The Gigwatcher 30/07/2008

It's a dry heat...

...and if it gets any warmer Amy Winehouse's waxwork could melt.

Is it me or is it strangely troubling that the wax version of the singer looks healthier than the real thing?

*koff*

And so to business; I filched the following gigs from the back pages of this week's NME for your delectation and delight:

Party Shank v's Glamour For Better @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/08/2008
The Parlotones @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 12/08/2008
The Parlotones @ iBar, Bournemouth - 13/08/2008
Jay Brannan @ Komedia, Brighton - 27/08/2008
Jubilee @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/09/2008
Glasvegas @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/09/2008
Gym Class Heroes @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 22/09/2008
Friendly Fires @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/09/2008
Noah & The Whale @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/11/2008
Noah & The Whale @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 07/11/2008
Noah & The Whale @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 13/11/2008
Dirty Pretty Things @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/10/2008
Primal Scream (NME Rock'n'Roll Riot Tour) @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 24/11/2008

I will, of course, add the above gigs onto the SoMC Events Calendar (should I have the time) this weekend. Admittedly the chances are I won't, but after Sunday's Absinthe escapade I may give going out the swerve (and instead to decide to rest my long-suffering liver from the comfort of my 70's style comfy chair). When I do get around to updating it, the Events Calendar is a handy repository of local gigs for the idle muso about town, and features many fine gigs. Like these...

Artful Dodger (DJ set) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 31/07/2008
Pete Harris @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 31/07/2008
Xavier Rudd @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 31/07/2008
Farwest Leader, Unwritten Ending and Pancake Eating Freaks @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 31/07/2008
Red Light Company and The Burns Unit @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 31/07/2008
Will McNichol, Tremain and Lucy M @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 31/07/2008
Lost On Landing, The Auteur and Amy Can Flyy @ The Joiners, Southampton - 31/07/2008
6 Inches 2 Small, Switch Transmission, No Problem and Miles From Anywhere @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 31/07/2008
JayetAL, The LCD and The Scarlet Letter Union @ The Railway, Winchester - 31/07/2008
Flip Top @ The Colonial Bar, Horndean - 01/08/2008
Bloodline, Insinerate, Mask of Judas and Galvanis @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 31/07/2008
Darren Verne Blues Band @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 31/07/2008
Rentokill, Chillerton and You Me & The Atom Bomb @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 31/07/2008
The Bog Rolling Stones (Mick & Keef tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 01/08/2008
Mike d'Abo @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 01/08/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 01/08/2008
Nato, Puresist and White Knuckle Revolution plus Spikey Mark (DJ) and Paxo (DJ) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 01/08/2008
Terrathorn, Breedapart and Pariah @ The Joiners, Southampton - 01/08/2008
Plus One (Scratch Perverts) and Albino Monkey @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 01/08/2008
The Black Seeds @ Komedia, Brighton - 01/08/2008
Ian McLagan & The Bump Band and Peter Bruntnell @ The Railway, Winchester - 01/08/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Bardstars, Thinking For Tuesday and Ten Letters @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 01/08/2008
The Steeples & Jonny Moody @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 01/08/2008
Creep @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 01/08/2008
Silversweet and Uncle Pablo's Magic Potion @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 02/08/2008
Firegarden @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 02/08/2008
The ELO Experience (ELO tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 02/08/2008
Flip Top @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/08/2008
Glam R Us @ Havant Arts Centre - 02/08/2008
Ten Ton Tabby and All Schools Are Strange @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 02/08/2008
The Alive, Nicotine Smile and The 6 Barrels @ The Railway, Winchester - 02/08/2008
The Cropdusters, Some Dogs and Colourblind Lizard @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/08/2008
Judy Collins @ Komedia, Brighton - 02/08/2008
The Dirty Bristows and Sunset Mission @ Café Havana, Southsea - 02/08/2008
Legend (Bob Marley tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 02/08/2008
Exile Arise, Aeryn and Ravenous @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 02/08/2008
Dave James, Luke Jackson, Ben Pinwill and Cooperboy @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 03/08/2008
k.d.lang @ The Dome, Brighton - 03/08/2008 SOLD OUT!
Broadcaster, Livewire and Brushwood @ The Bandstand, Southsea (Free afternoon entertainment)
Sons Of The Delta @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 03/08/2008
Nisennenmondai, Vitamin B12 and Little Creature @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 03/08/2008
Moda Disordini, Pulled Apart By Horses and Midnightdanceparty! @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/08/2008
No Made Sense, Cilice and If Fire Would Fail @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 04/08/2008
Venice Ahoy @ The Joiners, Southampton - 04/08/2008
Sliced Peach, Medison and Minds Gone Blank @ The Barn at The Milton Arms, Portsmouth - 04/08/2008
Louche Manouche @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 05/08/2008
Flis Pitman, Jay and Pete McAllen @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 05/08/2008
Cupping Melons and Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 05/08/2008
The Mae Shi and Danananananaykroyd @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 05/08/2008
Solent City Jazzmen @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 05/08/2008
Waiting For Sirens, Proceed and 24 Hour Affair @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/08/2008
The Larry Miller Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 06/08/2008
Stickee Ickee (DJ) and Easy Now (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 06/08/2008
The Script @ The Wedgewood Rooms - 06/08/2008 RESCHEDULED, NOW 15/10/2008
Kelevra, Valhalla and Splendor @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 06/08/2008
Richie Havens @ The Brook, Southampton - 10/10/2008
Dean Friedman @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 14/10/2008
Fields @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 15/10/2008
Easy Star All-Stars @ The Brook, Southampton - 25/10/2008
Brand New Heavies @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 25/10/2008
Bellowhead @ The Brook, Southampton - 02/11/2008
Black Kids @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 07/11/2008
Micah P Hinson @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 09/11/2008
Beverley Craven @ The Brook, Southampton - 12/11/2008
Oysterband @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 29/11/2008
Wilko Johnson @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 10/12/2008

