Beatz Music & Gig Buddies go Country...

For several different reasons, one being the soulful soundtrack, another the highly quotable dialogue, The Blues Brothers is one of the few constants on my ever-changing list of favourite films*. John Landis' madcap musical comedy, with its raft of Saturday Night Live's early stars performing alongside some of Stax & Atlantic's best musicians, is a surreal portrait of early 80's America (replete with levitating Nuns and a Twiggy cameo).

In one of the film's most memorable scenes our behatted protagonists rustle up a gig at a misbegotten venue in the middle of nowhere, a roadhouse that is not at all welcoming to the Brothers' brand of R'n'B. From my first watch of the film this venue, and the quip about it having both kinds of music, coloured my view of Country music and its fans as a cinematic punchline; bottle throwing red-necks love Tammy Wynette. 

Whilst the sequence is still admittedly funny I have found, having watched the film again through my now considerably older eyes, that it unfairly stereotypes both the music it tenuously represents and the folk who listen to it. That might sound a bit PC but, as I've got older, my tastes have broadened and now an evening spent listening to both the theme from Rawhide and Stand By You Man on repeat, drinking beer and singing along, definitely appeals. 

Unfortunately Bob's Country Bunker only exists in a 35mm world however, in our reality, venerable Portsmouth venue The Wedgewood Rooms boasts at least some of the magic of a roadhouse (the trademark sticky floors and cold beer I mean, not a wall of chicken-wire across the front of the stage to protect the musicians). Admittedly the Wedge may be more Donny that Marie but it has credentials enough to host an evening of modern Country music. 

And when better to do so than on America's birthday? 

This Fourth of July the Wedge will don its blue jeans, polish its Dingo boots, and welcome some modern Country music onto its stage, and it's all thanks to Gig Buddies and Beatz Club. These two organisations promote regular events for adults with disabilities which, whilst providing people with special needs an authentic night of live music in a safe environment, are open to ALL music lovers who want to share a good night's entertainment. 

The line-up for this Thursday night's hoe-down features a performance from local singer-songwriter Alex Krupa, some multi-instrumentalist mellifluousness from RSD Unsigned 2019 shortlisted act Hengistbury, with four-piece Dirt Road Diary closing the evening with a no doubt loud set of Country Rock.



Tickets are for this hootenanny are just £5, available in advance from the venue, with carers getting in for FREE. Yee haw! (sorry, I just couldn't help myself)

* Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back are the other two

Giant Peach @ The Wave Maiden

Indie quartet Giant Peach pay a visit to Southsea next week, headlining the bijou experience that is The Wave Maiden's upstairs stage. The band, who formed in Brighton early last year, released their debut single in June with a party at the city's Hope & Ruin venue (i.e. the place where I've queued in vain outside at every Great Escape I've attended, despite the bouncer's assurances to the contrary). 

Melatonin is a fine shimmery slice of alt-rock, replete with noodly guitar, moody lyrics and a catchy chorus (which, yes, has a bit of an Enjoy The Silence vibe to it) and has a suitably sparse video to accompany it (though I think leaving your bike in a field and wandering off like that is just asking for trouble).



Support comes from Berlin-based foursome Askers Dodge who'll be bringing some brooding alt-rock to the fray. The lyrics, and vocal delivery of frontman Greg Thompson, are reminiscent of a certain Sheffield band, something which the band allude to in their bio, or even that bloke who always arrives late for his own gigs, but these are merely cosmetic similarities; whilst you may pick up musical references at first listen there is a lot more going on here.



Wyse, who recently released their Switch Of My Controller EP, have been added to the line-up of the Friday 22nd March gig, with tickets are available now priced £4 in advance (via WeGotTickets) or £5 OTD. 

 

Updated 17/03 - Poster and support act added

RSD 2019 @ Castle Road

Record Store Day, the annual celebration of vinyl and the shops that sell it, takes place this year on Saturday 13th April. On that day, all across the globe, eager vinylphiles will form queues outside their favourite record shop, with those present crossing their fingers that they'll be able to procure that yearned for item from amongst the large array of shiny delights on offer this year.

