Hungry and The Hunted @ The Bird

A tired looking public house on the Gosport Road may not appear, at first glance, to be Fareham's premier live venue but The Bird In Hand, with its fading paintwork out front and inside walls held firm with load-bearing dust, has over the years gained a reputation for regularly hosting an eclectic selection of live music.

The pub itself is much-loved, dog-eared even, with a grubby charm that's found all too rarely these days; visiting is not like stepping into a generic chained pub, no Wetherspoon or Hungry Horse this and, if those are the kind of hostelries you prefer, The Bird won't be for you. 

There's no stage to speak of, the Pool table is shunted to aside to make room for a band to set up in a corner of the main bar, and bands regularly find themselves coming into very close contact with the music-loving regulars, and that's what makes a gig at The Bird such an experience. 

The venue has an open booking policy, welcoming cover acts, new bands who want to gain live experience and artists from further afield, and all forthcoming attractions are chalked on the wall so everyone knows who's playing and when (there's also a well subscribed Facebook group too). 

Blues-rock trio Hungry and The Hunted bill themselves as "the last Rock & Roll band", describing their sound as "an unholy product of Joe Strummer and Lemmy gatecrashing a Deep Purple rehearsal, armed with a pile of STAX & CHESS records", and a listen to songs from either of their two albums shows that this is not immodest chest-beating. There's a rawness, there's groove, there's honesty, and the band are not shy about who they've been influenced by.



Hungry and The Hunted play The Bird this Sunday, 7th April, and I can think of few better ways of seeing out the weekend then with two hours of "demolition Blues and outlaw Rock & Roll". Entry is FREE, music from 1800.

Nod Ya Head #4 - Jeph, Flying Machines & Fugitive Orchestra

The motto "same old town, brand new music" befits Nod Ya Head well, with the Fareham promoter quickly establishing a deserved reputation for booking an interesting mix of bands for its live music nights. The line-up for their fourth showcase, which includes something great from the other side of the Solent, can only add to this renown.

The Isle of Wight continues to bring forth great musical offerings, such as the cinematic electronica of Curxes, the spiky indie-pop of Lauran Hibberd and the eclectic loveliness of Plastic Mermaids. The island's latest export is Jeph, an indie foursome with a lush line of jangly guitar; if you like The Beths then these should be right up your street.



Second on the bill are Flying Machines who, I have no doubt, some idle writer will tailor a quip about being magnificent men. The band Portsmouth band, not to be confused with the London outfit of the same name, released their debut long player Tales of a Quiet Guest last year.



Rounding out the line-up is Portsmouth's own Fugitive Orchestra, the one-man-band of James Tattington, who recently celebrated the release of his new single Tomahawk Caress with a gig at the city's newest venue, The House of Rapture.



Advance tickets for the Saturday 6th April gig at The Roundabout Hotel are available online now via BookEvents, priced at £6, with entry OTD still a snip at £7. 

UPDATE:

02/04 Physical tickets are available for purchase from Heathen Chemistry, West Street, Fareham.

Heathen Chemistry / Record Fair

Growing up in a reasonably sized village, well served by greengrocers and butchers but lacking record shops, meant an excursion into the market town nearby if I wanted to feed my burgeoning vinyl habit. Back in the Eighties the sleepy borough of Fareham was well served with vinyl peddlers; both Woolies and WHSmiths had racks of chart music and, though compact, the local branch of Our Price still managed to cram its shelves with enough delights to empty my wallet. 

However it was the dark yet welcoming confines of Venus Records, the only independent record shop in town, where most of my allowance was spent; one of my earliest record buying memories is of foraging through its 99p 12" singles rack, trying to find a gem amongst the generic, fuelled by whatever new music Mike Read et al had debuted on that week's Saturday Superstore. 

Despite my weekly purchases, which increased considerably once I'd left school and secured regular employment of sorts (does YTS count?), times became hard for record shops. Eventually the shutters came down on Venus, though the faces behind its counter were soon enough serving me in newcomer MVC (which would would also falter, rebrand as Music Zone, before disappearing). 