If you've had enough of the hot weather already then this week's Waster comes armed with ice cannons, just the thing to instantly cool the air by 20 degrees (thanks to the freezing stream of CO2 they pump out). And if that wasn't enough the resident Southsea Mafia DJs will be spinning the best indiepunkelectrorockdance in town. Doors open at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 31st July, and admission is £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after, etc).

The sleepy village of Alverstoke will be alive with the sounds of folk and world music this weekend when the Wickham Stokes Bay Festival takes place (the organisers having decamped the Festival to the Gosport shoreline). The fun begins tomorrow, Thursday 1st August, with The Blues Band headlining the opening night, with support from Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers and Kent Duchaine. Friday features performances from Huun Huur-Tu, Gretchen Peters, Devon Sproule, Dick Gaughan and The Saw Doctors, plus an acoustic set from agit-prop folk-pop outfit Chumbawamba. The Shee, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Marytn Joseph and Show of Hands are on the bill for the Saturday session, with Celtic music stalwarts Capercaillie headlining. The Festival draws to a close on Sunday with sets from 3 Daft Monkeys, Phill Jupitus & The Blockheads, Alabama 3 and The Levellers, plus folk big band Bellowhead. Tickets can be purchased via TicketSouth, although both day tickets and full weekend passes will be available on the door from 10am daily (gates open at midday on Friday through Sunday).

The eighth heat of The Wedgewood Rooms' Showcase 08 competition takes place this Tuesday, 5th August, and features Almeida, Ungodly Sacrifice, The Suicide Room and Akakios. Each band will have 25 minutes in which to impress the audience and a panel of judges, with the winner progressing through to the next round. Admission is £4.

Club night Funkt-If-Ino returns to The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth this Saturday, 2nd August, for more 'funksoulboogiediscohiphop' than you can shake your glo-stick at. Tickets are £5, doors open at 2200.

3 Penny Puppet and The Wishbones are the guest artists at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week. Admission is FREE and doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 31st July. More information can be found via the club's Facebook group.

And that's me done for another week; today I have mostly listening to a chilled out Gilles Peterson compilation and the nasal huskiness of the one and only Stevie Nicks (yup, it's 'nostalgia Wednesday' at Gigwatcher Towers). Be sure to join me next week when I'll be acting out.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 23/07/2008

Mercury Rising

Yes, it's that time of year again; the shortlist for this year's Mercury Music Prize has been announced, with the usual mix of household names bolstered by acts that you might not expect to see mentioned in the mainstream music press any other time.

Whilst it might seem a safe bet to put a pound on the likes of Elbow or Radiohead to walk off with the shiny trophy and £20,000 prize money, I think I'm going to pick one of the "unknowns".

Rachel Unthank & The Winterset it is then.

*koff*

Or maybe the Portico Quartet.

Umm.

Eyes down for a full house; here are the forthcoming gigs of note filched from the back pages of this week's NME:

Magistrates @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 08/08/2008
Selfish **** @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/08/2008
Selfish **** @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/08/2008
Lach @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 14/09/2008
Lykke Li @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 02/10/2008
Seasick Steve @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 03/10/2008
The Hold Steady @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 06/10/2008
Seasick Steve @ The Dome, Brighton - 07/10/2008
The Streets @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 13/10/2008
CSS @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 15/10/2008
Goldfrapp @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 29/10/2008
Okkervil River @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 12/11/2008
The Kooks, Mystery Jets and Kid Harpoon @ The Brighton Centre - 29/11/2008
Kings Of Leon @ The Brighton Centre - 01/12/2008
Kings Of Leon @ BIC, Bournemouth - 14/12/2008

If the Agent Orange I've deployed on the bindweed in the back garden has the desired effect I should have time to add the above gigs onto the SoMC Events Calendar this weekend (if not then I'll be tied up with Plan B, which involves a flame-thrower and a team of attack trained goats). As has been mentioned once or twice before the Events Calendar is, when up to date, a handy aid for the average gig monkey. Here's a wee taster of some of the fine local gigs it holds...

