The Gigwatcher 03/12/2008

The Silly Season

You can tell it's near to the end of the year, the news stories always get just that more ridiculous. For instance, dancing political pundit John Sargeant is releasing a festive tune, Girls Aloud have announced they'll be supporting Coldplay next year and Axl Rose is suing Dr Pepper for not taking the release of the much delayed Chinese Democracy seriously.

Whatever next, Cliff Richard releasing a single with Slipknot?

[crosses fingers]
 
*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's the pick of the forthcoming gigs plucked from the back pages of this week's NME:

Little Joy @ Audio, Brighton - 15/01/2009
The Bookhouse Boys @ Audio, Brighton - 22/01/2009
Alkaline Trio @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/02/2009
Late Of The Pier @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/02/2009
Late Of The Pier @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/02/2009
The View @ Southampton University Student Union - 22/02/2009
Snow Patrol @ BIC, Bournemouth - 22/02/2009 SOLD OUT!
Pure Reason Revolution @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/03/2009
Fall Out Boy @ The Brighton Centre - 08/03/2009
Pure Reason Revolution @ Audio, Brighton - 16/03/2009
Lily Allen and La Roux @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 19/03/2009
Lily Allen and La Roux @ The Dome, Brighton - 20/03/2009

If I can peel myself away from my steaming mug of Horlicks and comfortable chair by the fire long enough I'll endeavour to update the SoMC Events Calendar with the gigs above. To be honest though, I get a bit sleepy after a hot cup of malty beverage, so I probably won't. Bless. To keep you going here's a selection of gigs coming your way over the next seven days...

04/12/2008
Will Young @ The Dome, Brighton SOLD OUT!
Kirk Brandon and Wise Children @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Kris Dollimore @ The Gun Room (The RMA Tavern), Portsmouth
Julian Joseph @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton
Red Snapper @ Concorde 2, Brighton CANCELLED!
Blues Etc @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton
The Holloways, Sam McCarthy and The Ramblings @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The Rotted, Desolated and Driven By Devils @ The Joiners, Southampton
The UK Chili Peppers @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Sharleen Spiteri @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton (tickets available via wave105fm)
The Getaway Team, The Weather Committee and Midnight Embassy @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
Portico Quartet, Caroline's Capuchin and Shona Foster @ The Talking Heads, Southampton

05/12/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Drum, Petersfield
Luke Leighfield, Atlum Schema and Paperplane @ Hamptons, Southampton
Heaven 17, The Human League and ABC @ The Brighton Centre
Atlantico @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
The Suicide Rooms, Freakpit and Press Any Key @ The Alma Arms, Portsmouth
Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds @ The Brook, Southampton
The Bog Rolling Stones (tribute) and The Small Fakers (tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Alice's Band @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Attack! Attack!, 84MM and The Auteur @ The Freebutt, Brighton
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton
Martyn Joseph @ The Studio at The Petersfield School
The Van Jammers @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Medallist and Incredible Weapons @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Ardentes, Waiting For Sirens and Chemical Sunset @ The Joiners, Southampton
Six Million Dollar Man Club (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Legend @ The Firehouse, Southampton

06/12/2008
The Gran Torinos and Sunset Mission @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra @ The Brighton Centre
Perfect Alibi (Pink Floyd tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
Uiscedwr @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Flash Guns @ Unit, Southampton
Simian Mobile Disco @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Nicotine Smile and Seven Day Weekend @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Attack! Attack!, Not Advised and Dead Mile @ The Joiners, Southampton
Adriano Adewale Group @ Salisbury Arts Centre
Atomic Badger @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield
Superfly @ The Red Lion, Stubbington
Time For Action @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Powerplant @ The Pavilion, Brighton
Ghoad @ The Firehouse, Southampton
Heaven 17, The Human League and ABC @ BIC, Bournemouth
The Zutons @ The Dome, Brighton
Exit 10 and Glamour Of The Kill @ Hamptons, Southampton
The Jelly Rollers @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
Neville Staple @ Concorde 2, Brighton CANCELLED!
Scaramoose @ The Hobbit, Southampton

07/12/2008
Joan As Policewoman @ Concorde 2, Brighton
The Velvet Hearts and Tremain @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Venice Ahoy, Colour and Joey Nightmare @ The Joiners, Southampton
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Johnny B & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Ade Cull and Peter Paul Parker @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
AOR (feat. Dave Sharp of The Alarm) and Time For Action @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Imelda May and Roxanne Johns @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
David Celia @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton

08/12/2008
Ben Ottewell (Gomez) and Little Gem @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Caroline Nin @ Komedia, Brighton CANCELLED!
Dead Like Harry @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Official Secrets Act, I See Sparks and The Inklings @ Hamptons, Southampton
Digital Delay, Atlas and The Rivers Of Sound @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
Paul Curreri and Danni Nichols @ Komedia, Brighton

09/12/2008
iliketrains, Jeniferever and The Strange Death Of Liberal England @ The Joiners, Southampton
The Pigeon Detectives @ BIC, Bournemouth
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan and The Miserable Rich @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
St Agnes Fountain @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Aitch, Doubleback Alley and Paddy Taylor @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
James @ The Dome, Brighton
All Forgotten @ Hamptons, Southampton
The Parlotones, Recreation and Beau Monde @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
The Exits, Dan Rumsey and The Real Raj @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth
The Fratellis @ The Guildhall, Southampton SOLD OUT!

