Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Gigwatcher 25/06/2008

Covered Up

So, Celine Dion has won the award for Worst Cover Version for her take on AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long (the evidence is freely available on YouTube if you dare endure it). I wonder if Angus and chums would return the favour, it might make herself's Titanic theme tune more listenable.

[thinks]

Perhaps not. I don't think there are enough guitars in the world.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, I've picked the following gigs of note from the back pages of this week's NME:

Elbow @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 07/10/2008
Feeder @ The Guldhall, Southampton - 15/11/2008
Ratatat @ Audio, Brighton - 23/07/2008
Flamboyant Bella @ The Joiners, Southampton - 26/07/2008
Flamboyant Bella @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 24/07/2008
The Feeling @ The Brighton Centre - 01/11/2008
The Feeling @ BIC, Bournemouth - 02/11/2008
Rancid @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 12/11/2008
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portmouth - 26/08/2008

The above gigs might be added onto the SoMC Events Calendar this weekend (depending on sound FX duties, bimbling and general faffing about in front of the television). I wouldn't put a bet on me getting around to do it, then again I reckon Spain are going to win the European Championships so what do I know? When the Events Calendar is up date it's full of lovely local gigs, like these...

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Luke Leighfield and Sam Isaac @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 26/06/2008
Sandi Thom @ The Brook, Southampton - 26/06/2008
Melt Banana and Comanechi @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 26/06/2008
Skyline Heroes, Herbarley and Who's Keeping Score? @ The Joiners, Southampton - 26/06/2008
Antonio Forcione Quartet @ Komedia, Brighton - 26/06/2008
Freddy & The Freeloaders @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 26/06/2008
The Tripods, Damaged Goods and James Harmer @ The Railway, Winchester - 26/06/2008
Plastik Toys, Little Fish, The Maddisons and The Vision @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 26/06/2008
Scarlet Soho, Bang Bang Bang and Riot Lights @ The Railway, Winchester - 27/06/2008
Russell Watson @ BIC, Bournemouth - 27/06/2008
T-Rextasy (T-Rex tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 27/06/2008
The Gary Fletcher Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 27/06/2008
Spiritualized @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 27/06/2008
Wellalive and Union @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 27/06/2008
Bubbledubble @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 27/06/2008
Riverside Blues Band @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 27/06/2008
Who's Who (The Who tribute) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 27/06/2008
Attack Attack, Said Mike and Cut The Blue Wire @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/06/2008
The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Blakes @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/06/2008
Bang Bang Lulu @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 28/06/2008
Antony Ferraro & The Moondance Swing Band @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 28/06/2008
The Rockiteers @ The Brook, Southampton - 28/06/2008 CANCELLED!
Creamy (Cream tribute) @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 28/06/2008
Burnt Ice @ The Brewery Bar, Botley - 28/06/2008
Roddy Radiation & The Skabilly Rebels @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 28/06/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 28/06/2008
Zhain @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 28/06/2008
Atomic Badger @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 28/06/2008
Black Star Crash, Jocasta Sleeps and Solmyre @ The Joiners, Southampton - 28/06/2008
Non Indigenous, Global Citizen and The Shanklin Freakshow @ The Railway, Winchester - 28/06/2008
Midge Ure @ The Brook, Southampton - 29/06/2008
Kool Keith @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 29/06/2008 CANCELLED!
James & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 29/06/2008
The Elizans, The Levels, Ragged T-Shirts and La Mezma @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 29/06/2008
Saving Aimee, Lioness and The Chase @ The Joiners, Southampton - 29/06/2008
Ben Pinwill, Star Anise and Cooperboy @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 29/06/2008
Rebecca Worthly @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 29/06/2008
The 95's and The Realists @ Drift, Southsea - 29/06/2008
Blackchalk, Voodoo Vegas and Jasper Trap @ The Joiners, Southampton - 30/06/2008
The Rocket Summer, Mélée and The Outline @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 01/07/2008
Beck @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 01/07/2008
Russell Watson @ The Dome, Brighton - 01/07/2008
Padma, Rich Garrett and Graham McCullough @ The Edge of the Wedge, Portsmouth - 01/07/2008
Eddy Grant @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 01/07/2008
Guns On The Roof, The Reaktors and We're All Armed @ The Joiners, Southampton - 01/07/2008
The Australian Pink Floyd Show @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 02/07/2008
Ghostwood @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 02/07/2008
Pentangle @ The Dome, Brighton - 02/07/2008
Insinerate, Hexagram, Sonerety and Ungodly Sacrifice @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 02/07/2008
Luciano, Andy Baron and Concrete Johnson @ The Pavilion, Brighton - 02/07/2008
Bad Influence @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/07/2008
Aroteh, Mask of Judas and Biolith @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/07/2008
Millencolin @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 26/09/2008
Cyndi Lauper @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 11/10/2008
Boy George @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 14/10/2008
Scorpions @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 16/10/2008
Dirty Pretty Things @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/10/2008
Alter Bridge @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
The Saw Doctors @ The Brook, Southampton - 02/12/2008
Hawkwind @ The Brook, Southampton - 15/12/2008

