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...

Supergrass - Still Alright!

Music at the ‘Mender

One 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 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

You, Moron if you miss The Lovely Eggs!

The Liquid Engineers will be playing tribute to Gary Numan at The Black Prince (April 2).

The date is a co-promotion between SBD and Spiral Archive, and Numan fans will definitely get their fill; Pat Martin’s band will be delving deep to bring you music charting the synth-pop ace from 1978 all the way through to 2021.

All the hits will air, alongside some brilliant album tracks. A full light show will accompany the gig, and you’ll want to make it along nice and early to catch ‘fampton finery The Venus Fly Trap opening the show with their ‘Bladerunner sci-fi rock ‘n’ roll mixed with acidic cinematic visions.’

Nirvana UK make their Northampton debut at the venue (April 9). If you were too young the first time round, or if you just want to soak in some of the seminal sounds that shaped a generation, this is the show for you.

Nirvana UK promises to take from the whole of Cobain’s live and studio catalogue. Southampton’s melodic punkers SLACKRR have bagged the support slot.

Fury co-headline on April 16

When the curtain comes down on the show, the Come As You Are DJs will keep the decks warm and the tunes flowing through to 3am.

A late addition to this month’s gig list is Sarpa Salpa (April 8), who are fresh back and still buzzing from a trip to Texas to play SXSW.

Rolling Thunder and Stereo Ghosts will join them.

At a time when people’s attention is turning towards Easter eggs, musos in the know will be tipping their ears towards The Lovely Eggs (April 14).

Six albums into a career that has seen them work with Grammy award winning knob twiddler Dave Fridmann (who has also kept studio company with Mogwai, Tame Impala and Flaming Lips) and Gruff Rhys, they are still fiercely independent – with no management, no booking agent, no record label and no publisher. And yet they still get the job done. Makes you wonder what half the ‘music industry’ is really up to, doesn’t it?!

But more than that – they managed to snag the Godfather of Punk, Mr Iggy Pop for their gloriously edgy and equally catchy I, Moron single.

Innovative and in your face, The Lovely Eggs are a wee bit special, and this show will be just the same.

Support is coming from The Bug Club and funnyman Rob Auten.

Metal mobs Fury and Dakesis have recently dropped new albums, and the Brummie

The Lovely Eggs (above) play The Black Prince on April 14 and Nirvana UK (below) appear on April 9 players have teamed up for a UK co-headline tour to let the riffs loose (April 16). Local alt-rockers Until Then are also on the bill and Haydees, from Milton Keynes, will open proceedings. We’ve written about them fairly recently, and we’ve got to give you a reminder that town players Big Loss will be at The Black Prince on April 22. With twin vocals, assured performances, matured songwriting, tales of general anxiety about the world at large, twinkling guitars and a solid rhythm section they should have something for nearly all of us in these difficult times. The band issued the EP Three Knots in the latter part of last year. Support comes from Blood-Visions and Katie Malco. Check in at sbdpromotions.com

GET IN A SPIN WITH RSD

Record Store Day 2022 is on Saturday, April 23, and Northampton music fans are in safe hands with Spun Out and Vinyl Underground both partaking in the annual celebration of vinyl.

It’s the 15th year this celebration of the round things has been held and big releases this time around include more from Bowie, Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, Prince and Blondie.

Spunout will be opening their doors at 8am and have their excellent mix of DJs and bands lined-up to tickle your ears while you peruse the racks of special releases.

Vinyl Underground will also open up at 8am before dashing across to The Black Prince which is also getting in on the act with a Record Fair, because we can never have too much vinyl!

This year, the fair is running from the slightly earlier time of 10.30am – so as soon as you’ve got your mitts on your most desired releases at your chosen RSD outlet, you can hot-foot it to the pub for more flicking through the racks, and a hearty breakfast of... a pint or two. After all, these special vinyl days are thirsty work!

DJs will be playing for you all day long and entry is free.

And lastly, but by no means least, Spiral Archive Records will be holding a half price record sale. There will also be a Record Fair at Lamplighter between midday and 4pm.