BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE Issue #11 September 2014
Hattie Briggs Lakefest 2014 Cheltenham Gig Crawl Gig Previews Reviews, opinion and a gig guide for September!
THE ONLY FREE MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO MUSIC IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Issue #11 September 2014 Great news! From next month, BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE will be going to print! With the help of the fantastic people at the University of Gloucestershire, we will be photocopying 1000 copies of the magazine to distribute all around the county! Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to read the magazine online too, but now you’ll be able to pick it up at a gig or in a record shop too. We are over the moon about this but there are going to have to be a few changes over the next few months as we try to marry the print and online issues. Here’s what’s changing and staying the same…
STAYING THE SAME
• Enthusiastic writing about Gloucestershire live music – remember that we are the online free magazine dedicated to Gloucestershire live music. • The usual mix of interviews, reviews and gig previews. • The comprehensive gig guide! • You’ll still be able to read the magazine online.
CH…CH…CH…CHANGES
• 1000 photocopied versions of the magazine distributed across Gloucestershire. • Still loads of great content, just slimmed down into 16 pages. We couldn’t possibly afford to print 30-40 pages every month without relying on advertising and charging between £50-£120 per advert! We’ll be more clever with the use of space/smaller fonts so it won’t make any difference to the reader. • CHEAPER advertising prices in the online magazine – we really want to encourage the ‘smaller guys’ like young bands, promoters who do it as a hobby to advertise with us. You can advertise with us for as little as £2.50 a month!!!
Cover photo: Neville Staple band at Lakefest 2014
• Advertise in the printed edition! Your choice of full page, half page or quarter page black & white adverts for CHEAPER than you will find anywhere. DISCOUNTS for block bookings. All advertising info is on the next page. • DEADLINES are changing to enable us to get the print edition out on time. Flick to the back page to find them for the next few months. There are 2 deadlines now. The first one gets your gigs etc in the print (and online) edition, the second one gets your gigs etc in the online edition. This allows us to get it printed on time but still gives you guys who are a little less organised to get your gigs etc into the online mag!
Contact via e-mail: behindthesceneglos@yahoo.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/behindthesceneglos Website: http://behindthesceneglos.tumblr.com/
At Behind The Scene Gloucestershire we've been big HATTIE BRIGGS fans for a while now. Our hearts were warmed on a chilly evening at the Frog & Fiddle in Cheltenham in March and from then on we knew that her star was just going to go upwards and upwards. Therefore, with new single 'Old Eyes' ready for release in September, we caught up with Hattie to discuss her incredible year so far and ask her if at the moment she's pinching herself at just how well it’s gone? "Yes, definitely. When I think back to where I was in January when I dropped out of University to do music full time, it seems like a lifetime ago. So many amazing things have happened since then." Her nomination for a Radio 2 Young Folk Award kick started things. Appearances on Radio 2 and local television followed, culminating at the Royal Albert Hall for the Folk Awards ceremony itself. "The Young Folk Award competition is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I applied on a whim, sent in an MP3, and the next thing I knew I was on a BBC Folk Award weekend in Cumbria doing workshops, concerts and meeting some incredibly talented young musicians. I had an amazing time up there and thankfully my performance at the concert convinced the judges to make me a nominee." It was at the awards that Hattie gained inspiration for one of the tracks on her forthcoming album, a song about Pete Seeger, one of folk music's most influential figures. Hattie says, "The song 'A Beautiful Mind' was inspired by the words and performance of Peggy Seeger at the Folk Awards. One thing that she said particularly stuck in my mind, something like, “Pete always used to say that he didn't write the songs, he just wrote them down.”
The second line of my song came directly from that idea: "They say the songs you only wrote them down". Pete had such a great influence on the development of folk music and what it stood for that it wasn't difficult to find the inspiration for that song." It's easy to lump Hattie Briggs into the folk music bracket after her exposure at the awards and her ability to write simple, honest songs about friends, family and the events around her. But in reality, her appeal is much broader than that. "I wouldn't class myself as a folk musician as such, although there are folky elements to my songs. I would actually say that my interest and understanding of folk has developed a lot more over the past 8 months than it previously had, due to my involvement with the BBC Folk Awards. My musical style and tastes are mainly the result of who I grew up listening to - James Taylor and Eva Cassidy are my main influences, so I suppose I have my parents to thank for that." Those musical styles and influences have found their way onto Hattie's debut album 'Red and Gold', which will be released next year. Named after a lyric from an Eva Cassidy song, the connection does not stop there. "I chose the name because I think it reflects the warmth of the album as a whole. There will be ten tracks on the album, mainly new material as well as a couple of covers. One of the covers is 'Fields of Gold', a Sting song which Eva Cassidy famously covered. Eva's brother Dan Cassidy is featured on the track playing violin, and he also co-produced it." The album was prepared at Hattie's grandmother's house in Buckinghamshire and recorded at several different studios, the main body of which was done at Monnow Valley Studios near Monmouth. "I had 3 cellists, and a drummer come in as well as my producer, and we worked really hard and had a brilliant time. Alec Dankworth is also featured on the album, playing double bass." Funding for the album has partly come about by Hattie taking to the streets armed with her guitar and busking to passers by in towns such as Stroud, Cheltenham and Winchcombe. She says, "It is great for exposure. I've had quite a few extra gigs and other opportunities that have come out of busking. But most of all it is such good practice for gig performance. You get instant feedback and have to engage with your audience like you would on stage. I am thicker skinned as well, because no matter what you do, you always get some odd looks from people."
