The Gigwatcher 30/05/2007

As the sun set he turned into a bear.

And so the unpleasantness begins again; has it really been a year already? To think, once upon a time I entertained ideas of going on Big Brother. Oh foolish youth.

I mean, can you imagine if it was me naked on a couch that time instead of Jade Goody?

*koff*

Quite. Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's Beth Ditto-tastic NME:

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ The Hope, Brighton - 11/06/2007
Fujiya & Miyagi @ Audio, Brighton - 26/06/2007
Shiny Toy Guns @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/07/2007
The Gossip @ The Dome, Brighton - 15/09/2007
Maximo Park @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 08/10/2007
The National @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 10/11/2007
Mika @ BIC, Brighton - 28/11/2007
Mika @ Brighton Centre - 30/11/2007
Kings of Leon @ Brighton Centre - 06/12/2007

If I'm not sat in front of the TV enjoying the irony of watching people having to interact with each other because they don't have a television (!) I'll bung the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar as soon as I can be bothered. As I may have inferred once or twice, the Events Calendar is completely gratis to view and is chock full of gigs through til the end of the year, like these:

Contra, Rattlesnake & Amethyst @ Black Bar, Portsmouth - 30/05/2007
The Veils @ The Joiners, Southampton - 31/05/2007
Brenda @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 01/06/2007
Courtney Pine @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 02/06/2007
Toupé @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/06/2007
The Who @ The Rose Bowl, Southampton - 02/06/2007
Transglobal Underground & Autons @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 03/06/2007 (free afternoon entertainment)
The Warm @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 03/06/2007
Tom McRae @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 04/06/2007
Ben Taylor @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 05/06/2007
Gary Moore @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 05/06/2007
Mute Math @ Concorde2, Brighton - 20/06/2007
Suzanne Vega @ The Dome, Brighton - 02/07/2007
Feist @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/07/2007
Nizlopi @ Talking Heads, Southampton - 25/08/2007
Madina Lake @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 24/09/2007

Following his recent stroke Bo Diddley's gig at The Brook on Tuesday 5th June has obviously been cancelled; punters are advised to contact their point of purchase for ticket refunds. Ex-Doors Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger's appearance as Riders On The Storm at Southampton Guildhall on Tuesday 19th June has also been cancelled.

Things are looking more hopeful for The Brook; having stayed open the past few weekends the venue has confirmed that all scheduled gigs in June will be going ahead (with the exception of the Paradise Lost and Caliban gigs, which have moved to The Nexus); excellent news but the venue isn't quite out of the woods yet, so please show your support. Unfortunately The Brook can't take phone bookings again as yet; you can book securely online or pay cash on the door though.

Nick Courtney, otherwise known as the guy who runs the Open Mike Club at The Milton Arms' Barn every Thursday, has organised a cancer benefit gig at The RMA Tavern on Sunday 3rd June. The line-up includes Pathway, Monkey Butlars and Bemis. Tickets are £5 and can be purchased by phone from 02392 837730 or, alternatively, from Nick's shop, Sweet Memories Records on Fratton Road.

And that's it for another week. This afternoon I have mostly been listening to Scott Matthews (mellow) and The Mars Volta (bonkers). Join me next week when I'll be pulling rabbits from a top hat.

:o)

WOXY Modern Rock 500

My favourite online radio station is once again holding its annual rundown of the top 500 songs in modern rock (which is what the colonials term what we'd call indie and alternative) this weekend.

The rundown will be broadcast in three chunks over the Whitsun Holiday (or Memorial Day, as it is in the US) weekend, starting at 1500 BST on Saturday 26th May through till 0500 BST on Sunday 27th May. Part two will be streaming on the main WOXY feed from 1700 BST on Sunday 27th May through till 0500 BST on Monday 28th May, with the final part broadcast from 1500 BST on Monday 28th May through till they reach number 1 (and if staying up till five in the morning doesn't appeal then there's always Streamripper).

This is the 18th year of the Modern Rock 500 and, to be honest, there's been more than one time over the past couple of years when I didn't think it'd make it this far. Hopefully it can survive the US Copyright Royalty Board's recent decision to enforce royalty payments for US webcasters, fingers crossed.

A full listing of last year's 500 can be found here.

Extra tickets for IOW Festival released

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.

The Gigwatcher 23/05/2007

Hello Tyrannosaurus Alan!

H'mm.

