Southern Vectis.
The Sun is burning in the sky, Bill Oddie is on the tellybox and Summer is just around the corner; that means it's time to break out the sunblock and/or wellies as the music festival season is nigh, the opening act of which is this weekend's IOW Festival.
Due to my own incompetence (i.e. I thought I'd have plenty of time to get a ticket, and they promptly went and sold out in no time flat) I won't be attending this year's festival (little short of a minor miracle I won't anyway) but I hope those that were lucky enough to snaffle tickets have a jolly spiffing time. And no I'm not at all jealous.
*koff*
Much.
Moving slightly along, here are a selection of local gigs hand-picked from the back-end of this week's NME:
Peter Conway @ The Railway, Winchester - 19/06/2008
Peter Conway @ Drift, Southsea - 25/06/2008
White Denim @ Audio, Brighton - 30/06/2008
Cut Off Your Hands @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 15/07/2008
Peter Conway @ Joogleberry, Brighton - 20/07/2008
Peter Conway @ Boileroom, Guildford - 21/08/2008
Royworld @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/09/2008
Does It Offend You Yeah? @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 20/10/2008
The Rifles @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/10/2008
Does It Offend You Yeah? @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 21/10/2008
Mystery Jets @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/10/2008
The Rifles @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 19/11/2008
Billy Bragg @ The Guildhall, Brighton - 30/11/2008
Little short of a miracle occurring, whereby I win a ticket for the shindig on the island (and I'm not that lucky), I'll probably have time to update the SoMC Events Calendar with the above gigs at some point over the weekend (though it's more than likely I'll be distracted by something or other and wander off aimlessly from the point). When it's up to date the Events Calendar is a fine and dandy tool, ideal for the average muso at a loose end who might be looking for somewhere to idly tap their feet of an evening, holding many fine local gigs like these to tickle their fancy...
Bon Jovi @ St Mary's Stadium, Southampton - 11/06/2008
I Was A Cub Scout @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/06/2008 CANCELLED!
Steve Howe Trio @ The Brook, Southampton - 12/06/2008
The Counterfeit Stones @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 12/06/2008
The Bizets, Hourstilautumn and The Harlingtons @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 12/06/2008
Kris Drever @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 12/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 12/06/2008
Limehouse Lizzy (Thin Lizzy tribute) @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 12/06/2008
Gundogs, Plastic Toys and Zwaitec @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/06/2008
Warsaw Village Band @ Komedia, Brighton - 12/06/2008
Jim Crawford @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 12/06/2008
Big Squirrel, Evolve and Lizard Man @ Havant Arts Centre - 12/06/2008
Kumiss, My Panda Shall Fly and Haunted Stereo @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 12/06/2008
War Pigs (Black Sabbath tribute), Please, Sad Shields and Elapse-O @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Björn Again @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 13/06/2008
Joan As Police Woman @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 13/06/2008
Legend (Bob Marley tribute) and Wiservice @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Lucy Kaplansky @ The Forge, Basingstoke - 13/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Brook, Southampton - 13/06/2008
Who's Who (acoustic) (The Who tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Senser @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 13/06/2008
Judge Trev & Kev Ellis @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Ian Siegal @ Havant Arts Centre - 13/06/2008
The Alistair Goodwin Fromage @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 13/06/2008
The Game @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 13/06/2008 POSTPONED!
Echobeat, Some Velvet Morning and Gas Bar Panic @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/06/2008
David Essex @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Hold Fire and Phil Horton @ The Railway, Winchester - 13/06/2008
Bubbledubble @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 13/06/2008
Craig David @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 14/06/2008
James @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008 SOLD OUT!
