to the stage as a and quality that you just don’t come might be an alternative career in constitutes, and we want more of it. lascivious tea lady on the prowl for a across too often. stand-up. Stuart Fowkes

CHRONIXX For two hours he is non-stop; the Wild Women’, which they confess to having Ex-Dallas Don’t man Niall seems to be pace slackens when he harangues THE AUGUST LIST learned from YouTube footage of Peter Sellers consciously reining in his rage, though the O2 Academy us with an anti-colonialist rant Abingdon Unicorn performing with the Muppets, prompts an barked declaration “I’ve got a condition” in the It looks like someone has been reggae royalty visits the dreaming has been blessed with sweet during `Capture Land’: this is improbably rambunctious mass singalong. penultimate track indicates a barely suppressed studying the ‘Bob Marley Guide spires. Oxford has long been host sounding tenor tones. He is also, the Reparation UK Tour after all. Theatre Reviewing their album launch gig back in fury still bubbling away under the surface. Just October, I was moved to brand The August List as there can’t be many other saxophone-playing to Onstage Behaviour’: jog on the to various roots veterans, but it is admittedly, rather photogenic Similarly, in a dubby segment August List, august environs. By their own the best band in Oxfordshire – and it’s a verdict drummers in Oxford, there can’t be many spot; shake locks; throw head back; unusual to have such a current mega and knows how to work a crowd. in his smash hit `Here Comes admission, Martin and Kerraleigh Child are more that tonight’s gig convincingly corroborates. vocalists who would write a song about meeting hand to side of head, etc. star passing by; at only 22, but with Additionally – and crucial to his Trouble’, he informs us, in his accustomed to playing “sticky” rooms – places Little matter that they hail from Dorset (rather former Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Billy Chronixx certainly has the moves his `Dread and Terrible’ EP in the success – he not only harks back patois drawl, “Moses was a ganja like the Camden Monarch, where their set was than Devon as is mistakenly announced before McKay on a train. down. Though this rootsical US Billboard reggae Top 10 for 42 to his musical predecessors (he’s man,” and, “Jesus was a Rasta…’ apparently once rudely interrupted by a drunken they make their entrance); they’re ours to keep With their spaced-out visuals, sound reminiscent whippersnapper was born a full weeks, Chronixx is very much the made Jacob Miller’s `Tenement Be that as it may, it gives his loon standing in front of the stage attempting now. of Explosions In The Sky and a guitarist eleven years after Marley’s untimely genre’s man of the moment. Yard’ his own and plays Ini band – the formidable Zincfence to piss on a DVD. Given tonight’s polite, mild- Ben Woolhead who bears a distinct resemblance to Stuart demise, many suggest he is the So what’s all the fuss about? Kamoze’s `World A Reggae’) but Redemption – a rare chance to chill mannered audience of 50- and 60-somethings Braithwaite, Ghosts In The Photographs have true heir to Bob’s natty crown. The For a start, the voice. Chronixx also updates the Rasta message and out a bit. sipping their wine (your average theatre-going clearly missed the Pitchfork memo that said post- sense of legacy is further heightened (apparently his name derives from makes it still relevant, as evidenced Chronnix: dread, indeed, but by no crowd, basically), the chances of a repeat are rock is once again tragically uncool. when we discover Dennis Brown’s his singing dad, Chronicles, rather by the amount of dread elders in means terrible. fairly slim. KID KIN / GHOSTS IN A good thing they did, though, as – despite daughter is in the front row: than the US slang for strong ‘erb) attendance. Leo Bowder Ideally suited to the simultaneously confessional THE PHOTOGRAPHS relying on a few clichés – they nevertheless bring and powerfully dramatic nature of The August a welcome dash of brawn and brute force to a List’s dusky, gothic Americana, the setting / THE BECKONING musical style that can all too often be a sterile THE AUREATE ACT / THE RELATIONSHIPS / If The Relationships are old hands with a firm induces the duo to begin with a spellbinding and exclusively cerebral affair. Thunder has hand on the tiller, The Aureate Act sound like un-amped debut live performance of the first FAIR ONES / been rumbling all afternoon, and Ghosts In The LUCY LEAVE they have only the vaguest idea where they song they ever wrote together. It’s followed by a Photographs are well suited to soundtracking might be heading, and frankly they don’t care too truly stunning version of The Diamond Family COSMOSIS gathering storms. The Bullingdon much about it. Which makes them all the more Archive’s ‘Big Black Dog’ that completely Initial impressions can be as misleading as they this month but have collective histories going intriguing, particularly for such a young band. eclipses the original and ranks as the most jaw- Oxford Wheatsheaf Last