Welcome to the 19th year of The Swindon Shuffle, Swindon’s biggest and best showcase of local musical talent.
It is hard to believe that a crazy idea sketched out on the back of a cigarette packet in the Victoria back in 2007 would be on the verge of hitting 20 years (that is going to be a hell of a party next year), but here we go. We get to spend another weekend in the company of some incredible artists, supporting some fantastic venues with you. Sounds perfect to us!
However, this year’s event takes place against a challenging backdrop, not just in terms of UK and world events and politics, but also within the live music industry.
Whilst the big arena and stadium gigs on the whole seem to mostly still be attracting big numbers, smaller, grassroot events are suffering. Promoters across the country are seeing ticket sales become harder and harder to come by, even for previously well supported artists.
This is most certainly the case in Swindon, where the already small original grassroots music scene has further struggled to attract numbers, despite an increasing amount of events being put on at our partner venues across the year.
It is understandable that people are reluctant to spend money when they perceive things to be tough financially, but gig tickets are often no more expensive than a couple of coffees at the booming high street chains that are doing so well, and with an event being usually more than two hours of great entertainment, you get far more or your money than you do from a cup of coffee.
Without support, local gigs will dry up and stop happening. If we are not careful, the festivals and stadium shows in 10 or 15 years’ time are going to
still be headlined by those remaining of the current, already aging crop of superstars or have reverted to just big, radio-friendly manufactured pop acts topping bills. We shudder at the thought.
So, let’s use the Shuffle as a reminder to you that music of this quality goes on all year round in these venues. The grassroots scene needs your support to continue developing the stars of tomorrow.
It is not just as audience members that you can help, either – Swindon has a real shortage of promoters, the people who put musical events together. We were just music nuts once, like you. There is no magic formula to putting local gigs on –we need more people to get involved throughout the year, to increase the variety of music that gets put on. So we also make the call this year to stand up and be counted – if you are interested in trying to get into promotion, come and speak to us, we would love to advise and help you.
In the meantime, enjoy this year’s Swindon Shuffle as we again descend upon The Hop Inn, The Tuppenny, The Victoria, The Castle , The Beehive, and new for this year, The Pulpit, to enjoy the best music around. This year’s event goes ahead as always thanks to our sponsors, and in particular the amazing support of UKRI.
Ed Dyer
*Line up subject to change. Terms and conditions apply - Please see website for full details- Please check if venue is 18+ or not Programme produced by Swindon Link
Shufflin’ for Prospect Hospice
During the Swindon Shuffle this year we will be fundraising for Prospect Hospice.
So if you see us shaking the bucket please give generously as it is such a worthy cause.
On Saturday 13 September, the Prospect Hospice Books and Media Shop on Victoria Road will also be hosting live acts and DJs from midday until 4pm.
Since 1980, Prospect Hospice has provided the only dedicated end-of-life care service for people living across North East Wiltshire including Swindon, Marlborough and Royal Wootton Bassett.
Jeremy Lune, chief executive at Prospect Hospice, said: “The Swindon Shuffle is such a brilliant celebration of community, creativity and local talent - and we’re incredibly proud to be its chosen charity once again. Huge thanks to Jamie, Ed and everyone involved for helping raise vital funds for Prospect Hospice. Every note played and every pound raised helps us continue providing compassionate palliative and end-of-life care to the people of Swindon and North East Wiltshire
“Providing outstanding hospice care isn’t easyand it certainly isn’t cheap. This year, it will cost
“At Prospect Hospice, we believe everyone deserves to live well and die well, with dignity and support. Our care reaches thousands of people across Swindon and beyond, but as a charity, we can only keep doing what we do thanks to the enormous generosity of our community. We’re so grateful to the Swindon Shuffle team and everyone turning up and tuning in this weekendyour support helps keep our care going.” www.prospect-hospice.net
Jeremy Lune, Chief Executive of Prospect Hospice
THE PULPIT
We welcome a new venue not just to The Shuffle but to Swindon. The Pulpit on Devizes road has only been open since late Spring in what was The Little Hop, but is already earning a reputation for cosy vibes, great beer and putting on some choice musical events. Specialising in intimate acoustic vibes, it is becoming a fantastic spot to be swept away by local talent.
THE TUPPENNY
The Tuppenny has become a fixture on every beer-lover’s itinerary with the widest selection of beer in town. But it is not just the amber nectar that you can enjoy behind the hefty stone frontage as there is also an extensive cocktail menu, and plenty of musical action with regular quality DJs and live music most weeks.