[pokes self with stick]

Well, I don't feel any older but it appears that I bruise quite easily. Ouch.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Dogs (supporting The Twang) @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 28/05/2007
Fanfarlo @ The Hope, Brighton - 04/06/2007
Trabant @ Unit22, Southampton - 02/06/2007
We Are The Physics @ The Barfly, Brighton - 26/06/2007
Silversun Pickups @ The Barfly, Brighton - 19/07/2007
The Stereophonics @ BIC, Bournemouth - 04//11/2007
The Stereophonics @ The Centre, Brighton - 05/11/2007

If I'm not buying myself a nice new cardigan (the kind with big chunky brown buttons) or reading Val Doonican's autobiography I'll input the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar when I get a spare five minute. The Events Calendar is completely gratis to view and is full of upcoming gigs through til the end of the year, like these for example:

Big D & The Kids Table @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/05/2007
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip and Wiservice @ The Registry, Portsmouth - 24/05/2007
Rufus Wainwright @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 24/05/2007
Who's Who @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 25/05/2007
Steve Knightley @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 26/05/2007
Oo-Bop-Sh'Bam and Jive Aces @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 27/05/2007 (free afternoon entertainment)
Iain Archer @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 29/05/2007
Ray Davies @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 30/05/2007
Nick Harper @ Talking Heads, Southampton - 30/05/2007
The Alan Titchmarsh Project @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/06/2007
Sheilatakeabow and Carousel Era @ Unit22, Southampton - 03/06/2007
Waterson:Carthy @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 04/06/2007
The Strange Death of Liberal England @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/07/2007
Ian Brown @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 22/09/2007
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 03/11/2007
Status Quo @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 18/11/2007

Despite The Brook's financial problems it successfully weathered the weekend and remains open; all gigs listed on their website through til Saturday 26th May will be taking place and tickets can be purchased online. It's advisable to keep checking their website for up to date information (there's also a guestbook open there should you wish to show your support).

Portsmouth's own bohemian district will be alive with the sound of music this weekend as the Southsea Music Festival fires into life. Various venues throughout Southsea will be putting on special events as part of the proceedings, though unfortunately I couldn't find specific details online. However, The Oberon Project has announced its involvement and will be holding several events at Black Bar on Albert Road; listed as appearing are Hobos & Eskimos and If Destroyed Still True (Saturday 26th May), Silent Hours and The Skies (Monday 28th May), Tom Powell and Terry East (Tuesday 29th May), Contra and Amethyst (Wednesday 30th May) with a special Cool Banana Junkyard Show on Thursday 31st May.

Little Johnny Russell's on Albert Road will be hosting a DJ set from Bloc Party on Thursday 24th May. Entrance is £5, for which you'll get to hear two members of the band spin some tunes as well be entertained with live performances from The Exits and The Elements.

The Fawcett Inn in Portsmouth is probably better known for having a comedy name or holding evenings full of banging tunes and DJ sets than it is for live performances. This weekend however it hosts two days of live music; Saturday is given over to beats and grooves whilst Sunday sees a noon to midnight acoustic mini festival. Nice.

Phew.. put a fork in me, I'm done. That wraps it up for another week, this afternoon I have mostly been listening to Arcade Fire (the first track of Neon Bible sounds more than a little Bowie-esque, not that that's a bad thing). Join me next week when I'll be levitating gently in a state of nirvana.

Shoot The Runner

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.

The Brook in administration

The following announcement has appeared on The Brook's website:

LIQUIDATORS APPOINTED TO THE BROOK

Antony Fanshawe, of the leading specialist insolvency and reconstruction firm, Fanshawe Lofts has been appointed as liquidator to The Brook, one of Southampton’s premier live music locations.

The Brook is a long established business owned by a partnership between Richard Davey and Bryn Lewis. It has proved a highly popular music venue attracting literally tens of thousands of visitors every year from across the South with international, national, and regional artists from a broad range of music genres from blues, r’n’b and indie to tribute, funk and jazz.

Antony Fanshawe said “The Brook management are clearly devastated at finding themselves in this position and are extremely concerned about letting people down. I am delighted that they are co-operating fully with my team and jointly we hope we can reach a positive conclusion.”

It doesn't seem clear from the accompanying article on the Daily Echo website how the venue got itself into this situation but problems with the landlord of the property may have played a part (as could, possibly, the recent refurbishment and expansion of the building).

Either way it'd be a real shame if the doors closed for good; The Brook is a fine venue with its own distinctive feel, it attracts acts that might not visit alternative venues locally and people will travel the distance to see them there. Fingers crossed they find a solution, in the meantime the venue is still open and gigs booked for this weekend at least will be going ahead; for gigs after that it's advisable to check the venue's website.