time I saw Kid Kin, at the White Rabbit as are off-putting. Barely a handful of gigs old, Lucy back much further. What other local band could Somewhere at the heart of what they’re doing dropping thing I’ve witnessed all year. All you really need to know about Cosmosis part of last year’s Punt, the volume levels were Leave look a mess (think mismatched trendy get away with an opening song that namechecks they’re a prog band, but they’re rather more We may be seated, but songs about infidelity is that they appear to have listened to Black such that they pinned you to the wall like a 600lb teachers getting together for an end-of-term Gordon Giltrap, Robin Trower and Brinsley Van Der Graaf Generator than Genesis, with an (‘Wooden Trunk Blues’), Armageddon (‘Red Sabbath’s entire back catalogue and decided that gorilla angrily demanding your dinner money. revue and hoping the kids won’t throw furniture Schwartz, before singing about meeting Mike engaging intensity that might have something to Light On The Tower’) and being under the one song on which all their own should be Tonight, the dials aren’t quite set to Brain- at them), and initially at least sound equally Oldfield on Richard Branson’s lawn. Tonight’s set do with the singer/keyboard player looking like a surveillance by sinister omniscient birds (‘High modelled is ‘Planet Caravan’. Seriously, who liquidising, which, if initially a disappointment, slipshod, with lyrics like “The Solar System is so is all new material, but in its own sweet way, the young Jaz Coleman from Killing Joke. His vocals Town Crow’) ensure that we’re certainly not does that? And the less said about their mauling does allow the dynamic subtleties of the multi- far away” (it really isn’t), but at the point where song remains the same as far as The Relationships are more often than not indecipherable, verging sitting comfortably. of Iggy Pop’s ‘The Passenger’, the better. instrumentalist noisenik’s music (as well as an we’re considering giving up, they hit a groove, dig are concerned – a very English take on 60s West on operatic, and if they don’t always fit snugly After the interval, the couple whet our appetite This may be The Beckoning Fair Ones’ debut affinity with Maiians) to shine through. deep and keep digging until we’re mesmerised; Coast psychedelic folk-pop. There’s a genteel into the band’s uneasy melding of Radiohead and for the follow-up to last year’s `O Hinterland’ gig, but their members, while nervy, are hardly Songs are deftly constructed before our very suddenly it’s Neu!, The Wedding Present and The humour to the songs, a quirky politeness, as if Marillion at times, it’s all part of the grand plan with ‘Old Rip’, which – like fellow newie novices, having assembled from the ashes of eyes, but, rather like watching a talented chef Modern Lovers jamming it out after a couple of fat Julian Cope has grown up to be a librarian rather to keep you guessing. Either by design or happy ‘Connie Converse’ – betrays a lyrical obsession local favourites Deer Chicago, Dallas Don’t and at work, you don’t always want to see how ones. They break the spell eventually but only to than a crazy shamen. “We are the guardians of accident, The Aureate Act are one of the most off with absenteeism. It’s easily the equal of both Big Tropics. Collectively, they sound little like a delicious dish is made. As tasty as the live head off into some nasty grunge noise number that eccentricity / The woolly-hatted aristocracy,” the wall bands in town right now, and whichever their older material and an array of covers any of their previous outfits, marrying scratchy performances he serves up are, you can’t help comes with an oddly sweet undertone. Glad we chimes avuncular, tweed-wearing fontman Richard strange path they head off down next, we’re that include The White Stripes’ ‘Hotel Yorba’ riffs with almost playful synths in a way that but wonder whether they wouldn’t benefit from stuck around. Hopefully they will too. Ramage, once again marking him out as The Bard more than happy to follow, just to see where it and ‘Acid Tongue’ by Jenny Lewis, the artist makes them infuriatingly unclassifiable, albeit the greater visual stimulus that projections would The Relationships have stuck around for as long of Cowley Road, much as the band are the keepers all leads. who first inspired them to play music together. perhaps distant cousins (twice removed) of The provide. as we can remember. They’re twenty years old of a pop flame that will never, ever burn out. Dale Kattack An encore of ‘Cigarettes, Whiskey And Wild, Dismemberment Plan. Ben Woolhead Criteria’ and `Universal Harmony’, amongst others. Earl 16, the regular vocalist with INTRODUCING.... 