10/12/2008
Wilko Johnson and The Riotous Brothers @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
The Rezillos @ The Brook, Southampton
Shona Foster and Cordelia Fellowes & Co @ Komedia, Brighton
The Redwalls and The Broken Hearts @ Hamptons, Southampton
Atomic Jones (tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham
The Trevor John Band @ Havant Arts Centre
Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ The Studio at The Petersfield School
Never Back Down, Pancake Eating Freaks and Canada Water @ The Joiners, Southampton
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
Five By Five and Doghouse @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Jackson & The Spangles, Jazica and Zoe Croune @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Apocalyptica @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth
John Otway @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Fritz @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield

...and here are some others you may want to add to your diary...

Richard Thompson @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 05/02/2009
The Spinto Band @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/02/2009
Noah & The Whale @ St George's Church, Brighton - 07/03/2009
Same Difference @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 12/03/2009
Starsailor @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 04/04/2009

This week's Waster features live music from funkers Blue Alert and electro outfit Lighthouses, with Will Chump and DJ Lemon of the Southsea Mafia pumping out the finest indiepunkelectroraverock in town afterward. Doors from 2200-0230, with admission £2.20 before 2300 (£3.20 after); details of how to blag your way in for less can be found on the event's Facebook page.

The chaps at Kiss My Bass launch their new 'genre clash' night, Ugly Beats, at the Havana Bar this Saturday, 6th December. Joining Ugly Beats residents Dirtbox and Darkfloor will be guest DJs Tom Mayhem and (one half of) Hated In The Face. Admission is FREE, doors from 2100, music through till 0100.

Santa will be getting on his good foot at The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 6th December, when Funkt-If-Ino hold their Christmas Extravaganza. Resident DJs Darth Fader and Chewbazza will be dishing up a hot helping of festive helping of disco, funk and soul to get you in the festive mood. Admission is £5, doors from 2200.

The Talking Heads hosts Southampton singer-songwriter Ben Dlugokecki's 6th Annual Xmas Xtravaganza this Saturday, 6th December. The line-up for this year features local bands The Warm, The Bizets and The Reservoirs, plus Ben's band Dlugokecki (who will have learned some special Christmas covers for the occasion). The first band will be onstage at 1930, tickets are £5 in advance and £7 on the night.

Fareham based popster Joe Ward and Portsmouth indie four-piece Sunset Mission will be the musical guests at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club tomorrow, Thursday 4th December. As usual, there'll be FREE admission to The Barn at The Milton Arms, with doors open at 1900 and live music from 2000. The regular Open Mike session will follow from 2200 through till Midnight. More information can be found on Facebook.

And that about wraps it up for this week; today I have mostly been listening to a couple of compilations I knocked up awhile back and some assorted 80's pop. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be throttling back the flange manifold.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 26/11/2008

Slow News Day

So, hands up who's bought their tickets for Britney Spears' London gigs next year?

[counts hands]

Oh dear. Oh dear me.

*koff*

Eyes down for a full house; here are pick of the gigs coming our way soon, lifted fresh from the back pages of this week's NME:

Findlay Brown @ Joogleberry Theatre, Brighton - 07/12/2008
Ben Ottewell (Gomez) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 08/12/2008
The Redwalls @ Hamptons, Southampton - 10/12/2008
People In Planes @ Hamptons, Southampton - 13/12/2008
The Levellers and Frank Turner @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 14/12/2008
Swanton Bombs and Threatmantics @ Prince Albert, Brighton - 28/01/2009
Mongrel @ Coalition, Brighton - 13/02/2009
Yo Majesty @ Audio, Brighton - 22/03/2009

Now, I could furnish you with some excuse as to why I won't quite get around to adding the above gigs onto the SoMC Events Calendar this weekend, but something tells me you wouldn't believe me. If only I spent as much time updating the damn thing as I do dreaming up excuses for why I never quite get around to it. Oh well. Moving swiftly on, here's a selection of local gigs to look for over the next seven days...

27/11/2008
Laura White (from X Factor) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham
Gordon Giltrap @ The Forge, Basingstoke SOLD OUT!
Limehouse Lizzy (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
Peter Tork @ Komedia, Brighton CANCELLED!
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes @ South Parade Pier, Southsea
The Morphic Fields, Kelevra and Fly Monkeys Fly @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
The Complete Stone Roses (tribute) @ Concorde 2, Brighton
The Nat Martin Band @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton
Selfish ****, The Broken Hearts and My Hollow Tree @ The Railway, Winchester
The Nineninetynines, Castillo and Medison @ Havant Arts Centre
Shels and Remain Silenced @ The Joiners, Southampton

28/11/2008
The Jamm (tribute) and Split Sixty @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth SOLD OUT!
Chris Newman & Máire Ní Chathasaigh @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Pendulum @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth
Leonard Cohen @ The Brighton Centre
Bug Central, Claypigeon, Lucky Ones Die First and Youth Decay @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth
Hi On Maiden (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
Thea Gilmore @ Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Rusty Sheriff @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
UK Subs @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Orange Street @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Git Some @ The Joiners, Southampton
Fipron and Misty's Big Adventure @ Concorde 2, Brighton CANCELLED!
Creep @ The Firehouse, Southampton
One Weird Fish @ The Colonial Bar, Horndean
Jazica and Pacer @ The Railway, Winchester
Nicotine Smile @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Smokin' Guns, The Nick Shepherd Band and LCD @ The Hobbit, Southampton
The Small Fakers (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton CANCELLED!