In the meantime, whilst the album is in its final stages of production, Hattie will head off as support on some of Sam Brookes' tour dates in October as well as releasing the single ‘Old Eyes' on September 22nd on iTunes.
www.hattiebriggs.co.uk
CROOKS (Release show) WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT THEN? Local band play hometown show and release a release at the same time. LENGTH OF TIME SINCE THEY’VE PLAYED LOCALLY: Around 2 years apparently. PLEASE PIGEON-HOLE THEM INTO A GENRE FOR ME: No problem – ‘melodic hardcore.’ ARE THERE SUPPORTS BANDS? Yes. Milk Teeth & Dreamcatcher. IN NOVEMBER THEY LEAVE FOR A TOUR IN…Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and the UK (amongst others). I hope they all have an EHIC card. SO HOW COME I’VE NOT HEARD OF CROOKS? Probably because you are over 30 and like your music a little less raucous than this. SAMPLE LYRIC: “How many so called friends will I get through today, Now I don't understand anything, anything.” TICKETS: crooksukec.bigcartel.com/product/still-release-show-two-pigs-cheltenham
2 PIGS, CHELTENHAM (Saturday 13th September) NEWLOAD 2 – Newent Skate Park Fundraiser WHERE’S NEWENT? 8 miles from Gloucester on the edge of the Forest. HOW MANY BANDS ARE PLAYING? Approximately 10 of the best rock and metal bands from Gloucestershire and beyond such as: Staring Out The Sun, The Phaze, Oakhaart, ASCARIS and Michigan Avenue. HEADLINED BY: Fighting Wolves, a classic rock band from London. WHAT TIME DOES IT START AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? The first band are on at midday and tickets are £6 in advance or £8 on the door. There’s also a raffle: top prize is an Old Nicks Tattoo shop voucher. SOME FAMOUS SKATEBOARDERS: Rodney Mullen, Rob Dyrdek and Tony Hawk. DIDN’T THAT LAST GUY TRAVEL AROUND IRELAND WITH A FRIDGE? No, that was Tony Hawks. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: https://www.facebook.com/newload01
GEORGE HOTEL, NEWENT (Saturday 6th September)
…IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE with LEE CHAOS FAVOURITE VENUE/PUB...
BEST KEPT SECRET…
2 Pigs wins for me because they've been so supportive of all my ridiculous schemes in the past! We really are very fortunate in Gloucestershire though - the Frog & Fiddle is an exceptional small venue, and the Guildhall in Gloucester punches well above its weight, in part I think due to its amazing crew of staff - some of the best I've ever worked with.
I'm gonna blow my own trumpet and say that my favourite night is my own JUDDER! - which we've been running for more than 10 years now. We run it on the first Friday of the month at the 2 Pigs and it's consistently the best atmosphere of any club night in town. We've seen a real resurgence in its popularity of late so maybe it won't stay secret for very much longer. ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT MUSIC… Following on from the above comment, it really surprises me how few new up and coming promoters there are. Younger people seem happy to consume what older folks are putting on for them, but the environment is ripe for some young entrepreneurs to put on fresh new nights that blow some of the cobwebs away! LAST GIG YOU WENT TO… It was the Bleephaus all-dayer we ran at Grumpy Whiskers - a brilliant day of music and building electronics. That place will be sadly missed in Cheltenham, and I really hope somewhere else similar can be found in town soon. FAVOURITE BAND/MUSICIAN… Lots to choose from! I'm particularly enjoying the work of Dan & Danny, collectively as Brown Torpedo, and separately as Party Levitation and Tragedy Magnet respectively, and also DJing the utterly insane Meme Machine nights at 2 Pigs - their work ethic is a real inspiration to me..
Continued on the next page
BEST GIG YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO…
FOLK IN A BOX
If I was forced to pick a favourite at gunpoint I'd say Julian Cope at the Guildhall - at one point Julian left the stage and was roaming round the audience singing, but I couldn't see him. Then he tapped me on the shoulder... Honourable mention goes to The Program Initiative who have put on a world class show on three occasions at the 2 Pigs. Can't wait for them to debut their new project. BEST THING ABOUT MUSIC… It's small enough and friendly enough that if you want to make something happen, you can - it's not a struggle to find venues and there are mercifully few politics between venues in town. All the venues are really approachable and open to experimenting with new music and ideas for nights. GIVE YOURSELF A PLUG… At the moment I'm DJing and promoting JUDDER! [ www.judder.org] and also performing as temp0rary [www.temp0rary.com]. I also run occasional electronics workshops and gigs under the name Bleephaus [www.bleephaus.co.uk] and run music workshops too - see www.leechaos.co.uk for everything else I do, and have done in the past!
WHOSE BRIGHT IDEA IS THIS? It’s the brainchild of Stroud musician Emily Barker and Dom Coyote. HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN FIT IN THE BOX? Only 2 – just you and the performer. IS IT REALLY THE WORLD’S SMALLEST VENUE? Yes, if it was any smaller it would hold only 1 person and you can’t perform to or watch yourself. DO I NEED TO BOOK? Nope, just turn up, join the queue and be entertained. You get to listen to one song by one performer in the box. It all kicks off at 1pm. WHO IS PLAYING? Chris T-T, Gill Sandell, Tom Mitchell, Dan Hartland, Edd Donovan, Men Diamler, Harry Harris, Stylusboy and John D Revelator. WHERE ELSE HAS THE BOX BEEN? Sydney, Venice and London (amongst others). Gloucester is in good company. I’M CLAUSTRAPHOBIC: Best step away from the box then.
