THE DEADBEAT APOSTLES

17 Pages·2017·7.56 MB·English

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Free every
NIGHTSHIFT
month
Issue 274
May
Oxford’s Music Magazine
2018
“If you are seeking,
then Oxford is an
inspirational place,
conducive to
contemplative
thought”
Oxford’s hip hop collective on
collaboration, philosophy & battle raps
Also in this issue:
Introducing WANDERING WIRES
COMMON PEOPLE previewed
plus
All your Oxford music news, releases and
reviews and seven pages of gig listings for May
NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: [phone]
N E W S
Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU
Phone: [phone]
email: [email protected]
Online: nightshiftmag.co.uk
summer. Soul, r’n’b and country
rock outfit Deadbeat Apostles, who
release their debut album, `Day
of the Deadbeats’ this month, as
well as playing Common People at
the end of May, and reggae faves
Zaia, join Ran Kan Kan; Audacity
BAS JAN, BELLATRIX AND ALABASTER DEPLUME are among
Live; Papa Nui; Heavy Dexters and
the acts confirmed for this year’s Irregular Folks Summer Session.
Flights of Helios at the inaugural
The annual celebration of some of the best leftfield and experimental
MSRY release a new EP in July. family festival in Florence Park on
`Safety First’ is released on the 6th Saturday 16th June. music from around the world as well as locally, takes place over the
weekend of the 7th-8th July at The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD),
July and is the follow-up to the Glofest is the first ticketed live
situated at the top of South Park.
band’s self-titled debut which was music event in the park and
For the first time Irregular Folks are hosting their Summer Session over
a Nightshift Demo of the Month follows the annual Flofest daytime
two days with the Sunday a day of films and shorts in conjunction with
last year. family festival in the park that day.
The UPP.
The local hardcore trio will play Flofest, which is free, has taken
Saturday is music day, with Serafina Steer’s psychedelic electro-folk-
the Uncommon Stage at Common place in Florence Park since 2013.
pop outfit Bas Jan making their Oxford debut, as is cosmic wyrd-pop,
People in South Park on Sunday Flofest runs from 11am-5pm with
27th May. They then support Carcer Glofest starting at 6.30pm and jazz, blues and soul experimenter and champion beatboxer Bellatrix.
Manchester’s Alabaster dePlume has received widespread acclaim for
City at the O2 Academy on the running til 10.30pm. Tickets for
1st June before heading off on an Glofest are on sale now, priced his inventive approach to jazz. They are joined by former Stornoway
multi-instrumentalist Jon Ouin, making his solo live debut, and Zahra
eight-date co-headline tour of the £5, with under-12s going free.
Tehrani’s experimental electronica and hip hop project Despicable Zee,
UK with MTXS. Money raised will go back into
with Alice Haughton, Sephine Llo and one more act to be announced
Talking about the new EP MSRY local community projects as well
completing the line-up.
singer Kial Churcher said, “Safety as helping make Flofest more
Additionally there will be oddball talks in the Odditorium, hosted by
First is about being told that sustainable in future years. More
David Bramwell, while absurdist comedy genius Paul Foot returns once
no matter how much you love details at www.flofest.uk
again to compère the show.
something or how much it means
Talking to Nightshift about this year’s event, which has been funded by
to you that it’ll all be for nothing in LITTLE RED release their
The Arts Council and the PRS Foundation Open Fund, organiser Vez
the end. It’s the foreboding sound new album at the end of May.
Hoper said, “I honestly keep pinching myself each day that it’s true – and,
of hearing people dismiss you `Draw Blood’ will be out online
wow, that patch is starting to hurt! Irregular Folks has always been about
for wanting to be more than you at the end of May on All Will
bringing a super high level of unique creativity to people at an affordable
actually are and facing the face of Be Well Records and released in
price so people can try out something new. Having this funding means
failure with a smug grin, knowing physical form early June, available
that we not only get to keep this event true to the values of creativity over
you’ll come out better in the end from Truck Store and all online
commercial gain, and improving it year on year, it’s also a big juicy piece
despite what anyone thinks.” platforms. The Oxford/Reading
of recognition from two exceptionally highly regarded organisations, The
More info at facebook.com/ dark-folk trio headline The Jericho
Arts Council and PRS Foundation.”
MSRYBand Tavern on Friday 25th May with
Irregular Folks’ Summer Sessions is open to over-16s. Tickets are on sale
a full band show. Support comes
now from Truck Store and Wegottickets.com. Earlybird tickets are £15;
DEADBEAT APOSTLES AND from The Ed Lofstedt Assembly,
advance tickets £20 and £30 on the door. Sunday’s cinema day is free to
ZIA are the among latest acts to be Rosie Caldecott and Ephebe.
Saturday ticketholders. Visit www.irregularfolks.co.uk for more details.
added to the line-up of Glofest this Visit www.littleredband.co.uk.
LITTLE BROTHER ELI
GAZ COOMBES plays an acoustic release a new single at the end of
show at Truck Store this month. Gaz the month. `Our Kind of Love’
plays the local indie record shop on is released online on the 18th
Cowley Road on Saturday 5th May May to coincide with the band’s
at 6pm to launch his third solo album, appearance at The Great Escape
`World’s Strongest Man’. The gig Festival in Brighton. It will be the
is part of a series of instore shows band’s second single release of
around the UK which precedes a full 2018, following on from `Tooth’
national tour as well as his set at Truck in January, which saw the band
Festival in July. take a more electronic sound. Hear
Priority tickets will be given to anyone it when it’s cooked and ready at
pre-ordering the new album from soundcloud.com/littlebrothereli.
Truck.
