In addition to the live music on offer there'll also be sets on the decks from Brandon Block, the rebel dread himself Don Lettsand the one and only DJ Format. Twisted Village also sees the welcome return of Portsmouth’s legendary HipshakerDJs to the festival circuit, if you want a taste of what they'll bring to the party check out their Express FM radio show (past episodes of which are available online). On the performing arts side of things the Circo Rum Ba Ba troupe will bring some joyful anarchy to proceedings and, if it all gets too much, there's always a relaxing game or two of Drag Queen Bingo to look forward to.
With more acts, including headliners, yet to be announced all is looking very good indeed for TwistedVillage. The festival takes place at Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott, from Friday 16th to Sunday18th August, Early Bird tickets may have sold out but Tier 2 tickets (priced at £105) are available now from the festival website.
Hard to believe but true, Portsmouth's venerable 60's beat and funk DJ combo are soon to celebrate a milestone birthday; Hipshaker have been entertaining the masses for twenty years and, to celebrate this milestone, DJs Simon and Dave are having a party.
The boys are holding their birthday shindig at at Southsea's Coastguard Studio on Friday 14th December, with tickets priced at a very reasonable £12, and they've invited their good chums The Small Fakers along for some live music too. Ticket information should be available soon, best to check the Hipshaker Facebook page for updates.
5.4.3.2.1 and we're back in the room or, rather, the field as that's more apt for the festival experience. Following on from part one of my recommended acts to see at Victorious, which served up some afternoon delights, this second helping of covers the evening, from seven o'clock through to the last chord. Are we ready? Eyes down for a full house...
Embrace (Castle Stage, 1900-1945) Arguably the one band on the bill most likely to produce an Elbow-style "get your lighters out and let's have a sing-song" festival moment. Not everyone's bag of chips I'll grant you, but this still holds up...
Hipshaker (Soul CircusTent, 1915-2020) Simon & Dave, aka the famous Hipshaker DJs, bring experience, knowledge and some excellent vinyl to the party. Expect music to move your feet to and, if you like what you hear, be sure to check out the Hipshaker radio show, every Friday night on ExpressFM (or catch up on MixCloud).
Temples of Youth (Beats & Swing Tent, 1930-2015) This Winchester duo produce moody and melodic electronica, consistently beautiful music. Trust me, your ears will love you forever for listening.
Friendly Fires (Common Stage, 1950-2040) A pleasant addition to the bill this, Friendly Fires have been out of the limelight for a few years, so it's good to see them back with a new collection of tunes. Might there be Hawaiian shirts on display? Here's hoping.
Andrew Foster (Strong Island Acoustic Stage, 2010-2100) This highly talented singer-songwriter crafts exquisite indie-folk-pop music and has excellent taste for choosing the right cover version...
Example&DJ Wire (Castle Stage, 2015-2100) I'm sure I saw an interview with Example where, as everything in his life is going so well, he felt he couldn't write the same kind of music as before. First world problems...
Chris Helme (Acoustic Stage, 2045-2130) Late of The Seahouses(not not be confused with The Shirehorses), Chris Helme has been refining his craft as a solo act for several years now, releasing indie-folk that has been compared to the late, great Gram Parsons. Nice.
The Prodigy (Common Stage, 2120-2250) I'm not saying that I find the Keith Flint a scary man, but the sheer power of his stare is enough to make you dance (and that's before the beats, or his spiky hair, work their magic). Reach for the lasers..
The Correspondents (Beats & Swing Tent, 2130-2230) He is Mr Bruce and he is DJ Chucks, together they are The Correspondents. Swing. Your. Pants.
Pete Scathe (Soul Circus Tent, 2140-2255) aka The Legendary Pete Scathe, Portsmouth legend and host/DJ of the Connection indie night since I don't know when. Ah, Scandals, now there was a place... *sigh* expect a blend of new and retro, Indie and Electro..
Years & Years (Castle Stage, 2145-2245) Frontman Olly was in Gulliver's Travels, a definite low-water mark in Jack Black's movie career, but such knowledge should not be used as an excuse not to see Years & Years. Expect the crowd to go royally nuts when this is played...