KINGSWALK SHOPPING CENTRE, GLOUCESTER SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
CHELTENHAM GIG CRAWL
08.08.14
A little while ago, The Cheltenham Underground (one of Cheltenham’s many excellent promoters) had a bit of a rant on their Facebook page after the closures of G’s Bar and Grumpy Whiskers Coffee Shop. To summarise, it reminded everyone that buying tickets, turning up to gigs and purchasing a drink are three easy ways to sustain live music events in Cheltenham. As a result, every Tom, Dick and Harry bashed away at their keyboards for an evening to have their say on why the music scene in Cheltenham is a) shitter than it used to be or b) still as shit as it’s always been. Such prudent observations included: “There aren’t any good bands that play in Cheltenham anymore.” “Cheltenham for music is a waste of time unless you're into reggae, pop punk or indie and I hate all of them!” “Maybe the right bands just aren't playing, I don't buy that people are stingy with money as the whole reason.” (This could be a valid point). However, my all-time favourite was – “It's because it's music that people don't like.” You just can’t argue with logic like that. So, armed with that knowledge, I decided to check out what Cheltenham has to offer on one randomly picked night in August. I went to five gigs, bought a drink in each venue and paid the asking price to get in. I then judged each one against these four factors picked from the above quotes. 1) Are the bands any good? 2) Is it reggae, pop punk or indie? 3) Are people being stingy with money? 4) Is it music that people don’t like? Call it an Gig experiment, you like. HereAareGuest the results… #1 – ifGig With at The To be honest, gig #1 is always going to get the short straw. It’s 8.15, people are still drinking cheap supermarket cans of lager at home and watching reality TV programmes. But experienced local musician Colin Hartley is already set up in the corner and playing when we arrive at his regular Friday night gig at The Bell Inn. Under the moniker of Fred Robert’s Family, he duets with his son on a mix of originals and covers (such as Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt’). There are some young lads on bar stools who have shots lined up and tuck into bags of pork scratchings. One has his eyes seemingly transfixed on Colin throughout. But, when I check again later, it just seems he is staring at the TV screen on the wall behind the band as it’s showing the first football match of the season. Most people are chatting away but have one ear out for the music.
Bell Inn
The pub has 20-odd people in it and more are arriving all of the time. They clap a little after each song. I get the feeling that Colin (and his son) have enough songs up their sleeve to keep this going for a few more hours yet and the pub is going to fill up with a Friday night pub crowd. Are the bands any good?
Yes, 2 musicians who can seamlessly move from covers to originals and with enough character to keep a room entertained on a Friday night.
Is it reggae, pop punk or indie?
None of the above.
Are people being stingy with money?
Not at all. Most have a pint or glass of wine in their hand (except for me – I only have a half as tonight is a marathon, not a sprint)
Is it music that people don’t like?
No – it’s honest, acoustic singer-songwriter stuff.
Gig #2 – Loic at The 2 Pigs At 9 o’clock I hot foot it to the 2 Pigs, a venue fairly unique in that it lets in under18’s on a regular basis. On the door I pay the cover charge and receive an actual ticket made of actual paper – quite the novelty in 2014. This is what I like about the 2 Pigs. It feels like a proper venue. There are stage lights, graffiti in the toilets and a band setting up. As I buy a pint at the bar, it dawns on me that some of the youngsters in here tonight were probably still in nappies when I first went to the 2 Pigs. As the band start their set, there aren’t many people watching them – a gaggle of teenagers (I’m not entirely sure what the collective term is) just kind of linger in the street. But slowly, like the Pied Piper, the band entices more and more people through the door as their set goes on by the magical power of music. The trio play dancey, upbeat indie and the frontman is the main focal point. I enjoy their set so much that I forget that I’m meant to be at The Cotswold by 9.30 to maintain my tight schedule, so I leave during the last song and make a mental note that I can put Loic in the ‘solid local band that my girlfriend would like’ category.
Are the bands any good?
Yes, 8/10 – would watch again.
Is it reggae, pop punk or indie?
You could definitely call this band indie, but the rest of the bill is mixed.
Are people being stingy with money?
They’ve all paid £3 or £4 to get in and there’s about 30 people in there for the second band out of four. Not many have drinks in their hands, but I guess that paper round wages are still pretty miserly.
Is it music that people don’t like?
No – it’s as accessible as a guitar band can get.
Gig #3 – Unplugged Underground at Cotswold Inn I get to the Cotswold Inn and, not for the first time tonight, the bands are untangling leads and plugging in microphones as I walk in. The crowd is a little bit sparse and it’s difficult to tell who is there for the music and who is just there for a Friday night pint with their mates. I buy a half of Old Rosie cider to help the local economy and bump into Emi McDade who is playing later on. The band start soon after – it’s a male keyboard/vocal cover duo and they play covers like ‘Billie Jean’ to polite applause. Are the bands any good?
Better than your Uncle on the upright piano after a few brandies at a Christening, but not quite Rick Wakeman.
Is it reggae, pop punk or indie?
It’s covers. I didn’t hear any UB40, Green Day or Arctic Monkeys, but I was only there for half an hour.
Are people being stingy with money?
Nope. Again, plenty of drinks are being bought and it’s free to get it in.
Is it music that people don’t like?
They play covers, so it’s not necessarily for those looking to watch original songs played by bands at a gig in a venue.
Gig #4 – Pink Flamingo at St Paul’s Tavern It’s now gone 10pm and I’m running late. I walk past the chip shop on St Paul’s Road at some pace and can hear the music coming from St Paul’s Tavern, slap bang in the middle of Cheltenham’s student area. Another covers duo are playing (named Pink Flamingo), but this time they do a more eclectic mix such as Rhiannon, Four Non Blondes (younger readers, ask your parents) and Radiohead. Again, like with all the gigs I’ve been to so far tonight, there aren’t more than 30 people in here but those who are in the bar are in that warm, fuzzy drinking stage and do the loudest and best clapping I hear all night. There’s a friendly vibe in the pub, the band are enjoying themselves and a few sing-alongs break out. And that Radiohead cover is special…so fucking special. Are the bands any good?
Yes, one of the better local cover acts.
Is it reggae, pop punk or indie?
A variety of covers, well picked and appealing to the 20-30 somethings.
Are people being stingy with money?
It’s free entry to the pub and it looks like the table behind me are trying to drink their weight in alcohol, so no, they aren’t.
Is it music that people don’t like?
Nope, if you’re happy to listen to some modern covers then you’ll definitely like this.