Waster this week features live performances from Fresh Legs and Venice Ahoy, plus the usual fine selection of tunes courtesy of the Southsea Mafia DJs. Doors open at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 26th June, with entrance the usual £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after, etc). Facebook types can get in for free simply by adding their name (and group size) on the event's wall.

After 17 years rocking South Parade Pier legendary club night Chaos is waving goodbye to its stilted seaside home. The final Chaos at the pier takes place this Saturday, 28th June, and will feature sets by DJs past and present who'll be making good use of the monster sound system they're wheeling in for the occasion. Tickets for this monumental shindig are available in advance from Little Johnny Russell's and The Wedgewood Rooms, though there'll be a limited number available on the door on the night (on a purely "first come, first served" basis). Don't fret, it's not quite the end; Chaos will return (in a slightly more compact and bijou form) at The Wedgewood Rooms on Saturday 12th July. Huzzah!

This week Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features performances from Brighton based singer-songwriter Emily Baker and alternative folk artiste Pete Christie. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 26th June, with the first artist onstage at 2000. The regular Open Mike session follows the guest slots at 2200. Admission is, as always, FREE!

And that's me done for this week. Today I have mostly been enjoying The Wedding Present's latest release and the classic United By Fate by Rival Schools (who were so fantastically good at the Wedge last Saturday that I nearly exploded, honest guv). Be sure to join me next week when I'll be pondering the beetroot.

:o)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Gigwatcher 18/06/2008

Song Sung Blue...

..everybody knows one.. yup, you'll be humming that all day now..

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here are the hand-picked gigs plucked the back of this week's NME:

Jeremy Warmsley, Esser, Liam Finn and Absentee @ Audio, Brighton - 17/07/2008
Peter Conway @ Boileroom, Guildford - 21/08/2008
Crystal Castles @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 16/09/2008
White Lies @ Komedia, Brighton - 29/09/2008
The Duke Spirit @ Komedia, Brighton - 01/10/2008
Dirty Pretty Things @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/10/2008
Mystery Jets @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/10/2008
Mercury Rev @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 11/11/2008

I may well add the above gigs to the mighty SoMC Events Calendar at some point over the weekend (should I not be too hungover, busy with technical rehearsal or watching four weeks worth of Doctor Who that is). Chances are I won't, but there you go. However, when it is up to date the Events Calendar is a handy place to check what gigs are occurring locally, of which these are an example...