90s dub/dance pioneers Dreadzone, Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under and also responsible for Leftfield’s hit single `Release the Pressure’, photo: Leo Bowder before they morphed into a techno juggernaut, is also a successful foundation roots vocalist in his own ZAIA right, one whose single, `Malcolm Who are they? X’ came out in 1975. His stage Formed in 2013, east Oxford reggae band Zaia (Amy MacKown – vocals; name derives from when a producer, David Tomlinson – bass/vocals; Patrick Bolton – keyboards; Paul Williams unimpressed by his real name, Earl – saxophone; Leo Petrokofsky – trumpet; James Bolton – drums, and Josh Daley, asked his age. He went on to Hughes – guitar) got together as school kids, united by a love of reggae, work with Scientist, Lee Perry and originally as Raggasaurus ten years ago. When Raggasaurus singer Khaled King Jammy in Jamaica, then Mad decided to lay down the mic, the rest of the band continued jamming and Professor and many others after writing new tunes together, waiting for the right singer to come along... was a little festival – don’t remember the name – playing on a collapsing moving to the UK in 1985. “and then we met Amy; it’s all gone from there!” Zaia released their debut stage, in a thunderstorm, to an empty field. Wait, there was a small tent full It is these roots staples that he EP, `Challenge 145’ last month and featured in Nightshift’s reggae scene of junkies k holing to us. So not all bad.” revisits tonight with Wayne’s feature in July’s issue. They also played at Carnival as well as a supporting Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: band, performing `Reggae Music’, Lee Scratch Perry at the O2 Academy, and playing at the Punt in May. “Big up to Desta*nation sound, and the Mackating guys!” `Declaration of Rights’, `Milk and They are currently in the process of writing their first album. If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: Honey’ and John Holt’s ‘Ali Baba’ What do they sound like? “Capleton - `Reign of Fire’. That album keeps us alive.” (also covered by Dreadzone). Soulful, bass-heavy dub reggae dance, one ideally suited to the great When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? With one of the sweetest and most outdoors at the height of summer, but capable of adapting to the darker “Supporting Gentleman’s Dub Club at The Bullingdon in October. If you instantly recognisable voices of the confines of local venues like The Cellar or the Bullingdon. Theirs is a real love to dance and feel happy, come down!” genre, Earl has a lightness of touch sun-kissed groove, awash with sparkling brass flourishes and cavernous Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: that comes with making a living basslines, but a deep melodic soulfulness at its heart. “The people that make up the music scene in Oxford are the best thing from his voice for the last four What inspires them? about it! Shout out to Phil Fryer, Hugo Makepeace, Aidan Larkin, and decades. Earl had a bit of musical “We love to make people dance! It is such a blessing to play music to an every other local legend that makes Oxford what it is. Least favourite thing EARL SIXTEEN / WAYNE MCARTHUR & THE history with David and is keen to audience.” has got to be the lack of good venues that aren’t sponsored by some shit pay his respects with more of the Career highlight so far: phone company.” UNIVERSAL PLAYERS / JAMATONE / DESTA*NATION same. “It’s just a quick ting,” he “Gotta say Cowley Road Carnival! In the sun, in the place where we all You might love them if you love: reminds us more than once and it grew up, playing to such a lovely audience.” Delegators, Beats International, Mackating, Dublings. The Bullingdon is clear that even though everyone And lowlight: Hear them here: Tonight is a musical tribute to wonderful, is very much in the spirit where Jamatone – another well knows the music, there’s not been “Back in Raggasaurus days there were some absolute peaches, but the best www.zaiaband.com David Norland: Makating bassist, of the man it commemorates. established Oxford reggae band – much in the way of rehearsals. producer, sound engineer, local First up are Desta*Nation, featuring put the grooves down with some However, seeing, and hearing, one THIS MONTH IN OXFORD community radio station founder, David’s brother Daniel, spinning help from Makating’s Lorraine on of the true greats of the roots and studio manager, in fact one man the vinyl on the decks in the corner, vocals and Hugo Makepeace on culture scene up close and with such ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY musical force of nature, who sadly with MC-ing from Dubwiser’s Jonas percussion. an array of local talent is a fitting 20 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO Tunstall, Chesney Hawkes, Lucie Silvas, The died of cancer last year, aged 40. Torrance and Wayne McArthur, Next up is Wayne again, now with commemoration, and we are pleased August 1995 was all about Supergrass. The local Fast forward ten years and August 2005 was also Noise Next Door and Mark Owen, as well as That this gig is all a bit last minute whose roots tunes have long graced his long term band the Universal to hear this may become a regular trio has just enjoyed a Number 1 hit with their debut all about Supergrass. The band released their “the ferrety one from Busted.” The review of the and seemingly disorganised, and yet many a speaker stack. The action Players, a