Gig # 5 – Waiting For Kate at Frog & Fiddle Finally, I’m on the home straight. The Frog & Fiddle is the biggest of the places I’ve been tonight and it’s definitely the busiest. There are probably around a hundred people in the Barn (the room at the back of the pub that hosts the gigs) and they’ve all paid to get in. Waiting For Kate (or Skankt if you’re as old as me) are playing upbeat ska and people spill their drinks as they dance. I chat to the promoters (The Cheltenham Underground) and it seems the place has been busy all night, right from the first local support. This is what we want, isn’t it Cheltenham? But you know, Rome wasn’t built in a day and Caesar didn’t gather his troops to invade Britain by sending all of his friends an event invite on Facebook. It takes a lot of time and effort to get your gigs busy like this. Granted, ska, reggae or blues might not be your thing but tonight is proof that it is possible to get 100 people to pay to watch a gig in Cheltenham. Who’d have thought it? Now, when shall we do it all again? Are the bands any good?
They are quality, like a bottle of red from 1982.
Is it reggae, pop punk or indie?
Unashamedly reggae.
Are people being stingy with money?
No, they’ve paid £4 to get in and are visiting the bar like it’s about to disappear into some kind of sink hole in the next five minutes.
Is it music that people don’t like?
Well, Bob Marley gained a fairly good following from playing reggae so someone must like it.
BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE RECOMMENDS…
ERICA
September 12th SMV Subtone, Cheltenham
HEG & THE WOLF CHORUS September 27th Subscription Rooms, Stroud
ALEYCE SIMMONDS September 14th Cross Keys Inn, Gloucester
THEE ONES
September 12th Miners Arms, Whitecroft
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER Date
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
1st
Indigo Kings
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Jazz Swing
1st
Club Django
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Gypsy Jazz
2nd
Acoustic Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
2nd
Le Skeleton Band
St Paul’s Tavern Prince Albert
Stroud
Experimental
3rd
Lewis Creaven
Café Rene
Gloucester
Blues Rock
3rd
Acoustic Night with Gordon Wood Open Mic
Bayshill
Cheltenham
Acoustic
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Open Mic
4th
Still Bust (EP launch), Retarded Fish, Steo Asisde, Sharkface, The Uncharted
Gloucester
Rock Hardcore
4th
Stroud
Roots Folk
4th
Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra Full Band Open Mic
Secret Show (dressdowngets weaty@gmail.c om for venue information) Prince Albert
Cheltenham
Open Mic
4th
Open Mic
St Paul’s Tavern Restoration
Cheltenham
Open Mic
4th
Open Mic
The Quaich
Cheltenham
Open Mic
4th
Laura Williams
The Tavern
Cheltenham
Solo
5th
Open Mic
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Open Mic
5th
Which One’s Gerry?
Globe
Stonehouse
Covers
5th
Toyah: Up Close & Personal
Stroud
Pop classics
5th
Secret Affair
Subscription Rooms Guildhall
Gloucester
Mod revival
5th
Subtone
Cheltenham
5th
Heartless Hero, Standing To Fall, Kintsugi Gareth Gates
Tithe Barn
Bishops Cleeve
5th
Busk Off
Cheltenham
5th
Fred Roberts’ Family
Six Degrees Of Separation Bell Inn
Rock Alternative Failed Pop Idol Open Mic
Cheltenham
Acoustic
3rd
Date
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
5th
Richard O’Brien Project
Café Rene
Gloucester
Funk Soul
5th
Burlesque Night
Brunswick
Gloucester
Burlesque
5th
Kickback
Queen Vic
Stroud
Rock & Pop
6th
Racketeers
Queen Vic
Stroud
Rock
6th
Prince Albert
Stroud
Soul
6th
NWC – The Establishment Club House Band Toadstool
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Classic Rock
6th
Black Forge, Rollin’ Sixes
Vaults
Cirencester
Rock Metal
6th
Fred Roberts’ Family
Northleach
Acoustic
6th
3Sixty, Stone Cold Killers
Northleach Steam and Vintage Show Two Rivers
Cheltenham
Rock Metal
6th
Valis Ablaze, Sleep Inertia, Virtue In Vain, Samsara, Thieves Amongst Men, Broken Tusk Magic of Motown
2 Pigs
Cheltenham
Metal Hardcore
Subscription Rooms St Paul’s Tavern
Stroud
Motown
Cheltenham
Festival
Cheltenham
Covers
Subtone
Cheltenham
Acoustic
Charlton Kings Club Albion House
Cheltenham
Covers
Cheltenham
Rock & Roll
6th 6th
6th 6th
Street Festival feat: Spunge, Check Da Cone, Scene Of My Demise, Gas Attack, KSH & The Going Goods, The Furtive (2pm) Kickback Bayshill
6th
Darran McDonnell, Daniel Keicher and Josh McDonnell The Bridge
6th
Sandy Ford
6th
John-Paul Gard Hammond Trio (12pm) The Big 4 Tribute Band
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Organ
Brunswick
Gloucester
Heavy Metal
Lower George Inn Brewery
Gloucester
Rock Metal
6th
Spiral Dive, Burnthru, Beggarman’s Beard Bad Dads
Stroud
6th
Mambo Mamba
SVA
Stroud
Folk Bluegrass World Jazz
6th 6th
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER Date
6th
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
George Hotel
Newent
Rock Metal
7th