The Gigwatcher 16/05/2007

They still call me Bubby

H'mm.

Mars Bars with added cow? Why don't they just cut to the chase and start selling chocolate-covered Peperami?

[thinks]

Y'know, I might be onto something there.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

UnkleJam @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/05/2007
The Crimea @ The Barfly, Brighton - 13/06/2007
The Crimea @ The Joiners, Southampton - 15/06/2007
Pull Tiger Tail @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/06/2007
Jack Peñate @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 29/06/2007
Jack Peñate @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 01/07/2007
Richard Hawley @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 02/09/2007
Richard Hawley @ The Dome, Brighton - 04/09/2007
Xavier Rudd @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 22/09/2007
The Fray @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 04/11/2007

If I'm not busy pimping sausages with Dolly Mixtures, or trying to perfect a bacon sundae, I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar just as soon as I can. Don't forget that the Events Calendar is free to view and, if that wasn't enough, packed with gigs for your delectation and delight. Like these:

Help She Can't Swim @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/05/2007
The Go! Team @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/05/2007
Good Shoes @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/05/2007
Oojami @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 19/05/2007
Little Toby Walker @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 20/05/2007
Roy Harper @ The Brook, Southampton - 22/05/2007
Jason Donovan @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 22/05/2007
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 22/05/2007
G4 @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 23/05/2007
Moma Jest @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 25/05/2007
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 26/05/2007
Brian Houston @ The Studio, The Petersfield School - 26/05/2007
The Mingus Big Band @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 27/05/2007
Drive By Argument @ The Joiners, Southampton - 05/06/2007
Mimas @ Unit22, Southampton - 10/06/2007
Easy Star All-Stars @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/07/2007
The Damned @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/08/2007
Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 21/10/2007

Polish rockers Oddzial Zamkniety have cancelled their appearance at The Guildhall in Southampton on Sunday 20th May; refunds are available from point of purchase. Tribute acts Roxy Magic and U-Rhythmics joint gig on Saturday 30th May at The Brook in Southampton has also been cancelled (legendary rockers UFO will be appearing at the venue that night instead).

The Bestival, Rob da Bank's three-day shindig at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight, has sold out with four months to spare. As expected I was lax and didn't get myself a ticket in time. Ah. Weddun.

The Raglan Rooms at The Alma Arms in Portsmouth adds another eclectic string to its bow with the addition of a new monthly event. Joining the Railway Folk Club, punk all-dayers and acoustic open-mike nights comes Club 12th Hour, an evening of live indie\electro\acoustic music brought to you by local promoter Psaila, local band The Elements and those chaps at Underyournose. The next Club 12th Hour is on Friday 25th May; doors open at 2000 and the line-up includes The Frank Hamilton Band, Jessica Spencer and Del Nil.

And that's just about it for this week; this afternoon I was mostly listening to Tom McRae and Moi Caprice. This time next week I'll be another year older (ho-hum) but still no wiser (and that's a promise).

:o)

Music at the Bandstand

Portsmouth City Council have again organised a series of free Sunday afternoon concerts at Southsea Bandstand throughout the Summer. As before each week's concert has been geared to cover a certain genre; this Summer's selection touches on jazz, reggae, 70s & 80s pop, ska and country music to name but a few.

The fun starts on Sunday 25th May with an afternoon of Jive music from Oo-Bop-Sh'bam and Jive Aces, wrapping up on Sunday 26th August with a performance by ex-Strangler Hugh Cornwell. As well as the afternoon concerts there's also a firework accompanied 70's evening, featuring tribute act Platinum ABBA, which takes place on Sunday 1st July.

More information can be gleaned from this PDF (that the council have handily squirelled away on their website). One name that caught the eye when I read through it was ex-Lisheen frontman Vincent Treacey; he's part of Reel Sound Music's Acoustic afternoon on Sunday 17th June.

H'mm, I'll have to blow the dust off my copy of The Jokers Wine then.

The Gigwatcher 09/05/2007

Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow

Paris Hilton is 'inspirational'?

Bah!

What kind of excuse is that to get out of a drink-driving charge? Honestly. I can safely say that she's had no enhancing effect on my life, however mundane that might be, whatsoever. Although, if she keeps making Lena Lamont style comments such as that, her comedy value can only increase.