veteran unit, playing event. album, `I Should Coco’, and this month played a fifth studio album, the introspective `Road To day reports that Nightshift was back in the pub hangs together as something rather then moves to the Bully’s stage `Poor Man’s Prayer’, `Roots Leo Bowder sold-out show at Abingdon Old Gaol (don’t go Rouen’, which, while hitting the Top 10, sold less some time before it finished, a commitment to looking for it, it’s a block of flats now), a fundraiser well than its predecessors. Reflecting the album’s professionalism countered by a desire not to be for The Notting Hill Housing Trust, which worked nature, the band headed out on a semi-acoustic committed. when Conan eventually launch into their drop-F with homeless teenagers in London. The intense heat tour, including, this month, an “intimate show” at CONAN / DIESEL KING / DEAD EXISTENCE / mini epics, and there’s no doubt that the room of the venue meant drummer Danny Goffey was the Oxford Playhouse, which contrasted to the 5 YEARS AGO shakes as the trio open with `Crown of Talons’, forced to leave the stage twice and ended the evening extravagant Greatest Hits show at the New Theatre It’s not all about chart hits of course. Back in THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN although the volume is thoughtfully considered suffering heat exhaustion, while Gaz Coombes and a year earlier. Talking to Nightshift, Mick Quinn August 2010 indefatigable local rockers Smilex for the size of the room, leaving the crowd Mick Quinn had to be administered oxygen onstage. explained the mood of the album, recorded in had just been awarded Best Live Band at the annual The Wheatsheaf severely shaken but not actually deaf. Despite this, the gig was a triumph, with the band southern France: “French life is particularly slow Unsigned Awards, run by Playmusic magazine. playing their album in its entirety, including feelgood paced, where people take their time to savour the Tonight is the 4th July. An appropriate date given of your dreams and aspirations. Sludge doesn’t Conan’s musical formula is all about economy; “It’s a nice surprise,” singer Lee Christian told hit of the summer, `Alright’. flavours of life. If we’d recorded it in London it that openers The Midnight Ghost Train are as come much bleaker than this, and the contortions no note is extraneous, no word distorts the Nightshift, “when you’ve been going as long as we Meanwhile, `I Should Coco’ producer Sam would have been a very different, perhaps more American as morbid obesity, singer Steve Moss of Harding’s face as he espouses such hatred is a simplicity of the message being delivered, which have, you forget anyone is paying attention, so it’s Williams was enjoying another slice of success as confused, record.” introducing the band in his distinctive Kansas reflection of the horrible racket these guys make. means there is absolutely no chaff. What most cool after all these years of blood, sweat and other his band The Mystics released their new single `See Hoping to be the next Supergrass back then were howl before launching into some good old Diesel King aren’t messing around either and impresses in a live setting is the sheer density bodily fluids, to get a bit of national recognition. You’ on Fontana, a deal that was to prove ill fated local rockers Nation, who had audaciously hired fashioned rock and roll. His enthusiasm gets their pugilistic, mid-tempo sludge is the perfect of their sound, and just when you think they Gracing the cover of this month’s Nightshift were a but right now felt like something very special about The New Theatre for their album launch show. The the better of him and he immediately breaks a precursor to Conan’s self-styled caveman very young bunch of noisemakers hoping to hit the can’t get any lower they drop a note that is to break. Arthur Turner’s Lovechild?, meanwhile, dandyish, phenomenally self-confident stadium- heights – Dial F For Frankenstein. Still rated as string, but after this false start the band give a battle doom. Due to the crowded stage, hulking almost inaudible, hitting you with nothing but enjoyed their own bit of fanfare, signing a deal with rock quintet had spent the previous couple of years one of the best live bands to come out of Oxford by headline-worthy performances, and while the frontman Mark O’Regan performs from the pure low-end frequencies. The alternating low local label Rotator on the pitch at The Manor just playing tours of local schools as well as playing for certain Nightshift contributors, the band’s lifespan riffs themselves are a little indistinct from one crowd for the most part which makes it difficult and high screams of Chris Fielding and Jon before Oxford Utd played a pre-season friendly with British troops in Bosnia and felt ready for the big another the sheer energy they bring makes for an to see him, but judging by the intensity of his Davies complement each other perfectly as new West Ham. The band kicked footballs into the crowd time with `Walk On’, their second album. If anyone was short but explosive, with a memorable