Medison, We're What's Left and The Ex Patriots @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 24/07/2008
Brigade and Slaves To Gravity @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/07/2008
Christine LeDoux @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 24/07/2008
Dance Paris Dance and Hellcyon @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 24/07/2008
Flamboyant Bella, Fresh Legs and Audio Digital @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 24/07/2008
Auteur, Herbarley and Dacsha @ The Railway, Winchester - 24/07/2008
Mike TV, The JB Conspiracy and Mr Kamikaze @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 24/07/2008
Black Bart, Oblongata, I See Sparks and Long Shore Drift @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 24/07/2008
Major Melon, God Send and In Like Flynn @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 25/07/2008
Deft Leppard (Def Leppard tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 25/07/2008
Revenge of Shinobi, They Came And Ate Us and Milk Is Good For You @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 25/07/2008
Sandinistas, The Dirty Tricks and Simon Stevens & The Yellow Groove @ The Joiners, Southampton - 25/07/2008
Kingskin and 8 Fold @ The Railway, Winchester - 25/07/2008
Alice Cooper @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 25/07/2008
The Uplifter (DJ) @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 25/07/2008
Catalyst @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 25/07/2008
Caroline's Capucin and The Soul Liberators (DJ set) @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 25/07/2008
Manti @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 26/07/2008
Maybe Winehouse (Amy Wino tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 26/07/2008
Mary Jane @ The TMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 26/07/2008
Flamboyant Bella, Fresh Legs and The Adamseed @ The Joiners, Southampton - 26/07/2008
Barbwire Bob (featuring John "Two Chillies" Nixon) @ The Fareham, Fareham - 26/07/2008
Tiny Spark, Recreation and The Lonely Cardinals @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 26/07/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 26/07/2008
The Blueskies, The Frantic and We Aeronauts @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 26/07/2008
Nephwrack, Terrathorn and Nya @ The Railway, Winchester - 26/07/2008
Doris & The Dots @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 26/07/2008
Nanci Griffith @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 27/07/2008
Silent Hours, A Flaming Florence and Hardly Heroes @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/07/2008
Letz Zep (Led Zeppelin tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 27/07/2008
Red Light Company and Loose Tongue @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 27/07/2008
James Hollingworth @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 27/07/2008
Flis Pitman, Hayley Angel and The Insouciant Ones @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 27/07/2008
Kids Can't Fly, The Clarity and Who's Keeping Score @ The Joiners, Southampton - 28/07/2008
Hadouken! @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 28/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Attack! Vipers!, The Manatees and Throats @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 28/07/2008
Co-Pilgrim, Guided By Lights and The Great Park @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 28/07/2008
Waiting For Sirens, Fantastic Castle and Burn The Fleet @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 29/07/2008
The Metropolise, Speakyourheart and Joey Nightmare @ The Joiners, Southampton - 29/07/2008
Xavier Rudd and Streebeck @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 29/07/2008
Alistair Goodwin, Tremain and Michael McLinn @ the Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 29/07/2008
Rod Thomas, Hello Country and Great Walls @ The Railway, Winchester - 29/07/2008
The Uplifter (DJ) @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 29/07/2008
Leafcutter John, Birdengine and Junkboy @ Komedia, Brighton - 30/07/2008
My Winehouse (Amy Wino tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 30/07/2008
Caimbo, The Levels, The Exits and Colonel Mustard @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 30/07/2008
Frantic Bliss, Imightdisco and Ex Boy Racer @ The Joiners, Southampton - 30/07/2008
Joey Nightmare, Hold Fast and Speed The Collapse @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 30/07/2008
Swimming, The Light Sleepers and Stars & Sons @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 30/07/2008
Mr James Bright, Peter Lyons and Thos Henley @ The Railway, Winchester - 30/07/2008
Hours Till Autumn, Jet Heeled Striker and Wilf @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 30/07/2008
Ludovico Einaudi @ Turner Sims Hall, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Longview @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/10/2008
Neil Cowley Trio @ Turner Sims Hall, Southampton - 11/10/2008
The Streets @ The Guildhall, southampton - 13/10/2008
Scorpions @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 16/10/2008
Bellowhead @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 28/10/2008
Paul Carrack @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 29/10/2008
Funeral For A Friend @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Noah & The Whale @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/11/2008
Beth Rowley @ The Talking Heads, Portsmouth - 06/11/2008
Seth Lakeman @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 07/11/2008
Extreme @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 21/11/2008

The Southsea Mafia DJs again take control of Waster this week with another selection of the best indiepunkelectrorockdance in town. Admission is £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after, etc), doors open at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 24th July. For more information see the Facebook group page.

The Wedgewood Rooms' Showcase 08 competition continues this week with heats six and seven. The sixth heat, featuring Sheilatakeabow, This Manhattan, On Flight Movie and Audio.Video.Disco (previously Hobos & Eskimos), takes place on Tuesday, 29th July. The following evening, Wednesday 30th July, Rivers Of Sound, Split Sixty, Cozy Flashbak and Roughly Translated will be taking the stage. Each band gets to play a 25 minute set, with votes from the audience and a panel of judges deciding the winner. Admission is £4.

The Hobbit hosts an all-day Reggae Beach Party this Saturday, 26th July, featuring DJ sets from Stickee Ickee, The Uplifter and Skankenstein. Doors open at 1200 and entrance is FREE up until 2200 (the event runs through til 0100).

Kiss My Bass returns to Café Havana in Southsea this Saturday, 26th July, for another packed evening of bleeps, beats and bass. Joining resident DJs Fotza, Aimz and Udy this time around will be Tom Mayhem (Ricochet) and Ruined Jon (Subtechment). Admission is FREE and doors open at 2000.

Chaos returns to new home The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 26th July, when Ruby Soho and Hev Stilet-Ho will be in charge of the wheels of steel. Will Chump and Lemon will be presiding over the Chaos Lounge (in the Edge of the Wedge), where there'll be FREE Sega on offer. Doors open at 2300, entrance is £5.

