A Word From The Editor We are well into 2013 now, and after a rather long break over Christmas and New Year, February’s issue is the first MAG of 2013.
A word from the Editor Pg 1 Cheltenham’s MND Pg 2 Cheltenham Pub Sessions PG 2 Furore Pg 3 Fabio Thomas Pg 4 What’s On Listings Pg 5-9 10 Minute Review Pg 9 MAG Needs You!
Lots of things have happened in the last month, HMV in Cheltenham has confirmed it is closing down, Stereophonics tickets at The Centaur went on sale and sold out in minutes and The Guildhall announced an awesome show with none other than Huey Morgan of Fun Lovin’ Criminals! Equally as exciting as the above, is what’s in this month’s issue of MAG. Cheltenham’s MND talks more about the closure of HMV and what that means for the local scene. Fabio reviews The Beat after their December show at The Guildhall. Furore profiles Harbour’s debut EP and Tom swaps his 10 minute review for a look back at one of Cheltenham’s forgotten music venues Bransons. As always we have the most comprehensive local music listings around to keep you up to date with everything musical happening across Gloucestershire during February including some ideas for Valentine’s Day. Admittedly we have been very quite on the social media front lately, however you can follower us on Twitter @MusicAtGlos, like us on Facebook and visit our website www.musicatglos.wordpress.co.uk we promise to be more vocal! Enjoy February’s issue of MAG.
We are always looking for Amelia x news and reviews for MAG from lovely people like you! Being a non-profit initiative we don’t pay but can get you MAG would like to say a into gigs and publish your special thank you to the work. Please contact Amelia Popular Music course at if you want to contribute anyThe University of Gloucestershire for their contrithing to this fanzine: bution to the distribution of the fanzine. musicatglos@gmail.com
Cheltenham’s Music Network Developer
I wrote a blog last month about my opinion on the value of music as art and the issues facing the commercial music industry in light of HMVs recent administration. There was, to say the least, consternation from some who work in local record shops.
it simply looks like you have more control over the value of your art. The impact on commercial traders, labels and distributors cannot be measured yet and time will act as fair judge. When we look back on the month we effectively lost the retailer that was responsible for almost 40% of all physical sales in the UK, I wonder if it will be seen as a turning point or a tipping point? Perhaps we will see a transition driven by the people who make our music – one where more consideration is afforded to the physical product.. The art of the album cover is critical for many, whether it is in their hands or a png. file. If you’re going to make a CD, just make sure it’s something that is worthy of possession, like albums used to be.
The Cheltenham Pub Sessions
And they are correct to be concerned, people are no longer buying records like they used to and with Comet, Jessops and Blockbuster facing similar demises the internet continues to claim the institutions that stood before it. And that’s the real issue here. The internet is not to blame, the shops are not to blame, the marketing departments are not to blame – we are. As a public we have elected with our wallets to favour convenience and contribute to the statistics that support this trend. There are those who remain faithful to physical product and are right to do so, but one must consider that in the face of progress history does not favour stagnation.
How does this effect local bands? Well, as the market continues to open up and the industrial structure once again morphs into something new
The Cheltenham Pub Sessions is a project that a group of Gloucesterhire University students from different subject backgrounds will be starting up next month. The aim of the sessions is to bring attention to different acts trying to make their way in the Cheltenham music scene and the pubs that devote nights to live music. Each session that takes will be uploaded online and free to view and download in a number of different packages, visual and audio. Each act will play 3 songs of their choice and be interviewed in depth. The sessions will commence at the beginning of Febuary and will contiune to run through the next few months. For more information and to view each session once its been completed visit www.cheltenhmanpubsessions.com www.facebook.com/cheltenhampubsessions
Furore
Promoting local bands, venues and talent.
Words: Melissa Tucker | Picture: Alice Muir
Debut’s are always a time full of anticipation, trepidation and most importantly expectations. For Cheltenham based band Harbour their brand new EP “Morning” has breached the gap from obscurity to find new found eminence amongst the alternative music scene. Utilising emotive yet authoritative lyrics fuelled by folk inspired melodies their haunting sound has enough presence to capture any new listeners interest. Stand out tracks such as “Colder” strips back their sound to the bare essentials showcasing their talent for accentuating their clear-cut harmonies with raptures of memorable hooks. “Dear God” proves an intriguing contrast featuring indie influenced musicality’s that bear enough rock edge to give it a backbone. “Almost Home” bares a rare honesty to the song from the smooth vocals in the beginning to the raw crescendo of emotion at the end it almost encapsulates a tumultuous journey of self discovery. After listening to this incredibly polished and evocative EP it’s hard to conceive Harbour are only just entering the world of mainstream listening.