THE VICTORIA
The Vic has been the cornerstone of live music in Swindon since the 1990s, and has been involved in the Shuffle nearly every year since the event was conceived within its walls. An impressive roster of local, national and international artists have performed in the venue (including megastars like Ed Sheeran), which is undoubtedly the best set up music space in town and lends itself perfectly to the bigger and louder acts.
THE HOP INN
THE BEEHIVE
The Shuffle’s only ever-present venue, and the soul of the event, The Beehive is something of a legendary spot. One of the oldest pubs in Swindon and known for its quirky multi-level layout, it has always been a supporter of the arts, including local, national and international musical acts, poetry nights, art exhibitions and more. The Shuffle doesn’t get more in-your-face and sweaty than at The Hive!
THE CASTLE
A bustling, friendly community pub at heart, The Castle has also become a strong supporter of music over the years with gigs going on in the fantastic “band room” space most weeks on Thursday through to Saturday. From intimate seated acoustic gigs through to full band rock outs. This space recently had some improvements made to it, so is an even better musical experience awaiting you this year.
EASTCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE
An unusual venue for a music festival perhaps, but for years now this lovely community centre has hosted the Swindon Folk Club’s
PROSPECT BOOKS & MEDIA SHOP
Recently moved up the hill, this treasure trove of books, records, CDs and other media and audio goodies will host a Saturday afternoon of
T H E V E N U E S
The Base Park North Tuesdays 5-30pm – 7.30pm
Eastcott Community Centre
Thursdays 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Badbury Park Community Hub Opening in September Tuesday Evenings VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our youth clubs are a safe, inclusive space for young people to hang out, make friends, develop new skills and have fun!
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
INTERESTED? THEN GET IN TOUCH INTERESTED? THEN GET IN TOUCH youthwork2@southswindon-pc.gov.uk youthwork2@southswindon-pc.gov.uk
THE TUPPENNY
TH U R S D
9.45pm - Interstellar Cat Collective
The Interstellar Cats have arrived to serve up a lip-smacking cocktail of Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Latin, Blues, Afro and so much more besides. They bring together top local musicians with years of experience in a huge variety of styles and genres. Exciting, new, original music is interwoven amongst familiar favourites (with a twist) to create a diverse performance like no other. Above all, the Cats are here to share their love of jamming, spontaneity, curiosity, creativity and most importantly a sense of fun at the heart of everything they do. That, and to lay down the most infectious grooves in town.
9pm
- Shades of Silver
A gang of serious and seasoned jazz musicians, (although not that serious between songs). Delivering a collection of favourites from across eras and ages. Their set takes in deep jazz grooves and blue note flavours, familiar sounds and underground choices.
8.15pm
- Joli Soul
A huge voice that needs to be heard to be believed. Joli has loved music and singing since she was a child. She said: “Fear held me back for a long time - fear rooted in a difficult childhood that made me hide my voice. Over time, I began to find my confidence and have been performing for years. I discovered a deep love for poetry and writing, using words to express the trials and tribulations that is and has been my life.” SEPT 11
7.30pm - Chloe
Hepburn
There is a reason why Chloe is lined up to make her fifth consecutive Shuffle appearance. Moving away from cutting-edge synth-pop and metamorphosing into a slick indie-pop/soul singer, she is a perfect marker of where modern music is at.
10.15pm
THE HOP
- Wild Isles
Wild Isles are a five man alt rock/indie project formed in Swindon in late 2023. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences including Alexisonfire, Lower Than Atlantis, Funeral For A Friend, Oasis, The Maine, Nothing But Thieves, Sleep Token and many more, Wild Isles brings a fresh and energised sound to the genre. Expect big riffs, big hooks, big choruses and an explosive live show to wash it all down.
9.30pm
- Better Heaven
This Wiltshire based four-piece indie rock band have been carefully honing their craft and bubbling under the surface since forming in late 2023. Having spent 2024 taking their atmospheric live show on the road, the band also released two singles (‘Texas’ and ’24’) in the process. With both tracks receiving multiple plays on BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, Better Heaven continue on their journey as a band with a strong start… ‘It’s not an easy task to write an immediate indie-pop song that refuses to leave your head all day, but Better Heaven have done just that with the euphoric 24.’ - Absolute Radio
8.45pm
- Sober Sundays
8pm - Sebastian & Me
7.15pm
- Aqaba
Formed in 2021 the Bathbased five piece began making a name for themselves through their energetic and chaotic live performances. It’s lyric-driven songwriting, focused on past experiences and feelings as adolescents. Sober Sundays create a jangly soundscape on which the frontman, Finn Hustler, can say his piece, with the full force and backing of the band.