American chain Sam Goody made a fleeting appearance, well-stocked but expensive it soon closed, its place in the shopping centre soon taken by an opticians. Our Price battled on before it too threw in the towel, leaving only Woolworths and WHSmiths as the town's go-to record shops. Woolies famously folded, taking its supply chain with it, and that (as they say) was that; good luck buying anything that wasn't charting.

After some years with no record shop to speak of, with only the appearance of a pop-up HMV store at Christmastime, flogging DVD boxsets and novelty items to the harried and indiscriminate shopper, I had voted with my wallet and moved on to buying online or sampling the wares in Portsmouth's larger music emporia. With vinyl's resurgence however independent stores began to reappear on high streets across the land; Southsea's Pie & Vinyl led the way locally, then came Elephant Records in Winchester and, most recently, Heathen Chemistry in Fareham. 

This labour of love, with its framed Oasis posters and OSB racking, has been open for a couple of years now and has easily become a focal point for the town's vinylheads. Selling both new and pre-loved records and CDs it boasts, as many record shops do, a friendly atmosphere; I popped in a few months after opening, intending only to check the place out, and ended up spending a good half an hour or so talking to its affable owner about all things round and shiny.

Building upon its place in the local vinyl scene Heathen Chemistry has now branched into organising record fairs; following the success of its first event last November the shop has announced its next fair for Saturday 16th March, at a venue just a short stroll from the shop itself.

If you're interested in hosting a table to sell your wares then contact the shop, if you're more of a buyer than a seller you can rock up at Harmony Hall (yes, like the current Vampire Weekend single) and add to your ever-growing collection of musical platters; doors open at 1030 and the trading continues until 1600.

Nod Ya Head... in a field

They may not have hosted their first event of the new year quite yet but Fareham-based promoters Nod Ya Head are already planning something big for the Summer; an afternoon and evening of live music in the picturesque hamlet just north of the market town.

The sleepy village of Wallington is situated just a short stroll from the centre of Fareham and boasts a couple of pubs and a charming water-meadow where the Summer fête is usually held. However, on Sunday 7th July, the field will be alive with an afternoon and evening of live music.

Amongst the first acts announced as playing at Nod Ya Head's Summer Party are Brighton three-piece Mantras who are joined on the bill by Elephant Radio, an pop-rock outfit from Eastbourne. Also named in the initial line-up are Fareham pub-punk trio Lo-Fi Rebels, some catchy indie guitar pop courtesy of Portsmouth's The Deckards and a set from talented youngster Harrison Etherington (who, despite his tender age, has already played Victorious Festival (twice).







In addition to the music there promises to be a bar and a small record fair, all hosted with the music in a sizeable marquee. The organisers are also promising a hog roast, which is nice if that's your bag but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a vegetarian alternative.

Early Bird tickets are now available online via Book Events, priced at £10 (for 18+) and £5 (13-17 years), with under 13s getting in FREE. 

UPDATE:

24/03 Unfortunately it appears Mantras are no longer part of the line-up however, as per the updated poster below, the bill has been bolstered by the addition of Portsmouth singer-songwriter Jamin, Bournemouth indie folk outfit Hello Hawaii and Gosport indie-blues trio Hooli. With yet more acts still to be announced this is shaping up to be a rather great way to spend a sunny Saturday in July.

Nod Ya Head #3

With two well-attended events under their belts Fareham promoters Nod Ya Head are already looking to the future, releasing details of their first gig in 2019.  Following feedback from the punters the number of bands on the bill is dropping from four to three, allowing longer sets for the bands playing.

The line-up for the next Nod Ya Head features lo-fi three-piece Mammalia Blue and Gosport blues-rock merchants Hooli, with the evening headlined by Southsea indie-alternative band Colour of The Jungle. 

The third outing for Nod Ya Head will be on Saturday 16th February 2019, at Fareham's Roundabout Hotel, with ticket information to be released presently. Physical tickets are available now from the venue and Heathen Chemistry Records in Fareham or online from BookEvents, priced at £6 advance (plus £1 booking fee if purchased online), £7 on the door.

Update:

29/01 Unfortunately Colour of The Jungle have had to withdraw from playing at NYH3, the organisers will announce a new headliner, via their Facebook page, presently.

