So. Farewell then, Talking Heads...

Back in July the bad news broke that Southampton venue The Talking Heads was to close its doors. A combination of a rise in business rates and a lack of local support appear to have done for the venue, which only moved to new premises in the Polygon in 2016, but it would remain open to honour commitments through to the end of September.

The Talking Heads originally operated in Portswood, a short distance from The Brook, in a pub that used to be known as The Red Lion. In some respects its previous life as a hostelry made it an odd venue, welcoming punters with a cosy bar at the front when they stepped inside, confusing them when they looked for the stage in the narrow and low-ceilinged room that led beyond.

The repurposed nature of the venue meant that the stage area was at a lower level than the rest of the pub, situated in a space that you had to step down into, adding to the quirks of the place. The best place to watch a band was up close to the stage area, which meant squeezing in as best you could amongst a throng of folks doing the same (jostling for the sweet spot by the mixing desk). If you stayed nearer the bar all you'd likely see was the lights in your eyes and the backs of other punters' heads. However, being close to the stage also meant you were slightly removed from the poor acoustics of the low-ceiling room, acoustics which all too easily carried the sound of chatter.

Despite being a trek for a Portsmouth-based punter such as myself, with the threat of the last train home via Eastleigh that enjoying a gig too much could result in, I undertook the schlep across to the other city on the Solent on several occasions (one of which, the excellent Easy Star All Stars gig there, sticks in memory).

Unfortunately planning permission to redevelop the site into student accommodation went through in 2014, after failing the previous year, which led to the venue lifting and shifting to The Maple Leaf on the Polygon. A new beginning then, yes, but one which sadly hasn't lasted despite a sterling array of local, national and international acts performing there. 

The curtain falls on The Talking Heads this weekend, with the venue cheering itself goodbye with a weekend of music that showcases the best of what the venue was all about, an eclectic mix of styles and genres. It's not all bad news though, the Heads' sister venue, The 1865, remains very open for business (and plays host to both the James Taylor Quartet and the Lovely Eggs next month).

So. Farewell then Talking Heads, and thank you for the music.

And Yet It Moves - 'Ketamine Ma'am'

RIP Dale Barclay

Goodbye Dale

Sad news this morning, Dale Barclay, of And Yet It Moves and ex The Amazing Snakeheads, has died following a valiant fight with glioblastoma. 

Of all the bands I've seen live, and there have been many, there are a handful of acts that have delivered as visceral experience as The Amazing Snakeheads, thanks mostly to the feral presence of Dale Barclay. He prowled the stage, eyed the front row like a Tiger would a steak, a scrawny, shirtless, shiny shoed battler. Like the Snakeheads, who imploded before they could capitalise on their debut album, Dale has gone to soon. 

RIP

Oxjam Bournemouth

As mentioned previously Oxjam is an annual charity music event, held at various locations across the UK, that both supports grassroots music and raises valuable funds for Oxfam. Events are usually scheduled across the months of September and October, either as one-day festivals or evening gigs, feature local artists and are organised by local volunteers.

Bournemouth holds its Oxjam Festival on Saturday 13th October (the same day as Portsmouth's charity shindig), a multi-venue event with stages at The Old Fire Station, the Buffalo Bar and The Anvil. Thus far the line-up includes the likes of Skaema, Stocksnskins, Laika, Sirpico, Yeti Bianco, The Bedroom Text, I'm No Chessman and Jawbone & The Swine, with early bird tickets still available for £5 (plus 50p booking fee) via WeGotTickets.

Ahead of that local alt-indie night We Broke Free are hosting an Oxjam All Dayer at Bournemouth's 60 Million Postcards venue this weekend. The line-up includes Temples of Youth, Bird Shoes, ZUBY, Powdered Cows, Dumb Lovers, PEACH and Cherry Lotus, with DJ sets from Martin Butler and We Broke Free.
The fun kicks off at 1400 this Saturday, 29th September, with music throughout the day until 2300. Entrance is by donation (no advance tickets) with 100% of the money going to Oxfam. To make things even more interesting he set times for the acts playing will be drawn tombola style (good luck sorting a Clashfinder for that one).

I bless the sweater songs down in Africa...