Southsea's famed Pie & Vinyl has, since it first took part in Record Store Day, seen an ever growing number of punters pitching up outside its doors, all keen to get their mitts on that special pressing. Some get there early, some mosey along in the afternoon and a hardy few wait overnight to ensure they don't miss out.

For the past few years Castle Road, where P&V proudly sits, has joined in with the RSD celebrations by closing itself to traffic and hosting an array of local traders, artisan comestibles and live music. This year marks the fifth such takeover and, though no artists have yet been announced, whoever plays will be joining such alumni as Emily Barker, Jerry Williams, Blenaevon, Plastic Mermaids, Smoke Fairies and IDLES (no, really).

Even if vinyl isn't your thing (I know, but there are some folk who prefer CDs or, yes, even cassettes) it's well worth a visit to enjoy the ambience of a Southsea street showing its best garb, procure a gourmet cheese toastie or even replenish your supply of hot sauce (and best of all it's completely FREE to attend, which is nice).

Charity All Dayer @ The Deco

Let's face it, we all love a Bank Holiday weekend, and an Easter Bank Holiday is even better; a long weekend that offers both extra opportunity for alcoholic excess and a bonus Monday to spend recovering with Netflix and Deliveroo's assistance. However, if you're going to spend a slow day improving your sofa's butt groove whilst Mads Mikkelsen goes a bit John Wick, it's good for your karma to have done something worthwhile over the extended break. 

Rather than prop up a fancy bar in Gunwharf (well, some people do) why not make for Elm Grove on Saturday 20th April and help do something good for the environment, and maybe enjoy some loud rock and a hefty slice of local metal too. Yes, you guessed it, it's The Deco's first charity all-dayer of 2019!

The line-up for this year's inaugural shindig boasts some heavy rock from Tirana, metal courtesy of Earthborn Kings and Stray Bullets plus some fast punk from Bitterman. Joining the fray are West Country stoner rock outfit Cybernetic Witch Cult who you can get of a taster of via the embed below:

Topping the bill are Seething Akira who, as well as releasing their debut LP Sleepy Skeletor last year, were recently voted Portsmouth's Best Band in the annual Guide awards. The band signed to Armalyte Industries in November, with The Islander their first release for the label:

This feast of live music is in aid of the Freshwater Life Project, an NGO that aims to make real changes to support, protect and preserve aquatic habitats across the globe. Founded by a small team of independent researchers the Freshwater Life Project seeks to effect change, conserving wetlands, lakes and rivers to secure a future of all the types of biodiversity which rely on these aquatic habitats.

The live music starts from 1400, with bands playing through until 2200 (with DJ Matt Random keeping the engine running until midnight). Advance tickets are not available, rather entrance is via donation, paid at the door on the day. It bodes to be a large and hefty day of music and, if you sample The Deco's Asgardian cocktail menu too heavily, you may need to spend the Sunday on the sofa too. 

Beatz Music & Gig Buddies present...

No disrespect intended to Rodgers, Hammerstein or the late Maria von Trapp, but bright copper kettles, or warm woollen mittens for that matter, are not on my list of favourite things. If I was to create such a list then I can state quite easily what would be at the top of it; the simple act of attending a live music event. 

Yes, going to a gig. That feeling within produced from the combination of sensations, the bright lights and the loud mellifluous noise. The power of the shared experience, the joy of the sound of music. There's nothing quite like it and it's a gift that all can, and should enjoy. 

However, for some of us, attending a gig may not be as easy and accessible a joy as for the rest. For various reasons entering into a dark auditoriums that hosts live music, with a crowd of unknown faces in attendance, may be a disconcerting experience. Thankfully there are organisations that actively seek to open the experience up for all, organisations such as Gig Buddies and Portsmouth's Beatz Club.

Gig Buddies is a nationwide organisation which matches adults with a learning disability to volunteers with similar musical tastes, together sharing the love of live music. Beatz promotes events that offer adults with disabilities an authentic night out of live music in a safe, supportive environment.

The team behind Beatz combine their passion for music with their experience working alongside individuals with disabilities, ensuring that "everyone has a great night out". The two groups co-hosted a Christmas special at The Wedgewood Rooms, featuring live music from Bedlam and Monkey Love Stunt Team on the decks, and it's back at the venerable Albert Road venue where their next event will be held. This time around it's going to be a loud one; the organisers have shuffled the decks, checked their hand, and are playing the Rock card. 