Nod Ya Head again...

Flush with the success of their first outing Nod Ya Head have announced details of their second event, with Fareham's first new music night in I don't know how long moving to the Roundabout Hotel for round two.

Billed as later, longer and louder than before, the sophomore outing is scheduled for Saturday 10th November and will be headlined by the winners of The Wedgewood Rooms' Unsigned Showcase 2018 competition, Brother Deep. Joining them on the bill are Guildford's Fuzzwalker, Portsmouth indie rock merchants Capital Fuzz and local singer-songwriter Devin Jade.

Tickets are available via BookEvents or from Heathen Chemistry Records in Fareham, priced at £6 advance (plus £1 booking fee if purchased online), £7 on the door.

Nod Ya Head presents...

Growing up in Portchester, the Burbs of Fareham, there never seemed to be a venue nearby to showcase local bands. Yes, the local pubs might host a band of a weekend, but these were (and still are) mostly cover acts. Once at college there was the lure of the Gosport Labour Club, the go to spot for fellow students who'd thrown a band together. That was then and this is now; there are fewer pubs, fewer venues, but the appetite for live music is the same if not greater.

What to do, what to do? Fret not my local gig monkey, for an enterprising chap called Dave has set about organising a (hopefully regular) event where local acts can gain valuable gigging experience and us punters can be entertained by new music.

The new event, named after the Facebook group that got the ball rolling, will debut in September with a line-up consisting of Marley Blandford, Lo-Fi Rebels, Drusilla and Dutch Criminal Record. Tickets for the event, to be held at the Mill Road Social Club, are £6 in advance, £7 on the door, and can be purchased from Fareham's one and only vinyl emporium, Heathen Chemistry (if you're local, and like vinyl, then I urge you to visit; the shop is a labour of love for its owner and, if you're at all like me, you'll end up in deep conversation with him about gigs and bands and shiny vinyl).

An Eighties Challenge, Day Six

It's the sixth day of my Eighties Challenge, a seven day stroll down a memory lane that's in dire need of better street lamps, foraging through the overgrown musical shrubbery.

In many ways the Eighties were a simpler time, with less distractions and smaller supermarkets. Fewer television channels, no Internet, no mobile phones. To be honest I wonder what we did with ourselves without Facebook or Wikipedia to keep us occupied. Surely we can't have spent the whole time drinking tea and making polite conversation about the weather? Thank heavens that nice Tim Berners-Lee bloke invented the World Wide Web so I could stay home and look at vinyl online, not spend a lot of my time in record shops ogling their merchandise.

Back then my home town of Fareham was blessed with several of places to buy vinyl, consequently many of my Saturdays were spent ricocheting from shop to shop in pursuit of some 12" or other. The record sections of WHSmith and Woolies, the bijou shininess of Our Price and, of course, the slightly dog-eared delights of Venus Records. I spent hours in all of them, but the most time in Venus, flicking through the racks, admiring the posters on the walls, paying attention to the tunes that got played by the staff (that scene in High Fidelity, where Rob states that he will sell five copies of The Three EPs by The Beta Band, is embarrassingly close to the mark; I bought the 7" of Perfect by Fairground Attraction from there after hearing to it played over and over; the Scottish guy behind the counter was adamant it would be a hit, and he was right).

A large corner of my bedroom was taken up with an ever growing collection of vinyl, most of it brought home in the familiar white carrier bags that sported the Venus Records logo, a ridiculous haul of 12" singles. As I near the end of this seven day challenge, and the memory banks of my brain warm up, I'm remembering too many of these songs that I could post. Do I pick The Big Dish's Christina's World, a nice slice of Scottish pop rock? How about Horse's mighty You Could Be Forgiven? Danny Wilson's evergreen Mary's Prayer (the 12" of which features a country-flavoured take, Mary's Prairie, on the flip side) perhaps? Am I swayed by the choice vocals of Do-Re-Mi's Deborah Conway on Adultery or do I take the opportunity to choose something by the Pet Shop Boys? Nope, none of those (though I may do a follow post of 'bonus tracks' later).