Meanwhile, Coombes is streaming the KELLY LEE OWENS will
second song from `World’s Strongest headline We Are Your Friends
Man’, `Walk the Walk’ . More tour #3 in September. The Welsh
dates at www.gazcoombes.com electronic music star, whose self-
N E W S
THE VERY BEST LIVE
MUSIC ON YOUR DOORSTEP
titled debut album was voted Bookshop Band; Jay Sunaway;
Pitchfork’s Number 3 electronica Sinfonia Gaia; Owl Light Trio, and
album of 2017 and was remixed Xogara. More names are set to be
by Bjork and St Vincent, comes added along with late night DJs
to the Bullingdon on Sunday and ceilidhs. As well as live music
MAY AUGUST
2nd September as part of the there will be workshops, talks,
annual fundraising event for the films, poetry, yoga and more.
THE WATERBOYS Sun 6 YOU WIN AGAIN – Fri 31
Michael Barry Fund, part of the The cycle-powered, volunteer-run
CELEBRATING THE MUSIC
Brain Tumour Charity, in memory festival encourages fans to arrive BEAUTIFUL – Tue 8 – Sat 12 OF THE BEE GEES
of local musician and promoter by bike or public transport, with THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
Michael Barry who died in 2016. an emphasis on environmental
THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Thu 17
In March local post-rock legends responsibility. Early bird tickets SEPTEMBER
Youthmovies reformed for two are on sale now, priced £70 for BOOT LED ZEPPELIN Sun 20
shows in his memory, raising over adults, £35 for under-18s and ISLANDS IN THE STREAM Fri 7
£6000 from their Bullingdon gigs under-12s going free. Get yours at THE SHIRES Thu 24 BOOT LED ZEPPELIN
CHAD VALLEY will headline this year’s If Not Now, When? FASTLOVE - A TRIBUTE TO Sat 8 Sun 20 May
for the fund. tandemcollective.org. 9 TO 5 - THE MUSICAL Tue 29 – GEORGE MICHAEL
Tickets for the September Festival. The 80s-inspired electro-pop outfit, helmed by Hugo Manuel, Sat 2 June
show are on sale now from SEBASTIAN REYNOLDS top the bill at the second one-day mini-festival which takes place MONEY FOR NOTHING Fri 14
on Saturday 15th September across three rooms at East Oxford
Wegotttickets.com. launches his `Mahajanaka’ EP ALEXANDRA BURKE Sat 15
this month. The local composer Community Centre and Fusion Arts off Cowley Road. JUNE
PERHAPS CONTRAPTION are and promoter is releasing the Among the other acts confirmed for the DIY/indie event are: WHITNEY - QUEEN OF Tue 25
Despicable Zee; Night Flowers; Cousin Kula; Lucy Leave; Gender DAVID BYRNE – Thu 14 THE NIGHT
among a host of acts confirmed for Thai-inspired EP to celebrate
AMERICAN UTOPIA TOUR
Roles; Robert Sotelo; Cassels; No Violet, and Breakfast Muff. More
this year’s Tandem Festival. They the preview live performance THE SIMON AND Wed 26
join headliners Tantz at Home of Mahajanaka Dance Drama, acts are set to be announced over the summer. LES MUSICALS Sun 17 GARFUNKEL STORY
Tickets for INN,W?, which is sponsored by Glasshouse Studios, are on
Farm in Oxford over the weekend a project in conjunction with
of the 22nd-24th June. Other acts dance company Neon Dance sale now, priced £20 (£15 for under-18s). More info at facebook.com/ TINR ACVOINSC -E TRHTE MAN WHO Tue 26 JOAN ARMATRADING Fri 28 TRAVIS - THE MAN WHO IN CONCERT
announced for the eco-friendly and choreographer Pichet ifnotnowhenoxford. SOME GUYS HAVE ALL Sun 30 Tue 26 Jun
folk and world music event include Klunchun, fusing traditional THE LUCK - THE ROD
JULY STEWART STORY
Peter & Kerry; Paddy Steer; Iyatra and contemporary Thai musical
and music, telling the story UPCYCLED SOUNDS launch
Quartet; Bamako Overground; traditions with Western dance
of Mahajanaka, from Jakatan their new record label with a THE CARPENTERS STORY Thu 5
mythology. The EP features music show at Truck Store this month.
based around sampled loops of The production and recording ABBA MANIA Sat 7
performances by the Thai pop band team present an evening of
SUN RECORDS - THE CONCERT Sat 14
Krajidrid Band. live music from some of the
Seb plays a show at Modern local artists on their roster as
Art Oxford on Wednesday 16th well as a label mixtape to take
May, performing music from the home. The instore takes place
EP, alongside sets from guitarist from 6-8pm on Thursday 10th
Marcus Corbett and table maestro May. The label aims to be a
Nitin Gaikwad, playing Brit-folk/ musician-led collective. Among
Indian classical fusion, and Irish artists from around the UK and
harpist, singer and electronics beyond are Oxford acts Bambino
experimentalist Brona McVittie, Dell’oro; Limpet Space Race;
playing songs from her `Under the Matt Chanarin; Rosie Caldecott
Pines’ album alongside guitarist and Okino. Find out more at
Miles Cochran. Find out more at upcycledsounds.eu
sebastianreynolds.co.uk.
AS EVER, don’t forget to tune
THE FARM headline the Witney into BBC Oxford Introducing
Music Festival in August. The every Saturday night between
Liverpudlian indie veterans will 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated
top the bill at the annual free gig local music show plays the best
on the Leys on Saturday 18th Oxford releases and demos as
August. The night before Noasis well as featuring interviews and
will head up a bill of tribute bands sessions with local acts. The
on The Leys. show is available to stream or THU 24 MAY
Witney Music Festival celebrates its download as a podcast at
twelfth anniversary this year. The bbc.co.uk/oxford.
community-based festival, founded
in memory of Jo Marie Foster, will OXFORD GIGBOT provides a
host a variety of events across the regular local gig listing update
spring and summer in the build-up on Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing
to the main festival in August, with you new gigs as soon as they
two weeks of gigs and events in go live. They also provide a
Witney’s pubs and clubs from 25th free weekly listings email. Just
ATGTICKETS.COM/Oxford* | BOX OFFICE 0844 871 3020*
May to 9th June including a show contact [email protected]
by Dr & the Medics. to join. *Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
137125 Nightshift Mag FP May.indd 1 10/04/2018 15:03
A Quiet Word With
Inner Peace Records
shows in Oxford and beyond, notably We basically did it because we could Elliot Fresh: “Kind of what Tang group long enough now that we can
their highly successful Clapham and we ran with it. Huge amounts said really; people just need to get all sync up quite nicely and latch on
residency, their sets featuring various of driving and bonding and building their business straight. I ran a jam to one another’s creative streams.