First on the bill are Further From The Sky, a rocking four-piece with an impressive bio; between them they've played venues across the UK and Europe, recorded in London and California, and toured with the great and good from the international and underground rock scenes. If you want a South Coast rock supergroup, you've got it...



Next up are Joolz, Marky Mark and JD, aka Trouble County, a Portsmouth power trio producing "down n’ dirty, oil stained, groove-driven Southern stoner rock".



Topping the bill are South Coast three-piece Heir of The Dog, purveyors of funked up rock and rolling riffs aplenty.



This array of rock riffage takes place on Thursday 28th February at The Wedgewood Rooms and, whilst the aim of the gig is to provide people with special needs a safe environment in which to enjoy live music, the event is open to all music lovers who want to share a good night's entertainment. Tickets are for this shindig are £5 and carers go FREE.

Victorious Festival 2019 / Second wave announced

Now in its eighth year Portsmouth's Victorious Festival has easily established itself as a family-friendly affair, offering a smörgåsbord of performers in an easily accessible environment. As is the case with such shindigs the line-up is a typically idiosyncratic affair, and the organisers have their net wide over the years to bring such diverse acts as Maximo Park, Olly Murs, Dizzee Rascal, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Flaming Lips, Basement Jaxx and Charlotte Church to the city.

An initial line-up of artists playing this year's event was announced back in December, an amuse-bouche of big names which included Ska legends The Specials, Swedish monochromatic fuzz warriors The Hives and dance-cello-pop crossover outfit Clean Bandit. Today's "second wave" announcement from the organisers fills out the line-up although, typically, leaves us still guessing at to the identity of the Sunday night headliner.

Northern Ireland's Two Door Cinema Club, currently teasing the release of album number four later this year, will co-headline the Friday night session with The Specials. Joining them for the opening night are Mancunian legends Doves and two bands who are each touring seminal albums from their back catalogue; The Zutons, who have reunited to celebrate their debut release, and indie journeymen Dodgy, whose Homegrown LP is 25 this year.

The bill of fare for the first full day of the festival blends indie nostalgia with a sprinkle of dance, rap and pop. Ocean Colour Scene, Badly Drawn Boy, The Twang and Tim Burgess all feature, as do two bands I've seen grace the stage at The Pyramids, Republica and Fun Lovin' Criminals. Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, rapper/documentarian Professor Green and Bloc Party (performing a Silent Alarm set) also play Saturday, with London's Rudimental topping the bill.

Some of the acts announced for Sunday's session appear to have been plucked straight from the Nineties & Noughties section of my vinyl vault; indie-rockers Ash, Mackem musos The Futureheads and mellow indie-balladeers Starsailor all have a place on the shelf (although Razorlight, who bizarrely appear higher on the bill than these acts, do not). Alt-rockers The Sherlocks, rock/blues duo The Pearl Harts, Reggae scion Ziggy Marley and Tom Grennan's husky vocals add to the entertainment, with DJ Yoda and Basement Jaxx both making appearances behind the decks.

This second wave of acts weighs a bit too heavily on the nostalgic side for me, heavyset as it is with bands I've seen live several times before (though I'm likely to be in the minority there), and also suffers from a noticeable dearth of female performers. That said, this is just the second wave and there's likely to be several more announcements before August Bank Holiday hoves into view; Victorious has always supported local talent so I'm expecting a large number of Portsmouth/Southampton/IOW acts to be added along with a few more bigger names. Tickets for the festival are on sale now, available online via its website or in person from the Meat & Barrel in Southsea. 

Now, did I ever tell you about the time I saw Dodgy play the Heineken Festival on Southsea Common? No? Well...

Dials 2019!

Good news everyone, the excellent Dials Festival will be returning to Southsea this October! Last year's shindig saw various venues along Albert Road play host to some excellent talent, including Fake Empire, Curxes, Thyla and the jaw-droppingly good LibraLibra, hopes are therefore high for Dials 2019 to again bring the very best local and national emerging artists to the city.