Today's band, Fire Next Time, were a four piece from Leicester; strange then that I only heard of them thanks to spending way too much time loitering among the racks in a record shop in Fareham. They never broke it big, only releasing a handful of singles and the one album before disbanding but, thanks to them scoring a support slot for a tour with The Icicle Works, I got to see them live. To be honest my memory is a bit hazy about the gig itself; I remember them being rather good, I'm fairly certain that at least one of them was wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt, I'm definite that neither my brother or I were all that bothered about watching Icicle Works' set after. The other thing I'm sure of is that we bumped into the aforementioned Scottish chap from Venus Records, he who sold me Perfect, as he turned out to be chums with Fire Next Time too (well, stranger things have happened I suppose). After a brief and, yes, probably fanboy-esque chat with the band we turned down the offer of going for a curry with them (no, really) and headed off to Scott's Bar for a few pints. I know, what might have happened if I'd gone for the curry? Sometimes my life really is like a Gwyneth Paltrow movie.. err.. anyway, here then from 1988 is Fire Next Time..

An Eighties Challenge, Day Two

Day two of the Eighties Challenge where, of course, I've been tasked to choose seven songs in seven days from that decade of excess. Songs to delight, or songs to confuse. Maybe both.

Thinking about it now, despite the tricks memory plays, Saturdays had a regular routine about them (or at least they did until I discovered alcohol); mornings spent festering in front of the telly, flicking between BBC and ITV, followed by a walk into Fareham to waste a not inconsiderable amount of time in Venus Records perusing the 12" singles piled up in their 99p sales rack. Sometimes this exercise would offer up gems, a promo white label perhaps or a new release that had been slipped in to make things interesting, but more often than not I'd end up punting my pounds on something peculiar. All too often I'd be tempted by odd vinyl from bands I'd not heard of, risking my money on the cover alone, and have to wait until I got home to discover if I'd bought a classic or a new novelty place mat.

Today's offering is one from the 99p sales rack, it's not really a gem but it's not something I'd sit my plate of fish and chips on either, that I must have had some reason to buy unheard. A song by a band some might remember but most won't know, to be honest I was amazed to find the audio clip on YouTube (more so that it's on Spotify too), English Evenings released a handful of singles before disappearing back from whence they came. Set your controls for 1985 and, for the next six and a bit minutes, enjoy the slightly overblown 12" remix of I Will Return...

The Gigwatcher 10/09/2008

And the winner is...

Three cheers and a rousing hurrah for Elbow, worthy winners of this year's Mercury Music Prize. For a while there, given the repeat listens I've given it over the past few weeks, I'd started to cross fingers that Neon Neon would walk away with it...

Umm.

Yeah, I bet on the wrong one again...

*koff*

And so to business; I purloined the following entertainments from the dark and musty back pages of this week's NME for your edification and delight:

Friendly Fires @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/09/2008
Johnny Foreigner @ The Albert, Brighton - 29/09/2008
Ladyhawke @ Komedia, Brighton - 30/09/2008
The Datsuns @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 11/10/2008
Deadmau5 @ Digital, Brighton - 23/10/2008
The Datsuns @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 22/10/2008
Johnny Flynn @ The Joiners, Southampton - 28/10/2008
Black Kids, Ladyhawke and Magistrates @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 02/11/2008
Cage The Elephant @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 04/11/2008
Fucked Up @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 07/11/2008

I'll endeavour to add the above gigs onto the SoMC Events Calendar at some point over the weekend (so much for thinking the world was going to be sucked inside out; I had two days of sitting on the edge of the event horizon all planned). When bang up to date the Events Calendar is a most useful aid for the idle muso about town, and is full of local gigs, like these...