Osborne House, Queen Victoria's summer home on the Isle of Wight, will be hosting two open-air gigs this weekend. The Modfather himself, Paul Weller, plays Saturday, 26th July, with Girls Aloud gigging the following evening. Tickets are £32.50 (for Weller) and £29.50 (for Cheryl and chums).

Kodiak Jack, the love child of the mighty Hudson 10 and Brannigan's Law, unleash their new sound on the masses for the first time at The Talking Heads this Tuesday, 29th July. Support comes from Caimbo, The Prime and Life With Max and tickets are £4.50.

Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week features performances from singer-songwriter Andy Matheson plus acoustic pop from Portsmouth's Becky Jerams. The first artist is on stage at 2000 with the Open Mike session following at 2200. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 24th July. Admission is, as always, FREE!

And that about wraps it up for another week; today I was mostly listening to Vampire Weekend's excellent debut long player and the sublime new album from Sigur Rós. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be battling Qaatii, the Demon Octopus from the 5th Dimension.

:o)

Neil Cowley Trio @ Koko 20/07/2008

Nice.

The Gigwatcher 16/07/2008

Country playlist

Sad but true, the number one most played song in the land over the last five years was Daniel Powter's Bad Day, a particularly annoying upbeat tune about having a bit of a mare that's now used to sell anti-perspirant.

*koff*

Quite.

And so to business, I've perused the back pages of this week's NME and have picked the following local gigs for your delectation and delight:

Jay Brannan @ Komedia, Brighton - 27/08/2008
Golden Silvers @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 17/09/2008
Iglu & Hartly @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/09/2008
Golden Silvers @ The Joiners, Southampton - 29/09/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nose Bleeds @ The Railway, Winchester - 02/10/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nose Bleeds @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 05/10/2008
Beggars @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/10/2008
Beggars @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/10/2008
Roots Manuva @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 21/10/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nose Bleeds @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 24/10/2008
Black Kids @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 02/11/2008

The above gigs have a fair-to-slim chance of being thrust majestically onto the SoMC Events Calendar at some point over the weekend (dependent on whatever beer-fuelled distraction I find myself caught up in or recovering from). The Events Calendar is, as has been oft hinted at previously, a handy resource for the idle gig monkey about town. Here's a taster of the many many fine gigs it might contain when up to date...

Elliot Minor @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Sandinistas, Farwest Leader, Installation and Roxanne Johns & Paul Thorne @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 17/07/2008
This Way Up @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008
Das Pop @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 17/07/2008
We Are The Ocean, Canterbury and All Forgotten @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/07/2008
Eve Selis @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/07/2008
Arnie, Tim & Colin @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 17/07/2008
Rochelle, Hold Fast and Ornament Birds @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008
The Bullycats, Max Raptor and LCD @ The Railway, Winchester - 17/07/2008
Marlow, Professor J-S and Etidorpha @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 17/07/2008
Usual Suspects (TBC) @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008
The Horse @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Hadouken!, Master Shortie and Innercity Pirates @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Silver Beatles @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/07/2008
The Small Fakers (Small Faces tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
The Plymouths, Catapult and Bosh @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Elliot Minor @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Prozium and Pariah @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 18/07/2008
The Young Knives @ South Parade Pier, Southsea - 18/07/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Stone Cold @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Vinnie Void (DJ) @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
Semi-Bone @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 18/07/2008
The Oli Brown Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
Stone Free @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Little London, Puresist, Press Any Key, Lemon (DJ) and Spikey Mark (DJ) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008 FREE ENTRY!
Keb Mo @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Burnt Ice @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Smackla, Woodnjuice and Yourgardenday @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/07/2008
The Alive @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Digital Delay @ Café Havana, Southsea - 19/07/2008
Open Room, The Ramblings, Heels and Neileo @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Cool Banana, Life With Max and Luke Ferre @ The Barn at The Milton Arms, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
Eminor @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 19/07/2008
Freddie & The Freeloaders @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Deltawave @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Wheelwright Arms, Havant - 19/07/2008
The Velvet Hearts and Luke Ferre @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 20/07/2008
Dennis Locorriere (Dr Hook) @ The Brook, Southampton - 20/07/2008
Superheroes and Atomic Badger @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 20/07/2008 (free afternoon entertainment)
Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 20/07/2008
Gweido, Afterspark and Aitch @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/07/2008
Your Demise, Lower Than Atlantis and The Fair Fight @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/07/2008
Are You Experienced? (Jimi Hendrix tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 20/07/2008
Ash Grunwald @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 20/07/2008
4 Fingaz, Wish List and Billy Irvine @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 20/07/2008
Lyrics Born and Stephanie McKay @ Komedia, Brighton - 21/07/2008
Sons of Albion, You're Smiling Now and Kill Kasper @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 21/07/2008
Easy Star All-Stars @ Komedia, Brighton - 22/07/2008
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 22/07/2008
Passenger, Duke Raoul and The Miracle Mugs @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 22/07/2008
Bemis, Dan Rumsey and Jack A Weissmann @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 22/07/2008
Terrolapse, Oceanus and Desolater @ The Railway, Winchester - 22/07/2008
The Strange Death of Liberal England and The Freewheeling Demons @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 23/07/2008
Jamie & The 1st Class @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 23/07/2008
Aynsley Lister @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 23/07/2008
Lightspeed Champion @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 23/07/2008
Escape Story, Final Round... Fight!, Digital Delay and On Flight Movie @ The Railway Rifles Club, Portsmouth - 23/07/2008
Hayseed Dixie @ Komedia, Brighton - 23/07/2008
James Blake, Chris Ricketts, Hayley Harland and James Tippins @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 23/07/2008
Hellcyon @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 23/07/2008
Kodiak Jack, Caimbo and Life With Max @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 29/07/2008
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 10/09/2008
Clearlake @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 21/09/2008
Friendly Fires @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/09/2008
Bellowhead @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 28/10/2008