It's far too early to hazard a guess at who might be on the line-up but it's a reasonably safe bet that, on the day, there be a surfeit of good music for all to enjoy. If this wets your appetite I'd advise marking Saturday 5th October on your calendar and keeping eyes on the festival's social media for announcements.

The festival has once more partnered with Solent Mind, a local charity which supports people with mental health problem across the South, to again both raise funds and awareness of mental health issues.

For those eager to attend a limited number of Super Early Bird tickets go on sale this coming Friday, 1st February, available via the festival's website from 1000 prompt.

UPDATE: All £15 Super Early Bird tickets sold out within 90 minutes, £18 Early Bird tickets now available.

Victorious Festival 2019 / First acts announced

In a very canny move, days before the Early Bird Tier 1 ticket pricing window closes, the organisers of Portsmouth's Victorious Festival have announced the first acts playing next year's Southsea Common shindig. 

Since its inception Victorious has grown both in size and reputation; as large outdoor music events go it still has a generally relaxed, family friendly vibe and offers both the musical array of a large in-country festival and the ease and convenience of a metropolitan affair (i.e. I can see some great bands and still be able to walk home afterwards). The introduction of the Friday evening session a few years back, whilst initially ruffling the feathers of some nearby residents, has become a welcome addition to the August Bank Holiday fun.

The initial tranche of acts announced may appear at a touch scattergun, an attempt to lure in the muso, the popster, the hipster and all folks in-between with shiny delights maybe, but remember this is just the tip of the pile of musical delights that will no doubt be announced in batches over the coming months. Bearing that in mind, here are inaugural acts:

Coventry's Ska legends The Specials will be co-headlining on the Friday evening, no doubt bringing a mix of classic songs and new material (their eighth long player, Encore, is scheduled for release next year).

Singer-songwriter James Bay (him with the hat) and Chingford indie rockers The Rifles join Swedish rockers The Hives on Saturday's bill. Quite what Howlin' Pelle and chums will make of Pompey is anyone's guess but, I confess, this is the one act so far announced to really pique my interest.

The Vaccines bring their flavour of indie rock to Sunday line-up, with dance-classical crossover outfit Clean Bandit also announced for for the final day of the festival. Grace Chatto et al might not be my usual listening but, I admit, they have been responsible for some very catchy tunes (is waving a Marks & Spencer bag-for-life a thing at Clean Bandit gigs? If not it really should be). 

Something there for nearly everyone, which is nice. Tickets are available now via the Victorious website and, as mentioned previously, the first tier of the Early Bird pricing ends soon.

Icebreaker Festival 2019 / Line-up announcement

Since 2015 Southsea's Icebreaker Festival has been a highlight on the city's musical calendar, bringing unsigned acts to the city, delivering a glorious variety of new music to venues all within comfortable walking distance of each other. To be honest, I'm a wee bit embarrassed to say I've not been yet (I know, shame on me, I'll go sit on the blog equivalent of the 'naughty step'). 

Over two days in January Icebreaker turns existing venues, situated along the thoroughfares of Elm Grove and Albert Road, into stages offering the freshest in new and unsigned music. It's a model used to great effect by both The Great Escape and the fondly remembered Southsea Fest and, since its inception, Icebreaker successfully applied it to become the South's largest unsigned metropolitan music festival.

In preparation for their next shindig the folks at Icebreaker Towers have been seeding their social media feeds with stage line-ups for next year's festival. The list is, obviously, reassuringly long so, in no particular order here are the acts playing Icebreaker 2019 [deep breath]...