Not as much as when she does get banged up in stir though obviously.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Simian Mobile Disco @ Audio, Brighton - 12/05/2007
Cage The Elephant @ Lennons, Southampton - 12/05/2007
Leon Jean Marie @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/05/2007
Bonde Do Role @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 19/05/2007
Biffy Clyro @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 20/05/2007
Little Barrie @ The Joiners, Southampton - 29/05/2007
The Holloways @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 01/06/2007
Josh Pyke @ Barfly, Brighton - 05/06/2007
Air Traffic @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/06/2007
Josh Pyke @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/06/2007
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 19/07/2007

If I'm not busy scheduling lots of things for my shiny (and HUGE) V+ box to record I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar when I get a spare five minutes. As I may have inferred once or twice, the Events Calendar is packed full of gigly morsels. Like these for example:

The Black Hand @ Talking Heads, Southampton - 10/05/2007
Skunk Funk @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 12/05/2007
Phil Beer @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 12/05/2007
Little London @ The Registry, Portsmouth - 17/05/2007
Richmond Fontaine @ Talking Heads, Southampton - 20/05/2007
Head Automatica @ Student Union, Southampton University - 23/05/2007
Sheelanagig @ Talking Heads, Southampton - 23/05/2007
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 26/05/2007
The Who @ The Rose Bowl, Southampton - 02/06/2007
Country Joe McDonald @ Havant Arts Centre, Havant - 09/06/2007
The Smyths @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 15/06/2007
INXS @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 19/06/2007

Lou Rhodes' gig at The Wedgewood Rooms, scheduled for Thursday 10th May, has been cancelled; punters are advised to contact their point of purchase for ticket refunds. Likewise those of you who splurged on tickets for Son Of Dork's gig at The Pyramids on Friday 25th May are prompted to do the same as that's been cancelled too (I know Jim will be especially gutted to hear that).

Portsmouth's legendary indie club night Chaos will again be holding one of its irregular live events on Saturday 19th May. The line-up this time round features Big Squirrel, Golden Section and Suburbian. Tickets are available from The Wedgewood Rooms, the doors open at 2100 for the live stuff and, after that, there's a DJ through til 0300.

And that about wraps it up for this week. This afternoon I have mostly been listening to Girls Aloud and King Creosote. Join me next time when I'll be practising my conversational Japanese.. hora, sem bon!

:o)

Moi Caprice - The Town And The City

My copy of Moi Caprice's latest album, The Art Of Kissing Properly, arrived the other day and has soon become one with my CD deck. It won't budge, it can't be moved, it just demands to be played over and over again.

Part of the reason for this is tracks like this one:



H'mm. They must be putting something in the water in Denmark.

The Gigwatcher 02/05/2007

Za rodinu!

Ah.

Industrial action is, as well being a good name for a Yorkshire-based death metal band, a good way to waste the day. Yesterday I exercised my democratic right to stay in bed later than usual, watch TV and drink alcoholic Ginger Beer, all in the name of the people's right to more money.

*koff*

Well, it's the thought that counts. Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Ben's Brother @ The Joiners, Southampton - 11/05/2007
The Wayne Foundation @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 14/05/2007
Thirteen Senses @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/05/2007
The Wayne Foundation @ University Student Union, Southampton - 17/05/2007
Mr Hudson & The Library @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/05/2007
Cherry Ghost @ Komedia, Brighton - 18/06/2007
The Bravery @ Concorde2, Brighton - 25/07/2007

If I've not managed to glue my fingers to the wings of the Airfix plane I'm building I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar just as soon as I can. The Events Calendar is just full of local gigs that might fire up your loins, like these for example:

Firebird @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/05/2007
Flip Top @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 04/05/2007
Hummingbird (Amy Wadge, Cathy Burton & Edwina Hayes) @ The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 05/05/2007
Kenney Jones & The Gang @ The Brook, Southampton - 05/05/2007
Polly & The Billet Doux @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 06/05/2007
Lou Rhodes @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 10/05/2007 CANCELLED!
The Exits @ The Registry, Portsmouth - 10/05/2007
The Cartel @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 11/05/2007
Orange Goblin @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/05/2007
Parka @ Lennons, Southampton - 19/05/2007
Big D & The Kids Table @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/05/2007
Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss & Matraca Berg @ The Anvil, Basingtoke - 27/05/2007
Red Letter Day @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 03/06/2007
Graham Bonnet @ The Brook, Southampton - 01/07/2007
Runrig @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 19/10/2007

The Wedgewood Rooms has confirmed that the rescheduled Cooper Temple Clause gig, planned for Wednesday 23rd May, is indeed cancelled following the announcement of the band's split last week. Punters are advised to contact their point of purchase for a refund. Likewise The Joiners have confirmed the Dustin's Bar Mitzvah gig scheduled for Monday 21st May has been cancelled following the band's recent decision to call it a day.