Lucy Spraggan (Acoustic Stage, 2200-2245) An X Factor alum who, since moving on from her Cowell experience, has released several albums of delightfully crafted folk-pop.
Flowvers (Seaside Stage, 2215-2300) Pompey indie outfit Flowvers want to be the best thing you've ever heard... are they?
Put a fork in me, I'm done. Those are my selections for what to see on Sunday night at Victorious (although, if I'm honest, I'll probably be so transfixed by Keith Flint's hair that I'll miss out on the remaining delights on offer). When the last chord fades, with myself and several thousand happy punters making our way out into the night, no doubt we'll all be thinking the same thing; that was fun, shall we do it again next year?
If Friday night at Victoriousserves up an amuse-bouche for the festival experience, Saturday delivers more filling fare with the opening up of the rest of the stages, providing us punters with a wider selection of auditory morsels to be sampled.
There's something for just about everyone here, even to a somewhat jaded and cynical gig monkey such as myself. Therefore, with a larger menu to pick from and with distances between stages taken into consideration, I've tried to be slightly more selective with my recommendations. Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...
Happy Mondays (Common Stage, 1315-1400) The boisterous bunch of Madchestersurvivors have an early afternoon slot on the big stage and, whilst this might reduce the possibility of a shambolic performance, it does rather increase the chances of random incidents of Dad dancing amongst the crowd (and I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be at least one person present sporting some sort of melon-related paraphernalia).
Pins (Castle Stage, 1450-1520) Pins are rockers. They rock out. They hail from Manchester, they've featured on the soundtrack of Lucifer and some scenes of their recent their visual EP (below) were filmed in a public convenience. And yes, they're really rather good.
Sleeper (Common Stage, 1620-1650) Louise Wener and chums have dusted off their Britpopcredentials, acquired a new bass player, and hit the road. Having quite liked Sleeper back in the day, yet having heard indifferent reports of their live prowess from some of my chums who've seen them, I'm somewhat intrigued to see what they bring to the stage.
Coasts(Castle Stage, 1650-1720) If you've not seen Bristol's Coasts play live before then, sadly, their Victorious appearance will be one of your last chances to do so; after several years, a couple of albums and a soundtrack appearance on Made In Chelsea, this five-piece are calling it quits. If you are lucky enough to catch them on the Castle Stage, and like what you hear, tickets for their Farewell Tour in October are on sale now.
Neneh Cherry [DJ set] (World Music Stage, 1700-1800) It's Neneh Cherry. Spinning tunes. Honestly, I shouldn't really need to sell it to you.
Gaz Coombes (Common Stage, 1720-1805) The former Supergrass frontman has released consistently interesting material since going solo; Matadorwas an excellent long player and this year's follow up, World's Strongest Man, has received critical praise. Plus he sports a natty pair of sideburns, and that's a thumbs up in my book.
Trampolene (Seaside Stage, 1800-1830) Once upon a Southsea Fest I found myself, standing in a packed Fat Fox, watching a three-piece blow minds and unhinge the projector screen. They were Trampolene. And they still are, mostly.
Shoot The Duke (Beats & Swing Tent, 1815-1900) Portsmouth's very own alt-skiffle band, Shoot The Duke have been entertaining punters at various venues and events across the city for a few years now; expect an infectious blend of roots, rhythm and blues. Which is nice.
ChaosDJs (Soul Circus, 1915-2020) Chaos was/is a Pompey institution, a regular indie-alternative night that took over one of the bars (and occasionally both) on South Parade Pier, providing their target demographic with loud music (see below), a bouncy dance floor and (for those on a budget) access to some suspect looking (but reasonably priced) Sangria. Ahh, memories...
Barry Hyde (Acoustic Stage, 1945-2015) Formerly of the sadly defunct and much missed Futureheads, since going it alone Barry Hyde has released an EP of Ivor Cutler covers and an LP that features a suite of songs reflecting his own experiences with mental illness. Whilst some might be hoping for an airing of the 'heads' Kate Bush cover I'd rather hear some of his solo material (OK, and maybe his Prince cover too).