The residents are in charge of Waster this week as the Southsea Mafia DJs take over proceedings with a selection of the finest indiepunkelectrorockdance in town. Admission is the usual £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after, etc) and doors open at Liquid Envy in Portsmouth at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 17th July. For more information see the Facebook page.

Little Johnny Russell's on Albert Road in Portsmouth teams up with club night Sumo for a Summer Party this Saturday, 19th July, with Sheffield indie rockers Reverend & The Makers will be joining the Sumo DJs behind the wheels of steel. Tickets are £2 in advance, available from the venue.

Portsmouth's Victoria Park hosts the Young People's Arts Festival this Sunday, 20th July. Organised by the Inspired youth arts culture project the event will feature live music from Fresh Legs, Joe Black, Shegotsick, Mahdud, The White Coats and Minds Gone Blank plus stand up comedy and a youth circus. The event runs from 1400-1800 and entrance is FREE!

Nostalgia will be in the air at Stansted Park this Sunday, 20th July, when the Here & Now Tour stops off for an evening of 80's pop in stately surroundings. The line-up features Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Midge Ure, Nick Heyward, Curiosity Killed the Cat, T'Pau, Limahl and Toyah, with a firework finale. The event starts at 1900, gates open at the venue from 1630, and tickets are still available from The Guildhall, Portsmouth (adults £25, under 16's £12.50).

Independent music magazine The Mag will be holding its 2008 Awards at The Talking Heads in Southampton this Saturday, 19th July. Best Record, Best Live Act, Best Band and Best Solo-Artist are just some of the titles up for grabs, plus there'll be live entertainment from Idiot 3, The Dawn Chorus, Richie Madisun and Dlugokecki to keep the evening going with a swing. Doors open at 1930 and tickets will be available on the door.

Showcase 08 continues at The Wedgewood Rooms this week with the next two heats of the competition. Heat four takes place on Tuesday, 22nd July, and features Shegotsick, Peter Moseley, Grumpy Apples and Andrew Gordon. Heat five follows the next night, Wednesday 23rd July, when The White Coats, Toxic Rabbit, The Reservees and The SLM will be taking the stage. Each band gets to play a 25 minute set, with votes from the audience and a panel of judges deciding the winner. Tickets for the Showcase events are a bargain £4.

This week's Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features performances from acoustic trio Penny Bonanza and local alternative rockers My Endeavour. The first artist is on stage at 2000, the regular Open Mike session follows at 2200 through to midnight. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 17th July, and admission is FREE!

And that's it for another week; today I was mostly listening to the Neil Cowley Trio (who I've lucked out and won tickets to see at Koko) and 70's prog-pop stalwarts Electric Light Orchestra. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be balancing a Scrabble dictionary on my head.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 09/07/2008

Meow

Pete Doherty may be many things, possibly even a musician, but I never had him pegged as an animal lover. Fair play though, I can't think of many other artists who'd walk away from £60,000 because they've got to take their cat to the vet.

Mrs Slocombe would be proud. Bless.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, the following gigs were teased from the rear of this week's NME for your delectation and delight:

Hadouken!, Master Shortie and Innercity Pirates @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
Frank Turner and Chris T-T @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 27/10/2008
Mystery Jets @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/10/2008

Slim pickings this week I'm afraid, though it is "festival season" so it's to be expected I guess. Still, if I get a spare five minutes this weeked I will, of course, update the marvellous mechanical SoMC Events Calendar with the above listings (I wouldn't count on it though, you know what I'm like). As I may infer from time to time, the Events Calendar is just the place (when up to date) to check what gigs are on when, locally that is. Here's a taster of what it should contain...