Dutch Criminal Record, Radlouse, Tirana, Syrette, Total State Machine, Arid Wave, Tides, Fake Empire, Ciircus Street, Hallan, Thieves By The Code, Octopus, Sad Palace, Luna Blue, Foxer, The Wild Claims, Alexis Kings, Captain Trips, Wild Front, You're Smiling Now But We'll All Turn Into Demons, Number 9, HAEMA, Violet Mud, Alice Milburn Band, Heir of the Dog, Fugitive Orchestra, The Machete, Slick Minded Individuals, Crybaby Special, Prey Drive, The Collision, Brother Deep, The Purple Smoke, Hang Dai, Something Leather, Joe Burger, The Sweetchunks Band, Frankie Knight, Victus, Anthropophagite, The Dead Reds, Alexander McKay, Seething Akira, Me & The Moon, Hooli, Southerlies, Madeline, Bella Estelle, Horseflies, Heebie Jeebies, Toreador, The Day Of The Rabblement, Bearfist, The Diamond Age, Romances, Winchester, Broken Links, Deuxes, Sam Wilde, Pleasure Complex, Tokyo Taboo, Hometown Show, Yeehaa Granma, Georgia Fearn, Katy Hurt, Mischa & His Merry Men, Ellis Hudson, Matt English, Ryan McMurtry, Mystic Hipniks Picnic, Tom Pointer, Freja Frances, Sal Paradise, Djuno, The Bayonettes, Brutum Fulmen, Pure Assassins, JEPH, Sweetmates, The Hideaways, Light Brigade, 12 Hour Avenue, Our Propaganda, Hanowar, (Not) Queens of the Stone Age, Stray Bullets, Cybernetic Witch Cult, Harbinger, Ravenbreed, King Abyss, Bleed Again, Bad Llama, Escape December, Costellos, Calum Lintott, Girls With No Faces, Cora Pearl, Currls, Sweet Facility, Gloo, Curbwire, Igloo, These Septic Stars, Aren Drift, Marmalade Moonshine, Bird Shoes, Lobster Pot, Submariner, Minque,  Persona, The Vitrines, Finding Kate, Percival Elliott, El Morgan & The Divers, Principal Partners, Make Them All Smile, Mystic Peach, Dad Hair, Burning House, Drusila, Manreads, SKiNNY MiLK, Scrubs, Lucid Rising, The Burning Trestle, Jackarack (DJ), CLT DRP, Birthday Card, Cassinii, Bel Esprit, Counterpoint, FLOWVERS, Sarpa Salpa, Lily Garland, Brother Zulu, The Ruffs, Skull Above The Cannon, Eyre Llew, Capital Fuzz, The FreeDub Press and Shoot The Duke 

...all of whom will be playing stages, some of which are curated by the likes of BBC Introducing Solent, Taro Records, Mayfield Studios and Express FM's The Shout, across a variety of venues (some of which are 14+ friendly for the younger music lover). 

Icebreaker 2019 takes place on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th January 2019, with both day and weekend tickets available online via Seetickets or, if you prefer a proper physical ticket, from The Wedgewood Rooms box office. And after all that I think that I really must get myself a ticket...

Update: The full line-up poster has been released.

Jazz Club? Nice

John Thomson's turn as Louis Balfour in The Fast Show's Jazz Club skits may not have been to all tastes, pandering as it did to the stereotype that Jazz is loved only by pretentious pseuds in roll-neck sweaters, but they had a side-effect of programming the brains of those that watched them to utter the words "nice" or "great" whenever the J-word is used.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. 

Despite never owning a roll-neck sweater, or smoking a pack of Gauloises in a dark cellar, I must confess that I'm partial to some flavours of Jazz. The works of Tord Gustavsen, The Bad Plus and the late Esbjörn Svensson all sit comfortably amongst the selection of Indie, Alt-Rock, Electronica, Rap and Pop in my record collection. However, despite that, I can wilt under the excesses of some performers (Courtney Pine for example), excesses which cause said stereotypes to flourish and my tapping foot to steer clear.

News that Southsea's Coastguard Studio has partnered with Chichester's La Havana Jazz Club, to bring Jazz to the heart of Portsmouth in 2019, could well get me to direct my Converse to The Strand for an evening of mellifluous delights (especially as Portsmouth's long running Jazz club is shuttering in December).

The monthly club night promises international artists (the excellent Gilad Atzmon is amongst the initial tranche announced), supplemented by local DJs spinning vinyl. Not to further reinforce a stereotype but all I can say is great.

Old Guard 18/19

This Saturday, 10th November, Southsea's Wine Vaults hosts Old Guard 18/19, a musical fundraiser for charity No More Durty Water. Fifty DJs will descend on the venerable Albert Road pub, spinning thirteen hours of music across three sounds systems, raising money to aid the charity's efforts to end water poverty.