Everything Everything (Castle Stage, 2020-2110) You know, that band that aren't Alt-J or Django Django. Yes, I have been known to get the three of them mixed up too. No, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Honest.
China Bears (Real Ale Stage, 2045-2115) Direct from Somerset, via Guildford, indie rockers China Bears have won praise from Steve Lamacq and Frank Turner, information which, depending on your viewpoint, has already informed your decision on whether you'll like them or not. It's a festival, there's beer adjacent, go check them out.
Paul Weller (Common Stage, 2120-2250) The Modfather himself. If you're expecting him to dredge some Jam classics out of his considerable back catalogue then you may be disappointed. Or not, he's mercurial like that.
And if that wasn't enough to keep you entertained then Simon & Dave ofHipshaker will be at the Common Stage all day, spinning some righteous tunes between the acts playing there. Well my lovelies, that's my selection for Saturday, tune in next time for my Sundayrecommendations.
I did have a full Christmas blurb prepared, extolling the myriad virtues of Mince Pies and the joys of bad jokes in Christmas crackers, but I feared the heady mix of bad festive puns might be a bit too much for some of you.
No, really I did. Honest.
*koff*
Moving swiftly on for the last time in 2008; here are the pick of the gigs coming our way, freshly selected from the back pages of this week's bumper Christmas edition NME:
Of Montreal @ Digital, Brighton - 24/01/2009 Sky Larkin and Pulled Apart By Horses @ Audio, Brighton - 30/01/2009 Emmy The Great @ Komedia, Brighton - 02/02/2009 The Twang @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 03/02/2009 Fighting With Wire @ iBar, Bournemouth - 04/02/2009 The Coast @ Audio, Brighton - 04/02/2009 Fighting With Wire @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 06/02/2009 Fighting With Wire @ Hamptons, Southampton - 07/02/2009 Stricken City @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 11/02/2009 Stricken City @ Lennons, Southampton - 14/02/2009 Alkaline Trio and The Audition @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/02/2009 Secret Machines @ Digital, Brighton - 17/02/2009 Hockney, Passion Pit and Bear Hands @ Audio, Brighton - 17/02/2009 Late Of The Pier and Micachu @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portmouth - 20/02/2009 The View @ Southampton University Student Union - 22/02/2009 General Fiasco @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 22/02/2009 The Spinto Band @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/02/2009 School Of Seven Bells @ Audio, Brighton - 01/03/2009 The Ting Tings @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 05/03/2009 Fall Out Boy @ The Brighton Centre - 08/03/2008 Goldie Lookin' Chain @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 23/03/2009 Goldie Lookin' Chain @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 25/03/2009 Bat For Lashes @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 16/04/2009 65daysofstatic @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 25/04/2009
If you fear the outlaws may drive you mad over the Christmas period, or that you'll over-indulge with the Quality Street, or find you've watched The Great Escape that one time too many and are in dire need of leaving the house for an evening, then have no fear; I've perused the net and found the following gigs taking place during the forthcoming festivities...