Alternative Car Park, Jenna's Revenge and The Levels @ Havant Arts Centre - 10/07/2008
Black Kids @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 10/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Grown At Home and Shizamms Picbox @ The Joiners, Southampton - 10/07/2008
Switch Transmission, Nelson and The Model Village @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 10/07/2008
Casual Nelsons, Long Shore Drift and William Doyle @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 10/07/2008
Lollo Meier Quartet @ Komedia, Brighton - 10/07/2008
The Incontinentals @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 10/07/2008
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Plastic Toys and The Tripods @ The Railway, Winchester - 10/07/2008
Pete du Pon, Leigh Stokes and Andy Foster @ Drift, Southsea - 10/07/2008
Robert Cray @ The Dome, Brighton - 11/07/2008
Laura Veirs, Led To Sea and Polly Wood & Steve Picken @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Dirty DC (AC/DC tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Wyldside, The Levels, Club Le Shark and The Edible Stems @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 11/07/2008
The Maple State, The Attika State, The Ornament Birds and Speed The Collapse @ Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Popular Workshop and Platform 13 @ The Joiners, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Ash Grunwald, Booshtastic Blootronica and The Reverend Munday @ The Railway, Winchester - 11/07/2008
Arnie Cottrell @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Rooftop Reggae with Dave B (DJ) @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
The Blue Screen of Death, Invasion and Moral Low Ground @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Zub Zub @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Haunted Stereo, Jake Flowers and Esben & The Witch @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 11/07/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Brickmakers, Swanmore - 11/07/2008
Guns To Roses (G'n'R tribute) @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Barbwire Bob @ The Hoeford, Fareham - 12/07/2008
One Night of Queen (Queen tribute) @ The Brighton Centre - 12/07/2008
Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings @ The Brook, Southampton - 12/07/2008
Kangaroo Moon @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 12/07/2008
Telegraphs and Karmatribe @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/07/2008
Kit Ashton, Animal Kingdom and The Stars Down To Earth @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 12/07/2008
Carmen Rosa, No Hope In Never and Life With Max @ Café Havana, Southsea - 12/07/2008
Kelevra, Biolith and Aeryn @ The Railway, Winchester - 12/07/2008
Lynchpin @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 12/07/2008
John Leyton & The Flames @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 13/07/2008
Madame P, Hamilton Yarns, Thos Henley and Love Shark @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 13/07/2008
Aaron Middleton and Sway @ Drift, Southsea - 13/07/2008
Johnny Truant, Blackhole and Bury Tomorrow @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/07/2008
Blotto, The Dauntless Elite, Tommy Comstock and The Cost of Living @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 13/07/2008
Roland Chadwick @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 13/07/2008
Star Anise @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 13/07/2008
Smackla, The B of The Bang and Fadeout @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 13/07/2008
MC5 @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 14/07/2008 CANCELLED!
The Strange Death of Liberal England @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 14/07/2008
Tom Hingley & The Lovers @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15/07/2008
Isla St Clair @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 15/07/2008 RESCHEDULED!
Battles @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 15/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Slow Down Charlie, Dibz and Hidden Image @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 15/07/2008
Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 15/07/2008
Hayseed Dixie @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 15/07/2008
The Displacements, Absolute Belters and The Elizans @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 15/07/2008
Skindred, Idiom and The Row @ The Railway, Winchester - 15/07/2008
The Queue, Last Action Hero, The Vision and The Silver Aces Band @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 16/07/2008
The Robert Cray Band @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 16/07/2008
Converge, Integrity, Coliseum and Centurian's Ghost @ The Brook, Southampton - 16/07/2008
Yoav and Loz Bridge & The Box Social @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 16/07/2008
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 16/07/2008
New Adventures and Flash Guns @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/07/2008
Rumberos de Cuba @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/07/2008
The Wedding Present @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/09/2008
Gemma Hayes @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 04/09/2008
The Brand New Heavies @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 25/10/2008
Focus, Wishbone Ash and The Groundhogs @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 30/10/2008
Dreadzone @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/11/2008

Portsmouth's famous club night Chaos returns this Saturday, 12th July, for more at of the usual shenanigans at new venue The Wedgewood Rooms. Will Chump and Marky Marc will be watching over the mayhem in the Main Room whilst Ben Milsy and Lemon host the Chaos Lounge in The Edge of The Wedge (replete with comfy sofas and free Sega). Doors open at 2300, entrance is £5.

The Eastleigh Music Festival takes place at the town's Leigh Road Recreation Ground this weekend, Friday 11th through Sunday 13th July. Seth Lakeman brings a folk flavour to the festivities on Friday night, whilst Lethal Bizzle, Robots In Disguise and Scarlet Soho bring the indie on Saturday night. In addition there'll be free music during the afternoon on the Saturday, with Zwaitec, The Ashbies, JayetAl, The Pheromones, El Rodeo, The Sinnicks, Dlugokecki and Polly & the Billets Doux just some of the acts listed to appear. Entrance to the festival is FREE all day Sunday, with entertainment from The Huckleberries, Tzee, Max Pashm and N'faly & Dunyakan on offer. Limited tickets are available for the Friday and Saturday night shows via the Festival website.

This week's Waster features a DJ set by Babyshambles' drummer Adam Ficek as well as a selection of the first indie/dance/etc tunes from the resident Southsea Mafia DJs, all for the bargain price of only £1 (before 2230, £3 after 2300). Doors open at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 10th July, more information is available via the event's Facebook page.

The organisers of the new Portsmouth & Southsea Music Festival have been running a rock challenge competition for young bands over the past few months. All the bands taking part are from Portsmouth schools, with members aged between 11-16, and the competition offers them the chance to play at a prime venue, The Wedgewood Rooms, with the winners representing their school at the Festival's opening ceremony in October. The finals take place this week at the Wedge, with bands from Mayville, St Lukes and Warblington Schools are battling it out tonight, Wednesday 9th July, and Admiral Lord Nelson, Priory and St Edmunds playing tomorrow, Thursday 10th July. Entrance to both finals is completely FREE!

This year's Showcase competition kicks off at The Wedgewood Rooms on Sunday, 13th July, with local bands My Endeavour, Melodramas, Atalanta and Rusty & Friends filling the first heat. Heat two takes place on Tuesday, 15th July, with Alphafa, No Hope In Never, Leviathan and Escape Story taking the stage. The third heat follows the next evening and features In Like Flynn, Sunset Mission, Not Good Enough For Tony and The Bizets. Each band will play a 25 minute set, after which both the audience and a panel of judges get to cast their votes on what they've heard. Tickets for the Showcase events are a bargain £4.