29/11/2008
Cantaloop @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
The Kooks @ The Brighton Centre
Oysterband @ The City Hall, Salisbury
Lucien @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Cool Banana, Bubbledubble, Bemis and Psychomachia (DJ) @ The Barn at The Milton Arms, Portsmouth
Smerins Anti-Social Club, Yes Sir Boss!!! and The Uplifter (DJ) @ The Brook, Southampton
Whimwise, Eat Lights Become Lights and Kumiss @ The Hope, Chichester
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton
Pete & The Pirates @ Concorde 2, Brighton
[spunge] and Last Man Standing @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Does It Offend You Yeah? (DJ set) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Soma High, Fearne and Underdog Academy @ The Joiners, Southampton
Spears & Boden with The Tacet Ensemble @ Komedia, Brighton
Imperial Leisure @ Lennons, Southampton
Jay et Al @ The Railway, Winchester

30/11/2008
Billy Bragg @ The Guildhall, Southampton
Daniel O'Donnell @ The Brighton Centre
New Adventures @ The Joiners, Southampton
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Alabama 3 @ The Brook, Southampton SOLD OUT!
James & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton
The Zed Men, Crossfire and Run Of The Mill @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
Polly Wood & Steve Picken @ Drift, Southsea
Pete Harris Blues Band @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton
Will Young and Honey Ryder @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth

01/12/2008
Kings of Leon @ The Brighton Centre
Streetlight Manifesto @ The Brook, Southampton
Little Lost David, Ben Pinwill and James Tippins @ Drift, Portsmouth
The Bootleg Beatles @ The Dome, Brighton
The Zutons @ BIC (Solent Hall), Bournemouth
Midnight Embassy, Speed The Collapse, Castillo and The Skylies @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds @ Komedia, Brighton CANCELLED!
Git Some, Attack! Vipers!, Pump Shark and Wooden Bullets @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Anavan and Amy Can Flyy @ The Joiners, Southampton

02/12/2008
Primal Scream @ The Dome, Brighton
The Saw Doctors and The Noelie McDonnell Band @ The Brook, Southampton
Tim Eveleigh, Peter Leonard and Luke Streeter @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth
The B Of The Bang and Christopher Robin @ Hamptons, Southampton
Feeder @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth
Jamie Woon @ The Joiners, Southampton
Alabama 3 @ Concorde 2, Brighton

03/12/2008
Fujiya & Miyagi @ The Pavilion, Brighton
Discharge @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
The Wedding Present and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
I See Sparks, The Zone and The Marcellus @ The Railway, Winchester
The Aynsley Lister Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Randy Crawford & The Joe Sample Trio @ The Dome, Brighton
Stone Free @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Rang A Tang @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham
Alabama 3 @ Concorde 2, Brighton

...and here are some others of note that you may want to add to your diary...

Kirk Brandon @ The Railway, Winchester - 04/12/2008
Portico Quartet @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/12/2008
Superfly @ The Red Lion, Stubbington - 06/12/2008
The Gaslight Anthem @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 02/02/2009
The Gaslight Anthem @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 06/02/2009
Rhydian @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 05/05/2009
Jeff Beck @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 03/07/2009

Waster unleashes its own brand of Thursday night mayhem tomorrow at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy nightclub, with Will Chump and Udy of the Southsea Mafia DJs pumping out the finest selection of indiepunkelectroraverock in town. Doors from 2200-0230, entrance is £2.20 before 2300 (£3.20 after), and more information can be found on the event's Facebook page.

Funkt-If-Ino descends on Drift in Southsea this Saturday, 29th November, for an evening of funk, disco, soul and hip hop with residents Darth Fader and Chewbazza. Doors from 2100-0300; admission is £3 before 2300, £5 after. Further details can be found on Facebook.

Chaos reigns at The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 29th November, with DJs Will Chump and Lemon taking charge of the Main Room and Marky Marc in the Chaos Lounge. Admission is £5 on the door, with entry from 2200; the sounds go through to 0300, with last admission at 0100. If you're in need of a warm up the Edge of The Wedge will be hosting Edge of Chaos, with Tom Dangerous and Rusty Sheriff, from 1930 till 2300, and admission is FREE!

Karl Lost (Phatndurty) and Ignition (Out-break) are the guest DJs at Kiss My Bass this month, joining residents Udy, Vol.1, Eratik Behaviour and Fotza at Southsea's Havana Bar this Saturday, 29th November, for another large portion of beats, breaks and electro goodness. From 2000-0100, with admission FREE before 2200 (£2 after). A selection of mixes, from both resident and guest DJs, can be downloaded from the KMB website.

Portsmouth trance night Deltawave will be celebrating its 11th birthday this Friday, 28th November, with a night of trippy tunes at The Fawcett Inn. Doors from 2000.

Club promoters Contact have organised a reunion weekender for legendary club Sterns this weekend, featuring many of the DJs from the original rave era. Amongst the DJs listed as appearing are Lenny D, Altern8, Bamo, Kelly Wainwright, Simon Bassline, Jackmaster, DJ Vibes, Dezert Rat, Skinny, Timmi Magic, Dreem Teem, Kenny Ken, Loomsey and Dr S Gachet. The music starts on Friday 28th November, running through till Sunday 30th, at Mill Rythe Holiday Resort on Hayling Island. Tickets are available in advance, via the promoters, priced at £30 (24 hour pass), £50 (48 hour pass) or £95 (full weekend pass, with accommodation). For more information, including a complete list of DJs appearing, check out the event's Facebook page.