levels of collaboration alongside and growing together and performing session night at the Cellar called Phat Everyone knows their strengths.”
individual sets. music for the love of it, as one thing. Sessions a few years back. Due to Terao: “The album is currently in
some of us as solo artists; it was a “It’s just about reading the crowd I think it showed us that there is an planning and realistic budgeting, the the arrangement stage. The recording
natural progression for us to solidify and creating a vibe that everyone can unoccupied space and demand for a night took off and although money was swift; we definitely caught the
ourselves under the banner of Inner enjoy,” says Tiece; “cos we want to movement like ours and people across appeared to be lost in the beginning vibe. Arrangement is proving more
Peace, particularly as we shared a enjoy what we put out as much as the continent want to be involved in it came back as the night got more technical, there have been setbacks
common outlook. When I started people enjoy hearing it.” it.” and more popular and we eventually but we are still on point and doing our
making music with Tiece, it inspired Rawz: “When we do gigs and hold turned a consistent profit.” thing. The tracks are fire and it’s going
me to focus more on my music which cyphers in Oxford it’s always a DESPITE THE SUCCESS OF Rawz: “We want to start doing to be live at Common People!”
was about the same time that Inner great atmosphere and the first year those tours, and the fun they had, more stuff in Oxford and are talking
Peace was emerging as an entity.” at Common People was one of Inner Peace took 2017 off as far as to a few venues at the moment so INNER PEACE PLAYED
Other members of the Inner Peace my favourite gigs. Stane Street in touring went; is it hard for them to hopefully that’ll change soon.” Nightshift’s Uncommon Stage at the
records collective include experienced Clapham is always a good night too. find a balance between getting out to first Common People in 2016 and
battle rapper Ogmios, whose skills It’s always been a good vibe wherever do live shows and being able to write, INNER PEACE’S STYLE OF they’re back again this year; what
have seen him performing in the US; we’ve played to be honest.” record and release material? hip hop tends to be thoughtful and can newcomers expect, and given
veteran local rapper Elliot Fresh, King Boyden: “As Tang mentioned, Tang: “Yes, in a nutshell. I felt that philosophical, with no room for their numbers and variety, how do the
who previously ran the Phat Sessions our ability to respond to a crowd organising another tour wasn’t worth braggadocio; Rawz and Tang both group go about structuring a live set?
hip hop night at The Cellar, and film and be versatile has helped us its yield relative to where we were. released albums recently that dealt Tang: “If all goes to plan you may
maker and photographer Third Lense cater for different gigs in different We had two years of stretching our with a life journey, taking in spiritual be witnessing the first live rendition
Motion, who controls the group’s environments, from The Ashmolean wings and I felt like we needed themes, wisdom etc; do they influence of the forthcoming album, plus a few
visual side, from videos and live to stages hidden in the Italian Alps. an infrastructure period to create, each other, and what similarities favourites from individual artists.”
projections to record sleeves. The Clapham residency is something promote and release music. We’ll tour and differences do they see between King Boyden: “When writing for
we have built over time and I often again once we’ve put the building themselves? the album, we have had its live
CURRENTLY RAWZ, REEJAI, hear people make the same comments blocks in their places.” Tang: “We all influence each other as performance in mind, and having
Terao and King Boyden are Oxford about how we have a good thing Tiece: “It was good to have an artists. You can hear fragments of each many artists feature on each track we
based; Tang, Tiece, Palmer Eldritch, going there, how there should be opportunity to focus solely on writing other’s essences scattered throughout think it will maintain a strong energy
Ogmios and Fresh are in London, more hip hop nights like this and how and creating. I think it’s easy to forget one artist’s music. Myself and Rawz on stage.”
with Shaman currently in LA. “We it’s really great to come out to see that sometimes you need time to take hadn’t listened to each others albums Rawz: “When we’re putting a set
talk pretty much every day over the enthusiastic live performances, in a note of what’s happening and arrange before they were released, though. It together it first depends on who is
internet and meet up regularly too,” laid back atmosphere, for free, while it in a way that makes musical sense.” doesn’t feel coincidental nonetheless; able to be there; then we think about
says Rawz; “we work on music and also having the chance to join in with I think we are all expressing our own what the vibe will be; is it hype, is it
organise stuff, and we can always give the open mic.” GIVEN THAT HIP HOP IS THE interpretation of something similar.” chilled? We’re all pretty versatile and
each other places to kip after shows most popular musical genre in the Rawz: “It’s weird because we were adaptable, so we can work something
and quite a few of us are back and INNER PEACE’S LIVE world, and there have always been talking about the same things before out for most settings. I think that’s
Inner Peace, partial collective, clockwise from far left: Tiece; Elliot forth regularly between Oxford and activities have also taken them on two artists making quality hip hop in we even knew each other. That shown by the fact that we’ve played
London for various reasons, so I feel European tours, in 2015 and 16. Oxford, and good local hip hop club happens a lot with Inner Peace: we gigs in both museums and graffiti
Fresh; Rawz; Terao; Ogmios; Tang the Pilgrim; Reejai.
it works quite well. It feels like we’ve Tang: “Both tours were a pilgrimage nights here, it remains sidelined on seem to approach the same things festivals. For Common People expect
“WE’VE BEEN ON SOME rights. Many of the members were perform and build.” become more of a band than a label as to and from Mandrea Music festival the local live scene, a steady flow of from slightly different angles and I the squad in full effect, we don’t bring
adventures together,” says producer friends from school, while others such, like we’ve become less separate in Italy, passing by Amsterdam on big name acts visiting town failing think the more we work together, the the gong for just any show!”