Skatepark Fundraiser feat: Michigan Avenue, Plane Crasher, The Phaze, Ironbird, Thorun, The Bitter-Town Hounds, Oakhaart, Staring Out The Sun, Fighting Wolves (12pm) Tobias Robertson
Railway Inn
Newnham
Soul Funk
7th
Aleyce Simmonds
Convent
Stroud
Country
7th
Ian Higgott (3.30pm)
Albion House
Cheltenham
Solo singer
7th
Open Mic
Cotswold Inn
Cheltenham
Open Mic
7th
JC Big Band (2.30pm)
Exmouth Arms
Cheltenham
Jazz
7th
Altan
Tithe Barn
Bishops Cleeve
Irish
8th
Josephine Arthur Quartet
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Jazz
9th
Acoustic Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
9th
The Black Feathers
St Paul’s Tavern Roses Theatre
Tewkesbury
Folk
10th
Gloucester Acoustic Showcase
Café Rene
Gloucester
Acoustic
10th
Bayshill
Cheltenham
Acoustic
10th
Drawing Of The Three, Hattie Briggs Open Mic
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Open Mic
10th
Kim Cypher Quartet
Theoc House
Tewkesbury
Jazz
11th
Open Mic
Bream
Open Mic
11th
Full Band Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
11th
Open Mic
Bream Sports Club St Paul’s Tavern Restoration
Cheltenham
Open Mic
11th
Open Mic
The Quaich
Cheltenham
Open Mic
12th
Jibbafish
Queen Vic
Stroud
Rock covers
12th
The Keith Thompson Band
Cirencester
Blues Rock
12th
Café Continental
New Brewery Arts Café Rene
Gloucester
Rock
Date
12th
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
Gig With A Guest: Fred Roberts’ Family, The Hawthornes Various bands/musicians
Bell Inn
Cheltenham
Acoustic
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Frog & Fiddle
Cheltenham
12th
The Burning Glass, Jono & The UKE Dealers, UkeJunkies Erica, Man Make Fire
Singer songwriter Folk Ukulele
SMV Subtone
Cheltenham
Indie Rock
12th
Synergy
Exmouth Arms
Cheltenham
12th
The Timbres
Cotswold Inn
Cheltenham
12th
Which One’s Gerry
New Inn
Gloucester
Mediterranea n Piano Vocal Covers Covers
12th
Thee Ones
Railway Inn
Newnham
R&B
12th
Busk Off
Cheltenham
Open Mic
12th
Jennifer T
Six Degrees Of Separation Green Dragon
Cowley
Solo
13th
Tripwire
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Rock
13th
The Cuginis
SMV Subtone
Cheltenham
Ska covers
13th
Nice & Sleazy
Bayshill
Cheltenham
Rock Covers
13th
Stalker
Cheltenham
Covers
13th
Cheltenham
Ska
Cheltenham
13th
Captain Accident & The Disasters (TBC) Crooks, Milk Teeth, Dreamcatcher Wizards Of Oz (Ozzy Osbourne)
Charlton Kings Club St Paul’s Tavern 2 Pigs Two Rivers
Cheltenham
Melodic Hardcore Tribute
13th
Good God No
Queen Vic
Stroud
Pop covers
13th
Anya Foull Trio (12pm)
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Jazz
13th
Scarlet Soho
Brunswick
Gloucester
Electronic
13th
Lower George Inn Convent
Gloucester
Tribute
13th
Riff Raff (AC/DC), Kaideka, Smackhandle, Paraletica George Montague
Stroud
Modern Jazz
13th
Retro
Globe
Stonehouse
Rock Pop covers
12th 12th
13th
Date
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
13th
Jennifer T
Nags Head
Longhope
Solo
13th
Barn Theatre
Cirencester
Festival
13th
Huttstock feat: Robert Singer featuring Gary & his Big Stealth Band, Leon Daye , Audio Violation Which One’s Gerry?
Five Alls
Cheltenham
Covers
14th
Aleyce Simmonds
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Country
14th
Which One’s Gerry? (3.30pm)
Albion House
Cheltenham
Covers
14th
Miners Hall
Cinderford
Blues
14th
No Parkin Blues Band (12.30pm) Open Mic
Cotswold Inn
Cheltenham
Open Mic
14th
Open Mic
Railway Inn
Newnham
Open Mic
15th
Roy Forbes Quartet
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Jazz Blues
16th
Acoustic Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
17th
Brother, Listen
St Paul’s Tavern Café Rene
Gloucester
17th
Paul Newman Jam Night
Bayshill
Cheltenham
Alternative Acoustic Acoustic
17th
Life O’Reilly Folk Jam
The Royal
Irish Folk
17th
Open Mic
Cross Keys Inn
Charlton Kings Gloucester
18th
Ash Mandrake
Prince Albert
Stroud
Exoerimental
18th
Full Band Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
18th
Open Mic
St Paul’s Tavern Restoration
Cheltenham
Open Mic
18th
Musiclab Open Mic
Guildhall
Gloucester
Open Mic
18th
John Street Blues
SVA
Stroud
Blues
18th
Open Mic
The Quaich
Cheltenham
Open Mic
19th
Reloaded
Anchor
Tewkesbury
Covers
19th
Luke Doughty Band
Queen Vic
Stroud
Blues Covers
19th
Funky Jets
SMV Subtone
Cheltenham
Funk Covers
19th
Kaz Hawkins
Vonnie’s Blues Club
Charlton Kings
Blues
Open Mic
Date
19th
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
2 Pigs
Cheltenham
Blues Rock
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Singalongs
Exmouth Arms
Cheltenham
Covers
19th
Hard Stairs, Them Spitfires, Damon T & Luke Philbrick Live music (Talk Like A Pirate Day) Velvet Love & The Memphis One The Toasters
Guildhall
Gloucester
Ska Reggae
19th
Busk Off
Cheltenham
Open Mic
19th
Cheltenham
Acoustic
19th
Gig With A Guest: Fred Roberts’ Family, Chris Davidson Open Mic
Six Degrees Of Separation Bell Inn Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Open Mic
19th
TBC
Café Rene
Gloucester
???