The support slots for the Nine Black Alps gig at The Wedgewood Rooms on Sunday 6th May have been filled by a couple of local bands. Portsmouth's Cut The Blue Wire and Chichester's Golden Section have been named as the warm-ups, so I'd advise missing out the pre-gig beer in the Duke of Devonshire and getting to the venue early to check them out.

Legendary goth club night Resurgence returns for a 10th Anniversary celebration on Sunday 6th May. As per usual the action takes place at my favourite hole in the ground, Scandals on Hampshire Terrace in Southsea. Doors open at eight o'clock and the fun runs through til midnight.

Whilst also in that neck of the woods, just down from Scandals the venerable public house The Wig & Pen has started hosting acoustic open mike nights on Mondays. There's also a chill-out session on Sunday afternoons, more details are available on the pub's Myspace.

And with the sun burning my eyes I think that'll do for this week (I really must get those window blinds repaired). This afternoon I have mostly been listening to Nigel Stonier and The Shins. Join me next week when I may well have finally got around to adding the "That Sounds A Good Name For A Band" thread to the forum.

Bestival line-up

Details of the (quite extensive) line-up for this year's Bestival, which takes place the weekend of 7th-9th September, have been released. The Chemical Brothers headline the Friday night, with The Beastie Boys taking charge of Saturday and Primal Scream wrapping things up on the Sunday.

As for who else will be entertaining the masses at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight..

[deep breath]

Adjagas, Babyhead, Bat For Lashes, Billy Bragg, Bishi, Bonde de Role, Cagedbaby, Calvin Harris, Candie Payne, Daedalus, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Dub Pistols, Duloks, Easy Star All-Stars, Electrelane, Emmy The Great, Fields, Figurines, Fionn Regan, Foals, Friendly Fires, Fujiya and Miyagi, George Pringle, Gossip, Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Infinite Scale, Jackson Analogue, Jah Wobble, John Foxx, Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, Jon Hopkins, Kate Nash, Kid Carpet, Kid Harpoon, Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Kleptones, Kode 9 & Spaceape, Levellers, Man Like Me, Marlena Shaw, Max Sedgley & The Shoots, Mr Hudson and The Library, Natty, Noisettes, Planning to Rock, Plastic Little, Port O'Brien, Remi Nicole, Robyn, Ruarri Joseph, Seasick Steve, Shakes, Shy Child, Simian Mobile Disco, Simple Kid, Ska Cubano, Slow Club, Son of Dave, Soul II Soul Soundsystem Live, Spank Rock, Sportsday Megaphone, Super Nashwan, The Bobby McGees, The Cuban Brothers, The Go! Team, The Hat, The Kissaway Trail, The Maccabees, The Orb, The Rumblestrips, Thee Earls, Three Daft Monkeys, Tunng, Xerox Teens and Zion Train

[and relax]

That's just the bands appearing, the list of DJs is just as long (and knowing how these things go, both lists are likely to have additions before the gates open on the first day). Similarly to the Isle of Wight Festival no Day Tickets are available this year (doh); weekend tickets start at £115 and are still (just about) available.

Oh Laura - Release Me

If, like me, you've been captivated by the haunting tune which plays on the current SAAB advert, then you may be interested to know that the song is called Release Me and is by Swedish newcomers Oh Laura.


The song is available to purchase from iTunes (that's the direct link from the band's MySpace) though it's also available for free download from SAAB website (thanks to Swedesplease for that info).

Delays 'Live at Southampton Guildhall' DVD

Southampton's Delays wrapped up a hectic 2006 (new album, lots of touring, new record deal) with a homecoming Christmas Extravaganza at Southampton Guildhall. Cameras were there to record the gig for posterity, and the following trailer has recently appeared on the band's MySpace to plug the forthcoming DVD release:


The DVD is released on Monday 7th May 2007 and will be available for purchase via the band's website.

The Gigwatcher 25/04/2007

So are they going to call it Poseidon Park?

If Virgin Media's new tagline is 'Happiness Guaranteed' how come I had to spend forty five minutes on the phone speaking to five different people just to get one thing done.

Oh.