Expect a new take on the old indie sound. Expect a unique sound for a whole new audience. Expect things to be different but occasionally the same. Expect the perfect sonic collision of the fresh and the familiar. But more than anything else, expect to have a damned good time. That’s Sebastian & Me.
T H U R S D A Y
Aqaba is a four-piece, rock/indie/space band based near Bath, with musical style influences including The National, Death Cab for Cutie, Peter Gabriel and Frightened Rabbit. They absolutely wowed this year’s Swinterfest and they will be making a welcome return to Swindon to open this year’s Shuffle. ‘Very melodic - lots of harmonies. Quite thoughtful songs in their construction and how they’re delivered. A flavour of Talk Talk.’
(Phil Moakes - Visual Radio Arts)
SEPT 12
THE HOP
SWINDON FOLK CLUB CURATED EVE
Doors 7.45 pm for 8pm startEvent will include Swindon Community Choir, open floor spots and a raffle
10.10pm
R I D A Y
- Half of One
Geoff Roberts (fiddle) and Neil Mercer (guitar) have played together in folk band Sgo and dance band Cowshed Ceilidh Collective for many years, as well as spending many beer-fueled hours musically sparring at folk sessions.
9pm
- Feast of Fools
Feast of Fools are an a capella folk quartet with a range of traditional and modern folk songs that weave a rich tapestry of social perspectives and emotions. They hail from Wiltshire, Bristol, and Stroud. Expect songs from across the centuries as they dig deep into the past, all carried off with a modern folk touch.
8.15pm
- Chris Turpin
Not to be confused with his probable ancestor Dick, Chris Turpin is a regular attendee at the Swindon Folk Club. Unlike the highwayman from yesteryear though, the only holding up Chris will do will be of the musical variety when his folky talent is bound to stop you in your tracks.
10.45pm
- PET NEEDS
10pm
THE VIC
Founded by brothers Johnny and George Marriott, PET NEEDS have been sky-rocketing ever since the release of their debut ‘Fractured Party Music’ back in 2021. From getting signed to Xtra Mile Recordings, to sold out shows, rave reviews to rabid fans, and embarking on extensive global tours, demand for these four lads from Essex has been on a trajectory with the stratosphere. The band released their third studio album, ‘Intermittent Fast Living’, in February 2024 which entered the Official Album Chart at Number 17.
- Viduals
Alt-rock with a pop heart? Maybe. Pop songs with plenty of muscle? Perhaps. The soundtrack to a great night out? Most definitely. Viduals tale the power and poignancy of alternative rock and then bend those threads into more pop-aware forms. The result is the best of both worlds, accessible and infectious songs built with authenticity and integrity, rock music without the additional baggage and cliche. Why has no one thought of this before?
8.30pm
9.15pm
- Not Warriors
7.45pm
Sitting somewhere between straight out punk and alt-rock music’s darker recesses. AnyMinuteNo deliver a sound which both kicks arse and cuts the mustard and then some. This is a band who can certainly get in your face, but the difference is that they get in your brain too. AnyMinuteNo perfectly blend the art of having something important to say, something beyond rabble-rousing and rhetoric, with fist-in-the-air excitement and...socially observant, politically questioning blends of muscle and melody. SEPT 12
A primarily pop punk band that can delve into other influences, Not Warriors are a band formed in Swindon in 2024. With intense riffs and memorable choruses, this band will get you moving!
- Wilswood Buoys
Wilswood Buoys, a young, new, and exciting trio from Mersea Island in Essex, are currently making a name for themselves in the UK underground scene. They mix traditional folk with modern alternative acoustic pop, resulting in a raw, fresh, familiar, and accessible sound with barnstorming singalongs. They have recently completed their first UK tour with Frank Turner and also supported The Levellers and Newton Faulkner.