The guest artists at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week are local singer-songwriter Leigh Mary Stokes and acoustic folkster Pete Christie. The doors of The Barn at The Milton Arms will be open from 1900 tomorrow night, Thursday 27th November, with music from 2000. The Open Mike session follows from 2200 through till 2330. Admission is FREE, further details can be found on Facebook.

Put a fork in me, I'm done; today I have mostly been listening to St Vincent, Guillemots (who were rather good at The Pyramids on Friday) and Sigur Ros. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be poking it with a stick.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 12/11/2008

Much Ado About Nowt

You know there's something not quite right with the world when MPs discuss the weekend's X Factor result over arguably more important matters.

What was it Groucho Marx said about politics?

*koff*

And so to business; plucked fresh from the back page's of this week's NME, here's what's coming our way over the next few months:

Fight Like Apes @ Audio, Brighton - 19/11/2008
Alabama 3 @ The Brook, Southampton - 30/11/2008
Alabama 3 @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 02-03/12/2008
The Vivian Girls @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 11/12/2008
The Dandy Warhols @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 11/12/2008
SonicBoomSix and NY-Lon @ Tower Arts Centre, Winchester - 12/12/2008
Herman Dune @ Duke of Yorks, Brighton - 18/12/2008
SonicBoomSix and NY-Lon @ Engine Rooms, Brighton - 19/12/2008
Innerpartysystem @ Audio, Brighton - 27/01/2009
Mongrel @ Coalition, Brighton - 13/02/2009

I'll try and conjure up some time this weekend to add the above gigs to the (sadly neglected) SoMC Events Calendar. Given that I'm no great shakes when it comes to time management I probably won't get around to it (and will instead decamp in front of the telly to watch endless repeats of How It's Made). Here then are a hand-picked selection of gigs up and coming over the next seven days to keep you going...

The Blue Aeroplanes @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 13/11/2008 CANCELLED!
Long Shore Drift, Furious Animation and The Deltons @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 13/11/2008
Dionne Warwick @ The Pavilion, Bournemouth - 13/11/2008
Stompin' Dave Allen @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
Dave Goodman @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 13/11/2008
Ida Maria, Birdpen and VV Brown @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes @ Komedia, Brighton - 13/11/2008
Zane Lowe (DJ) @ Southampton University Student Union - 13/11/2008
Pete & The Pirates and Nine Ninety Nines @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
Kaliflower @ The Railway, Winchester - 13/11/2008
This Manhattan, Akalons and Your Sizzors My Seatbelt @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/11/2008
Alter Bridge @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
Antje Duvekot @ Komedia, Brighton - 13/11/2008
London Elektricity with MC Wrec @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 13/11/2008
The Stylistics @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 13/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Not Advised, Faireway, Sheilatakeabow and When Duty Calls @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 14/11/2008
The Mods and Hip Fandango @ The Brook, Southampton - 14/11/2008
Arcade Eden, Speed The Collapse, Medison and Sam Jones @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 14/11/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 14/11/2008
The Guy Tortora Band @ Havant Arts Centre - 14/11/2008
Firefalldown, The Sketch and Chaos Days @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 14/11/2008
Hot Spunk and Sh*t! Hot Llamas @ The Railway, Winchester - 14/11/2008
Greenish Day (tribute) @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 14/11/2008
Great Pretender (Queen tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 14/11/2008
Viva Machine @ Hamptons, Southampton - 14/11/2008
Russian Circles and These Arms Are Snakes @ Engine Rooms, Brighton - 14/11/2008
Lacuna Coil @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Data.Select.Party, Venice Ahoy and Cut The Blue Wire @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/11/2008
Razorlight @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 14/11/2008
The Damned @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Marillion @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 15/11/2008
Larry Miller Band @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 15/11/2008
McFly and Reemer @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth - 15/11/2008
Gunz 'n' Rozes (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 15/11/2008
The Continentals @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
Rock Doctors @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 15/11/2008
Eddie & The Earwigs @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
Ephexis, Root 8 (DJ) and Dirty Rat Child (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 15/11/2008
Invasion, You're Smiling Now But We'll All Turn Into Demons and The Reactor Core Is Beautiful @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
Ricky Tick and Cool Jerk @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 15/11/2008
Cirque de Morte @ Komedia, Brighton - 15/11/2008
Jar Of Flies (Alice In Chains tribute) and The UK Chili Peppers (tribute) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
In Case Of Fire, The Longest Day and Echobeat @ The Joiners, Southampton - 15/11/2008
Dave Spoon (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
Feeder @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Tapestry of Delights with Pimpernel Jones (DJ) @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
Fay Wray @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 15/11/2008
Richard Bona and Muntu Valdo @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton - 15/11/2008
Bang Bang Lulu, The Wideboys and Clare Evers @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 15/11/2008
Madison Heights @ The Railway, Winchester - 15/11/2008
The Damned @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 16/11/2008
Modeste Hugues Duo @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 16/11/2008 CANCELLED!
Fields and Underground Railroad @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 16/11/2008
Skinny Molly (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 16/11/2008
Big Squirrel and Fingerless Hoodlum @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 16/11/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 16/11/2008
Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 16/11/2008
Donavon Frankenreiter @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 16/11/2008
Sneaky Sound System @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 16/11/2008 CANCELLED!
We Have Band, The Exits and The Maddisons @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/11/2008
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 16/11/2008
Jo Long & Donaldo @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 16/11/2008
My American Heart, We Are The Ocean and Just Surrender @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/11/2008
Genghis Tron @ Coalition, Brighton - 17/11/2008
Billy Boy & The Wild Bananas @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Ida Maria @ Komedia, Brighton - 18/11/2008
Dionne Warwick @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 18/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Jazica, Nell Bryden and Great Walls @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/11/2008
Seth Lakeman @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 18/11/2008
Stephen Fretwell and Andrew Foster @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/11/2008
Dizzee Rascal @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Charlie Musselwhite @ Komedia, Brighton - 18/11/2008
QueenAdreena, Arthur and Hold Fast @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/11/2008
The Whip, Transformer and Pnau @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/11/2008
Toby Wainwright Johns, All Things Considered and Elspeth Anne Macrae @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 18/11/2008
Reno, My Hollow Tree and Get The Tape @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 18/11/2008
McFly @ The Brighton Centre - 18/11/2008
Imelda May @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/11/2008
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ The Dome, Brighton - 19/11/2008
Shegotsick and Cora Code @ Drift, Southsea - 19/11/2008
Bemis @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 19/11/2008
Juicy Lucy @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 19/11/2008
Cara Dillon @ Komedia, Brighton - 19/11/2008
James Yorkston @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/11/2008
Dengue Fever @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 19/11/2008
Buika @ Komedia, Brighton - 19/11/2008
Foreign Beggars @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 19/11/2008
Simian Mobile Disco @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 06/12/2008
Robin Hitchcock @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/02/2009
Kate Rusby @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 28/02/2009
Ultravox @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 28/04/2009