Toots & The Maytals @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 19/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
Stompin' Dave @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 19/06/2008
Eyes, Skitanja and El Colosso @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/06/2008
Steve Howe Trio @ Komedia, Brighton - 19/06/2008
Luke Leighfield, Sam Isaac, Dave House and My First Tooth @ Hamptons, Southampton - 19/06/2008
Danny Valentine & The Menafilms and Brassneck @ The Railway, Winchester - 19/06/2008
The Beat, The Racketeers, Bang Bang Lulu and Conal Kennedy (DJ) @ South Parade Pier, Southsea - 20/06/2008
Bella Hardy & Chris Sherburn @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 20/06/2008
Fleetwood Bac (Fleetwood Mac tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 20/06/2008
James Yuill and The B of The Bang @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 20/06/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 20/06/2008
Sham 69, Thinking For Tuesday and The Angel Strain @ The Railway, Winchester - 20/06/2008
Mimi Soya, Never Back Down and The Auteur @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/06/2008
Deep Mamboo @ Komedia, Brighton - 20/06/2008
Purple Monkey @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 20/06/2008
Tiny Tin Lady @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 21/06/2008
David Essex @ BIC, Bournemouth - 21/06/2008
The Mods @ The Brook, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Emily Maguire @ Havant Arts Centre - 21/06/2008 CANCELLED!
Smokin Guns, Caesura and Nick Shepherd @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Chin Music, Harbour Lights and Xavier Floyd Firebird @ The Joiners, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Peter Watts & Trevor Watts @ Komedia, Brighton - 21/06/2008
Eight Legs and Lyrebirds @ Lennons, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Hijack Oscar, Ryan O'Reilly and The Wellbeing @ The Railway, Winchester - 21/06/2008
The Racketeers and Ricky Tick @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Installation, Portland Drive and Aunty Doubles @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Ghoad @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 21/06/2008
Rival Schools, The Computers and Thiscity @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 21/06/2008
Jenna's Revenge @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 21/06/2008
Look See Proof, Awesome Colour and The Elements @ The Joiners, Southampton - 22/06/2008
Sarah Nicolls @ The Dome, Brighton - 22/06/2008
Cure The Disaster, The Light Divided, The Model Village and Melodramas @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 22/06/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 22/06/2008
Andy Muscat and Mojito @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 22/06/2008
JC & Angelina Grimshaw @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 22/06/2008
The Continentals @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 23/06/2008
Chase Long Beach, Park Ranger and Smackjoint @ The Joiners, Southampton - 23/06/2008
Russell Watson @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 23/06/2008
Merz @ Komedia, Brighton - 24/06/2008
Neil Sutherland, Jon Crocker, Squab and Napoleon Dynamite @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 24/06/2008
Loubill and Trailing Leads @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/06/2008
Thinking For Tuesday, Tinderbox and Scott Hodges @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 24/06/2008
Second Monday (TBC) and Tribute To Nothing @ The Railway, Winchester - 24/06/2008
Enochian Theory, Mayz, Akakios and Frosthold @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 24/06/2008
Dlugokecki, The Casual Nelsons and The Choices We Make @ Hamptons, Southampton - 25/06/2008
The Zombies and The Yardbirds @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 25/06/2008
Censored, Acusis, Imightdisco and Kid Charlemaine @ The Joiners, Southampton - 25/06/2008
Nato, Only Heroes Die and Puresist @ The Railway, Winchester - 25/06/2008
Queensryche @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 25/06/2008
Peter Conway, Rossco, James Tippins and Andrew Cooper @ Drift, Southsea - 25/06/2008
Soda @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 25/06/2008
Skindred @ @ The Railway, Winchester - 15/07/2008
Keb Mo @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/07/2008
The Script @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 06/08/2008
Conor Oberst @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 26/08/2008
Alannah Myles @ The Brook, Southampton - 15/09/2008
Ronnie Spector @ The Brook, Southampton - 24/09/2008
The Wedding Present @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/12/2008
The Human League, ABC and Heaven 17 @ The Brighton Centre - 05/12/2008
The Human League, ABC and Heaven 17 @ BIC, Bournemouth - 06/12/2008

The 17th Blues On The Farm festival takes place at Pump Bottom Farm at Appledram, near Chichester, this weekend. The festival again features a strong and varied line-up of Blues performers from all around the world, from the USA to Zimbabwe. Amongst the acts performing are Aynsley Lister, The Hamsters, Dani Wilde, Rodney Branigan, Giles Hedley & The Aviators, Deborah Bonham, Kris Dollimore and the legendary Albert Lee. The festival runs from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd June, more information can be found on the festival website.