Mor Karbasi @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 14/06/2008
David Essex @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 14/06/2008
The Zombies and The Yardbirds @ The Dome, Brighton - 14/06/2008
Rufus Stone @ The Brook, Southampton - 14/06/2008
Crater, Pattúr and Ni Dieux Ni Maitre @ The Railway, Winchester - 14/06/2008
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The Brewery Bar, Botley - 14/06/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Swan, Woolston - 14/06/2008
Prior Engagement (Rory Gallagher tribute) @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008
28 Costumes, Recreation and Olympian @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/06/2008
The Move @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008
Thea Gilmore @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 14/06/2008
Eliza Doolittle and Fresh Legs @ Lennons, Southampton - 14/06/2008
Dick Gaughan @ Komedia, Brighton - 14/06/2008
Legend @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 14/06/2008
T-Pot Junkies @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 14/06/2008
Sweetedge @ The Fountain, Rowlands Castle - 14/06/2008
Little Aitch and David Wheat @ Drift, Southsea - 15/06/2008
Jim Crawford @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 15/06/2008
Strawberry Blondes, Eat The Document and Scarlet Laughter @ The Joiners, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Yazoo @ The Brighton Centre - 15/06/2008
Hugh Budden & Pete Harris @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Flis Pitman and Jack Alexander @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 15/06/2008
Artisian, Dark Revenance, The Furious Horde and Gilla Bruja @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Sue Hawker & Guy Gardner @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 15/06/2008
The Beatbacks and Caroline's Capuchin @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15/06/2008
Robin Bibi Band @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 16/06/2008
The Maddisons, The Deltons and The Vegas @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/06/2008
August Burns Red, Shaped By Fate and Bury Tomorrow @ Mr C's, Poole - 16/06/2008
Neil Diamond @ The Rose Bowl, Southampton - 17/06/2008
Helsinki and Rossco @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 17/06/2008
Out From Animals, The Exits and I Am Immune @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/06/2008
Diane Cluck and Peggy Sue & The Pirates @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/06/2008
Peter Leonard, Jam On Bread and Richard Hall @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 17/06/2008
Canterbury, Bright White Light and Treehouse Casino @ The Railway, Winchester - 17/06/2008
The Sugars and The Lonely Cardinals @ Drift, Southsea - 17/06/2008
Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 17/06/2008
Dave McPherson (InME) and Alphabetts @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/06/2008
Keren Ann @ Komedia, Brighton - 18/06/2008
Coast, The Queue and Hayley Angel @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 18/06/2008
Zombina & The Skeletones, The Rocket Dolls and Arty Karate @ The Railway, Winchester - 18/06/2008
Sons of Albion, Diesel Noi and Draegon @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/06/2008
Steve Hampton @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 18/06/2008
Eliza Carthy @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 10/09/2008
Cara Dillon @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 04/10/2008
Hazel O'Connor @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 08/11/2008
Having now moved to its new Thursday slot, tomorrow night's Waster will feature live music from local bands The Levels and Wyld Syde (the winners of The Wedgewood Rooms' Showcase 07 competition) plus a fine selection of alternative classics spun by the Southsea Mafia DJs. Doors open at Liquid Envy in Portsmouth at 2200, Thursday 12th June, entrance is £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after).
Portsmouth's only dedicated trance night, iLLuMIDanCe, celebrates its 1st birthday this Saturday, 14th June, at the Venus Vodka Bar on Guildhall Walk . Resident DJs Nathan Hunt and Cabin Boy will be joined by DJ Coincidence (TXTure, Stoned) and Martin Bradley. Doors 2100-0200, admission is £1 on the door (ID will be required).
The Hobbit hosts the fourth of its fund-raisers this Saturday, 14th June, for Southampton's Access Festival. Featuring live performances from The Horse, Black Bart, The Bard Stars, James Carey and The Real Raj, this is the last mini-fest before the main event on Saturday 21st June. Doors open at 2000 and admission is £3 (£2 if you flash your festival badge).
Portsmouth Scene Promotions, promoters of the very successful Best of Portsmouth events, will be hosting a showcase of local talent at the Southsea Bandstand this Sunday, 15th June. The line-up includes SixNationState, The Exits, The Ramblings and Crossfire, running from 1300-1600 (weather permitting). The sixth Best of Portsmouth event takes place at The Guildhall, Portsmouth, next month.