19/12/2008 The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Brook, Southampton Rusty Sheriff @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth Viatrophy, Gehenna VII VII VII and In Her Ruin @ The Joiners, Southampton The Visitors, Loz Bridge & The Box Social and Emily Barker @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth Julian Nicholas' Heavy Plant Crossing @ Komedia, Brighton The Booze Brothers @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth The Fabulous Rockman @ The Railway, Winchester Amy MacDonald @ The Guildhall, Southampton Zetan Spore @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth Roadhouse @ The Firehouse, Southampton
20/12/2008 Installation, Hijera and Zoo Zero @ The Joiners, Southampton Perfect Alibi (Pink Floyd tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton The Ben Waters Band and The Spike Drivers @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham Pencil Riot, The Bluescreen Of Death and Rosenkrantz @ The Hobbit, Southampton Chicago Nine @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth Rufus Stone @ The Brook, Southampton The Reason @ The Railway, Winchester Lynchpin @ The Firehouse, Southampton
21/12/2008 Speed The Collapse, Tigre Bite Tigre and Faireway @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Furthest Drive Home, Out Of Sight and Skyline Heroes @ The Joiners, Southampton Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth Brontide, Sion and Great Walls @ The Railway, Winchester Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth Jezebell @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton The Damned @ Komedia, Brighton
22/12/2008 The Damned @ Komedia, Brighton Kodiak Jack @ Havana Bar, Southsea Lost On Landing, Not Advised and Burn The Fleet @ The Joiners, Southampton Sensational Alex Harvey Band @ Concorde 2, Brighton
23/12/2008 The Jamm (tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth Inklings @ The Joiners, Southampton The Bog Rolling Stones @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth Status Quo @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth I See Sparks @ The Railway, Winchester Bad Manners @ Concorde 2, Brighton
24/12/2008 Stone Free, Dave Miatt and Joe Parker @ The Hobbit, Southampton Santa Gold (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth Rebel Yell (tribute)@ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham The Silver Beatles (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
27/12/2008 Autons, Shegotsick and Night Of Treason @ Moodeaze, Gosport Cream of Clapton (tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth Stickee Ickee (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton Great Pretender (Queen tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth Red Indiewith Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth The Vegas @ The Joiners, Southampton Mary Jane @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth Timebomb @ The Brook, Southampton
28/12/2008 Clym Arnold & The Delta Breaks, The Lonely Cardinals and The B Of The Bang @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth White Knuckle Revolution, Deity and Minds Gone Blank @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Crossfire, The Realists and Castillo @ The Joiners, Southampton Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
29/12/2008 All New Comics @ The Joiners, Southampton Kojak's Revenge @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Max Hayes @ The Hobbit, Southampton
30/12/2008 Remain Silenced, Typheous and Boilith @ The Joiners, Southampton Eric Prydz (DJ) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth Dragon Eye Morrison, Little London and Cut The Blue Wire @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
31/12/2008 Burn The Fleet, Science Of Eight Limbs and Venice Ahoy @ The Joiners, Southampton The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Valhalla @ The Firehouse, Southampton
...and here are gigs in the new year that you may want to add to your diary...
Miles From Anywhere, The White Coats and No Access @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/01/2009 Tiny Spark @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 03/01/2009 One Weird Fish @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 03/01/2009 Get Your Ass To Mars @ The Railway, Winchester - 03/01/2009 Mindless Self Indulgence, Bring Me The Horizon and Black Tide @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/01/2009 [spunge] @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 09/03/2009 You Me At Six @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 12/03/2009 And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/04/2009
Tonight Indie club night Waster will break out the snow machines for more winter mayhem at Liquid Envy, with Will Chump (Chaos) and PhilipHarvey (HKGC) of the Southsea Mafia DJs supplying the tunes. There'll be plenty of tinsel and sparkly lights as well, plus the chance for one lucky punter to win a fridge full of Kick energy drink (just the thing for a Christmas hangover). Doors open from 2200, with admission £2.20 before 2300, rising to £3.20 after. Further details can be found on the event's Facebook page.
The Wedgewoods Rooms goes back in time tomorrow night, Friday 19th December, when retro night It's A Sin fires into life. DJs Monsieur Dangerous and Carlos De Lemona will be raiding the vinyl under the stairs for a heady mix of oldies and goldies; doors open from 2300 and admission is FREE!
The Hong Kong Gardeners Club have lined up an evening of live music at Southsea's Havana Bar on Boxing Day, just the thing to cure the cure the post-Christmas blues. As well as sets from Joe Black, Thos Henley and Balk Fiction you'll also be able to savour the DJing skills of Myke Eales (Aspect) and Andy Summerly (from The Strange Death of Liberal England). Doors open from 2000, admission is £3 on the door.
Hipshaker hot-steps it into Christmas this Saturday, 20th December, with a seasonal offering of classic 60s funk and soul served up by the resident Hipshaker DJs plus live music from Pompey surf/punk outfit Emptifish. Doors open at The Wedgewood Rooms at 2130, admission is £5.