Little London, Dragon Eye Morrison and Insinerate @ Havant Arts Centre - 11/09/2008
Have Mercy @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 11/09/2008
Kids Can't Flyy, Bigtopp and Taste The Chase @ The Joiners, Southampton - 11/09/2008
Das Wanderlust, The Bobby McGees and Shrag @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 11/09/2008
The Ex-Patriots and Painterman @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 11/09/2008
Team Medal, Remain Silenced and Beyond Help @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 11/09/2008
In Like Flynn, Sheilatakeabow, The Zedmen and Blue Gazelles @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 11/09/2008
Eliza Carthy @ Komedia, Brighton - 11/09/2008
Red Jackson @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 11/09/2008
The Chemists, Loose Tongue and The Lonely Cardinals @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 12/09/2008
The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Brook, Southampton - 12/09/2008
Rick Payne @ Havant Arts Centre - 12/09/2008
Intraverse and Karalta @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 12/09/2008
Almeida, Action & Action and Shackleton @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 12/09/2008
Crystal Arcade, The Inklings and Atlas @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/09/2008
Barb Wire Bob @ The Railway, Gosport - 12/09/2008
Contra, Abraxas, The Exposed and No Problems @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 12/09/2008 FREE ENTRY!
Orphans & Vandals, The Inklings, Benny The Moth and Jazica @ Kolebka, Southampton - 12/09/2008
The Chap, Restlesslist and Gloria Cycles @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 12/09/2008
The Model Horror @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 12/09/2008
The Asylum Seekers, WiLF, Archive 45 and Vinny Void (DJ) @ Moodeaze (Sidewalk) Club, Gosport - 12/09/2008
Bob Log III, Skulls, Edward J Hicks and The Moulettes @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 12/09/2008
Deltawave (DJ) @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 12/09/2008
Purple Monkey @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 12/09/2008
The Strange Death Of Liberal England, Little Fish and Six Nation State @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/09/2008
The Baddies, Ashbies and Jonny Dare @ Hamptons, Southampton - 13/09/2008
Annabelle Chvostek @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 13/09/2008
Perfect Alibi @ The Brook, Southampton - 13/09/2008
The Wild Oats @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 13/09/2008
Lynchpin @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 13/09/2008
The Cheese Doctors @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 13/09/2008
Superfly @ The Colonial Bar, Horndean - 13/09/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 13/09/2008
Dlugokecki @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 13/09/2008
The Sock Monkeys and Luke Toulson @ The Railway, Winchester - 13/09/2008
The Colours, Crystal Arcade and The Quotes @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 13/09/2008
Your Demise @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 13/09/2008
The Reservoirs and Gloria Cycles @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/09/2008
Sunset Mission, The Issues and Rusty Strings @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 13/09/2008
The Mirimar Disaster and Olmec Diagram @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 13/09/2008
Underoath, Envy On The Coast and Oh, Sleeper @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/09/2008 SOLD OUT!
Little Toby Walker @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 14/09/2008
Artisian, Gilla Bruja and Archaic Arcanum @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 14/09/2008
The Mirimar Disaster, Proceed and Tento @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 14/09/2008
The Toasters and 3 Minute Warning @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/09/2008
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 14/09/2008
In Bob We Trust (Dylan tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 14/09/2008
Blues etc @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 14/09/2008
Lach, Arthur Delaney and Lucy Mitchell @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 14/09/2008
Rozi Plain, The Pictish Trail and Francois @ The Railway, Winchester - 14/09/2008
Dave James Wheat, Ian Scarbro and Star Anise @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 14/09/2008
Bad Manners, Max Splodge and Django @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 14/09/2008
Gotye @ Komedia, Brighton - 15/09/2008
Alannah Myles @ The Brook, Southampton - 15/09/2008
The Toasters, 3 Minute Warning and Essay For The Ordinary @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 15/09/2008
Saiichi Sugiyama Band @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 15/09/2008
Bad Manners @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 15/09/2008
Hifi Hand Grenades and The Exposed @ The Joiners, Southampton - 15/09/2008 CANCELLED!
Doug MacLeod @ Komedia, Brighton - 15/09/2008
Fraser Anderson, Ben Pinwill and Karen Harmony @ Drift, Southsea - 15/09/2008
The Hot Melts, Sterling and Hardly Heroes @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 16/09/2008
Crystal Castles @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 16/09/2008 CANCELLED!
Solent City Jazzmen @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 16/09/2008
The Devil's Conspiracy, Andrew Jarmin and James Tippens @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 16/09/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 16/09/2008
King Size Slim and The Marvellous Mechanical Band @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 16/09/2008
Dave Cloud & The Gospel Of Power and The Sticks @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 16/09/2008 CANCELLED!
American Music Club and Peter Bruntnell @ The Railway, Winchester - 16/09/2008
My Brightest Diamond and Marla Hansen @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/09/2008
The Metros @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/09/2008
Dave Swarbrick & Martin Carthy @ The Haymarket, Basingstoke - 17/09/2008
Stackridge @ The Brook, Southampton - 17/09/2008
Little Toby Walker @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 17/09/2008
California Dreamin' (Beach Boys tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 17/09/2008
Stickee Ickee (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 17/09/2008
Golden Silvers @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 17/09/2008
Deaf Havana, Asking Alexandria and Finely Tuned Assassins @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/09/2008
Eileen Rose & The Holy Wreck @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/09/2008
Collapsing Cities, Recreation and Kosmonaut @ The Railway, Winchester - 17/09/2008
Summers, Fantastic Castle and The Tripods @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 17/09/2008
Iglu & Hartley @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/09/2008
The Alan Titchmarsh Project @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 17/09/2008
The Mercury Men, The Visitors and Aitch @ Drift, Southsea - 17/09/2008
Hey Negrita & The Travelling Band (plus documentary) @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/09/2008 CANCELLED!
Shotgun and The Charlie Parkers @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 17/09/2008