BBC Gloucestershire Introducing… is the show for your new music. Every Saturday from 5:30pm on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, you can hear the tastiest new cuts of unsigned music from across the county. Keep uploading your tracks at bbc.co.uk/introducing – and we’ll keep on playing the best in local unsigned music! Catch Paul Moss and Gemma Dunstan presenting BBC Gloucestershire Introducing... every Saturday from 5:30pm to hear the tastiest cuts from the county’s up and coming artists. The 30 minute show also includes interviews with the people behind the music and a gig guide for who to see play live, and where. BBC Radio Gloucestershire 104.7, 95, 95.8 FM, 1413 AM and on the BBC iPlayer
Fabio Thomas On...The bEat Words: Fabio Thomas | Picture: Joshua Jones
December 9th saw the Beat return to Gloucester for some pre-Christmas festivities. Following their sell-out show at the Guildhall almost a year prior, as expected, the venue was heaving with Harrington-clad ska fans. Following what seemed like and endless wave of ‘RRRRRUUUUDDDDEEEEE BOOOOOOYYYY’ jeers, the band opened with ‘Stand Down Margaret’. From here on, the floor didn’t stop bouncing. Despite being 30 years since the group’s debut, the line up (which contains two original members – Ranking Roger and Everett Morton) sounded as tight a Tory’s arsehole. Funnily enough, this was a topic which was on the agenda throughout the set. The political undertones of the gig climaxed to Ranking Roger dedicating ‘Get A Job’ to David Cameron himself – in the hope that he might take note of the song’s bleak outlook on class divides.
Throughout the night, the band maintained their distinctive reggae ‘Beat’ (rolling out the puns…) and bass groove; which can be heard on most of their three albums. Through all of their hits, they brought a smoother, more classically rocksteady sound to 2-Tone, which was in contrast to the gritty anger of The Specials. The group followed their anti-Thatcher opener with ‘Hands off She’s Mine’, before moving into their take on The Clash’s ‘Rock the Casbah’. Whilst the song sounded nothing like the original, the crowd (myself included) were not complaining and the skanking continued uninterrupted through ‘Doors of Your Heart’, ‘Rough Rider’ and ‘Big Shot’. After moving through a wave of the hits, Ranking Roger hopped onto the drums to make way for his son, Ranking Junior, to take the mic. Whilst Ranking Junior’s track did have some ‘Beat’ overtones, it’s focal point was Junior’s rapping prowess. After the slight change in musical direction, the band closed their set with ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’ and ‘Ranking Full stop’, which saw the crowd shouting back all of Roger’s words. One thing’s for sure, the Beat seem to have outlived Thatcher’s reign; hopefully they will continue to skank their way through Cameron’s.
February GIG LISTINGS
Cheltenham
01/02/2013 01/02/2013 01/02/2013 01/02/2013
2pigs Somerset Arms United Services Club London Inn
JUDDER! Big Black Car Tubby Blues Indigo Mojo
22:00 21:00 20:00 21:00
02/02/2013 02/02/2013 02/02/2013 02/02/2013 02/02/2013 02/02/2013 02/02/2013
Frog & Fiddle Albion House The Bayshill The Wheatsheaf Inn The Daffodil Sound Music Venue Subtone
Entirety presents Chamber Affinity Last Man Standing Gaz Brookfield Jazz Knebakeye Alley The Cuginis
18:30 20:00 21:00 21:00 12:30 21:00 12:30
03/02/2013 03/02/2013 03/02/2013 03/02/2013
The Exmouth Arms Albion House Montpellier Brasserie Rising Sun Hotel
Short and Sweet Andy Clark Swing From Paris Brian McCabe
14:30 14:30 10:00 21:00
06/02/2013
The Bayshill
Gordon Wood
20:30
07/02/2013 Town Hall
Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends & Special Guest
19:30
08/02/2013 08/02/2012
London Inn G Bar
Boogaloos Reign of Fury
21:00 20:00
09/02/2013 09/02/2013 09/02/2013 09/02/2013 09/02/2013 09/02/2013