King Boyden, explaining the have gravitated towards the collective RAPPER AND POET, AND in the ways we create stuff.” the way back. In 2016 we added to translate into regular gigs by local more we influence each other.”
philosophy and friendship that or simply met through working and previous Nightshift cover star Rawz Copenhagen’s Meeting of Styles artists. Fellow local rapper Chima Anya DIVERSE IN THEIR TALENTS
binds Inner Peace Records together. performing on the local hip hop scene. got involved after seeing the first GIVEN THEIR NUMBERS, AND festival en route to Italy. The tours Tang: “Hip hop artists and collectives released a new album, `People and styles, Inner Peace records are
“We’ve shared good times and The roots of the collective began ever Inner Peace Facebook post. “I geography, getting all of Inner Peace were a great experience, more than I’ve found to be generally poorly Forget’, last month that runs along a nonetheless a tightly-knit collective
faced adversity; this has brought us when beatmaker, MC and lyricist looked into what the label was about together requires almost military anything to build bonds and cohesion organised and I think that is expressed similarly philosophical path; do the of friends, a collective whose ethos
together and that is something that Terao met rapper King Khan I wanted to help it grow; even more planning, but ahead of their Common throughout the crew.” in the lack of strong, consistent live pair think there is something about of the greater good is reaping ever
shows through the energy of our Shamanic (Shaman for short) at a so when I learned it was people that People show, Nightshift talked to Tiece: “Those tours were an events. It’s an underground scene Oxford hip hop that is predisposed to greater dividends, but if it came down
performances. We’ve developed a job interview; he had a show lined I knew. I went to the first night at Fat the group, and asked them what the important learning experience, not just as well and requires a grassroots deeper thinking and philosophising? to it and they were forced into a full
particular dynamic, comprised of the up supporting GZA at O2 Academy Lil’s in Witney. A month later I was benefits and pitfalls of working as a for the label but also for us as artists. movement to keep it alive. Personally Tang: “I came to Oxford to study on freestylerap battle against each
individual talents of our artists. This and told him to pass through. He performing at the second ever gig, democratic collective are. There were ups and downs but overall I feel like the opportunities are there Philosophy and it was during that other, who would come out top dog?
gives us a streamlined workflow with subsequently introduced him to his at The Cellar, and it was fluid from Rawz: “It can make decision making they were some of the best trips of my to be seized. Organising a night is a time that Inner Peace Records Ogmios: “I would probably win
its own creative style.” brother Luca Styles – AKA EarthONE there; I joined up with the crew for the a bit slow but I think we’re all aware life! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed big task but when it’s done properly was established. I feel that if you given my years of experience honing
– and the trio released the `UPC’ last leg of the 2015 tour in Amsterdam of that and no one wants to hold so much!” it pays off as we’ve learned from are seeking, then Oxford is an my pit craft and war strategies. My
“THE LONGER WE WORK (Universal Protection Collective) and it felt like we were family.” the process back. Most of us have Terao: “Those tours solidified the running our nights in Clapham.” inspirational place, conducive to biggest threat would be Tang as he
together the faster production has album together in 2014. Singer Tiece, whose debut EP an input in most things and we can family. We drove stupid far! Taking King Boyden: “I’ve been primarily contemplative thought.” is the most advanced in the realm of
become,” adds singer Tiece, who was `WMN’ on the label last year earned usually reach an agreement. I think over Hill Street Blues in Amsterdam responsible for setting up and running Terao: “There’s some great minds martial arts and I fear those skills may
introduced by Boyden to the Oxford/ MEANWHILE TANG THE her a rave review in Nightshift, we’re all aware of our egos enough to 2015 was crazy but every place we our residency night in Clapham and making music in Oxford, such as the be transferable to battle rap.”
London-based collective who have Pilgrim was working on his first LP her smoky, soulful voice drawing yield to the sway of the collective.” played was on point.” gigs around the UK and Europe. I Flooded Hallways dudes who are very Terao: “Og is king, no doubt, but
become a leading force for local hip ‘Wandara’. “There seemed to be comparisons to Etta James, Irma Terao: “People feel free to voice Rawz: “Back in 2015 I had recently think there are a number of things that deep. We have a mad balance here of Fresh might pull an off-the-cuff
hop over the past three years, and who something shared at the core of the Thomas and Martina Topley Bird, themselves and we are all cool enough played at The Cellar with Inner create a barrier for hip hop groups easy going and grit, rich and poor etc. humiliator; it’s hard to win against the
will cement their growing reputation music we were creating,” he recalls; joined after being introduced by King to consider the feedback.” Peace for the first time. I flew out to or labels and promoters. It can be which gives people access to many guy that don’t give a fuck!”
with a set at Common People Festival “I don’t like trying to put it into Boyden, the producer known for Ogmios: “It is an ongoing effort to Amsterdam and met up with the crew hard to convince venues to support things but also makes you grateful.” Rawz: “Palmer Eldritch would give
in South Park at the end of May. “It’s words but I feel it’s evident in the his traditional boom bap style and refine the balance of keeping a general as they were on the way back from you, whether that is because they As well as individual artist releases, Og a run for his money but he only
nice to have a team of artists you undercurrent of the music. Shaman dedication to classic analogue sounds consensus while still making decisions Mandrea; I can remember arriving have preconceptions of how the night the collective have a full Inner Peace ever battles in binary code. Fresh
can collaborate with and ask for their and I got to work soon after on ‘The and vintage drum machines. “It was and moving things forward. We are at the camp and Terao standing at will go and things like anti social Records album planned for release is aight and Reejai and Terao can
creative advice, so we’ve only changed Shamanic Pilgrimage’ and the ball his beats that got me back into singing not bad at it. The crew is comprised of the top of the road waving the Inner behaviour, or whether they don’t this year; how do they plan such an freestyle for days but not really on the
in that it’s more like family than ever.” was pretty much rolling from there. after I took a long break from music,” very nice and understanding humans, Peace flag tied to a huge branch! That believe the market is really there. extensive collaboration? There must battling side. So yeah Ogmios is the
“Later he introduced me to she says; “I really enjoyed the way we so that helps a lot.” was an image that has stuck with me Venues should be more willing to give be compromises along the way? Champ.”