Since its inception in 2010 No More Durty Water has, through parties, gigs and raffles, fully funded the building of 10 protected springs in southern Uganda. The charity was founded by local DJ Monkey P who, inspired by the fundraising activities of music students at South Downs College, realised that he could involve Southsea's musical and artistic community to raise both money and awareness. Sadly Monkey P died in 2015, the work of the charity he created continues however.

In addition to the DJs spinning out tunes there will be a raffle, with over thirty prizes supplied by local businesses, a record fair and a sale of Monkey P's record collection (some of which was sold at The Wedgewood Rooms back in May). The poster, below, riffs on the classic Mexico '86 World Cup logo (which reminded me that, back when I was a small boy, I had a model of Pique that I assembled out of a Kinder Egg).

The music starts this Saturday, from midday.

20 years of Hipshaker

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.

Over two decades this DJ duo have thrilled audiences at The Wedgewood Rooms, got crowds dancing at the Isle of Wight Festival, brought the music to the Ryde Scooter Rally and, generally, supplied good tunes to thousands of folks along the South Coast and beyond. Along the way they've released an LP that collected rare tunes in one vinyl package (still available if you look on ebay) and power a radio show on local station Express FM.

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.

Late nights? Earlier doors...

Having The Wedgewood Rooms practically on my doorstep has always been a source of delight; it's a fantastic venue where, over the years, I've been lucky enough to see many artists at various stages of their careers (and, yes, I still shamelessly try and spot the gigs I've attended there from the multitude of posters that adorn the walls of its bar). 

Part of the experience of going to "the Wedge" is meeting up before the gig at one of the local hostelries, killing some time waiting for the doors to open with beer and conversation on whether or not to sample the delights of the support act (which we invariably did, if not then I'd never have seen The Killers and Franz Ferdinand when I did, or discover the live awesomeness that was The Computers).

The reason for propping up a bar elsewhere beforehand was because, for as long as I can remember, my favourite haunt has thrown wide its doors slightly later than other venues; the doors would open later, the bands would start later, the entertainment would end later, and there's the rub. Stay until the end or bolt for the last train or bus? Decisions decisions.

Admittedly this was more problematic when I lived outside of the city and, having resigned myself to not missing out on any music (which meant forsaking the last locomotive heading west out of Fratton), I always tried to make sure I had enough shrapnel in my pocket to cover the taxi home (which meant, on occasion, forsaking the shiny delights of the merch table). 

That was then. Now I live in Portsmouth getting home from the Wedge is just a shortish walk for me. However, having become accustomed to the late starts, several of my gig buddies and I have all had to undergo a period of adjustment when seeing a gig at a venues further afield. Whilst it seemed initially strange that gigs in Brighton and London would start and finish earlier, the realisation that this left enough time to make the last train, including grabbing a bite or a pint at the station before the journey home, was a welcome one.

Times change, which of course means times change. Opening times I mean, more precisely those of The Wedgewood Rooms. Apparently, due to popular demand, door times are moving back to 1930 which also means, obviously, that an evening's mellifluous delights should finish by 2300. This brings the venue more in line with others, makes getting the last train home slightly more easier for those who have to travel and, personally speaking, means in future that I'm more likely to make it home before midnight for my mug of bedtime Horlicks.

The venue is phasing the introduction of its new door time over the Autumn period; by 2019 all gigs should start earlier (comedy and club nights are unaffected). They're also genuinely interested if that's the ideal time for a gig to finish or still too late, canvassing for opinions via their Facebook page. It's OK by me, though it does mean I might have to finish my pint in The Merchant House a little quicker than before.

A Sunday matinee with Sink or Soar

The heavy rain that fell on Victorious Festival's Sunday session this year put the kibosh on several performances. With both the Real Ale Stage and Castle Stage closing due to the inclement elements several acts were bumped off the bill, the lucky ones who weren't suffered the weather (which, given it was raining sideways for most of the afternoon, explains why Gomez sheltered under a hastily assembled garden pagoda for their set on the Common Stage).

Sink or Soar were one casualty of Portsmouth seemingly receiving its Summer supply of rain in one afternoon, which was a shame as their festival set was to be their last gig (boo!). All is not lost however, for the trio are taking the stage one last time (until they reform in 2025) for an afternoon farewell at The Edge of The Wedge, joined by Matt Allen's Mystery Beaks and Rich Keam. If you want to wish the Wit & Co a fond toodle pip mark your calendars for Sunday 4th November.