It's ironic. Right. Got you.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

The Electric Soft Parade @ Fopp, Southampton - 29/04/2007 (instore gig, onstage @ 1500)
Hot Club de Paris @ Concorde2, Brighton - 17/05/2007
Candie Payne and The Draytones @ The Gloucester, Brighton - 19/05/2007
Kate Nash @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 19/05/2007
Mutemath @ Concorde2, Brighton - 20/06/2007

Slim pickings this week I'm afraid; we're nearing Festival season so the back pages of the NME are awash with ads for all sorts of outdoor events up and down the country. Fingers crossed there'll be more rumours of tours in next week's edition. I'll add the above into the SoMC Events Calendar as soon as I can (I'm easily distracted though so don't hold your breath). The calendar is, of course, freely accessible via the forum, and an example of the delights it contains follows:

The Rebel Ching, The Elements, The Exits & Wiservice @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth - 26/04/2007 (Acoustic sets)
The Neville Staple Band @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Southsea - 26/04/2007
Klashnekoff @ Nexus, Southampton - 27/04/2007
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 27/04/2007
Forever Like Red @ Unit22, Southampton - 28/04/2007
Flip Top @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 28/04/2007
Recreation @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 28/04/2007
Thea Gilmore @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 03/05/2007 (Acoustic performance)
Superfly @ The Red Lion, Stubbington - 04/05/2007
Nine Black Alps @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 06/05/2007
The Velvet Hearts @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 13/05/2007
Gilkicker @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 19/05/2007
Oddzial Zamkniety @ The Guildhall, Southamtpn - 20/05/2007 (Polish Rock!)
Los Pacaminos @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 04/07/2007

After several years together, surviving changes in record labels and one of their number running off to join Carl Barât, The Cooper Temple Clause have finally decide to call it a day. A "so long and thanks for all the good times" goodbye letter has been posted on their website, so that appears to be that. It would therefore appear that their rescheduled date at The Wedgewood Rooms on Wednesday 23rd May might not now be happening, but there's no word on the venue website as yet.

Environmental Rock 2007 takes place this Saturday at The Hobbit in Southampton. The all day festival, which promotes awareness of local environmental issues as well as offering the chance to harangue representatives of the major political parties, also features appearances by local bands such as BossNass and Dlugokecki. If that wasn't enough Chris Packham will be there too. The fun starts at midday and runs through to half past six. Entrance to the event is FREE as well, which is nice.

This year's Access Festival will be held on Saturday 16th June at Mayflower Park in Southampton; more news on the line-up as and when I find out. A review of last year's festival can be found on the BBC Hampshire website.

And that brings this edition of the Gigwatcher to a close; this afternoon I have mostly been listening to Metric and The Harvey Girls (who's interpretation of Billy Idol's White Wedding is a lovely thing indeed). Join us next week when I'll be making a life-size replica of the RMS Titanic out of empty Coke bottles.

The Gigwatcher 18/04/2007

Now with added Boom Chickah Wah-wah.

Ah, nostalgia.

I've just realised what the mint flavoured Salt Water Taffy that Stu brought back from Florida remind me of; they taste just like Pacers.

Mmm. Pacers.

[tumbleweed]

What do you mean you don't remember Pacers? Bah. You'll be telling me next you don't remember Texan bars either!

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Help She Can't Swim @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/05/2007
Kill Kenada @ The Registry, Portsmouth - 17/05/2007
Biffy Clyro @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 20/05/2007
Funeral For A Friend @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 21/05/2007
Kill Kenada @ Unit22, Southampton - 26/05/2007
Hadouken! @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 08/06/2007
Devo @ The Dome, Brighton - 18/06/2007
The Bravery @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 24/07/2007
Natasha Bedingfield @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 25/09/2007
The Proclaimers @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 12/10/2007

If I'm not getting misty-eyed for sweets they don't make any more I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar. Don't forget that I update the Events Calendar with details of the many many gigs I seem to stumble across on my journeys across the interweb. The calendar is, of course, freely accessible via the forum and I've plucked the following events from it to pique your interest:

Pama International @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/04/2007
The Levellers @ City Hall, Salisbury - 25/04/2007
The Dodge Brothers (featuring Mark Kermode) @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 26/04/2007
The Australian Pink Floyd @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 29/04/2007
Sherman Robertson & BluesMove @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/05/2007
Babyhead @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 04/05/2007
Los Lobos @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 11/05/2007
Billy Bragg @ City Hall, Salisbury - 25/05/2007
Tom McRae @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 04/06/2007
Riders On The Storm (featuring Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger) @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 19/06/2007
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 05/07/2007
Easy Star All-Stars (tbc) @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/07/2007

Details of this year's Beaulieu Summer Pops have been announced, the event this year runs from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th July. The Australian Pink Floyd return from last year to headline the Friday night with Girls Aloud taking charge of Saturday. Jools Holland, his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and Lulu will be wrapping things up on the Sunday.