INNER PEACE RECORDS’ (beatmaker and producer) Palmer all worked together and vibed off each ever since. We played a six hour set people a chance to prove they can Tang: “We all meet up, normally Elliot Fresh: “100 percent me!”
origins and history can be difficult Eldritch. The common thread is that other’s frequencies.” SINCE COALESCING, INNER that night with absolutely no plan and put on a good show. We consistently spend a weekend together and
to unravel at times, with twelve core all are bless and wise musicians on the “Many of us grew up in similar Peace have released a host of records, went down a storm. It felt so natural see a great response to our shows but write to a selection of beats from Inner Peace Records play the
members, featuring MCs, producers, same level, who love hip hop and who circles and have know each other including Rawz’ `The Path’ in 2016 and I don’t think any of us really ever it requires effort; you can’t expect the producers. There is a lot of Uncommon Stage at Common
singers, beatmakers and visual artists are always creating and working. We for some time,” adds King Boyden: and King Shamanic & Tang The even doubted that it would be great. people to just turn up; you have to compromise but mainly around the People on Saturday 26th May. Find
formed into a tight-knit team who are close compadres and Inner Peace “some of us were making music Pilgrim’s`The Shamanic Pilgrimage’ 2016 was an epic journey and one put on a good show and graft when it practicalities of getting the project out more at www.facebook.com/
also exist as artists in their own Records is somewhere we can release, within our interlinked networks, last year. They have also hosted live that I’m so glad that I was a part of. comes to promotion. done. We have been writing as a innerpeacerecords
Sponsored by their previous existence as Roberto y Amigos and OLD ERNIE
RELEASED new single ‘Heartbeat in My Hand’ is a beautiful,
swirling piece of cinematic pop, recalling the ‘Imagined Memory’ /
otherworldly enchantment of Kate Bush or Bat
‘Black Cotton Wool’
for Lashes. Central to this is Robin’s sister Cat
– it’s her vocal performance that impresses – (Self released)
GAZ COOMBES LUCY LEAVE soaring over plaintive piano, aching synths and Two full length albums here from Old Ernie, but
perfectly judged guitar, the whole atmosphere
one that squeezes seventeen tracks into its forty
‘World’s Strongest Man’ ‘Look//Listen’ of which mirrors the paisley patterns and 60s
minutes, while the other spreads itself across just
aesthetic visible in the band’s look. There’s also
(Caroline International) (Self-released) a smidgeon of a hint of vocal fry to the delivery six. There’s some common ground between the
two, and you can just about tell it’s the same band
To track Gaz Coombes’ life through his songs There’s a fine line between weird and wacky. which, accompanied by the tendency of the music
some of the time but taking both together gives
really is to enter an ages-of-man journey. Early It’s a line that Frank Zappa pogoed back and to veer towards less conventional territory, makes
you an idea of the restlessness of the band, fronted
Supergrass songs like `Caught By the Fuzz’, forth across and it’s one that Young Knives for an absorbing whole. A temptation to take too
by David Kahl, alongside partner Gemma Kahl
`Strange Ones’ and `Sitting Up Straight’ capture certainly flirted with. One step too far and you much on, be overly eclectic and to over egg the
(who leads their alter-ego band Brown Glove) and
youthful wonder and mischief, while `Road to risk becoming a novelty act. On their debut pudding are not accusations that carry water here.
the desire to never quite fit into any genre specific
Rouen’ was more considered, less obviously album `Look//Listen’, Lucy Leave pitch their Lyrically, ‘Heartbeat in My Hand’ tackles those
hole.
exuberant. tent proudly in the weird and wonderful camp, contrasting but related bedfellows, Love and
CATGOD `Imagined Memory’ is mostly instrumental:
Gaz’s songs have become ever more personal giving us Oxford’s answer to Minutemen’s 80s Death – the importance of being able to clutch on
vocals tend to be buried deep in the mix, either
with his solo career and `World’s Strongest Man’ classic `Double Nickels on the Dime’. ‘Heartbeat in My Hand’ to one’s lover for dear life as family members pass chanted with almost hysterical verve or screamed
is almost autumn-of-life in its self-analysis, The similarities to the Minutemen aren’t just on is an aching sentiment delivered to perfection.
and distorted in death metal fashion. The music is
dealing as it does with fatherhood, breakdowns superficial; Lucy Leave are a three-headed (Self released) Catgod evoke the mystery of the ancient
variously brutish, industrial, ambient and abstract.
and death. Now aged 42, Gaz doesn’t sound like songwriting machine so `Look//Listen’ is a Catgod’s previous output has veered towards the Egyptians who used to worship the animal in Too abstract at times and you wonder if David
he’s having a full-on mid-life crisis so much as bite and seems to dissipate into the ether even bountiful eighteen track trip through their experimental and guitarist Robin Christensen- question to a level that even Nightshift cannot wouldn’t have done better to ditch four or five of
sitting down to work out where he is and what it as its being sung, while `Oxygen Mask’ sounds, wonky musical world. Anyone who has seen Marriot has always shown a keenness to explore quite match – mystery, magic and sorcery abound the numbers that fill up the back end of the album.