The week Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features guest performances from Antony, The Custard Chuckers and XYeZ. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 10th July, and the first artist is onstage at 1930; the regular Open Mike session follows at 2230. Admission is, as usual, FREE!

And that's it for another week. Today I have mostly been listening to Leonard Cohen's I'm Your Man album (which, for the most part, hasn't aged that well), plus some Gil Scott-Heron and Neil Diamond (yup, it's been that kind of day). Be sure to join me next week when I'll be affecting a strange mannerism.

Portsmouth & Southsea Festival update

The Thursday and Sunday night head-liners have been announced for the inaugural Portsmouth & Southsea Festival, which takes place on Castle Field in Southsea from Thursday 9th through Sunday 12th October.

Each night of the festival has is themed, with Thursday being Indie Night and Sunday having more of a pop/nostalgia feel.

Mancunian baggy legends The Charlatans and reformed rockers Shed Seven have the honours on the Main Stage (in the Big Blue Tent) on the Thursday, with local club night Chaos taking charge on alternative stage in the Little White Tent.

80's pop legends Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Go West and the one and only (!) Chesney Hawkes join head-liner (and garden designer) Kim Wilde on the Main Stage on Sunday night. ABBA tribute band Björn Again and The Manfreds make up the bill, with Funk-If-Ino getting things hot and sweaty in the Little White Tent.

Details on ticket availability and pricing will be appearing on the Festival website and Facebook page in due course.

The Gigwatcher 02/07/2008

Bottle Top Shoes

Well, it had to happen eventually.

Given all the comebacks of bands long past their prime (yes, I'm looking at you Boyzone and NKOTB) it was only a matter of time before one that didn't make it atop the charts would join in the fun.

Yes, those almost one-hit wonders Bros are talking up rumours of reforming and (wait for it) touring. Cue dodgy barnets, much faded denim and singing in a pained manner.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on. The following gigs were lovingly plucked from the rear end of this week's NME for your delectation and delight:

Cut Off Your Hands @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 15/07/2008
Hadouken! and Master Shortie @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
Shout Out Louds @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 09/08/2008
The Last Shadow Puppets @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 19/08/2008
Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ The Prince Albert, Brighton - 16/09/2008
The Ting Tings @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 25/09/2008
Sam Sparro @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 03/10/2008
The Subways @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 09/10/2008
Hot Chip @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 23/10/2008
Sigur Ros @ BIC, Bournemouth - 08/11/2008
The Complete Stone Roses @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 27/11/2008

As I'm running out of excuses not to (the Euros having finished and I'm not intending to wind up in Scandal's on Saturday night) I'll endeavour to finally get around to updating the (rather forlorn looking) SoMC Events Calendar this weekend. Knowing me though I'll probably find myself distracted by something shiny instead (I'm somewhat predictable in that respect). When it is up to date the Events Calendar is a handy aid for the 'gig whore' about town, being full of lovely gigs like these...

Bad Influence @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/07/2008
Rebel Yell (Billy Idol tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 02/07/2008
Glasvegas @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 03/07/2008
The Australian Pink Floyd Show @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 03/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
The SAS Band @ The Brook, Southampton - 03/07/2008
The Moonlighters, The Prime and The Perils @ Bar 8, Portsmouth - 03/07/2008
Failsafe, Dead Mile, Death At Sea and The Light Divided @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/07/2008
Subliminal Girls, The Moho and LCD @ The Railway, Winchester - 03/07/2008
Follow The Silence, The Escapade, A Stranger In Moscow and When Duty Calls @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/07/2008
Red Dirt @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 03/07/2008
The Wiggles @ BIC, Bournemouth - 03/07/2008
Ghosts on Pegasus Bridge, Rig Up Explosive and Where Loyalties Lie @ The Joiners, Southampton - 04/07/2008
George Benson @ BIC, Bournemouth - 04/07/2008
Dodgy @ Tiger Tiger, Portsmouth - 04/07/2008 (Portsmouth Festival launch party)
Whole Lotta Led (Led Zeppelin tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 04/07/2008
The Corridors @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 04/07/2008
Tribe of Cro @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 04/07/2008
David Karsten Daniels, Aaron King and Red Feather @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 04/07/2008
Louche Manouche @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 04/07/2008
Self Inflicted @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 04/07/2008
Ebony Rockers @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/07/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Colonial Bar, Horndean - 04/07/2008
Inner Circle @ The Brook, Southampton - 05/07/2008 CANCELLED!
Kaki King @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 05/07/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 05/07/2008
Recreation, Goodnight Johnathan and Alex Kriche @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 05/07/2008
Furthest Drive Home, Data Select Party and Lost On Landing @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/07/2008
Big Daddy Moochin' @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 05/07/2008
Paddy Taylor, Goodnight Johnathan and Mono @ Café Havana, Southsea - 05/07/2008
Bad Toad @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 05/07/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Fountain, Chichester - 05/07/2008
Zerofish @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 05/07/2008
Tesseract, Alternative Carpark, Abraxas and The Arusha Accord @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 06/07/2008
William and Loz Bridge & The Box Social @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/07/2008
Barbwire Bob @ The Bugle, Botley - 06/07/2008
Bollywood Pandits @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 06/07/2008 (free afternoon entertainment)
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 06/07/2008
Jose Vanders @ Komedia, Brighton - 06/07/2008
Red Jackson @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 06/07/2008
"The Sunday Club" (line-up TBA) @ Drift, Southsea - 06/07/2008
Flis Pitman, Dave James and Andrew Gordon @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 06/07/2008
Brenda, A Stranger In Moscow and Munroe Effect @ The Jolly Sailor, Southsea - 06/07/2008
Outcry Collective, The Computers and The Deltons @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/07/2008
Jose Vanders, Jessica Spencer and Becky Jerams @ Drift, Southsea - 07/07/2008
Panic At The Disco @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 07/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Paul Heaton @ Komedia, Brighton - 08/07/2008
Martin Newnham & Andy Parkin, Ben Pinwill, Bemis and Dielle @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 08/07/2008
Jason Mraz @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 08/07/2008
3 Penny Puppet, James Tippins and Aitch @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 08/07/2008
Anton Browne @ Havant Arts Centre - 08/07/2008
Pancake Eating Freaks, Hung Up, The Architects and Loser Token @ The Joiners, Southampton - 08/07/2008
You Me At Six, Tonight Is Goodbye and Attack! Attack! @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 08/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Bohemia Ukelele Band @ Komedia, Brighton - 09/07/2008
Navi (Michael Jackson tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 09/07/2008
LA-33 and Salsa Pimente DJs @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 09/07/2008
Dead Like Harry, The Dealers and Chris Ricketts @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 09/07/2008
Bangbangbang! and Baghdad Country Club @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 09/07/2008
3 Times Over, Waiting For Sirens and Ride The Skyline @ The Railway, Winchester - 09/07/2008
Skindred, Soma High, Toupé and Stout @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 09/07/2008
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster @ The Railway, Winchester - 10/07/2008
John Otway @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 07/09/2008
Stephen Stills @ The Brighton Centre - 10/10/2008
Funeral For A Friend @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Will Young @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 30/11/2008