Acoustix takes it blend of local performers into the city for some alfresco (and free) entertainment this Saturday, 21st June. Aitch, Amalthea, Andy Foster and Chris Ricketts will be performing on the Waterfront at Gunwharf Quays from midday to 1700.

The Southsea Mafia DJs are all set to take over tomorrow night's Waster for an evening of the best alternative tunes in town. Doors open at Liquid Envy in Portsmouth at 2200, entrance is £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after).

The fifth annual Access Festival takes place in Southampton's Mayflower Park this Saturday, 21st June, and will feature performances from Kids Can't Fly, Black Bart, Lowis Landes, Bitter Ruin, Oblongata, The Ramblings, Recreation and The Horse (plus other acts to be announced). There'll also be an art gallery and stand-up comedy too. The fun starts at midday, through to 2100, and entrance is FREE! (although there is a suggested donation of £2; all proceeds go to the Society of St James, a local charity which provides support and accommodation for the homeless).

The Blissfields festival may be cancelled (due to low ticket sales unfortunately) but the Blissfields In The City night at The Talking Heads this Friday, 20th June, is still going ahead (at the moment). The line-up includes Toupe, Kid's Can't Fly, Blisskrieg and This Is Fiction. Doors open 1930 through to 0200, entrance is £5.

Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week features guest performances from Cool Banana and Adam Cole, with the regular Open Mike session following afterwards. The doors at The Barn at The Milton Arms open at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 19th June, and admission is FREE. And there's a Facebook group too now, which is nice.

And finally, details of October's Portsmouth & Southsea Festival are finally starting to appear. The festival is due to be held on Castle Field from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th October, and the first confirmed act has been announced in the shape of power-pop trio Dodgy (no, really). They'll also be playing the official festival launch party at Tiger Tiger at Gunwharf Quays on Friday 4th July, when the line-up for the first night of the festival will be announced. Acts so far rumoured to be appearing include The Charlatans, Nik Kershaw and The Spin Doctors.

Put a fork in me, I'm done. This afternoon I have mostly been plugged into the Delays new album (again), some Maxïmo Park and the debut offering by the now defunct Hope Of The States. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be weighing a bag of stoats.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Gigwatcher 11/06/2008

Southern Vectis.

The Sun is burning in the sky, Bill Oddie is on the tellybox and Summer is just around the corner; that means it's time to break out the sunblock and/or wellies as the music festival season is nigh, the opening act of which is this weekend's IOW Festival.

Due to my own incompetence (i.e. I thought I'd have plenty of time to get a ticket, and they promptly went and sold out in no time flat) I won't be attending this year's festival (little short of a minor miracle I won't anyway) but I hope those that were lucky enough to snaffle tickets have a jolly spiffing time. And no I'm not at all jealous.

*koff*

Much.