19th
Convent
Stroud
World
Brunswick
Gloucester
Rock Metal Festival
20th
Sarah Jane Morris & The African Project Ventafest feat: This Ship is Ours, Tempest, Reign Of Perdition, Valis Ablaze, We Define A Martyr, Goodnight Harvey, SharkFace, Roads To Nowhere, Heaven Asunder (2pm) The Black Pearls
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Covers
20th
Devon Cassells
Railway Inn
Newnham
Acoustic
20th
Inbetween Days
Globe
Stonehouse
20th
Who’s Next (The Who)
Stroud
20th
Gloucester
Rock Metal
20th
Cryostorm, Death Bullet, We Come From Ashes, Alien Stash Tin CODY
Subscription Rooms Lower George Inn
Rock Mod Covers Tribute
Victoria Inn
Brockworth
Covers
20th
Andy Nowak Trio (12pm)
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Pianist
20th
Koheesion
Albion House
Cheltenham
Party band
19th 19th
20th
PLEASE CHECK WITH THE VENUE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL AS THINGS OFTEN CHANGE AT THE LAST MINUTE!
Date
20th
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
2 Pigs
Cheltenham
Pop Punk
Cinderford
Solo
Cheltenham
Blues Rock
20th
Freefall, Tripwire, Born At The River, Jay Mansfield Jennifer T
20th
Keith Thompson Band
Soldiers & Sailors SMV Subtone
20th
Annette Berlin
Prince Albert
Stroud
Post Rock
20th
Frogfest
Frog & Fiddle
Cheltenham
Festival
20th
Two Anchors
Brewery
Stroud
Sea shanties
20th
Michigan Avenue
Bayshill
Cheltenham
Blues Rock
20th
Chris Hannis
Cheltenham
Solo singer
20th
Fallingham Fair
Charlton Kings Club Convent
Stroud
Folk
20th
Larry Miller Band
Guildhall
Gloucester
Rock
21st
Sam Nolan (3.30pm)
Albion House
Cheltenham
Solo singer
21st
Open Mic
Cotswold Inn
Cheltenham
Open Mic
21st
Mick Ryan & Paul Downes
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Folk
21st
Ultimate Eagles
Town Hall
Cheltenham
Tribute
21st
The Little Unsaid
Prince Albert
Stroud
Music poetry
22nd
Queen Extravaganza
Town Hall
Cheltenham
Tribute
22nd
Sarah Smith Quartet
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Gypsy Jazz
23rd
Acoustic Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
23rd
Baroque Night
St Paul’s Tavern Prince Albert
Stroud
Baroque
24th
Jazz Club with Mrs Peel
Theoc House
Tewkesbury
Jazz
24th
Warren James
Café Rene
Gloucester
Skiffle Blues
24th
Johnny Duff’s Open Mic Night
Bayshill
Cheltenham
Open Mic
24th
Open Mic
Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Open Mic
25th
Full Band Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
25th
Open Mic
St Paul’s Tavern Restoration
Cheltenham
Open Mic
25th
Open Mic
The Quaich
Cheltenham
Open Mic
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER Date
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
25th
The South
Guildhall
Gloucester
Pop
25th
Open Mic
Berkeley Arms
Tewkesbury
Open Mic
26th
King Solomon
Café Rene
Gloucester
Reggae Ska
26th
Lonesome Crow
Queen Vic
Stroud
Rock Covers
26th
Bell Inn
Cheltenham
Acoustic
26th
Gig With A Guest: Fred Roberts’ Family, Bill Bond Busk Off
Cheltenham
Open Mic
26th
Memphis
Six Degrees Of Separation Cross Keys Inn
Gloucester
Americana
26th
SMV Subtone
Cheltenham
Folk Pop
26th
Jasper In The Company Of Others The Rebecca Downes Blues Band
Cirencester
Blues
26th
Darren Eedens
New Brewery Arts Convent
Stroud
26th
Bad Dads
Black Horse Inn
Nibley
Folk Bluegrass Rock covers
26th
Frog & Fiddle
Cheltenham
Metal
26th
Shadowflag, Lord Misery, Raptorgeist Open Mic
Miners Hall
Cinderford
Open Mic
26th
Dallahan
Prince Albert
Stroud
Irish
27th
Cheltenham
Tribute
Cheltenham
Metal Hardcore
27th
A Design For Life (Manic Street SMV Subtone Preachers) 2 Pigs When We Were Wolves, The Valiant, Prolong The Agony, Crown Me King, Within These Walls, I’m The Envy Jennifer T King’s Arms
Ross-On-Wye
Solo
27th
Which One’s Gerry?