set impressive opening gambit. booming voice and the occasional flailing of drummer Rich Lewis locks in with the almighty and missed, and subsequently missed most of the knows their whereabouts now, do get in touch. Truck Festival a particular highlight. If The Midnight Ghost Train aim to get the limbs up at the front it’s safe to assume he’s in groove of the riffs. `Foehammer’ provides a match – including a Paul Moody hattrick – because Another bunch of young hopefuls in town were Highlights of a relatively quiet month in town, crowd moving, London’s Dead Existence want his element as tracks from their recent album brief uptempo moment before the devastating they were doing something naughty and rock and roll Yorkshire newcomers Arctic Monkeys, who played were Jah Wobble at the O2 Academy – a venue to leave them a hollow, weeping mess. The band `Concrete Burial’ slay with brutal intensity. duo of `Hawk as Weapon’ and `Battle in the downstairs rather than sitting in their seats. a sold-out show at The Zodiac. Despite the hype he returns to next month – Fairport Convention’s are well-known for their torturous sludge-doom Conan are currently the kings of the UK doom Swamp’ gets the entire room’s heads nodding in In another show of world-conquering action for the surrounding the band, we really rather liked them, annual Cropredy Festival – which happens again racket and tonight they are in fine form, playing scene and after a triumphant US tour and having unison. The band ends on perhaps their slowest Oxford music scene at this period in time, music and things didn’t turn out too bad for them, did it. this month – with guests Status Quo, Little Feat songs from cheerily titled new album `Endless played pretty much every metal festival in the and bleakest song, `Krull’: the song that best biz flag bearer Billboard magazine ran a front-page Bigger names – at the time – were gathering in and Bellowhead, and rap crew Ugly Duckling at Misery’. Dual guitars twist discordant notes world, it’s great (if somewhat surreal) to finally encapsulates the band’s entire ethos: slow doom, feature on the city and its music, comparing it to South Park for local blandfest radio station Fox the Bullingdon – where they returned to a couple around each other while singer Jake Harding have them playing in Oxford. People had joked feedback, lyrics about mythological monsters, Liverpool and Motown. And thus descended several FM’s annual Party In The Park. Current hero of months back. Everything comes back around again, screams sweet nothings at the audience about before the gig about their concerns for the and a feeling of complete and utter devastation. hundred A&R men upon Cowley Road, all of whom the downtrodden, Charlotte Church, was on the don’t it. But hopefully not Fox FM’s Party In The the hopelessness of life and the pointlessness structural integrity of the building at the moment Tom McKibbin are now unemployed. bill, alongside McFly, Girls Aloud, Texas, KT Park. deep down at its core it sounds a bit like some there’s some decent riff action going on. long lost Can jam with Malcolm Mooney Likewise `Better Days’, which sounds like replaced by some wild-haired r’n’b belter. Headcount’s considerably more reasonable `I Wish We Could Be Lovers’, meanwhile but less effective older brother making DEMOS is considerably more coherent with its conversation at an accounts department Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day unrelenting, arppegiating rhythm nodding to Christmas do. `Enobarbas’, meanwhile, beefs at Soundworks studio in Oxford, Bo Diddley and Dick Dale, while the guitarist up the guitars but throws in a heap of “Ooh- courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit simply freewheels where he feels like and the ooh-ooh’ harmonies to the point we’re asking, singer goes all Jonathan Richman on us. As are you The Wildhearts or One Direction? If www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift we mentioned before we’re not really ones for the answer is both at the same time, you might hi-fidelity here at Nightshift, but occasionally just become millionaires. Just don’t tell Louis we’re presented with evidence that a bit of Walsh. although the finale, a droning dirge topped production polish is a necessity. This could be with barely decipherable poetry, does have an 01865 240250 DEMO OF great. Hopefully once they’re all in the same almost hypnotic psychedelic edge to it. Lo-fi country it will be. in extremis, Amoral Compass might be better THE DEMO THE MONTH simply ditching any attempt at musicality, handing all vocal duties over to Celina to MATT CARTER DUMPER simply shout what comes into her head and Matt Carter likes Nick Drake. We know this THE BIG SUN cranking the guitar and bass up to a level because he says so in his email, and also Strange and sometimes rather lovely the sort where the very fabric of space and time starts TWOSIXONES of talent that lies hidden in Oxfordshire’s because every song on his Soundcloud sounds to collapse in on itself. That’d be great. It’d “We are TwoSixOnes, the most exciting