After Weezer covered Toto's Rosanna (which may or may not have been inspired by Rosanna Arquette) the latter took up the challenge on their recent 40th anniversary tour and covered Hash Pipe (no, really). One thing, of course, leads to another and so Rivers Cuomo and chums have returned serve with a take on Toto's 1982 hit Africa, roping in Weird Al for the fun of it. Where will this madness end? Who knows, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it becomes a trend, perhaps then we''ll see QOTSA take on Rush's Tom Sawyer or Kylie singing Motörhead.

Goodbye Chas

Chas Hodges, legendary session musician and half of easily the greatest pub rock combo ever, has died aged 74 after a battle with oesophageal cancer. In his long musical career Chas performed with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent, played alongside Ritchie Blackmore as part of Joe Meek's house band, The Outlaws, and guested on a variety of artists' studio sessions (most famously on the much sampled Labi Siffre tune I Got The, which also featured the other half of Chas'n'Dave, Dave Peacock, before they joined forces).

Over the course of their 40+ year career as Chas'n'Dave the duo had over eight UK Top 40 hits, hosted a variety TV show set in an East End pub, made drinking Courage beers more appetising, sound-tracked Alf Garnett, played Glastonbury, introduced the word "gertcha" into the common lexicon and definitely seemed to be having a lot of fun along the way. All that and they ensured that "rabbit" has a special connotation to those of us of a certain age too.

Whilst I never got to see Chas'n'Dave perform live they did once make an impromptu appearance in my old local pub, stopping in for a quick beer on their way to a gig in the next town. Sat at a table, joined by drummer Mick Burt, they supped a pint in the Lounge Bar (looking very much at home) whilst we shy blokes in the Public Bar craned our necks to steal fanboy glances.

RIP Chas Hodges

Oxjam Portsmouth

The lovely people at Southsea's Pie & Vinyl have teamed up with the equally lovely folk at Strong Island Recordings to curate an Oxjam Portsmouth festival. Hurrah!

Oxjam, if you didn't already know, is a multi-venue music event, held annually, that supports grassroots music across the UK whilst also raising valuable funds for Oxfam. Oxjam events take place in towns and cities nationwide, organised by volunteers, that can be either one-off gigs or music festivals.

In previous years Portsmouth has hosted several smaller Oxjam events, usually at the Edge of the Wedge, but this year Pompey is going large; Oxjam Portsmouth is a one-day festival, to be held at Portsmouth Pyramids on Saturday 13th October, and features both a family-friendly day session (from midday-1700) and an evening music session (from 1800-2300). 

The line-up announced so far for the evening session includes Superdrone, Highlights of our Modern World, Barbudo and Lucid Rising, with further acts still to be announced. All that and it's for a good cause too, how great is that?

Tickets are available now via WeGotTickets, priced at £4 (Early Bird, standard price £5) for the day session and £8 (Early Bird, standard price £10) for both the day & evening sessions (ticket prices are subject to booking fee).

Dials Playlist

One of the perks of living in the modern age is that, prior to attending music festivals, we can easily check what acts we'd like to see (or avoid) simply by spending some time on Spotify (other streaming services are available). Of course, this could also be perceived as a drawback; one of the joys of music festivals is stumbling across your New Favourite Band when you were least expecting to, hearing that song, loving that tune. 

So, whilst the lovely folks at Dials have prepared a playlist of artists on the festival's bill, a playlist that I've posted below, it is up to you, gentle reader, whether you listen now or save your jaw-dropping delight for October 6th. 

ShoutFest

Express FM's regular Monday night showcase for local musicians, The Shout, will be taking over the Wedgewood Rooms next month for what is shaping up to be a packed evening of music featuring some of the best and brightest acts and artists that Portsmouth and the surrounding area has to offer.

ShoutFest (I see what they did there) takes place on Monday 10th October, World Mental Health Day, and funds raised from this event will assist Solent Mind's Well-Being Centre in Portsmouth.

Amongst the line-up announced so far are Devin-Jade, Reactor 1, Drusila, Colour of the Jungle, Ben Brookes, Chloe Josephine, The Curious Incident, JAMIN and Flowvers. Tickets for ShoutFest are priced at £7, available online from the Wedge website.