The Macabret will be taking over The Edge of The Wedge this Monday, 22nd December, for an winter's evening of burlesque entertainment in aid of All Saints Hostel. In addition to performances from Ms Honour Mission and Ms Ruby Red there'll also be live music from Joe Blackand Kelly Kemp. Admission is £4, doors from 2000-2330 and it's over 18s only.
Contact returns to South Parade Pier this New Year's Eve with sets from guest DJs Uberdruck, Chris Liberator, DJ X and A+D+A+M, plus residents Matt Handy, GavRavenous and Nathan D & Lanslide. Tickets are £25 in advance from from Ticketweb, doors open from 2100, with music through till 0400.
The Wedgewood Rooms hosts A Night For Joe Strummer on Tuesday, 23rd December, with all profits donated to Strummerville, the Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music. The line-up so far features The Racketeers, The Good Time Charlies, TFA and Archive 45, with further acts to be announced. Doors from 1930, tickets are £8 in advance.
Chaos will be celebrating Christmas in style this year, with two events at the The Wedgewood Rooms next week. First up is a cracker of a Christmas Eve special, featuring live music from Kill Kasper, Wyldside and Tricorn plus DJs Hev Stillet-Hoe and Ruby Soho. Then, if your liver has recovered from all the yuletide excess, Will Chump and DJ Lemon will be seeing in 2009 a few days early with The Alternative New Year Party on Saturday 27th December. Admission is £5 for either night; doors open from 2200 on the 27th, from 2100 on Christmas Eve.
Club night Kiss My Bass have planned the mother of all New Year's Eve parties at Southsea's Havana Bar, guaranteed to see 2009 in with a bang. DJs Charge and TomMayhem (Ricochet) will be joining residents Udy, Vol.1, Eratik Behaviour, Neil Doc and Fotza for an all-night session, with a live beatbox countdown to the New Year courtesy of Ochs. A new sound system and lighting rig are promised, plus the DJs have been told anything goes, so it's going to be large. Tickets are available in advance from the venue, or online from the Portsmouth page at http://www.dontstayin.com, priced at £8. The fun starts at 2100 and runs through to 0500. Oh lordy.
And that's it for the Gigwatcher for 2008; today I have mostly been listening to Pearl Jam, Museand Kodiak Jack (with the Bo SelectaProper Chrimbo tune on random for good measure). Thanks for putting up with my drivel landing in your inboxes or taking the time to read it on the blog, I hope Santa brings you all something very special (I've asked for Cheryl Tweedy again, fingers crossed) and not that CD by The Priests (which is a total rip off as it doesn't have My Lovely Horse on it). Be sure to join me in the New Year when I'll be breaking that resolution I foolishly made in a rare sober moment. :o)
So, that's that for Madge and Thingy; hands up who didn't see it coming? Well, to be honest my money was on Jordan and Peter Andre calling it a day first, but what do I know?
*koff*
Moving swiftly on, here are the slim local pickings from the back pages of this week's NME:
Bombay Bicycle Club @ Audio, Brighton - 19/10/2008 Goldfrapp @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 29/10/2008 Kid British @ The Joiners, Southampton - 30/10/2008 The Futureheads (DJ set) @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 01/11/2008 Cage The Elephant @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 04/11/2008
I may well have time to add the above to the slightly forlorn looking SoMC Events Calendar this weekend, unless I actually steel myself to watch the whole second series of Heroes that's still (!) hogging space on my PVR. In the meantime here's a bumper list of some of the local gigs happening over the next seven days...