- AnyMinuteNo
F R I D A Y
Picture by Vanessa Sollner
R I D A Y
THE CASTLE
9.30pm
- Black Hats
10.15pm - SN Dubstation
Swindon’s very own SN Dubstation gained a wide reputation as top entertainers and are no strangers to festival stages. They headlined The Shuffle in 2015, 2016 and 2018, and a large number of UK festivals across the country, culminating in a performance at Boomtown Fair. SN Dubstation are a Reggae and Ska band. Providing melodic horns, fatty basslines and mentalist performances. If you’re a fan of reggae, dub, ska, or just great vibes, then this now seven-piece party machine is guaranteed to get you on your feet.
It is another welcome return for Black Hats, a band constructed round solid grooves from a rhythm section built on deft reggaeinfused bass lines and skittering beats, and razor wire guitars with an anxious, new wave energy and a sharp and a melodic punk edge that also served the likes of The Jam so well.
8.45pm
- Static Moves
Having made a name for themselves over the last two and a half years as one of the most engaging party bands on the local circuit, Static Moves have evolved in a new direction, writing and performing original material. With influences such as The Jam/Paul Weller, Shed Seven, Ocean Colour Scene, Oasis and Green Day, they produce a captivating mixture of modern indie rock music delivered with energy and purpose.
8pm
- Loophole
Loophole are a band of 15-16 year olds, who have been together for four years. They started out doing covers but are now incorporating writing and performing their own songs. Members include: Harry Duffy and Will Fletcher, guitarists, Louis Flanders on drums, Bron Mann on bass and lead singer Romey Smogur. The band explores different styles of music and are working on developing their own style.
11-15 Wood Street, Old Town, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 4AN
If you are looking for cool, intimate hip-hop for the contemporary world, look no further than Ellis Evason. Blending everything from old-school soul to jazz to smart lyricism, Evason is nothing if not adventurous and since the release of his second studio album “SINS OF THE FATHER”, he has been working on new collaborative projects with wildly different sounds to his previous records. He remains one of the most constantly evolving and undeniably interesting acts around.
5.45pm
- Weather
Hailing from Swindon, Weather has been crafting heartfelt tunes and captivating melodies since the age of 13. Blending the raw energy of indie rock with the warmth of soulful pop and the catchy rhythms of pop, Weather’s music is a journey of passion and authenticity. Discover a unique sound that resonates deeply with fans of genuine, genre-bending music.
4.15pm
- Grasslands
5pm - Emma Doupé
Emma is a powerhouse vocalist who has been making waves in the Swindon Music Scene with her original musical styling for several years. She is a solo performer who accompanies herself on a range of less standard instruments, such as the autoharp. Combining these sounds with live looping, she creates soundscapes that move listeners and take them to new sonic places.
A heady fusion of alternative rock, electronica, found sounds and folk pollinated with information about meadows, grasses and the environment, Grasslands has been a regular and weirder part of the Swindon gig circuit since 2016. Forged from gentle folktronica blends, ambient soundscapes, experimental improvisation, with wildlife-themed between-song lectures and raves. Also featuring toy animals and fluffy wolf hats, unpredictability is a key part of the Grasslands performance.
3.30pm
- Kate X
An independent pop artist from Swindon inspired by the likes of Mimi Webb,
2.45pm - Act TBC
Check website for updates 2pm - Act TBC
Check website for updates
5.30pm
THE PULPIT
- Jol Rose
Depending on his mood, you might encounter a serious, Americanainfused troubadour or an upbeat, singalong cheerleader, but whichever sonic persona you get, you are in for a treat. You may get a bit of both. Come for the discerning dustbowl diatribes; stay for the danceable ditties. It’s all good.
4.45pm
- Shedric
Shedric has been a familiar face on the scene for longer than he might wish to admit, either playing in bands or wielding a guitar in solo mode. Drawing on folk forms and bluesy salvos, he makes effortlessly connective music, which gets into the system via osmosis, bypassing the head, perhaps even the heart and heading straight for the soul. Always entertaining, always exemplary, it’s blues and folk music for people who didn’t even realise they liked blues and folk music.
2.30pm
3.15pm
4pm
- David Corrigan
These days, David is a reasonably reclusive singer/songwriter who has been most recently found fronting local biscuit-loving troubadours, The Astral Ponies. Armed with a faithful, if slightly battered, acoustic guitar, you can expect stripped-down versions of some Pony classics, the usual countrytinged laments, and dusty old folk. Rumours abound that he might even throw in some new material.