The line-up for next year's Shockwaves NME Awards Tour has been released. Friendly Fires, White Lies and Florence & The Machine will join current NME favourites Glasvegas on the 17 date tour, which pitches up at The Pyramids on Thursday 19th February 2009. Tickets for the tour went on exclusive sale from the NME website this morning (so let's cross our fingers that they're not all sold out already).

Owing to illness 60's rockers Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich have unfortunately had to cancel their scheduled gig at The Cellars at Eastney this Saturday, 15th November. Instead 60's covers band Eddie & The Earwigs will be gracing the stage, playing the hits of The Zombies, The Small Faces, The Move et al, with admission FREE! Punters requiring refunds for their Dave Dee tickets are advised to contact their point of purchase.

This week's Waster features the best electroindiepunkrockrave tunes around, courtesy of resident Southsea Mafia DJs Will Chump and Philip Harvey. Admission is via the Liquid entrance to Envy, from 2200 onwards, priced at £2.20 before 2300 (£3.20 after). More information can found on the event's Facebook page.

The Hong Kong Gardeners Club returns to Southsea's Café Havana this Friday, 14th November, for more eclectic beats from resident DJs Dave Saunders, Ursula Reynolds and Philip Harvey. Admission is £3 on the door, from 2000-0100.

Promoters Partners In Crime have organised an indie themed cruise around the Solent this weekend. Featuring live performances from Cut The Blue Wire and The Levels, plus DJ sets from Ruby Soho and DJ Lemon from the Southsea Mafia and [/glitch] and Abbie Eales from the Hong Kong Gardeners Club (split across the vessel's two bars), Rock The Boat will depart from the Spinnaker Tower dock at 2000 prompt (boarding commences at 1930) this Saturday, 15th November. Tickets are £12.50, available in advance from The Wedgewood Rooms Box Office (023 9286 3911), and more information can be found on Facebook.

Funkt-If-Ino joins High Society this Friday, 14th November, for their monthly residency at Gunwharf's TigerTiger. Alongside the Funkt-If-Ino will be DJ Redz and Dr Psycho from Twiceasnice and Luke Neville from Hed Kandi. Admission is £5 before 2230, £8 after, from 2100-0200.

Brighton-based alternative rockers The Vinyls and Portsmouth five piece The Last Distinguished Gentlemen (aka Apostle) are the guest artists at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club tomorrow, Thursday 13th November. The Barn at The Milton Arms will be open from 1900, with live music from 2020 followed by the open mike session from 2200-0000. Admission is FREE, and more information can be found via the Facebook group.

Well, ruffle my hair and call me Susan, that's me done for another week; today I was mostly listening to Kraftwerk, Leftfield and Afrika Bambaataa. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be climbing the European cheese mountain.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 31/10/2008

Knee jerk (over) reaction

Two resignations, one suspension and the Prime Minister wading in with his two penn'orth; it's a just a little bit over the top for some, let's face it, fairly banal prank phone calls.

[thinks]

Though I must say, I'm tempted to offer my services to Auntie Beeb for the next 12 weeks; I can't be any worse, can I?