Chaos at the Castle - CANCELLED

Was it really way back in 2011 that legendary Portsmouth alt-club night Chaos finally called time? Yes, yes it was. Or rather, no it wasn't. Since that last goodbye the chaps have staged the odd hurrah, including in 2017 a rather fab reunion at Coastguard Studio and some spooky shenanigans at Southsea Castle, reminding a percentage of Pompey's population of good times, loud music and suspicious Sangria.

The chaps are back for Halloween this year, once again at Southsea Castle, with the classic Chaos line-up of Bob Berridge, Jay Dunstan, Will Chump and DJ Lemon spinning tunes old and new from 2100 to 0200.

Tickets are £10 (subject to booking fee), available online from Ticketline (online tickets now sold out) or in person from Dress Code or The Belle Isle, from Saturday 8th September.

UPDATE: 

20/10 Oh dear.. Southsea’s Halloween Chaos at the Castle is axed by councillors over noise fears

24/10 Unfortunately, following logistical issues with the venue,  the organisers have sadly cancelled Halloween Chaos. A statement from Chaos is available on the Facebook event page.

Victorious Festival 2018 - Sunday Preview (part two)

5.4.3.2.1 and we're back in the room or, rather, the field as that's more apt for the festival experience. Following on from part one of my recommended acts to see at Victorious, which served up some afternoon delights, this second helping of covers the evening, from seven o'clock through to the last chord. Are we ready? Eyes down for a full house...

Embrace (Castle Stage, 1900-1945)
Arguably the one band on the bill most likely to produce an Elbow-style "get your lighters out and let's have a sing-song" festival moment. Not everyone's bag of chips I'll grant you, but this still holds up...



Hipshaker (Soul Circus Tent, 1915-2020)
Simon & Dave, aka the famous Hipshaker DJs, bring experience, knowledge and some excellent vinyl to the party. Expect music to move your feet to and, if you like what you hear, be sure to check out the Hipshaker radio show, every Friday night on ExpressFM (or catch up on MixCloud).



Temples of Youth (Beats & Swing Tent, 1930-2015)
This Winchester duo produce moody and melodic electronica, consistently beautiful music. Trust me, your ears will love you forever for listening.



Friendly Fires (Common Stage, 1950-2040)
A pleasant addition to the bill this, Friendly Fires have been out of the limelight for a few years, so it's good to see them back with a new collection of tunes. Might there be Hawaiian shirts on display? Here's hoping.



Andrew Foster (Strong Island Acoustic Stage, 2010-2100)
This highly talented singer-songwriter crafts exquisite indie-folk-pop music and has excellent taste for choosing the right cover version...



Example & DJ Wire (Castle Stage, 2015-2100)
I'm sure I saw an interview with Example where, as everything in his life is going so well, he felt he couldn't write the same kind of music as before. First world problems...



Chris Helme (Acoustic Stage, 2045-2130)
Late of The Seahouses (not not be confused with The Shirehorses), Chris Helme has been refining his craft as a solo act for several years now, releasing indie-folk that has been compared to the late, great Gram Parsons. Nice.



The Prodigy (Common Stage, 2120-2250)
I'm not saying that I find the Keith Flint a scary man, but the sheer power of his stare is enough to make you dance (and that's before the beats, or his spiky hair, work their magic). Reach for the lasers..



The Correspondents (Beats & Swing Tent, 2130-2230)
He is Mr Bruce and he is DJ Chucks, together they are The Correspondents. Swing. Your. Pants.



Pete Scathe (Soul Circus Tent, 2140-2255)
aka The Legendary Pete Scathe, Portsmouth legend and host/DJ of the Connection indie night since I don't know when. Ah, Scandals, now there was a place... *sigh* expect a blend of new and retro, Indie and Electro..



Years & Years (Castle Stage, 2145-2245)
Frontman Olly was in Gulliver's Travels, a definite low-water mark in Jack Black's movie career, but such knowledge should not be used as an excuse not to see Years & Years. Expect the crowd to go royally nuts when this is played...



Lucy Spraggan (Acoustic Stage, 2200-2245)
An X Factor alum who, since moving on from her Cowell experience, has released several albums of delightfully crafted folk-pop.



Flowvers (Seaside Stage, 2215-2300)
Pompey indie outfit Flowvers want to be the best thing you've ever heard... are they?