This week's Waster features DJs Will chuMp and Lemon from the Southsea Mafia, who'll be providing the best indie/rock/dance/alternative tunes around in the fine surroundings of Portsmouth's Envy nightclub. Doors open at 2200 tomorrow, Thursday 11th September, with admission £2.20 before 2300, rising to £3.20 after. More information, including how to get on the guest-list, is available from the event's Facebook page.

The Swan in Woolston will be hosting a day of music and comedy this Sunday, 13th September. The line-up features local rock bands Lynchpin and Superfly, comedian Matt Black (and his piano) plus a selection of tunes from Carly & Graham of Perfect Alibi, the South's leading Pink Floyd tribute band. The music starts at 1400, finishes at 2200, and admission is £2 on the door (all proceeds go to charity).

Fans of Peckham indie kids The Metros are advised to check out club-night Connection at Scandal's tomorrow night, Thursday 11th September, as amongst the usual fine array of tunes will be a selection of the band's forthcoming new album (which, it must be said, the NME didn't like all that much) plus give-aways of Metros' merchandise to boot. Doors open from 2200 and entrance is £1 before 2330, £2.50 after. More information can be found on the Facebook event page.

The Wedgewood Rooms hosts the play off of its Showcase 08 competition tomorrow, Thursday 11th September, when the highest scoring runners-up (or acts most deserving of a second chance) will be battling it out for a place in the final. The line-up for the play off includes The Tripods, Not Good Enough For Tony, Goodbye Stereo and Rusty Sheriff & Friends, all of whom have the judges to impress and the audience to win over. Doors open at 2000, admission is £4.

This week Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features performances from Portsmouth all-girl band Minds Gone Blank, Gosport's The Unknown Soldiers, 70's recording artist Roy Hill and local indie five-piece Pathway. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 11th September, with the music starting at 1900 (the Open Mike session follows on after the guest artists at 2230). Admission is FREE and you're advised to arrive early.

Southsea Fest 2008 takes over Albert Road for a whole day of musical delights this Saturday, 13th September, with 14 hours of live music spread across 8 of the venerable thoroughfare's finest establishments. Amongst the entertainments on offer are an afternoon of acoustic performances in Porter's, sets from The Strange Death of Liberal England and Six Nation State at The Wedgewood Rooms, a DJ set from Dirty Pretty Things at Little Johnny Russell's, rock from White Knuckle Revolution and Alternative Car Park at the Southsea Liberal Club and selection of the best local bands at The One Eyed Dog and The Fat Fox. Full information on who's playing where, and when, plus ticketing details are available from the event's website.

In addition to the aforementioned list of events along Albert Road this Saturday, 13th September, club-night Chaos returns to The Wedgewood Rooms for a festival special. The Main Room features DJs Hev Stilet-Hoe and Marky Marc, with Will Chump and Ruby Soho mellowing things out in The Chaos Lounge (aka The Edge of The Wedge). Doors open 2200 through to 0300, entrance is £5 on the door (last admission at 0100).