*koff*

And that's quite enough of that; here are some gigs, hand-picked from the back pages of this week's NME, for your delectation and delight:

Eugene McGuinness @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 04/11/2008
Future Of The Left @ South Parade Pier, Southsea - 08/11/2008
Ida Maria and VV Brown @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/11/2008
Sneaky Sound System and Defend Moscow @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 16/11/2008
White Denim and SixNationState @ Lennons, Southampton - 19/11/2008
Little Boots and Heartbreak @ Digital, Brighton - 20/11/2008
The Faint @ Digital, Brighton - 21/11/2008
The Dandy Warhols @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 11/12/2008
Das Pop @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 12/02/2009

There is the slim chance that, at some point over the weekend, I might just get around to adding the above gigs onto the rather forlorn looking SoMC Events Calendar. To be honest though, given my propensity for faffing about or idly bimbling, I wouldn't bet on it. Instead then, here are a selection of musical events happening hereabouts over the next week...

The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Brook, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Seu Jorge @ The Dome, Brighton - 31/10/2008
Bring Me The Horizon @ Southampton University Student Union - 31/10/2008
John Power, Andrew Foster and The Exits @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Tonight Is Goodbye and Kill The Arcade @ Hamptons, Southampton - 31/10/2008
The Presets @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 31/10/2008 CANCELLED!
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Los Albertos and Zen Hussies @ Komedia, Brighton - 31/10/2008
Karalta and Shizamms PicBox @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Paul Didge & Spiral Architects @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Orange Goblin @ The Joiners, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Redoctober, Exile Arise and Puresist @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Capital X and (tbc) @ The Railway, Winchester - 31/10/2008
Panama @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Hot Rats (DJ) @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Atlantico @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 31/10/2008
Time Bomb @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Legend (Bob Marley tribute) and Wiservice @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 31/10/2008
Scouting For Girls @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth - 01/11/2008
The Hair, The Absolute Belters and CM Arnold & The Delta Breaks @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 01/11/2008
The Feeling @ The Brighton Centre - 01/11/2008
Audio Bomber @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 01/11/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Fountain, Chichester - 01/11/2008
Dirty Love @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 01/11/2008
The Silver Beatles (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 01/11/2008
If Six Were Nine (Hendrix tribute) @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 01/11/2008
Scratch Perverts @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 01/11/2008
The Family, Polly & The Billets Doux and Two Fingers Of Firewater @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 01/11/2008
Askew & Avis with Sura Susso @ Havant Arts Centre - 01/11/2008
The Riverside Blues Band @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 01/11/2008
Red Indie with Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 01/11/2008
The Fall @ The Hove Centre - 02/11/2008
Wheatus, Cure The Disaster and Dead Mile @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/11/2008
The Feeling @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth - 02/11/2008
Andy & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 02/11/2008
Neptune and Sunshine Republic @ The Winchester, Bournemouth - 02/11/2008
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 02/11/2008
Alphabeat @ Southampton University Student Union - 02/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Sadies @ The Railway, Winchester - 02/11/2008
Black Kids @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 02/11/2008
Sly & Robbie @ Komedia, Brighton - 03/11/2008
Ben Dlugokecki, Karima Francis and Christopher Robin @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/11/2008
Scouting For Girls @ The Brighton Centre - 03/11/2008
Power Of Three @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 03/11/2008
Alphabeat @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 03/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Noah & The Whale and Sleeping States @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Grammatics @ Audio, Brighton - 03/11/2008
Second Smile, Part Dinosaur and The Attika State @ Hamptons, Southampton - 04/11/2008
The View @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 04/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Cage The Elephant @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 04/11/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 04/11/2008
Joe, James Tippens and The Gentlemen At Large @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 04/11/2008
Medallist @ The Joiners, Southampton - 04/11/2008
Paddywan @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 04/11/2008
Summers With Saqqara and The Jonny Soul Trip @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/11/2008
Jackson & The Spangles @ The Railway, Winchester - 04/11/2008
Holy Ghost Revival, The Elements and The 95s @ Drift, Southsea - 04/11/2008
John Williams @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton - 04/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
Hot Chip @ The Dome, Brighton - 05/11/2008
The Fall and Bobby Peru @ The Brook, Southampton - 05/11/2008
4ft Fingers @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 05/11/2008
Stickee Ickee (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 05/11/2008
Cut The Blue Wire, Blakfish and Outcry Collective @ The Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 05/11/2008
Dave McPherson, I Confess and Supertonic @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/11/2008
Ron Sexsmith @ Komedia, Brighton - 05/11/2008
The Bad Seeds @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 05/11/2008
Trio Valore @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 05/11/2008 CANCELLED!
Michael Baker, Andrew Foster, Damien Flynn and Loose Tongue @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 05/11/2008
Underground Heroes and Riot Lights @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 05/11/2008
Laura Marling @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 05/11/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Damned @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15-16/11/2008
John Otway @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 10/12/2008

Bournemouth's Opera House will be bouncing along to some fine Northern Soul tomorrow night, Saturday 1st November, when it hosts another of its popular SOS all-nighters. Resident DJ Chilli will be joined by Neil Jones and Dolly from the 100 Club, Mark Anderson of the Soul Smugglers and incrowd's Steve Lyons. Tickets are £10 in advance, doors open 2000 and the event runs through till 0400.

iLLuMIDanCe launches its new hard trance night this evening, Friday 31st October, with a 'Hard Halloween' event at the Venus Vodka Bar. Featuring sets from DJs Philosipha, Duane, Nathan D & Landslide and Sicknote, the music runs from 2100 through to 0200. Admission is £1 on the door, and ID is required.