In addition to the best selection of alternative tunes courtesy of the resident Southsea Mafia DJs, this week's Waster will feature live performances from The Levels and WiLF? Doors open at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 3rd July, with entrance the usual £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after, etc). For more information see the event's Facebook page.

The sixth of the highly successful Portsmouth Showcase events takes place at The Guildhall in Portsmouth this Saturday, 5th July. The line-up for the latest event, organised by Portsmouth Scene Promotions, will feature performances by Holy Roller, Hardly Heroes, The Exits, Andy Muscat and The Cartel. Tickets are £9 in advance, £10 on the door.

Thanks to its Summer Nights event the Broadlands Estate near Romsey will be alive with the sounds of MOR this weekend. Mike Batt's protégé Katie Melua headlines on Friday 4th July, Boyzone take the Saturday night slot before Meat Loaf rounds things off on the Sunday. Tickets are £37.50 (!) and are available via Ticketmaster.

Funkt-If-Ino returns to The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 5th July, for more 'funksoulboogiediscohiphop' than you can wave a stick at, courtesy of resident DJs Darth Fader and Jabba. Doors open at 2200 and tickets are £5 in advance.

The Gosport Festival returns to Walpole Park this weekend for three evenings of FREE entertainment. The Swinging Blue Jeans headline on Friday 4th July, supported by local bands Asylum Seekers, Orange Street and Fallen From Grace. Saturday features sets by Deborah Bonham, Recreation, The Worried Men and Time Bomb with legendary Scottish rockers Nazareth bringing the curtain down. Sunday's line-up includes Panama Grin, Kelly's Tattoo, The Roy Peplow Band and, from 70's disco legends Rose Royce, Gwen Dickey.

Local acoustic duo eNVy and London based Emma King & The Heartsets are the guests at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club tomorrow night, Thursday 3rd July. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900, the first artist is on stage at 2000 and the regular Open Mike session follows at 2200. As always, entrance is FREE!

DNB night TheGetAway descends on The Lounge (formally Club EQ) in Southsea this Saturday, 5th July, for an evening of funk-fuelled drum'n'bass supplied by DJs The Brookers Brothers (Breakbeat Kaos), DJ Dangerous (Nightwalker Records), Jamos (Dark), DJ JD (Bassed Out), Shortstuff (SubBassFM) and a selection of MCs. Doors open 2200-0300, entrance is £5 on the door.

And finally, as if there wasn't enough going on this weekend, Guilfest 2008 will be taking place at Stoke Park, Guildford. The line up for this year's festival, the 16th, is again a cornucopia of bands old and new. Friday's line-up includes The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Carbon/Silicon, System 7, Freak Power and The Levellers. Dodgy, Little Man Tate, Kula Shaker, The Aliens, Royworld are playing on the Saturday, with Blondie headlining, whilst Sunday features sets by The Damned, Cerys Matthews, Zucchero, Seth Lakeman, Dreadzone, British Sea Power with The Australian Pink Floyd drawing things to a close. A limited number of tickets are still available from Ticketline.

Put a fork in me, I'm done. Today I have mostly been listening to the most excellent Fields and the most quirky St Vincent, with a dash of the equally fantastic Metric thrown in there somewhere. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be rearranging my sock drawer.