band quieter corners. Who’d have thought we’d like Nick Drake. And that’s not a bad thing also have the bonus effect of blowing all those you’ve never heard of,” begin TwoSixOnes have our own answer to St Etienne right when you consider the alternatives. Matt tells stray cobwebs in the garden away. by way of introduction. And the thing is, on our doorstep (okay, so Sarah Cracknell us he’s back in Oxford and looking to make we’ll have to believe them, because if we’ve does live in the shire, but you know what we an album after time spent working in East not heard of a band, how can we know that mean). The Big Sun come from Eynsham and Africa, though we suspect where he’s really DECOVO been is sat in some rural idyll gazing out at they’re more exciting than TwoSixOnes? But have a tendency to sound like a stoner pixie Given we’re reviewing this month’s demo a moonlit lake for possibly weeks on end, then, how do TwoSixOnes know which bands disco in a meadow full of bunnies. From the pile the day after getting back from Cornbury which would account for the serene, hushed we have or haven’t heard of? We’ve heard of giddy piano gallop that opens `Dumb LKU’, Festival, during which we managed to sit mood of these songs. His feather bed voice some pretty bloody fantastic bands, but even through the lush synth strings, squelchy through an entire hour of Jack Savoretti glides over simple acoustic guitar or piano if we pick a couple of the more obscure ones electronics and glitchy beats to the singer’s (admittedly because by that point we’d drunk and the world becomes still. Song titles like we’ve heard lately, like Battery Operated sleepy-eyed croon, they never sound in any enough to render us immobile), it really `Weary Traveller’ and `Bliss Mill’ only serve Orchestra or Slum of Legs, TwoSixOnes are great hurry to get anywhere, or that they’re shouldn’t be too hard to make us think you’re TURAN AUDIO.co.uk to accentuate the mood of wistful reflection. going to have their work cut out to be more even aware of where they are at any point, but inspired and original. Beyond the abilities of Professional, independent CD mastering The only real criticism we’d make is that exciting than them. “We would love to feature throughout this defiantly homemade-sounding Decovo though, sadly. They’ve previously once he’s sat down to pen such reveries on in your magazine,” they continue, “Think Artists mastered in the studio last month include; demo, they prove that they’ve got a very had a bit of a shoeing in these pages and the shores of that placid stretch of water, he’s Extreme covering Sheppard and you’re firm grasp of what makes pop music fun and compared to Bastille – for which we offer a WEDNESDAYS WOLVES, CHICAGO, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, unwilling to get up and look at some other probably not even vaguely close to what we loveable. Incidentally the other hand is firmly semi apology since however bad things get, THE RUTS, THE BAND, SMASHING PUMPKINS, TOM PETTY, scenery, so the songs do become a bit samey sound like.” And to be honest, dear reader, grasping the sweetie jar. The best song on this being compared to Bastille isn’t something BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, RUSH, THE DAMNED, IGGY & after a while. But, y’know, amid the hurly we really hope that thought isn’t close to demo is called `Jelly Bang’. Of course it is. any band should have to endure without burly of modern life, it’s sometimes nice what they sound like, because sounding like THE STOOGES, UB40, THE B-52s, BAD COMPANY, ALICE Muso worthies will doubtless scoff at its very recourse to lawyers – and we’d hoped they to simply sit in peaceful contemplating of Extreme (tortuous American soft rockers what COOPER, MOTT THE HOOPLE, FARSIGHT FEATURING JESS existence and dismiss it as mere fluff. Yeah might have learned a valuable life lesson, or nature’s stillness. Or at least it would be if BT we thought had died sometime in the 1990s) CAHILL, SLADE, STEVE KERSHAW TRIO, TWISTED STATE well, kittens are little bundles of fluff too, and at least learned how to write a half decent Open Reach hadn’t just parked up outside and covering Sheppard (putrefying Aussie band OF MIND. only the terminally diseased of soul and spirit tune, but while there’s a rudimentary degree started drilling into the pavement across the who describe themselves as “indie” but sound don’t love kittens. of musical competence here that might not road. Cheers, you fuckers. like Steps having any remaining semblance 01865 716466 [email protected] have been entirely apparent last time, it’s of fun filleted by a born-again Christian still generic indie rock that squishes together committee for teenage moral wellbeing) bits and pieces of pretty much every major DIRTY VALUABLES would make them utterly fucking terrible. AMORAL COMPASS player from the last 20 or so years, from COURTYARD Talking of sounding homemade, we’d hazard Not much chance of BT, or even the RAF, Shit, we haven’t even played TwoSixOne’s Oasis, through Arctic Monkeys to Foals. We’d drowning out Dirty