Funkt-If-Ino will be firing up the disco pumpkins at The Wedgewood Rooms tomorrow, Saturday, 1st November, for its 12th Birthday Halloween Special. Darth Fader, Boba Funk and Chewbazza of the Funkt-If-Ino All Stars will be unleashing some fearful funk, spooky soul and the odd bit of haunted disco. Doors open at 2200, admission is £5.

Portsmouth's legendary indie club-night, Chaos, returns to its spiritual home this evening, Friday 31st October, for its annual Halloween blow-out. DJs Will Chump and Marcy Mark will pumpkin-ing out the stereo (sorry) at South Parade Pier from 2200 through till 0300, I don't know if they'll be bobbing for apples as well but anything is possible. Tickets are priced at £6 and are available in advance from The Wedgewood Rooms.

Local band showcase L.I.V.E. returns to Portsmouth's Tiger Tiger this Sunday, 2nd November, for an evening of live music. The line-up this month features Crossfire, The Last Distinguished Gentlemen and the most excellent Kodiak Jack. Doors open at 2000, admission is £6 on the door.

Right, that's me done (albeit a day or two later than usual) for another week; this morning I've mostly been sitting around the house drinking coffee, listening to Colin Meloy of The Decemberists. Be sure to join me next week when usual Wednesday service will be resumed (honest).

:o)

The Gigwatcher 01/10/2008

Holiday Mode

I suppose really I should write something pithy here about Dirty Pretty Things splitting up, or Paul "fab macca wacky thumbs aloft" McCartney releasing a dance record (no, really), but I'm all set to leave on a jet plane so can't really be bothered.

*koff*

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

Kano @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 02/10/2008
The Night Marchers @ The Engine Room, Brighton - 06/10/2008
The Subways and Twin Atlantic @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 09/10/2008
Magnetic Man @ Digital, Brighton - 13/10/2008
Sam Isaac and The Attika State @ The Vault, Winchester - 13/10/2008
Blood Red Shoes and Rolo Tomassi @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/10/2008
Sam Isaac and The Attika State @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/10/2008
The Bishops @ Hamptons, Southampton - 19/10/2008
Roots Manuva @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 21/10/2008
The Bishops @ The Albert, Brighton - 21/10/2008
The Foxes @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/10/2008
Kid British @ The Joiners, Southampton - 30/10/2008
Kano @ Tru, Brighton - 30/10/2008
Razorlight @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 14/11/2008
Bombay Bicycle Club @ Audio, Brighton - 19/11/2008
The Kooks and Mystery Jets @ The Brighton Centre - 29/11/2008
Stereolab @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/12/2008

I'm jetting off to Dublin for the weekend so, sad but true, it's highly unlikely I'll get around to posting the above gigs on the SoMC Events Calendar before I go (as I'll be busy, faffing about and putting off packing my bags until the last minute). When updated the Events Calendar is just packed with lots of lovely local gigs, like these for example...