Woolpack
Stonehouse
Covers
27th
Marley
Railway Inn
Newnham
27th
Binomial
Globe
Stonehouse
27th
Tundra
Albion House
Cheltenham
Acoustic covers Synth-Pop Covers Rock covers
27th
GLOUCESTERSHIRE GIG GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER Date
27th
Bands
Venue
Town
Genre
Hillview Music Venue Subscription Rooms
Cheltenham
Tribute
Stroud
Folk
27th
Thunderstruck (AC/DC), The Kings Of Madness Folk Festival – Session 1: Folklaw, Cottillion, The Willows. Session 2: Heg & The Wolf Chorus, Chris Cleverly, Lady Maisery. Session 3: Black Feathers, Folk Award Winners, Jim Moray. The Godseys
Miners Arms
Whitecroft
Americana
27th
Lost Monkey
Queen Vic
Stroud
Pop Covers
27th
Two Rivers
Cheltenham
Rock Metal
27th
Black Forge, Rolling Sixes, Breaking Illusion Underground Festival
Guildhall
Gloucester
Festival
27th
Remy Harris Trio (12pm)
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Gypsy Jazz
28th
Crown & Sceptre Albion House
Stroud
Irish
28th
Irish Acoustic Night with Tim Potts Shayne Bee (3.30pm)
Cheltenham
28th
Open Mic
Cotswold Inn
Cheltenham
Vocal Guitarist Open Mic
28th
Underground Festival
Guildhall
Gloucester
Festival
29th
Catherine Sykes Quartet
Daffodil
Cheltenham
Blues Jazz
30th
Acoustic Open Mic
Cheltenham
Open Mic
30th
Jess Klein, Mike June
St Paul’s Tavern Prince Albert
Stroud
Folk Country
27th
IF YOUR GIG ISN’T LISTED IT’S BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T SEND IT TO ME! HERE’S MY E-MAIL FOR NEXT MONTH… behindthesceneglos@yahoo.co.uk If you use our gig guide to inform your website, radio show, blog etc, then we’d love for you to give us a credit. It’ll make the hours spent collating it worth it and spread the word that little further! DEADLINES ARE ON THE BACK PAGE OF THE MAGAZINE
LAKEFEST
Croft Farm Waterpark, Tewkesbury (10.08.14) As I arrive at LAKEFEST, I imagine this is what the end of the world will look like. Rain is falling relentlessly and has been all night. Men and women are loading their cars up with sopping tents, sodden children and enough cereal bars to keep them going when they encounter that inevitable traffic jam on the M5. With cars fit to burst, the men turn the ignition on and put their foot down through the mud that is threatening to turn the car park entrance into Woodstock 1969. Yet, some hardy souls stick around, as they know that Nostradamus wasn’t always right and Noah hasn’t been called to build an ark in Tewkesbury just yet. Today is the final day of LAKEFEST and although some festival goers choose to leave a day early because Hurricane Bertha has decided to empty herself over the southern half of the country in one sweeping gesture, others are made of tougher stuff and stick around to the end – apocalypse or no apocalypse. Here’s what we thought… SET OF THE DAY:
OTHER NOTABLE BAND MENTIONS: CHEVY CHASE STOLE MY WIFE - terrible name, but utterly enchanting slices of innocent late 90’s Britpop somewhere between Sleeper and Kenickie. EDD DONOVAN & THE WANDERING MOLES playing dreamy folk to a flagging, late Sunday afternoon crowd who listened mostly whilst lying down in the Floating Globe tent. It seems that three days of drinking your body weight in cider really can take its toll.
GAZ BROOKFIELD - This is what The Levellers would sound like if Frank Turner was singing for them whilst simultaneously reading from Gaz’s diary. ‘Black Dog Days’ and ‘Be The Bigger Man’ deal with the trials of depression and bullying, whilst a tent silencing rendition of ‘Tell It To The Beer’ sums up the hopes and dreams of a young musician whose band was never going to make it. Mums and dads do some embarrassing ‘mum and dad dancing’ as the fiddle takes charge of the more up-tempo songs. After nearly 1000 gigs, Gaz just keeps getting better and better. RELIEF OF THE DAY: That the few small children on the teacups did not take off into the stratosphere as strong gusts of wind blew across the on-site fairground mid-afternoon.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN: AARON YORKE - Beautiful keyboard ballads from the likeable AARON YORKE in a sparsely populated BBC Hereford & Worcester Introducing tent. If he was appearing on X-Factor on a Saturday night then the whole family would let out a little “wow” and then reach for their phones to cast a vote for him. THE PERFECT BAND FOR A FESTIVAL: THE ROVING CROWS – Mixing traditional and original Celtic music might have first been done by the Pogues thirty years ago, but there isn’t a better band in the country than Gloucestershire’s THE ROVING CROWS for whipping up a festival crowd. ‘OH, THAT’S A SHAME’ OF THE DAY:
Edd Donovan & The Wandering Moles at Lakefest
Mumbled apologies from PHONEYS & THE FREAKS for Bonehead’s non-appearance on guitar for their set (something about the former Oasis man falling ill and/or being in Spain). To be honest, lead singer Alex Lipinski’s vocals made up for it by being reminiscent of all those 90’s indie bands you used to love, and the bass player looked a bit like Bonehead anyway if you squinted a bit and tilted your head to one side. Photo credit: Jess Jones Photography
GUILTY PLEASURE: DR & THE MEDICS – Cheesy 70’s and 80’s pop covers, outrageous costumes and cringe worthy dancing put a smile on the faces of parents who’d spent the previous 3 days in a field with no access to CBeebies. BEST KEPT SECRET: THE SALAM TENT – Tucked away in the corner, the Salam Tent had live performances, fresh pizzas and nice, dry hay bales to sit on. Pizza orders were shouted out between songs and a spot of dancing warmed the bits a hot cup of tea couldn’t get to. SAME AGAIN NEXT YEAR? For sure. Lakefest has a little bit of something for everyone.
www.lakefest2015.co.uk
…IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE with BENITA JOHNSON FAVOURITE VENUE/PUB... I've been running live music on the last Sunday afternoon of each month at Black Book Cafe in Stroud - mostly singersongwriter stuff, really wide-ranging in style. Amazingly supportive audience, interesting setting and somehow - it works. I'm quitting now to go to Brighton but the music there will continue. We've had some awesome acts on, free to the audience and at times the place has been bursting at the seams. It's felt like a real privilege to have been a part of that and provide some funky music for folks who don't always get out of an evening.
FAVOURITE BAND/MUSICIAN… Ben Maggs.
LAST GIG YOU WENT TO… Poetry gig featuring Johnny Fluffypunk, Matt Harvey and the most awesome comic-tragic performance ever from an Aussie called Wil Greenway (at Edinburgh Fringe 2014). This was recently at SVA in Stroud.