- Harmony Asia
More than just a girl with a guitar, Harmony Asia uses music to communicate her deepest feelings and most powerful ideas directly to the audience. Open, honest and authentic, her lyrics are more like an intimate conversation with a good friend than a public performance. For all their personal and heartfelt nature, the ideas she presents us with are thoroughly relatable. Musically, her music sits between chilled acoustica, indie folk and understated soul, and it is a blend of wit and wisdom, charm and insightfulness that belies her young age.
- Jim Blair
Although he can be found in full flow leading the groove machine JB and the Mojo Makers or writing his pretty mad Ink column, Jim Blair in solo singing mode is equally as fun. With a voice like he’s swallowed a packet of razor blades and a guitar style that sounds like sonic honey (or is that the other way around), Jim sings songs about the things important to him - friends, family, love and whiskey. Authentic blues for modern times, something summed up by the fact that he plays barefoot since he can’t afford shoes because he has 17 children. And they say that there is money to be made as a musician. Pah!
S A T U R D A Y
THE HOP
S9.15pm
- The Crystal Wolf Project
10pm - Truck
Truck combines the sounds of indie rock, country, and no slight touch of emo to deliver a fresh take on the genres they grew up listening to. Imagine Wheatus if they were British. Better still, think of Dodgy, minus the Brit-pop associations. The same musical balance of infectiousness and well-wrought songs, the same array of light and shade, the same fine line walked between youthful drive and melodic maturity.
The Crystal wolf project is an alternative electronic music trio from Swindon, comprising of Marco Alves, Emma Doupé and Neil Willis. Blending pulsating EDM rhythms with live guitar and emotive vocals, the band thrives on creating immersive, high-energy experiences.
7.45pm
- Nostromo
8.30pm
Wilderness States
Wilderness States is a five-piece atmospheric alt-rock band hailing from Oxfordshire, known for their rich soundscapes and energetic performances. Dubbed “stadium indie” by local music publications, the band’s sound is best described as a fusion of alt-rock and post-rock, driven by intricate rhythms, powerful and soaring vocals, and a balance of intensity and beauty.
It speaks volumes about a band’s smarts that they would name themselves after, arguably, Joseph Conrad’s greatest novel (or possibly the most famous deep space commercial towing vessel in movie history). But what says more about this infectious indie band is that they are going from strength to strength on the live circuit based on the strength of their hook-laden songs and incendiary delivery. If you are looking for short, sharp, shockingly great, heads-down, no-nonsense, groovesome indie music, this is the band for you.
7pm - Between The Lines
Between The Lines are Isobel Holt, frontwoman and bassist, George King on the guitar and both Ethan Jobling and Louis Morant interchanging guitar and drums (to make things difficult for both the sound guys and the rest of the band!) BTL deliver their own unique sound - playing a handful of well known covers, originals and slightly niche songs. Every gig is different but what stays the same is the quality of a young, talented, ever evolving band.
10.15pm
THE BEEHIVE
- True Strays
The lifelong friends and Americana, roots rock n roll duo from Bristol love modern and retro sounds. Their songs focus on the dirt that life throws at you and how struggle can be transformed into something better. The prolific songwriting duo draw influences from classic sounds such as Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Fleetwood Mac and modern retro inspired acts like Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr and the Black Keys.
9.30pm
- Concrete Prairie
The five-piece ensemble blurs the genres of folk, country, Americana, indie, and blues to create a heartwarming and harmonious sound. The compositions often tackle heavy and topical themes, but the songs are “shot through with silver linings”, with a spirited and rousing sound orchestrated with twanging guitars, straining fiddle and yearning prose.
8pm - Dulcet Tones
8.45pm
- Hannah Rose Platt
Bristol’s Hannah Rose Platt is a singer-songwriter with a wild imagination, a wicked way with words, and an undeniable ear for melody. Hannah has become known for her captivating live shows, often conceptual and immersive in nature. She has toured alongside notable acts such as Frank Turner, Ed Harcourt, and Chuck Ragan, earning a reputation for her magnetic stage presence.