Susanna - 'Freight Train'

There are few better ways to entertain a musically inclined tourist to Portsmouth than by introducing them to the gem that is Southsea's Pie & Vinyl; with its wallet melting selection of shiny vinyl and delicious pies it deserves to be shown off. And so it was I found myself there the weekend just gone, treating a visitor from the Big Smoke to lunch, where I happened upon the shop's latest venture.

Beneath The Noise is the P&V free magazine, a near pocket-sized pamphlet of news, reviews and interviews that hit the shelves in time for this year's Record Store Day (I know, I've been busy). It's a well-assembled zine that sits well amongst the copies of So Young & DIY on the shop's shelves, what really grabbed my attention though was the cover.

Staring up at me was Susanna Wallumrød, possibly better known to some as half of Susanna & The Magical Orchestra (the other half being pianist Morten Qvenild) though now primarily a solo artist. I must confess that, since 2006's Melody Mountain, Susanna had fallen off my radar somewhat, thus the interview in BTN made for an interesting read to bring me up to date.
 
Susanna's latest release, Go Dig My Grave, is a collection of themed cover versions, performed with the same delicate nuance that I'd enjoyed with her Magical Orchestra releases (her version of Dolly Parton's Jolene has to be heard to be believed). The new album includes takes on the Lilac Wine, Perfect Day and Joy Division's Wilderness, her reworking of Elizabeth Cotten's Freight Train is presented below.

As a bonus, here are two live clips I've found, one of a Don Henley hit, the other an AC/DC classic (no really):

 
If you'd like to know more about Susanna I'd suggest toddling along to P&V, picking up a copy of Beneath The Noise, and having a read whilst you wait for your pie to arrive.

Cate le Bon @ The Wedgewood Rooms (10/09/2014)

I feel a bit sorry for Oxford.

The city of dreaming spires may have gifted the nation the likes of Supergrass and Radiohead, provided a home for Lyra Belacqua and played a part in the education of Professor Stephen Hawking, but apparently its audiences aren't very lively. Or, at least, this is what Cate le Bon tells us of her experience playing there the previous evening. Depending upon your level of cynicality this could be viewed as disparaging to the fine people of Oxford or, instead, that well used tactic of winning over a new audience by rubbishing an old one. If it is the latter then it's not a tactic that le Bon needs to use.

The comment regarding the previous night's crowd is dropped several songs into her set, needlessly as I (and, given the applause, the rest of the crowd) am enthralled. What a difference a few songs can make; at the outset I wasn't so sure what we were in for, with le Bon striding across the stage to stand in a dark corner, set apart from the three members of her backing band. Thoughts of J Spaceman, standing aloof at the side of the stage, stirred at the back of my memory. Would this be another such gig where I left feeling that I'd paid money to watch someone who didn't want to be looked at? No, obviously.

From the opening bars of the first song le Bon becomes possessed by the music, stepping into the light and swaying toward the microphone. Holding the guitar like a weapon she moves around the stage, a fluid and better choreographed Wilko Johnson she could machine gun us down at any time. That the set plundered latest album Mug Museum is no real surprise; the first track from the new long player, I Can't Help You, is dispatched early on and a stirring Wild is dedicated to the fine folks of Portsmouth (and sees an errant string broken midway through its wig out, thus the guitar is replaced by handbells for the next couple of numbers).

Her backing band of Huw, Dan and Steve (who were all introduced to in another break between songs) leave le Bon alone for the first song of the encore, a beautifully delicate take on Frank Mills (from the musical Hair but probably better known by some as the last proper track on The Lemonheads' It's A Shame About Ray album). The band rejoin for one last song and then, all too soon, the lights come on and we make our way to the door and the delights of the merchandise desk that awaits us in the foyer.

So, yes, I feel a bit sorry for Oxford. Cate le Bon was an exquisite delight, you'd have to have been staring at your shoes, with fingers in your ears, not to have been swept along with her.