Following the success of the previous Portsmouth Showcases organised by Portsmouth Scene Promotions a third event has been arranged. Emptifish, Autons, Wiservice, Carmen Rosa and The Aviators will be treading the boards of the Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 12th May. Tickets are a very reasonable £8.00 in advance (or £10.00 on the door).

Ant "Guitar Meister" Shue has informed me that he has tickets available for the Brannigan's Law gig on Spitbank Fort on Saturday 12th May. Tickets are a bargain £10 (plus £5 for the boat out to the venue), for which you'll be entertained by five local bands (yes, they've added another one to the line-up) in a most interesting venue. Contact The Shuperton via his MySpace for more info and possible haggling.

And that's it, put a fork in me, I'm done.. tune in next week for more nostalgic burblings about 70's confectionery and what I find in the back of the NME. In the meantime I will mostly be listening to Corrina Repp and Fields. Nice.

Golden Section album release

Chichester's Golden Section have released their debut album, Attack//Decay//Sustain//Release, as an electronic download from their MySpace site. Not only is it available for the bargain price of £5 but, if you produce the proof of purchase at one of their gigs, you'll be able to get your mitts on a physical copy of the CD (once it's pressed that is).

The album has a somewhat transitional feel; some tracks present were released previously on their 2005 and 2006 EPs, those have a more anthemic feel than some of the newer material. However it all meshes together well to produce a cohesive listening experience (yes, I've bought a dictionary).

If parting with a fiver seems too much of a hardship then the three-track 2005 EP (containing a slightly longer version of Interchange than on the album) is available as a free download on their website.

The Gigwatcher 11/04/2007

Yippee-ki-yay Muddy Funster

I know it's decidedly immature but, no matter how I've tried to dress it up, I haven't been able to think of a way of saying how much I enjoyed playing with Phil's new console without chortling like a schoolboy every time I mentioned the name.

Yes, you've guessed it; he's got a Wii.

I spent an enjoyable Saturday evening playing with Phil's Wii [chuckle]. It was a bit hard at first [wibble] but once I'd got to grips with his Wii [chortle] I didn't want to stop playing with it [guffaw].

Seriously though, it really is a fun piece of kit that gets you out of your chair and involved in the whole gaming experience. It's just a shame about the name. Honestly, what were they on when they came up Wii?

I dread to think what they might call their next handheld...

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Video Nasties @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/04/2007
Rolling Dog @ The Registry, Portsmouth - 26/04/2007
Rolling Dog @ Unit22, Southampton - 28/04/2007
Thomas Truax @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/05/2007
The Transgressive Roadshow #2 (feat. Foals, Battle & Mechanical Bride) @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/05/2007
The Law @ The Joiners, Southampton - 26/05/2007
The Enemy @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/06/2007
Ray Lamontagne @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 29/10/2007

If I'm not camping outside Phil's house for some more quality time with his Wii [yik yak gibber] I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar. I add any and all gigs I happen to stumble across into the Events Calendar and, because I felt like it, it's now accessible to all (yes, none of that having to register malarkey). I've lifted the following events from it to whet your gigging appetites:

To Every End @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 12/04/2007
Autons @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/04/2007
Oceansize @ The Brook, Southampton - 26/04/2007
The Smyths @ The Brook, Southampton - 27/04/2007
Ben Allison Quartet @ The Turner Sims Hall, Southampton - 28/04/2007
Abdoujaparov @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 04/05/2007
Ezio @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 08/05/2007
Steriogram @ The Joiners, Southampton - 15/05/2007
ASWAD @ Chicago Rock Café, Southsea - 24/05/2007
Rufus Wainwright @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 24/05/2007
The Aliens @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/06/2007
INXS @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 19/06/2007
The Proclaimers @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 30/06/2007

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of their seminal George Best album, The Wedding Present will be embarking on a UK tour this October. They'll be visiting the same towns as the original release tour did back in the day and will be pitching up at The Wedgewood Rooms on Tuesday 30th October. Rumour also has it that they'll be playing the entire album as part of the tour set. Woohoo!

The line-up for the Topman NME New Music 2007 Tour, which pitches up at Concorde 2 in Brighton on Wednesday 30th May, has been announced. Hitting the road this time out are Pull Tiger Tail, The Little Ones, The Rumble Strips and the most excellent Blood Red Shoes.