Moving slightly along, here are a selection of local gigs hand-picked from the back-end of this week's NME:

Peter Conway @ The Railway, Winchester - 19/06/2008
Peter Conway @ Drift, Southsea - 25/06/2008
White Denim @ Audio, Brighton - 30/06/2008
Cut Off Your Hands @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 15/07/2008
Peter Conway @ Joogleberry, Brighton - 20/07/2008
Peter Conway @ Boileroom, Guildford - 21/08/2008
Royworld @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/09/2008
Does It Offend You Yeah? @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 20/10/2008
The Rifles @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/10/2008
Does It Offend You Yeah? @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 21/10/2008
Mystery Jets @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/10/2008
The Rifles @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 19/11/2008
Billy Bragg @ The Guildhall, Brighton - 30/11/2008

Little short of a miracle occurring, whereby I win a ticket for the shindig on the island (and I'm not that lucky), I'll probably have time to update the SoMC Events Calendar with the above gigs at some point over the weekend (though it's more than likely I'll be distracted by something or other and wander off aimlessly from the point). When it's up to date the Events Calendar is a fine and dandy tool, ideal for the average muso at a loose end who might be looking for somewhere to idly tap their feet of an evening, holding many fine local gigs like these to tickle their fancy...

Bon Jovi @ St Mary's Stadium, Southampton - 11/06/2008
I Was A Cub Scout @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/06/2008 CANCELLED!
Steve Howe Trio @ The Brook, Southampton - 12/06/2008
The Counterfeit Stones @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 12/06/2008
The Bizets, Hourstilautumn and The Harlingtons @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 12/06/2008
Kris Drever @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 12/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 12/06/2008
Limehouse Lizzy (Thin Lizzy tribute) @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 12/06/2008
Gundogs, Plastic Toys and Zwaitec @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/06/2008
Warsaw Village Band @ Komedia, Brighton - 12/06/2008
Jim Crawford @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 12/06/2008
Big Squirrel, Evolve and Lizard Man @ Havant Arts Centre - 12/06/2008
Kumiss, My Panda Shall Fly and Haunted Stereo @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 12/06/2008
War Pigs (Black Sabbath tribute), Please, Sad Shields and Elapse-O @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Björn Again @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 13/06/2008
Joan As Police Woman @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 13/06/2008
Legend (Bob Marley tribute) and Wiservice @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Lucy Kaplansky @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 13/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Brook, Southampton - 13/06/2008
Who's Who (acoustic) (The Who tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Senser @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 13/06/2008
Judge Trev & Kev Ellis @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Ian Siegal @ Havant Arts Centre - 13/06/2008
The Alistair Goodwin Fromage @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 13/06/2008
The Game @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 13/06/2008 POSTPONED!
Echobeat, Some Velvet Morning and Gas Bar Panic @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/06/2008
David Essex @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Hold Fire and Phil Horton @ The Railway, Winchester - 13/06/2008
Bubbledubble @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Craig David @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 14/06/2008
James @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
Mor Karbasi @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 14/06/2008
David Essex @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 14/06/2008
The Zombies and The Yardbirds @ The Dome, Brighton - 14/06/2008
Rufus Stone @ The Brook, Southampton - 14/06/2008
Crater, Pattúr and Ni Dieux Ni Maitre @ The Railway, Winchester - 14/06/2008
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The Brewery Bar, Botley - 14/06/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Swan, Woolston - 14/06/2008
Prior Engagement (Rory Gallagher tribute) @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008
28 Costumes, Recreation and Olympian @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/06/2008
The Move @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008
Thea Gilmore @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 14/06/2008
Eliza Doolittle and Fresh Legs @ Lennons, Southampton - 14/06/2008
Dick Gaughan @ Komedia, Brighton - 14/06/2008
Legend @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 14/06/2008
T-Pot Junkies @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008
Sweetedge @ The Fountain, Rowlands Castle - 14/06/2008
Little Aitch and David Wheat @ Drift, Southsea - 15/06/2008
Jim Crawford @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 15/06/2008
Strawberry Blondes, Eat The Document and Scarlet Laughter @ The Joiners, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Yazoo @ The Brighton Centre - 15/06/2008
Hugh Budden & Pete Harris @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Flis Pitman and Jack Alexander @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 15/06/2008
Artisian, Dark Revenance, The Furious Horde and Gilla Bruja @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Sue Hawker & Guy Gardner @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 15/06/2008
The Beatbacks and Caroline's Capuchin @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Robin Bibi Band @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 16/06/2008
The Maddisons, The Deltons and The Vegas @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/06/2008
August Burns Red, Shaped By Fate and Bury Tomorrow @ Mr C's, Poole - 16/06/2008
Neil Diamond @ The Rose Bowl, Southampton - 17/06/2008
Helsinki and Rossco @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 17/06/2008
Out From Animals, The Exits and I Am Immune @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/06/2008
Diane Cluck and Peggy Sue & The Pirates @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/06/2008
Peter Leonard, Jam On Bread and Richard Hall @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 17/06/2008
Canterbury, Bright White Light and Treehouse Casino @ The Railway, Winchester - 17/06/2008
The Sugars and The Lonely Cardinals @ Drift, Southsea - 17/06/2008
Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 17/06/2008
Dave McPherson (InME) and Alphabetts @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/06/2008
Keren Ann @ Komedia, Brighton - 18/06/2008
Coast, The Queue and Hayley Angel @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 18/06/2008
Zombina & The Skeletones, The Rocket Dolls and Arty Karate @ The Railway, Winchester - 18/06/2008
Sons of Albion, Diesel Noi and Draegon @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/06/2008
Steve Hampton @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 18/06/2008
Eliza Carthy @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 10/09/2008
Cara Dillon @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 04/10/2008
Hazel O'Connor @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 08/11/2008