Valuables, such is their demo yet and we’re utterly fucking terrified. a guess that Amoral Compass’s music was describe `You Can’t Stop Us’ as plodding, RECORDING STUDIO roughly nailed together from whatever scraps dedication to riffage and rock music. Not to Our one tiny glimmer of hope is that they’re 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: but that would be an insult to Mr Plod, lord NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 of chipboard, tin cans and cobwebs they found the point of total sonic carnage of the kind taking the piss and actually sound like a drug- mayor of Ploddington in Plodland, and the we rather enjoy, sadly, more a meaty form of fuelled whirlwind romance between Fucked MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb lying around in their garden. They probably Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear overall feeling is that someone needs to spike pop-tinged punk-metal that is simultaneously Up and The Body & Thou. (Nightshift presses think finesse is a lake in Scotland. But does Decovo’s coffee with an industrial dose of Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern that make them bad? To some ears (most if massively out of date and capable of middle- `play’). Funk bass. Lily-livered excuse for Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules meth just to get a bit of energy out of them. order main stage rock festival success. Opener stadium rock. Bit of Afropop trilling. Boy Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. we’re honest) probably, but we’ll indulge a fair Hopefully time and exposure to something off degree of shambolic noise here at Nightshift. `Placebo Trials’, for example, is gruff and band harmonising. Heavy whiff of regional Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. the musical beaten track will make a decent www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk Which is handy since they don’t come much shouty 90s-styled grunge in the vein of The band competition semi-final runners-up. band of them. In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk more shambolic than this. The first track barely Gin Blossoms, or the more melodic side of Distinct feeling that the vague concepts of Red Hot Chili Peppers and it’s got swearing rock and funk music have been hijacked by a Email: [email protected] passes as music at all, a rudimentary bass- Phone: Richard or Kate on 01235 845800 heavy dirge with possibly the world’s most and shouting on it and everything, but just as born-again Christian committee for teenage THE PAISLEY DAZE we’re gearing ourselves up for a bit of braking moral wellbeing. Heap of shit then, basically. disinterested singer ever intoning tunelessly This lot are currently split between Oxford stuff fun, they come on all contemplative, The very thought that TwoSixOnes are, or over the top. Even when he chants “Bring me and Hong Kong according to their email, spiritual even, with `Just In Time For ever were, the most exciting band we’d never my toys / Fuck yeah, toys!” he musters all the which might explain why much of it sounds Autumn’. “Never forget who you are / Never heard still fills us with a sense of dread (just rage and conviction of Marvin the Paranoid like it was recorded on an old answer phone forget how you got this far,” opines the how bad would all the others have to be?), Android reciting his shopping list. So far so via a dodgy dial-up internet connection. singer, when really great rock music really is but luckily we’ve actually heard them now, terrible, but a switch of lead vocal and things Certainly there’s little to suggest the band about forgetting all that stuff because you’ve so such pondering need no longer concern us. improve significantly, even if they’re no closer are, or ever have been, in the same room as drunk six double JD and cokes for breakfast. The important thing is that we never have to to penning anything resembling an actual each other, and while in this day and age Shame about the poncy lyrical content as hear them again. tune, Celina MacDonald, doing bored and such things are irrelevant, maybe at least a sullen with far greater aplomb, the grungy brief discussion between the guitarist and guitar noise at last reaching a plateau where the rhythm section as to whether they’re Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to passing ornaments might be at risk. And then going to be a funk band or a bunch of crazy [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without we’re back to shrugging and mumbling and psychedelic groovers would have eased the a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you generally meandering around the outskirts process for all concerned. `We Gotta Go’ in can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. And don’t fucking whine about your of what is popularly recognised as music, particular is a mess, which is a shame because review on Twitter either, else we’ll print a screenshot and make you look like a prize tit. thevenuecollective PRESENTS

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