Both of the guest artists at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week hail from Portsmouth; post-punk act Medison (formally known as Leptany) will be onstage at 2000, with alternative rock foursome Apostle following at 2100. The regular Open Mike sessions book-end the evening, from 1900-2000 and 2200-0000. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 12th June, and admission is FREE!
And that about wraps things up for this week; this afternoon I have mostly been listening to Colin Meloy Sings Live, a collection of tunes performed by The Decemberists' front-man on his solo tour last year (and jolly good it is too). Be sure to join me next week when I'll be recovering from the majesty of Neil Diamond.
A limited number of additional tickets have been released for this year's Isle of Wight Festival. The tickets are exclusively available via Ticketzone and are likely to be snapped up fairly quickly I'd have thought.
If you miss out on those then your next best bet (if you want to avoid the silly prices on ebay) is to head over to the Isle of Wight on Sunday 3rd June: approximately 1000 tickets will be available from HMV in Newport and Liberty's Café Bar in Ryde.
And once they're gone, that's it.
Kasabian will be prepping for their appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival this year by playing a warm-up gig at The Wedgewood Rooms the night before, Friday 8th June. Tickets are £25.00 each and are limited to two per person.
And, yes, it's sold out already.
Doh.
Well, I suppose I could cross my fingers that The Rolling Stones pull a similar stunt and play an impromptu gig somewhere in Portsmouth the night before. Knowing my luck though The Feeling will pitch up in my local instead.
We now return you to our regular programming.
A weekend spent imbibing Jérôme Hatt's miracle elixir greatly assisted my recovery from last week's exertions; my muscles have recovered and I can now go from sitting to standing to walking smoothly (and not like the badly animated claymation figure I was last Thursday and Friday).
Excellent.
Though it was fun pretending to be Morph for a couple of days.
*koff*
No time for the Gallery I'm afraid, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME (which this week came with a free DVD, so was of course dearer than usual):
Thirteen Senses @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 25/03/2007
Josh Pyke @ Engine Room, Brighton - 26/03/2007
Herman Dune @ Dome Bar, Brighton - 01/04/2007
Arctic Monkeys @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 09/04/2007 (tickets are only available via the band's website)
The Wombats @ Unit22, Southampton - 05/05/2007
Groove Armada @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 11/05/2007
Biffy Clyro @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 20/05/2007
If I'm not hiding in cigar boxes or plopping through Tony Hart's big desk I'll update the SoMC Events Calendar with the above gigs. The Events Calendar is yadda yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah and all you need to do is register on the SoMC forum to use it. The following gigs are a taster of what can be found on the Events Calendar:
OK Tokyo @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 15/03/2007
Captain @ LUX/Student Union, Portsmouth University - 16/03/2007
Stout @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/03/2007
10cc @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 18/03/2007
Fitkin:Garland @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 21/03/2007
Ben Mills @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 26/03/2007
Bad Manners @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Southsea - 29/03/2007
David Kitt @ Audio, Brighton - 21/04/2007
The Wildhearts @ The Brook, Southampton - 23/04/2007
Tom McRae @ Concorde2, Brighton - 20/05/2007
Alabama3 @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 05/06/2007
Following in the steps of The Police, Crowded House and Genesis the cheeky chaps from Squeeze have decided to dusting off their boots and head out on tour; they'll be stopping at Southampton Guildhall on Tuesday 27th November. From what I can make out it's Messrs Difford and Tilbrook plus some other guys, no sign of Jools Holland (who'll be on tour himself at roughly the same time), Paul Carrack or any of the other chaps on the band's Wikipedia entry.
More acts have been announced for this year's Isle of Wight Festival. Eighties legends Echo & The Bunnymen have been added to the Friday line-up, the combined talents of The Clash's Mick Jones and Sigue Sigue Sputnik's Tony James, aka Carbon/Silicon, are now performing on the Saturday. Woodstock icon Country Joe McDonald and Glasgow's The Hedrons have been announced for the Sunday but there's till no word on that day's headliner.