all means. partially successfully, it must be said, like it’s these guys live knows to expect a few left the wider parameters of sound, refusing to be and singling this track out for special release At its best though it’s an immersive, atmospheric
Musically `World’s Strongest Man’ follows trying to sneak its way onto a recent Radiohead turns, and on `Look//Listen’ we’re treated to pigeon-holed and yet producing a fair few good distinct from the rest of their output is a daring but collage of future factory clang, grind and
closely in the footsteps of 2015’s roundly album. But like `Matador’ this is an album the complete gamut of their ever-switching tunes to boot. It’s been an alluring combination well-judged move. squelch, synthetic scree, uptight metallic funk,
acclaimed `Matador’, all softly bubbling synth- that manages to marry maturity with musical styles. The band like to describe themselves over the band’s short history, following on from Rob Langham slacker electro-rock, doomcore and mechanical
pop, rhythmic Krautrock, Bowie-ish rock’n’soul invention. `Walk the Walk’, for example, sounds as ‘jazz grunge’ and while they never actually menace that hits a peak with the monstrous
and elegantly downbeat balladry, everything like a bizarre but pleasing mash-up of Can’s `You quite arrive at either this is a handy indicator of sci-fi/horror soundtrack of `Visions Fall’, all
Oxford Punt and flooded the Wheatsheaf with
intricately and busily arranged, while always Doo Right’ and Salt’n’Pepa’s `Whatta Man’. their sound – noisy, tempestuous, freewheeling. industrial doom and dissonance that coheres into
so much smoke the alarms went off, allowing
deferring to the tune in hand. Stand-outs are the The album, though, ends on a downbeat note, There’s nary a verse-chorus-verse in these 45 something resembling `Venus in Furs’ covered
punters probably their only ever view of the
languorously trippy `Shit (I’ve Done It Again)’; `Weird Dreams’ a somnambulating drift down minutes. Bizarre a cappella tracks give way by witch-house crew Salem, while `You Need’ is
venue’s windows (even we never knew the place
the epic, motorik Moroder-meets-Can pulse of darkened corridors to a shifting mosaic of to driving krautpunk before veering off into a pummelling dirge that skirts close to Godflesh
had them).
lead single `Deep Pockets’ and the wonderfully electronic sounds and rhythms; “Hang onto the stranger terrain, all powered by Deerhoof- territory.
While Nightshift isn’t one to adhere to the idea
woozy `The Oaks’ with its tumbling toms dark / Don’t wake me yet / I think I’m still in a levels of joyful exuberance and a willingness `Black Cotton Wool’ is a more coherent selection
of guilty pleasures (never feel guilty about the
and lysergic atmosphere soundtracking Gaz’s dream,” croons Gaz softly, sounding like a man to confound. of tracks with the ideas more fully realised
music you love, even if it’s Sam Smith or Gary
reflections on his mother’s death. It’s the most who’s still half asleep and clinging to the hope all That’s all very well and good, but at the heart or expended on, from creeping psychedelia,
Barlow, though perhaps sit and ponder your life
personal moment on a highly personal album. the shit stuff didn’t really happen. Musically at of Lucy Leave is a band with a strong sense malevolent grunge churn, Sabbath riffing and a
choices awhile), there’s a hefty cheese count in
There are lapses along the way: `Slow Motion least, his strength hasn’t left him yet. of melody, mood, and a way with a vocal stoner vibe at times. Opener `Lynchpin’ sounds
this selection, from Kenny Loggins’ `Footloose’,
Way’ is a tender piano ballad but lacks emotional Dale Kattack earworm. This results in occasional tender, like Butthole Surfers at their most Sabbath-
through `Born to Be Wild’ and onto Blondie’s
emotional moments such as the bass and guitar worshipping metal, while best of the six pieces
`Atomic’.
jazz band with broad horizons, and a good selection interplay in ‘Prints’ and the synth-laden ‘Hang `Staying Alive’ only gets the lightest of a techno is the slow-build oncoming storm that is `Eyes
of synthesizers. Out With Now’, which features the immortal polishing, but it was halfway there anyway, and Like Flint’, starting with atmospheric drones that
Olivia Williams’ vocals and the rhythm section line “There’s nothing in this world that I here lacks the Bee Gee’s trademark falsettos, build through Melvins-heavy riffage to Bauhaus-
firmly ground the band in the traditional jazz club hate more than the people you hang out with while `Atomic’ was proto techno anyway and style gothic art-rock, taking in the best post-metal
now.” They even end the album with a wry, noise and even a hint of the brilliant Wreckmeister
scene, with staccato rhythmic jumps and slinky is missing Debbie Harry’s gloriously soaring
bittersweet piano ballad. AUDACITY LIVE Harmonies along the way.
vocal melodies. If Wandering Wires paired back voice, but Eurythmics’ steely synth stomp, `Sweet
There’s something satisfying about Lucy What both albums share is a darkness and a
their ideas they’d have no trouble making a good Leave – a charming, breezy quality that makes ‘The Guilty Pleasures EP’ Dreams’, gets a euphoric trance makeover for its relentless quest to kick any semblance of comfort
run round the club circuit. However, there is so extended solo and fares better, and the take on
much more here that elevates their second album `Look//Listen’ a real joy to listen to, even when (Self released) `Footloose’ is fun enough (though the song was from beneath your feet before you get the chance
they’re trying to cram all manner of weird to grab hold of it. If they sometimes overstretch or
`Homecoming’ to a genre-fluid treat. Over the past few years Audacity has been hosting dreadful enough first time round that any remake
things in your ears. They’re already one of the fall just short, on both albums Old Ernie mostly
Opening track ‘Recife’ starts out with arpeggiation old-school club nights at East Oxford Community could only be an improvement).
best live bands in Oxford, and now they’re one get the mood just right and the band should serve
and keys that evoke thoughts of Cinematic Centre, keeping the flame of 90s free raves alive Ultimately, like any kind of tribute act, this
Orchestra but it quickly moves into a slinky, of the best on record. To borrow a phrase from and featuring among the DJ sets a live set of is something best experienced live where the as a demonic shadow lurking in the peripheral
relaxing groove with floating lyrics enticing you another group of merry pranksters, slanted and raved-up covers of classic 70s and 80s tunes band play off the communal atmosphere, where vision of any rock band out there hoping to take
to sea, all finished off with blustering synth and enchanted. under the name Audacity Live, turning them into inhibitions and the concept of cool get trampled the easy route.
sax solos. ‘Waiting For Your Love’ could easily Tom McKibbin techno party bangers. into the dirt, where you can check your guilt in at Dale Kattack
be reworked into a chart-friendly pop hit, whereas At the heart of al this is Alan Brown, whose the door and just dance.