Having now moved to its new Thursday slot, tomorrow night's Waster will feature live music from local bands The Levels and Wyld Syde (the winners of The Wedgewood Rooms' Showcase 07 competition) plus a fine selection of alternative classics spun by the Southsea Mafia DJs. Doors open at Liquid Envy in Portsmouth at 2200, Thursday 12th June, entrance is £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after).

Portsmouth's only dedicated trance night, iLLuMIDanCe, celebrates its 1st birthday this Saturday, 14th June, at the Venus Vodka Bar on Guildhall Walk . Resident DJs Nathan Hunt and Cabin Boy will be joined by DJ Coincidence (TXTure, Stoned) and Martin Bradley. Doors 2100-0200, admission is £1 on the door (ID will be required).

The Hobbit hosts the fourth of its fund-raisers this Saturday, 14th June, for Southampton's Access Festival. Featuring live performances from The Horse, Black Bart, The Bard Stars, James Carey and The Real Raj, this is the last mini-fest before the main event on Saturday 21st June. Doors open at 2000 and admission is £3 (£2 if you flash your festival badge).

Portsmouth Scene Promotions, promoters of the very successful Best of Portsmouth events, will be hosting a showcase of local talent at the Southsea Bandstand this Sunday, 15th June. The line-up includes SixNationState, The Exits, The Ramblings and Crossfire, running from 1300-1600 (weather permitting). The sixth Best of Portsmouth event takes place at The Guildhall, Portsmouth, next month.

Both of the guest artists at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week hail from Portsmouth; post-punk act Medison (formally known as Leptany) will be onstage at 2000, with alternative rock foursome Apostle following at 2100. The regular Open Mike sessions book-end the evening, from 1900-2000 and 2200-0000. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 12th June, and admission is FREE!

And that about wraps things up for this week; this afternoon I have mostly been listening to Colin Meloy Sings Live, a collection of tunes performed by The Decemberists' front-man on his solo tour last year (and jolly good it is too). Be sure to join me next week when I'll be recovering from the majesty of Neil Diamond.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

The Gigwatcher 04/06/2008

Fake Rabbit. Real Snake.

OK, I'll bite.. why is Lily Allen dressing up like Stephanie from Lazy Town?