A group of old friends from the West Country, veterans of various scenes, decided to write some songs in celebration of the music that brought them together in the first place. Dulcet Tones sing about friendship and love, pain and grief, and what it means to be (still!) under the spell of rock ‘n’roll after all these years…
7.15pm
- Frank Lloyd Wleft & his Orchestra
London-based artist Frank Lloyd Wleft produces music that blends influences of country, punk, jangle rock and beat poetry, with lyrics
S A T U R D A Y
Sept 13
10.15pm
THE CASTLE
- Modern Evils
Blending modern alt-rock with the timeless sleaze of garage rock, Modern Evils remind us that the form never changes too much, but doing so just enough to customise that sound for a new generation is all it takes. It is not only what Modern Evils do well but what they do better than most. With a weave of rumbling bass and battering beats, spiralling and seismic guitars and vocals that take your head clean off, Modern Evils blend rock and roll past with alt-rock present to make tomorrow’s music.
9.30pm
- Lucky Number Seven
Any band that sounds like it invented alternative rock in a disused parking lot in Detroit in 1968 during riot season will be a band that you will want to check out. Depending on your record collection, they sound like the angriest modern alt-rockers, the gnarliest nu-metal band of the nineties or the most sonically subversive 60’s garage band ever. It’s like a history lesson in all the best, wrong-side-of-the -tracks music ever made.
8pm
8.45pm
- Death is a Girl
Fusing rock, funk, blues and a pinch of jazz, Death Is A Girl are a big blend of musical spices that have cooked up nicely to make Groove Rock! Heavy enough to mosh to, but groovy enough to dance to, the choice is yours. Death Is A Girl are racking up the miles playing live, combining the groove influences of Prince and Rick James, with a dash of Deftones and the rocking musical vibes of Jeff Buckley, QOTSA and sprinklings of Mars Volta.
- Hartstroke
Four guys whose passion is to put their personal experiences to the fretboard & get across a message of hope in the bleakest of times. A volatile mixture of heartbreak & lifelong conflicts have fuelled them to share their pain so the audience can take solace in knowing they are not alone. Helping to validate the grief people are living through, or giving them energetic fun shows to escape & prove that it doesn’t have to consume us.
7.15pm - The Real Cheesemakers
Billed as the West Country’s premiere nonsense group, The Real Cheesemakers are a band that you won’t want to miss. And if that opening line conjures thoughts of bands like The Wurzels, that isn’t a bad place to start. For fans of songs about cheese, trousers, cheese, unicorns, cheese, roundabouts, cheese, weasels, and...did I mention cheese?
Sept 14
S U N D A Y
THE PULPIT THE TUPPENNY
3.45pm
- M3G
3.15pm
Folk music, like all genres, has to move with the times. M3G is the sound of that process in action. Taking a core of acoustic folk traditions, she cocoons this timeless sound with all manner of tones and textures to bring things bang up to date. She adds her captivating, ethereal vocals to create a sound that walks a fine line between folk grace, indie cool and dream-pop poise.
3pm - Mexican Dave
Mexican Dave is a rising folk-punk artist based in Bristol. He has recently shared the stage with notable acts such as Nick Parker, Imprints, Henshaw, and Fraser Morgan, captivating audiences with his raw, heartfelt songs about mental health, wild nights out, and the ups and downs of navigating life.
2.15pm
- Richard Wileman & Amy Fry
Richard Wileman is a prolific Swindon composer/ songwriter and the man behind the copious and brilliant Karda Estra albums. Here he is joined by his regular musical sparring partner, Amy Fry, on vocals, clarinet & saxophone.
2.30pm
- Louise Aust
Louise is a 22 year old singer/ songwriter from Swindon. She is heavily inspired by the indiefolk singer/songwriters Phoebe Bridgers, Charlie Hickey, Leith Ross and Lizzy McAlpine. Louise likes to take traditional acoustic folk guitar and mix this with a more autotuned and distorted vocal to create a mix of folk-pop that puts heartfelt, vulnerable lyrics at its centre.
- JP Oldfield
JP Oldfield embodies the spirit of a traveling juke joint throw out from a bygone era, offering a distinctive blend of melancholic deep south blues with a touch of vaudeville satire. His performances are marked by a deep baritone voice and a commanding stage presence.
1.30pm
- Paul Cann
1.45pm
- Sienna Wileman
Having released her debut song three years ago, at only 14 (she started writing songs at age ten), Sienna is obviously at the start of a long and interesting musical trajectory. But already, she is standing out from the singer-songwriter pack via some wonderfully dark pop songs, poetic lyricism, and clever arrangements. She is definitely one to watch.