Power down the Flux Capacitor, that's it for another week; today I have mostly been listening to Elbow's Mercury Award-winning album and the mellifluous tones of Vampire Weekend. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be standing on the edge, looking over.

The Gigwatcher 04/09/2008

Absolutely

I'm not sure if Virgin Radio's re-branding exercise will get me to tune in; not so much because it's a daft name, more so because I can't remember how to retune my clock radio away from PowerFM.

[tumbleweed]

Oh the shame of it... though in all honesty it's the only thing bad enough to get me out of bed in the morning.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, I plucked the following forthcoming gigs from the gawdy back pages of this week's NME:

Little Man Tate @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 23/09/2008
Friendly Fires and Tinchy Strider @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/09/2008
Friendly Fires and Jape @ Audio, Brighton - 06/10/2008
One Night Only @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 07/10/2008
The Aliens @ Digital, Brighton - 16/10/2008
The Courteeners @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 19/10/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Rifles @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/10/2008 SOLD OUT!
Neon Neon @ Digital, Brighton - 30/10/2008
The View @ The Old Market, Brighton - 31/10/2008
The View @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 04/11/2008
Youthmovies @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 07/11/2008
Kora @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 11/11/2008
Dizzee Rascal @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/11/2008
Dark Captain Light Captain @ Ocean Rooms, Brighton - 29/11/2008

The above gigs will be thrust majestically onto the SoMC Events Calendar as and when I get the time (but, given my oft mentioned ability to be easily distracted by shiny pieces of foil and brightly coloured paper, I wouldn't put money on it). When updated the Events Calendar becomes a fine and dandy resource for the average gig monkey, full of gigs like these...

The Bizets @ Hamptons, Southampton - 04/09/2008
Meshuggah @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 04/09/2008
The Six Barrels, The Vision, Kelly Mordecai and Yasmin Gale @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/09/2008
Exit Calm and Escape To Sea @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 04/09/2008
SixNationState, Fresh Legs and The Rebs @ The Joiners, Southampton - 04/09/2008
Gemma Hayes @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 04/09/2008
Alistair Goodwin @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 04/09/2008
Nocturnal @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 05/09/2008
The Bog Rolling Stones and The Autumn Stone @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 05/09/2008
RU40 (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 05/09/2008
Shadows Fall @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 05/09/2008 CANCELLED!
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 05/09/2008
Fulibulbus @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 05/09/2008
Black Bart and The Lowis Lanes @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 05/09/2008
Hold Fire, Gloria Cycles and The Auteur @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 05/09/2008
Malefice, Shy Of The Depths and Terrathorn @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/09/2008
Oasish (trbiute) and Stereotonics (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 05/09/2008
Django, Eat The Document and The Radics @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 05/09/2008
The Rebs, Idiot3 and James Kane @ The Railway, Brighton - 05/09/2008
Davy Jones' Locker @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 05/09/2008
Phil Beer & Reg Meuross @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 06/09/2008
Slipnot @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 06/09/2008 CANCELLED!
Camille O'Sullivan @ The Dome, Brighton - 06/09/2008
The Bon Jovi Experience (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 06/09/2008
Rosie & The Goldbug, Hold Fast and SheGotSick @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 06/09/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 06/09/2008
The Elijah, Lifeless and Countyourlies @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 06/09/2008
The Warm, Recreation and Four Dead From Ohio @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/09/2008
Red Indie with Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 06/09/2008
Soma High @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 06/09/2008
John Otway @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 07/09/2008
The Dawn Chorus, Alex Cornish and The Metropolise @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/09/2008
Frightened Rabbit and We Are Promised Jetpacks @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 07/09/2008
Shapes, Targets, Venice Ahoy and OK Pilot @ Hamptons, Southampton - 07/09/2008
Jackie Leven @ Komedia, Brighton - 07/09/2008
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 07/09/2008
John Crampton @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 07/09/2008
Dave Wheat @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 07/09/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 07/09/2008
Mimi Soya, Clarkson and Out Of Sight @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 08/09/2008
Forever Wednesday and Who's Keeping Score? @ The Joiners, Southampton - 08/09/2008
Backyard Babies @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 09/09/2008
The Abyssinians and Dillinger @ The Brook, Southampton - 09/09/2008
Angela Brown & The Mighty 45's @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 09/09/2008
James & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 09/09/2008
Dave Wheat, Rees Cheese and Nick Tann @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 09/09/2008
Dave Phillips, Gastric Female Reflex and Jez North @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 09/09/2008
The Blow Monkeys @ Komedia, Brighton - 09/09/2008
Blue Of A Kind @ Havant Arts Centre - 09/09/2008
Howard Jones @ The Studio at The Petersfield School - 09/09/2008
Super Tonic @ The Joiners, Southampton - 09/09/2008
Medicine & Duty, Trumpy No and Easy Hips @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 09/09/2008
Louche Manouche @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 09/09/2008
Das Wanderlust, Booshtastic Bluetronica and Alex Stamp @ The Railway, Brighton - 09/09/2008
Eliza Carthy @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 10/09/2008
The Exits, The Johnny Soul Trip and Southern Bell @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 10/09/2008
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Educated Animals @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 10/09/2008
Backyard Babies @ The Brook, Southampton - 10/09/2008
Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 10/09/2008
Sun Kil Moon @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 10/09/2008
Das Wanderlust and Church Of Dave @ The Joiners, Southampton - 10/09/2008
The Abyssinians and Dillinger @ Komedia, Brighton - 10/09/2008
Peter Conway, Rossco and James Tippins @ Drift, Southsea - 10/09/2008
Mimas and Prego @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 10/09/2008
Arachnotaur and Tesseract @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 10/09/2008
The Peth & Hijera @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 28/09/2008
Wishbone Ash @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 09/10/2008
Zebrahead @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 23/10/2008
Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds @ The Brook, Southampton - 05/12/2008
Jason Donovan @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/12/2008
Kenny Rogers @ BIC, Bournemouth - 04/04/2009