*koff*

Moving swiftly on... here are this week's gigs prodigiously plucked from the back pages of that inestimable organ, the NME:

Die! Die! Die! @ Water Margin, Brighton - 05/06/2008
Lykke Li and El Perro Del Mar @ The Albert, Brighton - 06/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
Two Choices @ The Pier, Brighton - 14/06/2008
The Sugars @ Drift, Southsea - 17/06/2008
The Sugars @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/06/2008
Black Kids and Team Waterpolo @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 10/07/2008
Scouting For Girls @ BIC, Bournemouth - 01/11/2008
Scouting For Girls @ The Brighton Centre - 03/11/2008
Scouting For Girls @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 23/11/2008

The gigs above may well be in with a chance of being foisted upon the SoMC Events Calendar at some point over the next few days. Or not. It depends on the hangover really. Regardless, when up to date the Events Calendar holds a fine collection of local gigs to tempt the average gig monkey with, like these:

The Strawbs @ The Brook, Southampton - 05/06/2008
Pluck @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 05/06/2008
The Elevators @ South Parade Pier, Southsea - 05/06/2008
Stephen Dale Petit, The Missiles and Roshambo @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/06/2008
Kinky Friedman @ Komedia, Brighton - 05/06/2008
Rossco, The Lonely Cardinals, The Ramblings and Palais @ Bar 8, Portsmouth - 05/06/2008
Black Bart @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 05/06/2008
Thomas Truax, Rusty Sheriff and Joe Black @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 05/06/2008
Targets and Flash! Flash! Flash! Photography @ The Railway, Winchester - 05/06/2008
Orange Street @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 06/06/2008
Phat Funk @ The Brook, Southampton - 06/06/2008
Caspa, The Others, Cotti and Subscape @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 06/06/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 06/06/2008
Fight Like Apes and Jazica @ The Railway, Winchester - 06/06/2008
Angelus @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 06/06/2008
Doubleback Alley, Paddy Taylor and Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dog @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 06/06/2008
Johnny Foreigner, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man and Tubelord @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/06/2008
Rooftop Reggae with Selecta DaveB (DJ) @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 06/06/2008
Dave McPherson (InME), Matt Underdown and Alaya @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/06/2008
Cool Banana, 3 Penny Puppet and Delphic Oracle @ The Barn at The Milton Arms, Portsmouth - 07/06/2008
Rapid City @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 07/06/2008
The New Scorpion Band @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 07/06/2008
Jonny 2 Bad (UB40 tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 07/06/2008
The Sensational Johnny Depps @ The Brewery Bar, Botley - 07/06/2008
Flying Pigs @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 07/06/2008
My Endeavour @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 07/06/2008
Hold Fire, Rubylux, Joby and Rivers of Sound @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 07/06/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 07/06/2008
David Thomas Broughton, Pine Forest and Mute Swimmer @ Komedia, Brighton - 07/06/2008
Captain Black, The Ramblings and The Steeples @ Lenmnons, Southampton - 07/06/2008
Emergence @ Café Havana, Southsea - 07/06/2008
Atlantico @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 07/06/2008
Candido Fabre @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 08/06/2008 (free afternoon entertainment)
Blue Oyster Cult @ The Brook, Southampton - 08/06/2008
Stream, The Wellbeing and Steve Picken @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 08/06/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 08/06/2008
3 Penny Puppet, Iscalis and Behind Bars @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 08/06/2008
Sondura, Bohica and Last Summers Day @ The Joiners, Southampton - 08/06/2008
Emergence @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 08/06/2008
Big Joe Louis @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 08/06/2008
Mojito and Karen Harmony @ Drift, Southsea - 08/06/2008
David Essex @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 09/06/2008
Zebrahead @ The Brook, Southampton - 09/06/2008
Platform 63 @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 09/06/2008
36 Crazyfists @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 09/06/2008
3 Penny Puppet, The Insatiable Love Rats, Rossco and Hayley Angel @ The 5th Hants, Portsmouth - 09/06/2008
Health, Pre and Sweat Mouth @ The Joiners, Southampton - 09/06/2008
Seether and Finger Eleven @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 09/06/2008
Blue Sky Summer, Finely Tuned Assassins and Who's Keeping Score @ The Railway, Winchester - 10/06/2008
Thomas White and Chris T-T @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 10/06/2008
Senator, Send Forth The Colony, Sinuism and Dred @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 10/06/2008
Natty @ Komedia, Brighton - 10/06/2008
Jason Buckler, Nick Tann and Mrs Poopars Automobiles @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 10/06/2008
The Maybes?, The Docks and Fearne @ The Joiners, Southampton - 10/06/2008
Pathway, My Endeavour and Apostle @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 10/06/2008
Steve Earle and Alison Moorer @ The Dome, Brighton - 11/06/2008
Eric Bibb @ The Brook, Southampton - 11/06/2008
Howard Jones @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 11/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Fall of Troy, The End and Johnny Truant @ The Joiners, Southampton - 11/06/2008
Tremain, Alphabets, Karen Tween and Lora Kirk @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 11/06/2008
The Maybes?, El Rodeo and Turncoat @ The Railway, Winchester - 11/06/2008
Chemical Sunset, Kelevra and Ardentes @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 11/06/2008
I Was A Cub Scout @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/06/2008
James @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
Fresh Legs and The Maddisons @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/06/2008
Sham 69 @ The Railway, Winchester - 20/06/2008
Dlugokecki and The Choices We Make @ Hamptons, Southampton - 25/06/2008
Tom Hingley & The Lovers @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15/07/2008