After playing in a few bands at school, Paul Cann went on to study classical guitar and music theory but his biggest love is jazz. He composes every track, plays guitar, bass and piano and is definitely a voice you want to hear.
1pm
- Plummie
Plummie Racket is a South West singer/songwriter who has been playing around for the last 15 years. Having shared stages with some of the best indie musicians over the years, his songs are full of tales of chaotic nights out that have transformed into a smoother soulful delivery in his later years. Expect a chilled atmosphere of original music.
8.15pm
THE BEEHIVE
- A Tribute to Black Sheep Apprentice
The climax of this year’s Shuffle is a tribute to Richard Skidmore, one of The Shuffle’s biggest supporters and the lead singer of the legendary Black Sheep Apprentice. Richard died earlier this year so expect this show to feature some of the best musicians from the local scene, joining the rest of the band to honour his memory. Like his life, this gig will be a force of nature that gets everyone smiling.
7.30pm
6.45pm
- Joe Kelly and The Royal Pharmacy
Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy return to Swindon after an awesome set at Swinterfest. Their new record Cast Me Down is the unruly twin to their acclaimed debut World On Fire. Written and recorded in parallel, this second album dives deeper into experimental territory - melding indie Americana with sixties psych-pop, West Coast soul, and echoes of Arctic Monkeys, Unkle, and The Raconteurs.
- The Shudders
Shuffle stalwarts The Shudders return for another set of rousing indie meets Americana meets alt-folk. Expect everything from poetic lyricism to rousing singalong stomps, delicate rootsy grace to fist-in-the-air, beer-spilling anthems, deft guitars and daft interband interludes. What would the Shuffle be without The Shudders? Please don’t answer that; I was being rhetorical.
6pm
- Canute’s Plastic Army
This seasoned, mainly acoustic duo brings together the soaring, passionate vocals of Anish Harrison and the intricate and dynamic guitar playing of Neil Mercer. Songs range from dark, almost gothic-tinged folk to more bluesy, pop-roots tunes, taking in sparsely picked guitars and looped effects, anthemic vocals and whispered voices.
5.15pm
- B-Sydes
Modern and authentic punktinged, folk-infused acoustica delivered with power, personality, and purpose. Ben Sydes (yes, it’s
4.30pm
- TriAmi
TriAmi are a trio from the South West bringing melancholic harmonies and super awkward stage
S U N D A Y
Fringe Events
Weds Sept 10 - The Shuffle Quiz
7.30pm @ The Beehive, Prospect Place
£2 per person (max 6 in a team)
Usually the traditional opener to The Shuffle this quiz is run by committee members Ed and Paj - so expect more beards than a ZZ Top convention. Team registration is from 7.30pm, with the quizzing from 8pm. All entry fees go to Prospect Hospice.
Prospect Hospice Book and Music Shop, Victoria Road
Vinyl Prospecting midday to 4pm Bring Your Own Vinyl - Shuffle style! Scour Prospect’s racks on the day for 3-5 tracks to play. Equipment provided and no DJ experience needed. Sign up @ MagicRoundaboutRecords (FB/ IG) or drop in on the day.
Shuffle Community Ceilidh with Cowshed Ceilidh Collective
Saturday 13 Sept, 7pm to 10pm @ Eastcott Community Centre
For a night of fantastic music and dancing, you can’t beat a good oldfashioned ceilidh and The Community Ceilidh returns again this year as part of the Swindon Shuffle. Run by Swindon Folk Club with the Cowshed Ceilidh Collective once again providing music, direction and merriment, you can be certain to have a memorable evening of fun! Tickets are free but the venue has a limited capacity so you must book your tickets online in advance
Skiddy 1971 - 2025
This year’s Swindon Shuffle is tinged with sadness after we lost a local legend and dear friend Richard ‘Skiddy’ Skidmore earlier this year.
As well as being a friend of The Shuffle, Skiddy was a stalwart of the Swindon music scene, playing in a whole host of bands including Jacksauce, Street Outlaws and his own band Black Sheep Apprentice. Skiddy always lived his life with no compromise, and his passion for motorbikes, fishing and, above all,
Hop The Tuppenny
Victoria The Hop
Swindon Folk Club Stage Doors 7.45 pm for 8pm start - event will include Swindon Community Choir, open floor spots and a raffle 20:15 Chris Turpin 21:00 Feast of Fools 22:10 Half Of One
FINDER
UK Research and Innovation is delighted to sponsor The Shuffle