Put a fork in me, I'm done. Those are my selections for what to see on Sunday night at Victorious (although, if I'm honest, I'll probably be so transfixed by Keith Flint's hair that I'll miss out on the remaining delights on offer). When the last chord fades, with myself and several thousand happy punters making our way out into the night, no doubt we'll all be thinking the same thing; that was fun, shall we do it again next year?

Dials Festival 2018 - Just added...

The lovely folks behind Dials have announced some additions to the bill of their multi-venue one-day festival. Rounding out an already packed line-up of new music are London bands Yassassin and Krush Puppies, Brighton synth-pop duo Fröst, singer/beatboxer Grace Savage and Portsmouth singer-songwriters Megan Linford and Dani Uziel. All this and more for the bargain price of just £16? You'd be silly not to really.

Victorious Festival 2018 - Sunday Preview (part one)

In keeping with my 'festival as a feast' metaphor, if Friday was the appetiser and Saturday the main course, Victorious' Sunday line-up is a large, heaped dessert trolley accompanied by an epic cheeseboard, full as it is with succulent musical treats and savoury moments. In fact, so large in number are the options available I've had to split my recommendations list in two. First up, covering the best things to see from gates open until seven o'clock, is the sweet selection..

Me & The Moon (Common Stage, 1215-1245) (Seaside Stage, 2130-2200)
If you're feeling a wee bit jaded after yesterday's festival fun, suffering after one too many expensive pints of lager, the mellow indie-stylings of this Guildford duo are the very thing to start your Victorious Sunday (alternatively, if you're seeing them later in the day, they'll help calm your nerves after Keith Flint has scared you)



Fugitive Orchestra (Showcase Stage, 1230-1300)
Fugitive Orchestra, the pseudonym of James Tattington, is not so much a one-man band as a beat-boxing, guitar-looping philharmonic.



Gomez (Common Stage, 1315-1400)
In the 20 years since Gomez won the Mercury Prize (yes, it was really that long ago) the Southport posse have released another 6 studio albums, toured extensively and, in the process, added a large American contingent to their fan-base via the US college circuit. The band are celebrating the 20th birthday of Bring It On the band with an anniversary tour, on which their Victorious appearance is a stop.



Soul 45 (Beats & Swing Tent, 1415-1515) (Soul Circus Tent, 2020-2140)
Southampton's premier vinyl only suppliers of funk, soul and dance music. Prepare to swing your pants..



Jerry Williams (Castle Stage, 1500-1530)
A few years ago, at The Great Escape, I left the dark depths of Sticky Mike's with Kassassin Street ringing joyfully in my ears, and stumbled across a talented singer-songwriter playing in a yard across the way. It was Jerry Williams and, liking what I heard, I ensured I caught her afternoon slot in a tent on the Old Steine later that day (where, to an audience that included her Mum, she played a jaw-dropping cover of Bump'n'Grind). Since then Jerry has plugged away, touring further and wider, refining her craft and growing her legion of fans with every gig. Fingers crossed she makes it back from her mini tour of Europe (!) in time...



Marika Hackman (Common Stage, 1520-1550)
2017's I'm Not Your Man was one of my favourite long players of last year, pitching exquisite vocals with wry lyrics and catchy melodies, so this is a set I'm very much looking forward to (although, as much as I hope to hear her Nirvana cover, I think I'll be disappointed).



Sink or Soar (Real Ale Stage, 1530-1600)
Rising like from the ashes of the excellent (and much missed) B of The Bang, Sink or Soar feature Wit's unmistakeable vocals and playful lyrics.



Dani Uziel (Acoustic Stage, 1550-1620)
Is it just me or, of late, is Portsmouth excelling itself at producing talented singer-songwriters?



The Orielles (Castle Stage, 1600-1630)
Over the years the minster town of Halifax has given much to the world; John Noakes, Big Daddy, Sarah Blackwood, Quality Street, Ed Sheeran (yes, I know) and even one of the Thompson Twins. All from Halifax. The latest delight to come from that part of West Yorkshire are The Orielles. H'mm, there must be something in the water up North...