BEST GIG YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO… Fundraising gig at Under The Edge Arts BEST THING ABOUT MUSIC… in Wotton a couple of years ago. Ben Your listings! Local rag listings have not Maggs was playing. been adequately helping or representing the music scene until now. You're all BEST KEPT SECRET… about the music and that's much needed Stroud. It's pretty rich in musical folks and folks into music. For a small place GIVE YOURSELF A PLUG… it's got a lot going on and still plenty of audience to go around. Well, my website is ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT MUSIC… It would be nice to see more going on in Cheltenham and Gloucester, and people daring to be different in terms of what they're prepared to book. Gig scenes can get a bit formulaic, and if the scene is small to start with this means it never gets the chance to grow.
www.benitajohnson.co.uk and you'll find my profiles everywhere on Facebook, Reverbnation, MySpace, Linked In ... some I've forgotten. I'm a gigging singersongwriter, event promoter, manager and teacher too. I have loved being in Gloucestershire for the short 3 year spell I've lived here. Off to pastures new now, but I'll still be around. Support your local music scene!
THE BURNING GLASS
ALSO ON THE BILL: Jono & The Uke Dealers (a 4 piece ukulele band from Northampton) and Ukejunkies (a duo from Cheltenham). PRICE: 6 of your English pounds. FOR FANS OF: Folk music, ukuleles and George Formby. WHERE CAN I LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC? http://theburningglass.bandcamp.com/ THEY DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS: “Story telling star gazing ukulele agitpop.” WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN? I have no idea. WHY ARE UKULELES SO POPULAR NOW? Because they are just so tiny. And they come in a variety of colours like pink and blue. DID YOU KNOW THAT? Glass cannot actually burn, it just melts. TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/27 9533
FROG & FIDDLE, CHELTENHAM FRIDAY 12th SEPTEMBER
ANNETTE BERLIN
WHO’S IN THIS BAND THEN? Guitarist/vocalist Annette Berlin and drummer Keith Hall. SO KIND OF LIKE A REVERSE WHITE STRIPES? If you like. WHERE ARE THEY FROM? Bristol. GENRE: Filthy, grungy post-rock. IF YOU LIKE PJ HARVEY: Then you’ll also like Annette Berlin. I’VE NEVER BEEN TO THE PRINCE ALBERT BEFORE: The atmosphere is relaxed, the music is always carefully chosen and you’ll probably spot Stroud musical types at the bar. HOW DO I GET THERE? Drive up Rodborough Hill and you will see it on the corner. Walk up Rodborough Hill and you’ll get all hot and sweaty before the gig has even begun. IS THERE AN ENTRY FEE? It’s free to get in, but have some change handy in case they pass a jug around for the musicians.
PRINCE ALBERT, STROUD 20th SEPTEMBER
The Mystery Train Radio show on Severn FM Every Sunday from 10.00pm-12.00am, THE MYSTERY TRAIN RADIO SHOW plays host to the best local and national songwriters, old and new. If you miss the show then you can catch up by visiting Severn FM’s ‘Listen Again’ facility. http://www.severnfm.com/ http://www.themysterytrainradioshow.com
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ACTS PLAYED ON THE MYSTERY TRAIN RADIO SHOW IN AUGUST… 10th August 2014 Hattie Briggs, Old Eyes (Single) www.hattiebriggs.co.uk/ Sundae Club, Everything is Fine (Single) www.facebook.com/sundaeclub Vena Portae, Before The Winter Came (Vena Portae) www.venaportae.net/
17th August2014 Edd Donovan And The Wandering Moles, The Stone 4:38 (The Stone EP) www.edddonovan.co.uk/ Drawing Of The Three, Ashes (Broken Walls) www.drawingofthethree.co.uk/
24th August 2014 Vena Portae, Flames and Fury (Vena Portae) www.venaportae.net/ Hattie Briggs, Old Eyes (Single) www.hattiebriggs.co.uk/
31st August 2014 Dan Hartland, Young Man’s Game (Young Man’s Game) www.danhartland.com/ Edd Donovan And The Wandering Moles, It Must Be Love (The Stone EP) www.edddonovan.co.uk/
behindthesceneglos@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Behind The Scene Gloucestershire,
Why don’t bands like to be pigeon-holed? My boyfriend’s band sound just like Nirvana (they even do a cover of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’) yet he gets angry when I call them a ‘grunge’ band. He prefers the term, ‘Post-fuzzy-apocolyptic90’s-garage-hardcore.’ Or even worse, he says that they have such diverse influences that they can’t be pigeon-holed. Yours, Sarah Dear Sarah, I sympathise. Boys in bands like to think that the music they are making is wholly unique and original. But in reality, they are probably using the same four chords and verse-chorus-verse structure as every other band out there. Oasis copied the Beatles and Bob Dylan just rehashed Woody Guthrie’s songs. They are all at it! In truth, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of pigeon-holing as it helps ordinary people like you or I decide whether to watch or listen to a band. But for the sake of your relationship, just leave him be and let him have his way.
Thanks for writing in, BTS Glos Dear Behind The Scene Gloucestershire, What is the best way of supporting your excellent magazine? Yours, A. Bigfan Dear A. Bigfan, Thanks for asking! You can share the magazine each month on Facebook and Twitter, use our gig guide and tell your friends about it. If you’re a venue, pub, promoter, shop or band then why not take out an advert to help with our running costs? Thanks for asking! Yours, BTS Glos
BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE ISSUE #11 SEPTEMBER 2014
ISSUE MONTH
October
November December
Deadline for submissions for PRINT EDITION (reviews, interviews, gig guide, adverts) Monday 22rd September Friday 24th October Saturday 22nd November
Missed the deadline for the print edition (gig guide & adverts)? Deadline for the ONLINE EDITION Saturday 27th September Tuesday 28th October Thursday 27th November
ONLINE ON…
Monday 29th September Thursday 30th October Saturday 29th November
Content created by BEHIND THE SCENE GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Photos that have been credited have been used with permission. Photos that are not credited were either taken by me, given with some permission (e.g. “Use a photo from our Facebook page”) or found on Google images. If you want an image removed because it belongs to you, contact me and I’ll do so.
E-mail: behindthesceneglos@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @behindsceneglos Facebook: facebook.com/behindthesceneglos Tumblr: behindthesceneglos.tumblr.com/