To celebrate the refurbishment of Bournemouth's Opera House a special Indie Rock'n'Roll Launch Party is being held there on Friday 1st June. Jo Whiley does the honours with the red ribbon after which The Twang, The Young Knives and The Holloways will be entertaining the crowd. The Futureheads will be performing a DJ set as well, which is nice.
The ever impressive Steve Arnott will be standing underneath the stairs again at the Frog & Frigate this coming Friday. As it's also Red Nose Day there's a slim chance he may treat you to a couple of the (fairly rude) comedic songs he knows, make him an offer and see what he says.
And that just about wraps it up for this week, this afternoon I was mostly listening to OKGo and contemplating buying several treadmills to furnish my lounge with.
:o)
This year's Isle of Wight Festival has sold out, in record time no less.
Doh.
If being too slow off the mark wasn't bad enough, bless the organiser's cotton socks if they didn't email me to rub my nose in it for missing out on one of the 50,000 tickets that went on sale last week (unlike Mr Shue, who was all ticketed up by lunchtime last Thursday).
Of course, I could always go completely insane and buy one of the many tickets that have appeared on ebay since they were released for sale to the public. But, I have to ask myself, do I really want to fork out £360 to see Keane.
H'mm.
That'd be a no then.
Woop ah whoa yeah yeah.
Ah, that Wednesday feeling again. Don't you just love it? No? How about when you realise it's nearly nearly almost the weekend. Almost.
OK, so that's a bit desperate.
Umm.
Moving swiftly on; this week's NME features a wee article about the Danish music scene. Sadly it neglects to mention the mighty Mew (who's concert DVD I'm still waiting for CD-WOW to dispatch) but does name-check The Blue Van and Figurines. Nice. There's also a mention of probably the best night-club in the world (that I've been to), Vega.
If only I'd not dropped my cheese and onion roll onto the article midway through reading it.
*koff*
This way to the cafeteria... here's what I found listed in the back pages this week:
Jack Peñate @ Lennon's, Southampton - 03/03/2007
Pull Tiger Tail @ Audio, Brighton - 04/03/2007
Mando Diao @ Audio, Brighton - 05/03/2007
The Hours @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 10/03/2007
Bedouin Soundclash @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 15/03/2007
The Rumble Strips @ Audio, Brighton - 23/03/2007
Jack Peñate @ Engine Rooms, Brighton - 02/04/2007
Fortune Drive @ Ocean Rooms, Brighton - 07/04/2007
Mumm-Ra @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 14/04/2007
Mumm-Ra @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 16/04/2007
The Maccabees @ The Old Market, Brighton - 18 & 19/04/2007
The Maccabees @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 26/04/2007
The Twang @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 09/05/2007
The Maccabees @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 16/05/2007
Funeral For A Friend @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 21/05/2007
The Twang @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 28/05/2007
If I'm not trapped under something heavy I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar. As mentioned once or twice already the Events Calendar contains listings of gigs in the local area and available for all to peruse (just as long as they've registered on the forum). I've lifted the following teasers from it to tickle your fancy:
The Kiks @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 23/02/2007
Ed Tudorpole @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 24/02/2007
African Soul Rebels (featuring Femi Kuti & Ba Cissoko) @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 24/02/2007
John Otway @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 01/03/2007
The Frank & Walters @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 04/03/2007
Artie Fishel & The Promised Band @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 08/03/2007 (one for all you Klezmer fans)
Focus @ The Brook, Southampton - 16/03/2007
The Bootleg Beatles @ The King's Theatre, Southsea - 16/03/2007
Cutting Crew @ The Brook, Southampton - 22/03/2007
Three Men & Black (featuring Pauline Black from The Selecter) @ The Cellars @ Eastney, Portsmouth - 25/03/2007
The James Taylor Quartet @ Havant Arts Centre, Havant - 06/04/2007
Ticket prices for The Who's gig at the Rose Bowl have been released. Standing tickets are £45.00 though, with a 10% booking fee per ticket plus postage per order, they'll set you back considerably more. If that's too rich for your blood then local tribute act Who's Who will be performing Quadrophenia in its entirety at The Wedgewood Rooms on the 25th of May.