The Bluetones (Common Stage, 1620-1650)
Purveyors of melodic indie tunes, Mark Morriss and chums have been resident on the alternative music landscape for a long time. If memory serves they're no longer recording/releasing new material, so expect an uplifting set of old favourites.



Gengahr (Castle Stage, 1700-1730)
Apparently take their name from a poison Pokémon, really, this London four-piece produce a satisfying blend of pop and psychedelia. I like both of those, and I like Gengahr.



The Amazons (Common Stage, 1720-1805)
Ignoring the leather and long hair clichés for a second, these Reading rockers have been feted by the likes of the NME and BBC Radio 1. To be honest their a bit of a wildcard entry on mny list...



Tuba Libres (Beats & Swing Tent, 1730-1815)
Trust me, you never realised it but there is a tuba-shaped hole in your life. A talented bunch of chaps from Southampton who will most definitely put a smile on your face.



Reverend & The Makers (Castle Stage, 1800-1830)
The sound of Sheffield.



Sleaford Mods (Common Stage, 1835-1920)
If you have to ask then maybe they're not for you...



......and that's not including Skaraman, TV's Dermot O'Leary at the decks, a Bowie tribute, a 90s tribute act, Dub Pistols, festival stalwarts the Southsea Alternative Choir, the various delights offered by the World Music Village and Comedy Tent and, of course, Paddington making an appearance in the Kids Arena. 

That's it for part one of my Victorious Sunday preview, part two should (!) be appearing tomorrow so be sure to pop back. Now, go make a nice cup of tea and have a sit down, you need to be ready for the weekend.

Victorious Festival 2018 - Saturday Preview

If Friday night at Victorious serves up an amuse-bouche for the festival experience, Saturday delivers more filling fare with the opening up of the rest of the stages, providing us punters with a wider selection of auditory morsels to be sampled. 

There's something for just about everyone here, even to a somewhat jaded and cynical gig monkey such as myself. Therefore, with a larger menu to pick from and with distances between stages taken into consideration, I've tried to be slightly more selective with my recommendations. Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...

Happy Mondays (Common Stage, 1315-1400)
The boisterous bunch of Madchester survivors have an early afternoon slot on the big stage and, whilst this might reduce the possibility of a shambolic performance, it does rather increase the chances of random incidents of Dad dancing amongst the crowd (and I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be at least one person present sporting some sort of melon-related paraphernalia). 



Pins (Castle Stage, 1450-1520)
Pins are rockers. They rock out. They hail from Manchester, they've featured on the soundtrack of Lucifer and some scenes of their recent their visual EP (below) were filmed in a public convenience. And yes, they're really rather good.



Sleeper (Common Stage, 1620-1650)
Louise Wener and chums have dusted off their Britpop credentials, acquired a new bass player, and hit the road. Having quite liked Sleeper back in the day, yet having heard indifferent reports of their live prowess from some of my chums who've seen them, I'm somewhat intrigued to see what they bring to the stage.  



Coasts (Castle Stage, 1650-1720)
If you've not seen Bristol's Coasts play live before then, sadly, their Victorious appearance will be one of your last chances to do so; after several years, a couple of albums and a soundtrack appearance on Made In Chelsea, this five-piece are calling it quits. If you are lucky enough to catch them on the Castle Stage, and like what you hear, tickets for their Farewell Tour in October are on sale now.



Neneh Cherry [DJ set] (World Music Stage, 1700-1800)
It's Neneh Cherry. Spinning tunes. Honestly, I shouldn't really need to sell it to you.



Gaz Coombes (Common Stage, 1720-1805)
The former Supergrass frontman has released consistently interesting material since going solo; Matador was an excellent long player and this year's follow up, World's Strongest Man, has received critical praise. Plus he sports a natty pair of sideburns, and that's a thumbs up in my book.



Trampolene (Seaside Stage, 1800-1830)
Once upon a Southsea Fest I found myself, standing in a packed Fat Fox, watching a three-piece blow minds and unhinge the projector screen. They were Trampolene. And they still are, mostly.



Shoot The Duke (Beats & Swing Tent, 1815-1900)
Portsmouth's very own alt-skiffle band, Shoot The Duke have been entertaining punters at various venues and events across the city for a few years now; expect an infectious blend of roots, rhythm and blues. Which is nice.