Contrary to last week's announcement, Waster returns to Liquid Envy in Portsmouth tonight for more of the finest indiepunkelectrorockdance, courtesy of the Southsea Mafia DJs. Doors open from 2200 (entrance is £1 before 2230, £2 before 2300 and £3 after), more information on the event's move to Thursday evenings as and when I find out.

Judge-Mental takes on the Federation of Underground Klubbers at The Fawcett Inn in Portsmouth this Saturday, 7th June, for another raucous evning or hard trance and techno courtesy of DJs Andy Leppard, Mr Anderson, Big Nose and The Judge. Doors 1900-2400, admission is FREE.

The people who brought you Under Your Nose are back with Kiss My Bass, Portsmouth's newest club night. Focused on bass, bleeps and beats the fun kicks off at Café Havana in Southsea this Friday, 6th June. Featuring sets from DJs Fotza, Aimz and Udy plus live beatboxing from Ochs, entrance is FREE and doors open at 2000. More information can be found on the event's Facebook page.

Funkt-If-Ino returns to The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 7th June, for a Miami Vice themed evening of 80's tunes and retro fun courtesy of resident DJs Darth Fader, Jabba and Boba Funk (so don your Bolero jacket and check your designer stubble is in place). Doors open at 2200 and tickets are £5 in advance.

The second Pure Acoustic evening, an open showcase for local singer/songwriters, takes place at Havant Arts Centre on Monday, 9th June. Those interested in performing should be at the venue by 1930 to arrange a slot with the promoter (slots are allocated according to available time on the night). Doors open 2000, admissions is £3 (£1.50 for performers).

Hipshaker pitches up at Drift in Southsea this Saturday, 7th June, for an evening of classic 60s soul, funk and R&B courtesy of the Hipshaker DJs, plus tunes from Fly Mic in the lower bar until 3AM. Entry is FREE before 2200, £3 before 2300 and £5 after.

Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week features performances from Portsmouth-based singer-songwriter Leigh Mary Stokes plus Mediterranean fuelled rock/funk from London's Nicola K. Guest artists are on-stage from 2000, after the first Open Mike session, at The Barn at The Milton Arms tomorrow, Thursday 5th June. Doors open at 1900 and admission is FREE!

Put a fork in me, I'm done. This afternoon I have mostly been listening to the Blood Red Shoes' excellent debut, the sophomore effort from The Young Knives and the latest from Death Cab For Cutie. Nice. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be writing in invisible ink.