Five acts to see at Southsea Fest 2013

Southsea Fest again takes over a variety of venues along Albert Road this Saturday, filling them with all manner of musical entertainments for your aural and visual pleasure. This year's line-up is a veritable feast of music, so much so that my highlighter pen has gone into hiding rather than take on the task of helping me mark out my copy of the Clashfinder.

Given the choice on offer it might seem a daunting prospect to know where to begin, to that end I've picked five acts that I'm looking forward to seeing to get you started (to be honest I could have set down a long list of bands that I think you ought to take in, but one of the many joys of Southsea Fest is stumbling across your new favourite band when 10 minutes before you'd not heard of them). Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...

The Computers - Edge of The Wedge [2115-2145]
Exeter's finest, a rum bunch of slick rockers who should make the walls of the Edge run with sweat. Fronted by a lead singer who finds it hard to stay on the stage if he can help it, and will take his microphone stand with him when he descends into the the crowd, chances are you'll most likely end up with him next to you even if you stand at the back.



Dead Rabbits - Little Johnny Russell's [1830-1900]
Shoegazey darkness from Southampton, flavoured with feedback and a sprinkling of psychedelia. Very nice.



Curxes - Southsea Social Club [1835-1905]
Describing themselves as a decorative set of bones, this Southsea/Brighton duo will mesmerise with their 80's flavoured electro pop. Imagine a Depeche Mode-powered freight train thundering towards you, with a winged valkyrie on the footplate crying out to the engine driver to fuel the firebox with his bass shovel.. there you go. Enjoy. 



Drenge - The Fat Fox [2220-2300]
From Derbyshire comes two brothers who make a lot of noise and make a lot of eye contact with each other. There will be moshing, oh yes, there will be moshing.



The B of The Bang - The Wine Vaults [1815-1845]
Southsea's own purveyors of alt pop rock, expect a selection of old and new material (their sophomore release having been released earlier this year on Pie & Vinyl's label).



So there you go, five of the best to see you on your way. To be honest it was very nearly a different list, as the likes of MMX and Misty Miller, Death At Sea or Eagulls could have made an appearance . If you ever owned a Commodore 64 then perhaps Anamanaguchi would be more your thing. Come to think of it I should've mentioned As Elephants Are and Splashh, or Titan, AK/DK, Veronica Falls, Battery Hens, Future Of The Left, Thumpers, Tripwires, Mugstar, The Family Rain or.. umm.. well, you get the idea. If you're still stuck then you could either give the SSF2013 Spotify playlist a listen or just toddle along to Albert Road and see what tickles your fancy. 

Fake Fest 2011

Just when you think the festival season is over another one pops up to extend it. Sort of. Fake Fest is Southsea's own tribute act festival; a celebration of some of the world's best bands by some of the UK's best fakers, which takes place this Saturday, 1st October.

Castle Field will come alive to the classic tunes of Queen, The Rolling Stones and the Foo Fighters courtesy of Chichester's Rhapsody, Kent's Fool Fighters and Bath's Rolling Zones. In addition there'll be support from "the best local cover bands and the coolest DJ on the decks" (I'm quoting the ad in the paper, no support details have been released that I can find).

As much as I like tribute bands (they're often the only way to experience a live performance of certain band's songs) and as much as I think this sounds like a great idea I must admit to feeling a slight bristle upon seeing the ticket price. Advanced tickets are £19.99 (or £25 on the day), children ages 16 and under can go free with a paying adult (one child per adult).

Admittedly this is considerably less than you'd pay to experience just one of the real versions of the bands represented (I'm not going to work out the developmental costs of building a time machine to see Queen at Wembley in 1986, I'd figure there'd be a lot of zeroes involved though). However I saw more original music for less at Southsea Fest last week (come to think of it I saw more fake music for considerably less in Gosport a couple of months ago).

Regardless of my idle kvetching I hope the event is successful, Castle Field is a great space for something like this and Portsmouth has been missing a suitably chunky musical event of this ilk since the Heineken Big Top was packed away many years ago. The event strap-line is "a full experience of a festival without the price tag!", whether this means Glastonbury style toilets or Bestival style fancy dress will be in effect is your guess as much as mine. 

Tickets can be purchased via The News' website (select Event Tickets from the list of items on the left of the page) or by phone on 01243 534125/534126