Chaos DJs (Soul Circus, 1915-2020)
Chaos was/is a Pompey institution, a regular indie-alternative night that took over one of the bars (and occasionally both) on South Parade Pier, providing their target demographic with loud music (see below), a bouncy dance floor and (for those on a budget) access to some suspect looking (but reasonably priced) Sangria. Ahh, memories...



Barry Hyde (Acoustic Stage, 1945-2015)
Formerly of the sadly defunct and much missed Futureheads, since going it alone Barry Hyde has released an EP of Ivor Cutler covers and an LP that features a suite of songs reflecting his own experiences with mental illness. Whilst some might be hoping for an airing of the 'heads' Kate Bush cover I'd rather hear some of his solo material (OK, and maybe his Prince cover too).



Everything Everything (Castle Stage, 2020-2110)
You know, that band that aren't Alt-J or Django Django. Yes, I have been known to get the three of them mixed up too. No, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Honest.



China Bears (Real Ale Stage, 2045-2115)
Direct from Somerset, via Guildford, indie rockers China Bears have won praise from Steve Lamacq and Frank Turner, information which, depending on your viewpoint, has already informed your decision on whether you'll like them or not. It's a festival, there's beer adjacent, go check them out.



Paul Weller (Common Stage, 2120-2250)
The Modfather himself. If you're expecting him to dredge some Jam classics out of his considerable back catalogue then you may be disappointed. Or not, he's mercurial like that.



And if that wasn't enough to keep you entertained then Simon & Dave of Hipshaker will be at the Common Stage all day, spinning some righteous tunes between the acts playing there. Well my lovelies, that's my selection for Saturday, tune in next time for my Sunday recommendations.

Victorious Festival 2018 - Friday Preview

The August Bank Holiday weekend is looming large on the horizon, strange metal structures are growing on Southsea Common and (no doubt) angry people are writing to the local newspaper to complain about access and/or noise. Yes, it's Victorious time again and, as the set-times have been released, here are my personal picks of acts and bands to look out for; first up, Friday night...

The addition of a Friday session, extending the fun over three nights and two days, was a welcome expansion to Victorious last year (even if the line-up for the inaugural Friday evening didn't really tickle my fancy). This year there's a bit more selection, though only limited parts of the site will be open for business (similar to the Thursday night at Bestival) and.

After the nutty boys of Madness headlined last year it appears that the organisers have again opted mostly for crowd-friendly sing-a-long action, booking Shed Seven, Kaiser Chiefs and a tribute act performing The Beatles' Abbey Road album in full. It struck me as bizarre then (especially giving one of their numbers' shambolic solo set at last year's festival) to read that The Libertines are headinling. I know, right? What, of the offerings makeing up the bill on the two open stages, would I go see? Well..

Marley Blandford (Common Stage, 1300-1400)
Unfortunately for Marley he's drawn the opening slot on The Big Stage but he's a local lad so I'm sure he'll have an audience ready and waiting.



The Lightning Seeds (Common Stage, 1720-1800)
The glorious jingly-jangly feel-good pop of Ian Broudie, pretty much guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a foot aching from tapping. I don't know whether they'll play this but, as it's one of my Seeds favourites (the Susanna Hoffs cover it rather good too).



Dutch Criminal Record (Beats & Swing Tent, 1900-1945)
Purveyors of bouncy indie-pop, Chichester's Dutch Criminal Record have the early evening slot in the Beats & Swing Tent.



Minque (Beats & Swing Tent, 2045-2130)
Lush electronica from Southsea, again in the Beats & Swing Tent, Mique's set should finish just in time for the short wander back to the Common Stage to wait for Pete Doherty to show up.



The Libertines (Common Stage, 2140-2255)
And finally, yes, The Libertines. Now I know that you may have, quite rightly, assumed from my musings earlier in this post I'm not the world's biggest fan of Mr Doherty and chums (possibly due to the NME having an ongoing love-fest with them most weeks). Believe me, I've tried and, yes, have been told by several people considerably younger than myself that Mr Doherty is a genius. Whether he is or isn't is moot but, on their day, The Libs can turn out a punchy indie anthem equal to or better than some of their fellow alt acts below them on the bill. Like this one..