WANDERING WIRES ‘Stolen’ and ‘Now I Know’ stray towards what previous live act, Letfouterjoin, once played the Sue Foreman
you might call lounge, but without a whiff of
‘Homecoming’ the red-carpet-covered horror of Murph and his BEAVER FUEL song in hand to fend for itself.
Magictones. Such a rudimentary approach is endearing in a
(Self released) Throughout ‘Homecoming’ it’s constantly ‘Pulling Rank’ way but it does detract from Leigh Alexander’s
There is a long tradition of jazz cross-pollinating surprising how many diverse ideas Wandering lyrics, which have always been the core of
with other genres, and for the last decade the Wires can hang on to what are – at their core – (Self released) Beaver Fuel’s music, at his best while dissecting
focus of intermingling has been with electronica pretty straight jazz tunes. There are soaring strings, In the true spirit of punk rock and 80s DIY indie, Christianity on `Dogma Is For Life, Not Just For
and dance. Bands like Portico Quartet and GoGo video game synth leads and soulful horns, while Beaver Fuel wear their tunelessness as a badge Christmas’, which would benefit from a more
Penguin have brought jazz influences to the Rough ‘Worlds Apart’ rests on a beat that that with little of honour with TV Personalities and The Pastels stripped-back sound, something like Jeffrey
Trade crowd for the last decade or so, both earning effort could underpin a drum&bass track. All of seemingly the touchstones by which they measure Lewis. The again, when he’s singing “I want to
Mercury nominations in the process. The sound which could be a scattershot mess, but the reality their high fidelity standards. Everything here is a take a shit in your shoes / Fill your footwear up
that has solidified in this area often tends closer to is quite the opposite, every left-turn or unexpected fluster and hurry of chugging fuzz-pop, tumbling with number twos” with appropriate childish
minimal dance with a double bass and live drums, segue feels natural, feels like there was no other beats and almost spoken words, with both guitar cheer, maybe a hefty layer of distortion is the
but what young local act Wandering Wires do is a more obvious option. and bass taking the occasional opportunity to go decent thing.
fascinating reflection on that attitude. They are a Matt Chapman Jones outside for a wander or a cigarette, leaving the Dale Kattack
Sponsored by JACK GOLDSTEIN lineage as the south London scene that has ‘Got a Lot To Give’ might not be as fluid as
RELEASED
spawned Fat White Family and Shame and while more laidback MCs but it’s bang on point as he
‘A Tiger Shark Might it will be interesting to see if Haze can match ponders some kind of midlife crisis over a looped
the former for sheer energetic excitement, on the Middle-Eastern vocal sample. He’s at his most
THE DEADBEAT Eat a Bull Shark, A evidence of this track alone, they’ve arguably political on ‘Save Our Culture’, inspired by the
already achieved more on record than the latter, threatened closure of The Cellar and Fabric in
APOSTLES Bull Shark Might Eat a authors of a no more than promising album that London, the more electronic backing suiting his
bears as much liking to their live show as a lighter style better than the rock guitar riffs of ‘Get Out’.
‘The Day Of The Blacktip Shark...’
held aloft does to a roaring fire. The latter finds him taking a more languid and
(Attracted) Like Shame, Haze attempt to skewer lad culture brooding vocal path which sounds less natural or
Deadbeats’
but do not come across as protesting too much authoritative, and the EP’s high point comes with ‘I
There’s a stark contrast between Fixers’ high-end
(Self released) psychedelic gloss-pop and singer Jack Goldstein’s that the listener becomes suspicious that they may Don’t Care’, with Tiger Mendoza’s nasty electronic
From a six piece band you could describe as solo pots’n’pans production, but what they share have a history as ardent misogynists. Instead, it’s edge the perfect musical partner for Half Decent’s
seasoned and gnarly, you’d expect the debut is a dedication to unruly head music, the aim to an effective critique, and this single is cast from machine-like rhymes. ‘You Have the Power’ is a
album by The Deadbeat Apostles to be a send you off on a trip. the finest post-punk traditions: a staccato assault full-on, chest-thumping old-school party banger,
straightforward, evangelical, hoe-down blues This latest solo set – whose full title we won’t of sharp guitars, punctuated by laconic but lusty which is pure 90s, right down to the heavy rock
romp: the kind of shit-kicking rowdiness they are even bother repeating, lest we eat our entire word vocal delivery. riffing, and while his production is far too neatly
adroit at regularly starting across the county. But count up – is characteristically wayward and HAZE If Haze like a game of arrows and a pint of light produced to qualify as lo-fi, Half Decent’s hip hop
laid out in the round, their party pieces, given unpredictable, imaginatively crazy, not to mention ale, then that’s proof that pub rock is alive and has its roots in a time when rap’s message was
the chance to show their heritage and breadth, kitsch to the point you occasionally wonder if ‘Ladz, Ladz, Ladz’ well and more interesting than we ever thought it more important than its studio techniques.