Somerset Arms The Daffodil The Bayshill The Exmouth Arms Albion House Beaufort Arms
Over The Hill Jazz Sharks Dentist Synergy This Way Up Sax N Axe
21:00 12:30 21:00 21:00 20:45 21:00
10/02/2013
Albion House
Them Two
14:30
12/02/2013 The Exmouth Arms
Bex & Franks Latin Jazz Quartet
20:30
14/02/2013
Parabola Arts Centre
Swing From Paris
TBC
15/02/2013
London Inn
Aiden Moore
21:00
February GIG LISTINGS
16/02/2013 16/02/2013
The Daffodil Albion House
Jazz Ramrods
12:30 20:45
17/02/2013
Albion House
Tony B
14:30
17/02/2013
Rising Sun Hotel
MI Brown
21:00
20/02/2013
Royal Union
Bex & Franks Jukebox
21:00
21/02/2013
The Centaur
Kaiser Chiefs
19:30
22/02/2013 22/02/2013
Town Hall London Inn
Rockology Knebakeye Alley
11:00 21:00
23/02/2013 23/02/2013 23/02/2013
Albion House The Daffodil Subtone
Riff Toads Jazz The Cuginis
20:45 12:30 12:00
24/02/2013 24/02/2013
Playhouse Theatre Albion House
Unsigned Live Music Marcus
19:00 14:30
25/02/2013
Coco Bistro
Swing From Paris
19:30
26/02/2013
Royal Union
Bex & Franks Jukebox
21:00
Gloucester 01/02/2013 01/02/2013 01/02/2013
Guildhall Queen Vic Café Rene
Turin Brakes Worried Men Skaville
19:30 21:00 23:00
04/02/2013
Guildhall
Tribes
19:30
06/02/2013 08/02/2013
Café Rene
Ramon Goose
21:00
Café Rene
Funkinsteins
23:00
09/02/2013 The Brunswick 09/02/2013 Old Richeans Club 09/02/2013 The Old Bell
Swift Manouvre, The VAST & Thousand Fingers Bits & Splits KSH & The Going Goods
20:00
13/02/2013
Sam Eden
21:00
Café Rene
21:00 20:00
February GIG LISTINGS 14/02/2013
Guildhall
General Fiasco
19:30
15/02/2013 15/02/2013
Café Rene Brunswick
We’re No Heroes Wizards Of Oz
23:00 20:00
19/02/2013 Cathedral
June Tabor and The Oysterband
19:30
20/02/2013
Café Rene
Charlton Blues Kings
21:00
22/02/2013
Café Rene
Taffy Was A Thief
23:00
23/02/2013 23/02/2013
Guildhall The Brunswick
Dog is Dead MyDESIGN
19:30 20:00
27/02/2013
Café Rene
Terry Clement
21:00
02/02/2013
Sub Rooms
The Gloworms
20:00
08/02/2013
Sub Rooms
Gypsy Fire
20:00
09/02/2013
Sub Rooms
Hells Bells
20:00
16/02/2013 Sub Rooms
The Virtuosi GUS Band Conducted by John Berryman
19:30
17/02/2013
Sub Rooms
Steve Knightley
19:30
22/02/2013
Sub Rooms
Friday Night Live
20:00
23/02/2013
Sub Rooms
Juan Martin Flamenco
19:30
24/02/2013 Sub Rooms
Heidi Talbot with John McCusker and Ian Carr
20:00
28/02/2013
The Selecter
20:00
Stroud
Sub Rooms
Birdlip 01/02/2013
Royal George
Aiden Moore
21:00
February GIG LISTINGS 08/02/2013
Royal George
Ear Candy
21:00
15/02/2013
Royal George
Damson Sky Duo
21:00
22/02/2012
Royal George
MI Brown
21:00
Woodmancote
07/02/2013
Apple Tree
Sian & Ray Chandler
21:00
14/02/2013
Apple Tree
Short and Sweet
21:00
21/02/2013
Apple Tree
Dave Miles
21:00
28/02/2013
Apple Tree
Deep Blue
21:00
Cinderford
08/02/2013
White Hart
Over The Hill
21:00
09/02/2013
Miners Hall
Heatwave
20:30
15/02/2013
Miners Hall
Johnny Holland
20:30
Tewkesbury 10/02/2013
White Bear
Sax N Axe
16:00
23/02/2013
Double D’s
Reloaded
21:00
27/02/2013
Theoc Hous
Dutch Lewis Broadband
21:00
Winchcombe 05/02/2013 05/02/2013
White Hart Corner Cupboard
Folk Club Bluegrass Session
20:00 21:00
27/02/2013
Corner Cupboard
Song Session
21:00
February GIG LISTINGS
Bishops Cleeve 03/02/2013
Tithe Barn
Never The Bride
19:45
15/02/2013
Tithe Barn
Rockology
20:00
Conderton 01/02/2013
Yew Tree
Swing From Paris
21:00
13/02/2013
Yew Tree
Folk Session
21:00
Club Django
20:00
Whitecroft 04/02/2013
Miners Arms
Festivals 8th-10th 23rd
Cheltenham Folk Festival 2Live Bands
Cheltenham Town Hall Miners Hall Cinderford
Open Mic Nights Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday
St Paul’s Tavern, Cheltenham Salisbury Inn, Cheltenham The Brunswick, Gloucester
Wednesday Wednesday
Cross Keys, Gloucester Norwood Arms, Cheltenham
Thursday Thursday Thursday
The Strand Bar, Cheltenham Hogs Head, Cheltenham The Restoration, Cheltenham
Friday Friday Friday
Royal George Hotel, Cheltenham Gardners Arms, Tewkesbury
Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday
If you want your gig in MAG email us: musicatglos@gmail.com The Fiery Angel, Cheltenham Royal Union, Cheltenham The Cotswold Inn, Cheltenham Under the Edge Arts, Wotton Under Edge Walls Country & Western Club, Gloucester
10 Minute Review... Branson’s (Cheltenham’s Forgotten Venue) Every so often I open the local paper and read this headline: BRING BACK THE AXIOM. You might not know it, but Cheltenham once had an Arts Centre. It was called the Axiom and (ridiculously) it was never replaced. You could drink coffee in the café, watch your mate’s death metal band in the back room and smoke cigarettes on the stairwell. Or, if you were me, wear your Rage Against The Machine t-shirt and make awkward small talk about the latest Limp Bizkit album to goth girls in the courtyard. When the Axiom shut down suddenly in 2001, most music events switched to Branson’s. A former cinema and snooker hall, it stood a couple of hundred yards from the Axiom. It was a space where I could watch bands make as much noise as they liked without pissing off their neighbours. It was also a place where I could buy a vodka and coke on my 17th birthday, so it had the double thumbs up from me. On the ceiling hung a camouflage net and there certainly wasn’t any security or barriers down the front – just a guy called Dave who had a Mohawk and hobnail boots. I still wear t-shirts in bed of the bands who came through town and played at Branson’s (King Prawn, Capdown, Spine) and I still remember the names of others who, to most people, were just a band at the place where they got drunk (Stubborn Staines, Zen Baseball Bat, Teenage Frames). I remember a ramshackle ska-punk band called Grimace twice travelled all the way from Manchester to play a half-hour support set – later they became Sonic Boom Six and they are still going strong to this day. It seemed like in 2002, hundreds of ‘kids’ were literally bouncing off the walls to [spunge], Skankt and 4ft Fingers on rotation every weekend in Cheltenham. I don’t know why, but at some point in 2002 Branson’s closed and quickly became a crappy themed bar called Springbok. I went to University and Springbok closed as rapidly as it opened. The building just stood there doing nothing until a couple of years ago when it was razed the ground to make way for flats. More flats. I don’t really want Branson’s back (it was falling apart). I don’t even think I want the Axiom back (let’s build something bigger). But it would be nice if Branson’s was remembered somewhere, fondly.
W
ant to contribute? We like listings, reviews, editorial, previews, pictures, art, cartoons and would like to fill these pages with things you care about. We‘d love to hear about anything to do with live music in the county really and can help with anything from promoting you here to getting you reviewed, played on student and local radio, putting you in touch with venues, musicians and artists across the county and just about anything else you can think of! Want to advertise? Put your gig posters in with the MAG for distribution? Ask what our favourite kind of ham is? You can contact Amelia – musicatglos@gmail.com MAG Editor Amelia Scognamiglio | Cover Design Robbie Pert | Listings Contributor Ollie West | Staff Writers Fabio Thomas, Furore-Alice Muir, Tom of 10 Minute Reviews & Dan Gutteridge| Thanks to all the people who contributed to issue TWENTY FIVE of MAG, special thanks (again) goes to Nicky Hughes @ The University of Gloucestershire for organising the funding and production of this work and to Andrew Lansley for continuing to support MAG and everything musical in Gloucestershire| All work remains property of the original owner, used with permission. Reproduction in whole or any part (especially the listings) of this fanzine would be awesome as it’s great to spread the word people, just make sure you credit the fanzine.