MUSIC
Sate your musical appetite by taking in a gig or three in town this month – there’s a tasty array of artists heading our way, not to mention the return of Record Store Day. Sammy Jones has the details...
Music at the ‘Mender Supergrass - Still Alright!
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ne of the most innovative, feel-good acts to come out of the musically fertile ‘90s were Oxford-ites Supergrass, and the Gaz Coombes fronted quartet will be making everyone feel Alright at The Roadmender on Saturday, April 2. Now we would remind you of their blinding chart-bothering moments like Going Out, Richard III, Pumping on your Stereo and Moving, but that’ll just upset you if you’re not already in receipt of a ticket – it sold out in super quick time. Obviously. The inimitable Wilko Johnson (April 9) is promising to deliver material from across the years at his show, and he will naturally dig into the current offering, Blow Your Mind – his first elpee release of new material in three decades. We have to give special mention to his band too; one a Blockhead, the other a former Blockhead; bassist Norman Watt Roy and drummer Dylan Howe. If you are seeking musicianship to marvel at, you’ve come to the right place, and Norman’s prowess on the bass is simply unparalleled. For a man who perished when he was shoved off a cliff, Barry Evans isn’t doing so badly; his Barrioke (April 15) bashes are becoming quite the rave with music fans and Eastenders lovers keen to grab tickets for these events. Shaun Williamson will play a set of the ‘hottest hits on the planet’, and if you are game, you’ll be able to join him at the mic too. If you fancy putting your hat in the ring for that, get along nice and early and sign up. The Alarm are celebrating 40 years in the music industry, and they stop off in Northampton on April 16. To mark the anniversary, frontman Mike Peters has created a new Red Poppy t-shirt, which brings together 400 song titles and significant 48
lyrics that have evolved during his time as the band’s principal songwriter. “This is the year of the Red Poppy” Mike said, “Forty years ago the original symbol appeared on the Marching On single sleeve and has been with us in one shape or another, ever since. For 2022, I wanted to create a fresh image with the classic look... I literally spent hours filling the iconic original shape with the words from all the song titles associated with The Alarm. “It was a real labour of love, and I thought it was a special way to commemorate and bring together these two most significant 40th Anniversary events – the birth of the band and the symbol that has come to define our community – the Red Poppy.” In the 80s, Hue and Cry gave us timeless hits like Looking For Linda and Labour of Love, and in 2022 the appetite to hear them played live is still thriving, and so are the brothers responsible for delivering them.
Pat and Greg come to the Roadmender on April 22 with just piano and vocals to do the talking, simply because they don’t need anything else to make them sound great. Last up, Andy C (April 30) tops the bill at a mighty drum & bass event to celebrate 17 years of Random Concept. Andy will be let loose with a two-hour set, which promises to show you just why he is called ‘the executioner’! Grab some giveaways, be floored by the state of the art lighting and lasers, see if you can match the movements of the professional dancers, and go home with confetti in your hair. And it’s happening on a Bank Holiday weekend too, so you can go that little bit harder (and later) on the dancefloor. > For all tickets and info click to theroadmender.com
GEORDIES LEAVE WONDERLAND FOR ROADMENDER RETURN The Roadmender has also announced dates for UK Foo Fighters (June 11), Newton Faulkner who brings his Feels Like Home tour to town on September 29, Glaswegian rockers King King (October 16) and Geordie livewires The Wildhearts (November 11), following their date at the venue late last year. Lastly, Sweet will deliver a Blockbuster of a night out when they appear as part of their ‘Blitz of Hits’ (December 9).
The Wildhearts set to appear at The Roadmender in November
April 2022 | NN Pulse Magazine | 22,000 Copies delivered every month door to door across Northamptonshire