The Manic Street Preachers tour in May is now, apparently, completely SOLD OUT. No, I couldn't believe it either.
As mentioned earlier the provisional line-up for this year's Isle of Wight Festival has been released. Snow Patrol headline the Friday night with Muse topping the bill on the Saturday. The headliners for the Sunday night have yet to be announced, I'll update the thread on the forum with more information as and when it's released.
Jeff Wayne is breaking out the lasers and giant Richard Burton head once more to bring his classic take on War of the Worlds to the stage. Justin Haywood again joins an assembled group of session musicians this December for the tour which stops at the BIC in Bournemouth on the 17th and at the Brighton Centre on the 19th. Uuuulllaaaaaaaa!
And that just about wraps it up for this week, this afternoon I was mostly listening to The Killers and Iron Butterfly. If you want to know what I'm listening to the rest of the time then check out my Last.FM.
:o)
The provisional line-up for this year's Isle of Wight Festival was announced on Virgin Radio this morning. Unfortunately, despite an email reminder from the organisers, I slept straight through the announcement. Oops. Might've helped if I wasn't listening to the wrong station as well I guess.
Acts thus far confirmed to be appearing are as follows:
Friday 8th June
Snow Patrol
The Feeling
Saturday 9th June
Muse
Kasabian
Ash
Wolfmother
Amy Winehouse
Arno Carstens
Sunday 10th June
Headliner TBC
Keane
The Fratellis
Paolo Nutini
James Morrison
The Sunday headliner will be released in due course, as will most likely several more bands/artists to fill out the (radio-friendly?) bill. As per last year there are, unfortunately, no Day Tickets on sale; a Weekend non-camping ticket will cost £105 (plus booking fee), a Weekend camping ticket will set you back £125. Tickets go on sale at 9am this Thursday.
It's that time of year again.
Every year it looms up in front of us all and there's nothing we can do about it, just grit our collective teeth and hope it's not as painful an experience as the year before. Someone always makes a fool of themselves or does something to make you feel uncomfortable.
Just what is the point of the Brits anyway?
*koff*
In other news, it's St Cyril's Day, so I hope you all got cards with funny letters on this morning. Moving swiftly on, here's the pick of the gigs from the back pages of this week's NME:
Fields. @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/04/2007
Jamie T @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 21/04/2007
Pure Reason Revolution @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/03/2007
Friendly Fires @ Unit22, Southampton - 10/03/2007
Kubichek! @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/03/2007
Buswell @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 23/03/2007
Buswell @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 24/03/2007
If I'm not too busy opening up my many many valentine's cards (yeah right) I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar. As I've mentioned several times already the Events Calendar contains listings of local gigs and is both free and (relatively) easy to use. To whet your appetite I've plucked from it the following gigs for your delectation and delight:
The Secret Show @ Nexus, Southampton - 18/02/2007
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 23/02/2007
Rival Joustas @ Unit22, Southampton - 25/02/2007
Golden Section @ Unit22, Southampton - 28/02/2007
Theatre of Hate @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/04/2007
Cradle of Filth @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 30/04/2007
The Twang @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 28/05/2007
The Maximo Park gig at Southampton Guildhall on the 1st of May is SOLD OUT, as is the Klaxons gig at the Pyramids on the 17th of May. Grobbits.
Snow Patrol and Muse are lined up for this year's Isle of Wight Festival, rumour has it that The Rolling Stones will be there too (yes, that old chestnut again).
Some tuneful whistling in the office this morning led to a small debate on who was the better Hannibal (Lecter that is, not the guy with the elephants) so I knocked up a small poll on the forum to canvas opinion. Go votify.
And that just about wraps it up for this week, this afternoon I will mostly be listening to Klaxons and Cold War Kids. Nice.