Scorpions @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 16/10/2008 Matthew Lee @ South Parade Pier, Southsea - 16/10/2008 Jay Tamkin & The Crackers @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 16/10/2008 Graham Robbins @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 16/10/2008 Natty @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 16/10/2008 The Manfreds, Alan Price and Maggie Bell @ BIC, Bournemouth - 16/10/2008 Polyester and DJ Mooner @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 16/10/2008 Cojack, Melodramas and The Darling Age @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 16/10/2008 The Popes @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/10/2008 CANCELLED! Gideon Conn, Barefoot Confessor and Glad Rags @ The Railway, Winchester - 16/10/2008 White Hinterland, Bird Engine and The Pangs @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/10/2008 Devil Sold His Soul and Fei Comodo @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 16/10/2008 Zebrahead @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 16/10/2008 Billy Cobham & Asere @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton - 16/10/2008 Mari Wilson @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/10/2008 Sarah Saville @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 16/10/2008 Steely Scam (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 17/10/2008 Boy George @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 17/10/2008 SOLD OUT! Two Fingers Of Firewater, The Visitors and The Jet Black Heights @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 17/10/2008 The Dreaming Tree and Arilyn @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 17/10/2008 The Filth Cartel featuring Tim Cook (DJ), Junior Gee (DJ) and Phil Thompson (DJ) @ Drift, Southsea - 17/10/2008 Kill Kenada, The Horse and To The Bones @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 17/10/2008 It Hugs Back, Rod Thomas and Ascari @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/10/2008 The Arteries, The Computers, Monrobots and L Morgan @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 17/10/2008 Headway @ Hamptons, Southampton - 17/10/2008 Akira The Don and The Gary Munday Band @ The Railway, Winchester - 17/10/2008 Imperial Leisure @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 17/10/2008 Level 42 and The Mercurymen @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 17/10/2008 SOLD OUT! ZU2 (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/10/2008 Akala, Installation and 8 Fold @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 17/10/2008 The Smyths (tribute) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/10/2008 Unforgiven @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 17/10/2008 Hated In The Face (DJ) @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 17/10/2008 Dirty Pretty Things @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/10/2008 The Manfreds, Alan Price and Maggie Bell @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 18/10/2008 Julie Fowlis @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 18/10/2008 The Guns Of Pig Alley (Dirty Pretty Things after-show) @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Gentle Bren (DJ) @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 18/10/2008 Legend (Bob Marley tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Mary Jane @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 18/10/2008 Camera Obscura @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Endless Doubt, The 2nd Fret and Guilded Youth @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/10/2008 Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Mozy Dare @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 18/10/2008 Instill, The Blue Screen Of Death and Monrobots @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Jeremy Warmsley and Peggy Sue & The Pirates @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 18/10/2008 Red Indie with Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 18/10/2008 Esser @ Lennons, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Dirty DC (tribute) and Mars Bonfire @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 18/10/2008 Lady & The Lost Boys, The Inklings and Bryony @ Hamptons, Southampton - 18/10/2008 The Musical Box (Genesis tribute) @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 18/10/2008 Martha Wainwright @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 18/10/2008 Takács Quartet @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton - 18/10/2008 Shaped By Fate, Red Mist and Rinoa @ The Railway, Winchester - 18/10/2008 The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 19/10/2008 SOLD OUT! The Bishops @ Hamptons, Southampton - 19/10/2008 Lee 'Memphis' King (Elvis tribute) @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 19/10/2008 Deviant UK, Apnia and Vampyrous @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 19/10/2008 Chris Wood @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 19/10/2008 Karnataka @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/10/2008 James & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 19/10/2008 Champ Of The Day, Tim Atom Bomb, Hometown Shoot and Long Story Short @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 19/10/2008 The Maddisons (single launch party) @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 19/10/2008 The Courteeners @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 19/10/2008 SOLD OUT! Guns On The Roof, By Definition and Death Cabaret @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/10/2008 Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 19/10/2008 Arnie Cottrell @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 19/10/2008 Azymuth @ Komedia, Brighton - 19/10/2008 