...after which you could just toddle along to the Meat & Barrel, have a cheeky pint, and wait for the rest of their set to be over.

The Queen of Soul

RIP Aretha Franklin 

1942-2018 

 

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.

Temples of Youth - 'Darker Places'

Sound the new music klaxon, Winchester's Temples of Youth have returned. Darker Places is just under three minutes of haunting vocals and melodic electronica, and the video is rather spiffing too...

...those are black oranges on his hands, yes? No? Whatever, this is a gorgeous tune (and if you like this why not check out their SoundCloud page for more musical delights).

Sunday of Doom

Sundays.

They're all a bit samey aren't they?

Appease the hangover, vegetate on the sofa, numb the brain with something bland on the television, despair at not winning the lottery, contemplate a beer, flick through the channels again, go to bed knowing that the next Sunday will unfold in exactly the same way.

Ecch.

This Sunday, 19th August, instead of settling down to the last episode of Unforgotten, why not see out your weekend with something loud and raucous instead? Courtesy of the fine folks at Portsmouth Punk Promotions and Charlie's Big Ray Gun Records, and for the bargain price of just £5 (on the door), the Edge of the Wedge is hosting the loud collective majesties of Horseflies, Herd Mover, Human Leather and HACK JOB. Yes, all that, for a fiver.

Bargain.

Hooli hit the road...

Gosport trio Hooli get their show on the road next month, taking their mellifluous blend of indie-blues to four venues across the south. The three-piece have got good word of mouth on the live outings, scoring a good review of their Winchestival set from the excellent Mix It All Up blog. You can catch Hooli at the following venues in September..

Latest Music Bar, Brighton - 10th September CANCELLED
The Jolly Sailor, Portsmouth - 11th September
BBC Introducing LIVE @ The Purple Turtle, Reading - 12th September
Madding Crowd, Bournemouth - 13th September

 ..and be sure to check out their latest release, Cider Sue, via the Spotify embed:

Nod Ya Head presents...

Growing up in Portchester, the Burbs of Fareham, there never seemed to be a venue nearby to showcase local bands. Yes, the local pubs might host a band of a weekend, but these were (and still are) mostly cover acts. Once at college there was the lure of the Gosport Labour Club, the go to spot for fellow students who'd thrown a band together. That was then and this is now; there are fewer pubs, fewer venues, but the appetite for live music is the same if not greater.

What to do, what to do? Fret not my local gig monkey, for an enterprising chap called Dave has set about organising a (hopefully regular) event where local acts can gain valuable gigging experience and us punters can be entertained by new music.

The new event, named after the Facebook group that got the ball rolling, will debut in September with a line-up consisting of Marley Blandford, Lo-Fi Rebels, Drusilla and Dutch Criminal Record. Tickets for the event, to be held at the Mill Road Social Club, are £6 in advance, £7 on the door, and can be purchased from Fareham's one and only vinyl emporium, Heathen Chemistry (if you're local, and like vinyl, then I urge you to visit; the shop is a labour of love for its owner and, if you're at all like me, you'll end up in deep conversation with him about gigs and bands and shiny vinyl).

Interstellar Food Drive

Austerity. Welfare reform. Cuts to public spending and services. These are, as Lee Hazlewood sang, cold hard times. Every day more people find themselves in the situation where feeding themselves and their families is a struggle. There is a continuing rise in food poverty across the country and Portsmouth is no exception. Organisations such as The Trussel Trust and the Portsmouth Food Bank provide a sterling service to our community but unfortunately their resources are limited.

To help raise much-needed funds the fine folks of Strong Island Recordings, Velvet Candy and Crocodile Nightmares have joined forces, combining community spirit with music and art to create the Interstellar Food Drive. This cosmic celebration of in-sounds from the out-there takes place at both The Dockyard Club & The Coastguard Studio on Saturday 11th August.

This one-day, two-site mini festival features an impressive line-up of left-field sounds, featuring Portsmouth's own psych merchants Melt Dunes, psych quintet Number 9, the freaky pop of Pregoblin, psych from Sad Palace, garage pop/rock from Skinny Milk, Mystic Peach and The Scrubs, the heavy psychedelic sounds of Black Helium, shoegaze from Superdrone and Dad Hair's post punk. Both venues will feature a kaleidoscopic light show courtesy of Velvet Candy, plus there'll be an exhibition of work from local graphic artists (and, if the music gets you feeling peckish, there will also be a vegetarian BBQ with all profits going to the Portsmouth Food Bank)

Tickets are £8, plus booking fee, available via Billeto.