British Sea Power @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 02/10/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nosebleeds @ The Railway, Winchester - 02/10/2008
Xcom (ex-Bad Company) @ The Brook, Southampton - 02/10/2008
Kris Dollimore @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 02/10/2008
Bob Pearce @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 02/10/2008
Hot Club de Paris, Tellison and Hardly Heroes @ The Studio at The Petersfield School - 02/10/2008
The Chapman Family, Gentleman Starkey and Lostaura @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 02/10/2008
Data.Select.Party, Openroom and Joey Nightmare @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/10/2008
Lykke Li @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 02/10/2008
Remain Silenced, The Jonny Soul Trip and The Prime @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 02/10/2008
Midge Ure @ Komedia, Brighton - 02/10/2008
Ludovico Einaudi @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton - 03/10/2008 SOLD OUT!
Martin Simpson and Will McNicol @ The Studio at The Petersfield School - 03/10/2008
Plastic Toys and Echobeat @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Sam Sparro @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 03/10/2008 SOLD OUT!
Norman Jay MBE (DJ) @ The Brook, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Night of Treason, The Exposed and Vinny Void (DJ) @ Moodeaze, Gosport - 03/10/2008
British Sea Power @ Student Union, Southampton University - 03/10/2008
The Silver Beatles (tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 03/10/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Longview and Kaiko @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 03/10/2008
Stone Cold @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Who's Who (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 03/10/2008
Good Books, Fox Cubs and Fresh Legs @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Circuits @ The Railway, Winchester - 03/10/2008
Seasick Steve @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 03/10/2008
Travis @ The Pyramids, Southsea - 04/10/2008 SOLD OUT!
Longview @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/10/2008
Cara Dillon @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 04/10/2008
Rufus Stone @ The Brook, Southampton - 04/10/2008
Flying Pigs @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 04/10/2008
Fabulous Freddie & The Freeloaders @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 04/10/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Colonial Bar, Horndean - 04/10/2008
Natural Blondie (tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 04/10/2008
Amanda Palmer @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 04/10/2008
Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral @ Havant Arts Centre - 04/10/2008
The Plymouths, Zwaitec and The Vegas @ The Joiners, Southampton - 04/10/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nosebleeds @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 04/10/2008
Red Indie with Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 04/10/2008
The Limes, The Rebs and Davis @ The Railway, Winchester - 04/10/2008
Lahanya @ Hamptons, Southampton - 04/10/2008
Hated In The Face (DJ) @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 04/10/2008
Team Waterpolo, Defend Moscow and Minus IQ @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/10/2008
Billy Ocean @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 05/10/2008
Loose Tongue and James Tippins @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 05/10/2008
Plastic Little @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 05/10/2008
Jeremy Jay, Aaron King and The Hornblower Brothers @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 05/10/2008
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 05/10/2008
Rolo Tomassi, Throats and Olmec Diagram @ iBar, Bournemouth - 05/10/2008
Billy Irvine @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 05/10/2008
Ade Cull, Dave James Wheat and Darin Robinson @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 05/10/2008
The Groanbox Boys @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 05/10/2008
Big Bang Boogie (DJ) @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 05/10/2008
The Melvins @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 06/10/2008
Beggars @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/10/2008
Alan Tyler & The Sons Of Littlefield @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 06/10/2008
Art Garfunkel @ The Dome, Brighton - 06/10/2008
Paper Heroes and Jamie & The Lionhearts @ Hamptons, Southampton - 06/10/2008
Michael Bolton @ The Brighton Centre - 06/10/2008
The Hold Steady @ The Pyramids, Southsea - 06/10/2008 CANCELLED!
Rolo Tomassi and Throats @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 06/10/2008
Amy MacDonald @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 06/10/2008
It Bites @ Komedia, Brighton - 06/10/2008
Elbow @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 07/10/2008
Eight Legs, Sine Star Project and The Prime @ The Railway, Winchester - 07/10/2008
Seasick Steve @ The Dome, Brighton - 07/10/2008
Paddy Taylor, Becky Jerams & The Selfish Boys and Pathway @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 07/10/2008
Juana Molina @ Komedia, Brighton - 07/10/2008
Aiden @ The Brook, Southampton - 07/10/2008
Jack Alexander, Paul Martin and Atlast @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 07/10/2008
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 07/10/2008
The Redwalls, Offside and The Ben Poole Band @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 07/10/2008
999's, The Circus Sands and The Reelists @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 07/10/2008
The Remnants and Wilf? @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/10/2008
Gabriella Cilmi @ Komedia, Brighton - 07/10/2008
Louche Manouche @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 07/10/2008
One Night Only @ The Pyramids, Southsea - 07/10/2008
Amusement Parks On Fire and Munroe Effect @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 08/10/2008
Sia @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 08/10/2008
Glamour Of The Kill and Dead Mile @ The Joiners, Southampton - 08/10/2008
The Remnants and Monrobots @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 08/10/2008
The Escapade, Mexicofallz, We're What's Left and When Duty Calls @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 08/10/2008
Alan Tyler & The Lost Sons Of Littlefield and The Family @ The Railway, Winchester - 08/10/2008
Chrissy Kybosh, Deeflux and Mikey T @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 08/10/2008
Chris Simmons @ Komedia, Brighton - 08/10/2008
Jane Taylor @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 08/10/2008
The Smyths @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/10/2008
Hot Leg (ex-The Darkness) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 23/10/2008
Imelda May @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/11/2008
Streetlight Manifesto @ The Brook, Southampton - 01/12/2008
The Rezillos @ The Brook, Southampton - 10/12/2008

The scheduled Spiritualized gig at The Pyramids on Tuesday 14th October has moved to The Wedgewood Rooms, original tickets remain valid (contact the venue's box office for refund information).

This week's Waster doubles as the after-party for the Showcase 08 competition, with the full force of the Southsea Mafia DJs in effect, armed with the best indiepunkelectrorock'n'rave in town. Portsmouth's Envy nightclub will be open for the usual shenanigans from 2200 tomorrow, Thursday 2nd October; owing to a PowerFM party in sister club Liquid entry will be via the Envy doors only. Admission is a mere £2.20 before 2300, rising to £3.20 after, and more information, including how to get yourself on the guest list, can be found on Facebook.

Southampton Indie label Sotones will be showcasing its roster with an all day shindig at The Hobbit this Saturday, 4th October. The line-up includes The Moulettes, Haunted Stereo, I See Sparks, Modernaire, Jackie Paper, Peter Lyons and Rob Skipper & the Musical Differences, with bands on-stage from 1400. The fun runs through till 0300, and entrance is FREE before 2200.

The Grand Final of The Wedgewood Rooms' Showcase 08 competition takes place tomorrow, Thursday 2nd September, and features Almeida, Melodramas, Rusty Sheriff & Friends, Holy Roller and Shegotsick. Good luck to all the bands taking part though, to re-use my lame Highlander reference of a few week's back, there can only be one winner. Doors open at 2000, admission is £5.

Funkt-If-Ino returns to The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 4th October, for a night of classic funk, soul and disco courtesy of Boba Funk, Darth Fader, Chewbazza and Jabba (aka the Funkt-If-Ino All Stars). Doors open at 2200 with admission £5 before 2230, £6 after.

The Hobbit hosts a fund-raiser for Cancer Research this Sunday, 5th October, featuring live music from The Blue Stragglers, EverAfta, Indigo Sun and Still Frame. Bands start at 1800.

The Visitors, a six-piece folk-rock band, and Two Fingers Of Firewater, a five-piece roots combo, are the guest artists at this week's Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 2nd October, with guest performances starting at 2000; the Open Mike session follows at 2200. Admission is FREE!

And that's it for another week; today I was mostly listening to the Arctic Monkeys' back catalogue and The National's excellent long player, Alligator. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be .

:o)