Will Chump and Philip Harvey of the Southsea Mafia DJs take charge of the wheels of steel at Waster tomorrow night, Thursday 4th September. The doors of Portsmouth's Envy nightclub swing open at 2200, with entrance £3.20 before 2300, rising to £4.20 after. For more information, including how to get on the guest-list, see the Facebook event page.

The Opera House in Bournemouth hosts another night of Northern Soul this Saturday, 6th September. DJs Dave Rimmer and Tony Edgley will be joined by Johnny Herbert, Chris Thorley and Moldie. Tickets are £10 in advance, doors open 2000 and the event runs through till 0400.

The second semi-final of The Wedgewood Rooms' Showcase 08 competition takes place tomorrow, Thursday 4th September, and features Almeida, The White Coats, Rivers of Sound and Sheilatakeabow. With a slot in the final on offer all bands will be doing their best to impress the audience and the panel of judges. Doors open at 2000, admission is £4.

HMS Pin Up will be dropping anchor at The RMA Tavern in Portsmouth on Sunday 7th September for another evening of Burlesque entertainment. Slinky Sparkles, Betsy Butterscotch, Dolly Divine and The Candy Girls will be performing on-stage, with Chaos DJ Spikey Mark providing the proceedings with a rock'n'roll soundtrack. Tickets are £5 in advance from the venue, £6 on the door, and the fun starts at 2000.

Funkt-If-Ino pitches up at The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 4th September, for an 'End of Summer Jam', serving up hot funk and soul with a large portion of disco and hip-hop on the side. Doors open at 2200, admission is £5.

Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this features performances by acoustic duo Mojito and singer-songwriter Ade Cull. The doors of The Barn at The Milton Arms will open at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 4th September, with the first act on-stage at 2000. Admission is, as usual, FREE!

And finally, to all those heading over to the Island for this year's Bestival, have a darn good time (and yes, I really will get around to sorting a ticket next year, honest guv).

Turn off the gas, I'm cooked; today I have mostly been listening to the retro stylings of Neon Neon, Portico Quartet's Mercury Award nominated debut and Gotye's 2006 (but only just released in Blighty) sophomore release. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be pretending I'm a character in a Spaghetti Western.

:o)