Further reading 
Latest statistics on emergency food supplies given to people in crisis (from The Trussell Trust)
Food Poverty "You think it doesn't happen to normal people" (from Cooking On A Bootstrap)
Child poverty "Hungry pupils fill pockets with school food" (from BBC News)  
Jack Monroe "Poverty doesn’t discriminate" (from The Independent)

Dials Festival 2018

Good news everyone! Dials Festival has returned, bringing a day of music to Albert Road, filling the hole made when Southsea Fest headed into the sunset. The Dials organisers have been hard at work behind the scenes since they tweeted their 'save the date' message, conjuring up the first wave of acts that has now been announced.

On the bill (so far) are [deep breath] Los Bitchos, Thyla, Fake Empire, Barbudo, Hotel Lux, Penelope Isles, Sad Palace, Lauran Hibberd, Art School Girlfriend, Bella Spinks, Highlights of Our Modern World, Horsefiles, Margot, Lice, Temples of Youth, Melt Dunes, Libralibra, Mystic Peach, Breathe Panel, Tigercub, Omar Baba, Attack the Fire, Jerry Williams, Bokito, Salt Ashes, Vinyl Staircase, Ugly, Sleep Eaters, Violet Mud and the most excellent Curxes.

That's hell of a line-up and, if that wasn't incentive enough to get aboard, Dials have partnered with Solent Mind, a registered charity that provides a wide range of high quality services, across the South, which support people with mental health problems. I can, from personal experience, vouch for the good work organisations like Mind do.

Super Early Bird tickets are on sale now for just £12 [sorry, all gone!], with regular advance tickets still a bargain at £16, available now from the festival website. For more information and updates check the Dials Twitter feed.

Save Maida Vale

The BBC recently announced that its iconic Maida Vale Studios are to close and, whilst I can see value in Auntie building new state-of-the-art facilities (because, lets face it, a converted roller rink in a sleepy part of London seems out of place in this digital age) the building is of great cultural importance (thanks in no small part to its association with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and the many Peel Sessions recorded there) so shouldn't be demolished and replaced with another block of flats.

Having been lucky enough to visit Maida Vale Studios it strikes me as odd that so much interesting music could come from such a nondescript building, hidden away as it is on a quiet residential street. From outside there's not much to give the game away, a brass nameplate (as in the image above) and a flaky paint job. Once inside however the corridor walls are adorned with photos of artists past and present, in various states of performance, all hallowed visitors to NW6. There is brief time to ogle these images though as, crocodile fashion, punters are led past flight-cases and into one of the large studio rooms where sonic wonder awaits.

So then fellow music lover, how to save this quirky, odd,yet highly significant piece of British music history? Hope? Thoughts and prayers? Perhaps not, but one enterprising soul has created an online petition to implore the BBC to reverse their decision. Sign the petition and follow Maida Vale Studios on Twitter for updates. Whatever happens, when/if Maida Vale closes, I trust the BBC are going to throw it one hell of a goodbye party.

Kick Kick Kick Kick...

Names have been changed to protect the innocent... 

[INT] An office building on an overcast Thursday afternoon. In a quiet corner of an open-plan room a team of IT types are hard at work; they are of similar ages, all awaiting a mid-life crisis, with the exception of the considerably younger PFY.

Mr Ex: 6Music just played the Hey Duggee football song, it's brilliant!
Mr Stick: Is that the Kick song?
PFY: What's Hey Duggee?
Mr Stick: Listen to this [banging tune emanates from a mobile phone's speaker, all listen]
Mr Check: It's OK, but it's not the best World Cup song is it?
Mr Shorts: Which is? 
Mr Check: New Order's one obviously
[several quiet seconds pass]
PFY: Who are New Order?

Bless. And people wonder why I never watched The IT Crowd. However, yes, the interesting people behind Hey Duggee have re-worked their retro club classic Stick song for the World Cup. No, really...