The Joiners will be hosting a special evening to celebrate the life of Mach Schau lead singer John MacIsaac who sadly died recently. Hijera, The Waysters, Thomas Tantrum and The Mopes are among the bands taking part in A Tribute To Johnny Mach on Saturday 26th May.

The eclectic line-up of this year's Isle of Wight Festival has been further increased. The Sunshine Superman himself, Donovan, will be performing on the Saturday. Donovan is a veteran of the IOW Festival, playing the last of the original events back in 1970.

And that just about wraps it up for this week, this afternoon I was mostly listening to Fields, Golden Section and The Police. Ding dang doo.

The Gigwatcher 04/04/2007

Judoon platoon upon the Moon

How bizarre.

There I was, sitting at my desk contemplating life, the Universe and the random fluctuation in beer prices, when the sound of beautiful music filled the room; Franz Lizst's Liebestraum no. 3 was drifting gently out of the ceiling speakers. Had Andy Dufresne taken over the Tannoy controls? Were we to be herded upstairs after lunch to tar the roof?

No. It was just the security guards checking the office's emergency broadcast system by connecting it up to ClassicFM. Well, it made a change from "testing testing 1 2 3" I suppose.

I wonder if they take requests?

*koff*

Moving swiftly on.. here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Simple Kid @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/05/2007
Kate Nash @ The Pressure Point, Brighton - 19/05/2007
Son of Dork @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 25/05/2007
Oppenheimer @ Unit22, Southampton - 14/04/2007
Kharma 45 @ Unit22, Southampton - 14/04/2007
Hayseed Dixie @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 20/04/2007
The Films @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/06/2007
The Cribs @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 06/06/2007
Gallows @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 19/06/2007
The Hold Steady @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 04/07/2007

If I'm not digging a tunnel to freedom I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar. The Events Calendar, as I may have hinted once or twice previously, has eyes the size of dinner plates. In order to peruse its contents you'll need to register on the SoMC forum (but I might make it available for all over Easter, you'll have to go there and find out). Here are some gigs I found earlier to tease you:

Rolling Dog @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 04/04/2007
The Young Knives @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 06/04/2007
Laura Marling @ The Dorchester Arms, Southampton - 08/04/2007
John Martyn @ The Brook, Southampton - 15/04/2007
The View @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 19/04/2007
Flip Top @ The Contented Pig, Portsmouth - 20/04/2007
One Weird Fish @ The Contented Pig, Portsmouth - 28/04/2007
Nigel Clark (ex-Dodgy) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 29/04/2007
Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls @ The Brook, Southampton - 02/05/2007
Tony Benn & Roy Bailey @ New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth - 05/05/2007
Matt Barry (aka Dr Lucien Sanchez) @ The Brook, Southampton - 30/05/2007
Marillion @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 09/06/2007
Fish @ The Brook, Southampton - 29/09/2007

Neil Innes' gig at The Cellars at Eastney on Wednesday 25th April has unfortunately had to be postponed, more information on a rescheduled date as soon as I find out out about it.

The Ferneham Hall in Fareham again plays host to the annual Easter Folk Festival this weekend. A varied selection of folk talent fills the three days of the festival, with appearances by Kate Rusby (Saturday evening), Seth Lakeman (Sunday evening) and Boo Hewerdine (Sunday afternoon) being of interest to me. Limited tickets for Sunday's programme are still available.

After 10 year's hard gigging local power-pop trio Hudson10 have decided to call it a day. Good luck to the chaps in whatever projects they pursue next, though according to their MySpace (where selections from the band's archives will be appearing over the next few weeks) they may take to the stage one last time for a farewell gig.

The ever impressive Steve Arnott returns to the Frog & Frigate on Friday 27th April, once again he'll be entertaining all present with selections from his vast library of songs. When Steve isn't standing under the stairs at the Frog he can be found treading the boards with the Portchester Players. They'll be performing their award winning production of Shelagh Stephenson's Five Kinds Of Silence at the Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham, April 12th-14th (for which there are still some tickets available).

And that just about wraps it up for this week, this afternoon I have mostly been listening to the schmoove sounds of Gil Scott-Heron. Nice. Have a super smashing Easter, mine starts tomorrow at lunchtime when I'm off to a smoky hostelry to imbibe some alcohol and talk bobbins.

Gawd bless her majesty for Maundy Thursday afternoons off.