Die!Die!Die!, Run Walk! and Bright White Lights @ The Railway, Winchester - 19/10/2008 Jeremy Warmsley and Edward J Hicks @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/10/2008 The Rifles and Jersey Budd @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/10/2008 SOLD OUT! Tilly & The Wall @ The Brook, Southampton - 20/10/2008 Does It Offend You Yeah? @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 20/10/2008 The Rebs, The Tambourines and The Vision @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/10/2008 Random Hand, Mike TV and Those Damn Owls @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 20/10/2008 The Stranglers and Starbase 109 @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 20/10/2008 Roland Chadwick @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 20/10/2008 Dividing The Line, Lioness and All Forgotten @ Hamptons, Southampton - 20/10/2008 Glen Campbell @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 21/10/2008 SOLD OUT! Swarb's Lazarus @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 21/10/2008 Roots Manuva @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 21/10/2008 SOLD OUT! Andrew Jarmin, Jay and Ethan Owen @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 21/10/2008 Mumford & Sons @ Komedia, Brighton - 21/10/2008 Andy & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 21/10/2008 From Plan To Progress, The Living Daylights and A Man Down @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 21/10/2008 Jane Taylor, Ben Pinwill and Aitch @ Drift, Southsea - 21/10/2008 Trash Fashion, Venice Ahoy and Cut The Blue Wire @ The Joiners, Southampton - 21/10/2008 Does It Offend You Yeah?, South Central and Let's Talk Tactics @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 21/10/2008 Chemical Sunset, Get The Tape and Coast @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 21/10/2008 Karnataka @ Komedia, Brighton - 21/10/2008 Hoarse Feathers @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 21/10/2008 Agaskodo Teliverek, Illness and Power Up @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 22/10/2008 Deborah Bonham @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 22/10/2008 The Police Force (tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 22/10/2008 The Covers @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 22/10/2008 The Strange Death Of Liberal England, Melodramas and Recreation @ The Joiners, Southampton - 22/10/2008 The Datsuns, Telegraphs and The Levels @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 22/10/2008 Sam Forrest and Hayley Hutchinson @ Komedia, Brighton - 22/10/2008 Linda Lewis @ Komedia, Brighton - 22/10/2008 Hardly Heroes @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 22/10/2008 My Ruin, Speed Theory and Sanctorum @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 22/10/2008 Polar Bear @ Komedia, Brighton - 22/10/2008 Luke Doucet & Melissa McLelland @ The Railway, Winchester - 22/10/2008 The Orchestra (ex-ELO) @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 22/10/2008 Osibisa @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 21/11/2008 Orange Street @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 28/11/2008 The Rezillos @ The Brook, Southampton - 10/12/2008 Ray Lamontagne @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 12/02/2009 Reel Big Fish @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 25/02/2009
Waster this week features live music from local indie funksters Kill Kasperplus the best alternative tunes in town spun by the Southsea Mafia DJs. Admission is £2.20 before 2300, rising to £3.20 after; further details, including how to get in even cheaper, can be found on Facebook.
Promoters Unit 6 have organised an Indie-toberfest at Southampton venue The Hobbit this Saturday, 18th October. Thus far confirmed as appearing are Coast, The Bizets, Alex Kriche, Recreation, The Docks and Happy As Larry. Doors open from 1700.
Little Johnny Russellson Albert Road has teamed with club-night Sumo for a party with a multi-coloured flavour tomorrow night, Thursday 16thOctober. The event, one of many across the country organised for Amnesty's Protect The Human week, will feature the Sumo DJs plus some special guests. It also has a fancy dress theme, with all planning to attend asked to wear the brightest clothes in their wardrobe. From 2000, donations on the door.
Southampton-based recording studios Shelter Studios showcase more of the best local talent at The Joinerstomorrow night, Thursday 16th October. Unfortunately I've no details of the line-up, but doors open at 1930 and admissions is £6 on the door.
Hipshakerreturns to The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 18th October. Packed with more classic 60s soul and R&B than you can shake a funky stick at, courtesy of the resident DJs, there'll also be live music on stage from ska/reggae band Django. Doors open at 2130 and tickets are £5.
The recently peripatetic Hong Kong Gardeners Club has finally found a permanent new home at Southsea's Café Havana, and will be open for business this Friday, 17th October with live music from Showcase 08 winners Melodramas and Canadian indie popsters Coast. Doors from 2000, music through till 0100, entrance is £4 on the door.
This week Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features a full set from guest artist Paddy Taylor from 2000, with the regular Open Mike session following from 2130 through till Midnight. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 16th October. Admission is FREE, more information can be found on the Facebook group page.
Spray me gold and call me Oscar, that's it for another week; today I've mostly been listening to Blood Red Shoes, Mewand large chunks of The The's back catalogue. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be a beautiful butterfly.