take on a higher level of musical wisdom and Jack’s simply testing your resolve. could be again. Dale Kattack
(Permanent Creeps)
reverence. Keith Richards fall out of his coconut tree with His accompanying letter mentions listening to Rob Langham
This is largely due to being individually fronted excitement, notably in ‘Back Lane Blues’, and Tom Robinson and Suzie Quatro’s 1980s output, The Punchbowl in Woodstock played host to a
by two very special singers: Mike Ginger, whose the eye opening ‘Dutch Rudder’ (a hearty paean and there’s definitely a bit of post-glam stomp band called The Haze back in November 1993, HALF DECENT
rampant gusto can swing from a raucous Roger to being aided with your own onanism). They about tracks like ‘Mariah Minidisc’ and `Self an event commemorated in the following month’s
Daltrey on first track ‘Awkward Age’, all the are equally at home with spiritual Americana and Deprecation Rock’, but across twelve tracks we edition of Curfew, the magazine describing the ‘Something For the
way over to an urbane cowboy Mick Hucknell the deep South, with the O Brother, Where Art get a sometimes disorientating journey from the performers as ‘a good, crowd pleasing pub rock
on ‘Can’t Stop The Rain’ and ‘Man Who Sold Thou? chug-a-lug of ‘Shall Not Repent’ showing blues to something approaching anti-folk, via The band’. Now, a quarter of a century of later, an Fearless’
His Soul’, and Michelle Mayes, a real soulful huge rhythmic depth, alongside the slow hand Beach Boys’ surf pop and Todd Rundgren. act of the same name, all of whose members will
belter in the mould of Eddi Reader who totally National guitar twang of ‘Bigger Man’ . Album opener ‘My Second Life’ is spaced- almost certainly not been born at the time, have (Quickfix)
commands her tracks `Stand Up’ and ‘Gonna Be So if you’re one of the breathless crowd, out sepia-tinted psychedelia that’s part full-on stepped in to grab hold of the flame. Happily, they ‘Something For the Fearless’ is Half Decent’s
Different’. Better still, when their alchemy is palpitating dangerously at the end of one of The head trip and lost 1970s kids TV theme tune don’t so much do this as carry out a spectacular 11th release, a testament to his staying power and
corralled into a duet on the heavenly country of Deadbeat Apostles’ gigs, wondering if buying and ends with the sound of someone vomiting pyrotechnic display replete with fire eating, professional attitude. These seven tracks feature
‘Lonesome’, their combined qualities ooze out the album would match and extend the evening’s copiously into a toilet bowl. From here we get arson and flame throwing to boot. Unimaginably the West Oxfordshire rapper’s trademark tropes:
of a real peach of a song. joy in your front room: it does, and a whole lot ‘Future Days’, which might be The Flaming Lips youthful, Haze are here and in your face. his militant, machine gun delivery and a tendency
The band’s solid music ranges wildly too, with more besides. reincarnated as a haggard Mid-West bar band; With the band fresh from an incendiary support to soulful backing vocals and some cheesy soft
a clutch of rocking intro riffs that would make Paul Carrera ‘Early Morning Birds’, with its keening vocals to Phobophobes at The Cellar last month ‘Ladz, rock sampling. His rapping is at its best when he
and horrible guitar scrape that makes Daniel Ladz, Ladz’ emerges from the same musical goes at it full pelt: the staccato rant of EP opener
Johnston sound like U2, and the jarring ‘B-Love’
FLATLANDS Boys’, a feeling that this is what’s left on the
with its raw Dictators-style proto-punk, all bluesy
factory floor after everyone else has had their
guitar licks and big organ sound.
‘At The Time It Made pick of decent tunes or attitude: a flavourless
There are weird little interludes, like ‘Total
slurry that can be scooped up, covered in
Devastation & Heartbreak Emoji’, that seem left
Perfect Sense’
breadcrumbs and sold as musical chicken in the mix to point you in the wrong direction,
(Self released) nuggets. but immediately followed by the softer, country-
Guitar music isn’t dead, but some of the tinged rock of ‘It Might Be My Fault Again’, that
We’ve been told that guitar music is dead on and
family have taken to their beds and are looking edges towards Townes van Zandt. At least up
off since at least the early 90s and new waves
decidedly peaky. to the point it flips its lid and burrows into The
of bands have proved the theory wrong to a
greater or lesser degree. But sometimes you sit Ian Chesterton Killers’ ‘Human’ like a goblin Butthole Surfers. SATURDAY 26TH MAY SUNDAY 27TH MAY
Because anything else would be almost normal. .
and listen to something and wonder whether the
THE JACKSONS JAMES RIDE
And in Jack Goldstein’s musical world, normal is
classic vocals/guitars/bass/drums line-up should LEE CHRISTIAN
a dirty word.
maybe be put permanently out to pasture since So take the trip, ladies and gentlemen, but buckle .
its productivity has sunk beneath viable levels. ‘M0n£y’ THE NEW POWER S PE C IA LSPARKS MAXIMO PARK
It’s unfair to lay the failings of an entire style of up tight, leave your expectations at the door and GUESTS
music at the feet of a humble unsigned band such (Quickfix) don’t expect to find the finish line where it should GENERATION CRAIG CHARLES DJ YODA
be, or via any route your Satnav would take you.
as Flatlands, but this EP typifies much of what At the recent Nightshift Day which took place at Unless of course your Satnav is controlled by Hal PRINCE’S LEGENDARY BAND HONEYBLOOD ROSS FROM FRIENDS DJ
is so tired about guitar music, where proficiency Brookes University, discussion arose of an alleged 9000. MORCHEEBA ASWAD BONEY M. LONDON AFRICAN GOSPEL CHOIR PRES.
trumps spark, spirit and invention. reluctance among rappers to get involved in the
The EP’s opening gambit `Philly’ is fulsome local music scene and to play live in particular. Dale Kattack JUNGLE BROTHERS FRED V & GRAFIX & MORE PAUL SIMON’S GRACELAND & MORE

and almost heroic with its post-grunge-meets- Nonetheless, Andy Hill from Death of Hi Fi spoke
PLUS ACROSS THE WEEKEND!
shoegaze crunch and spangle but it never takes eloquently of the richness of Oxfordshire hip
off from its initial promise, the passionless hop and this new single from local veteran Lee BRAND NEW KIDS GARDEN & BIG ATTRACTIONS INTRODUCING
vocals make the whole thing feel flat and it Christian makes good use of the talents of another
THE WORLD’S LARGEST DISCO BALL
does what every rock song does when it’s run long standing MC, Half Decent. OVER 50 LOCAL
out of ideas – heads off on an extended guitar An instantly catchy signal for forthcoming album THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BOUNCY CASTLE & WORLD GINS
solo that satisfies no-one beyond the guitarist’s ‘Vocation’, Christian’s fifth in six years, ‘M0N£Y’ GORILLA CIRCUS DISCO SHED GIANT SANDPIT TALKS, TASTINGS
self indulgence. `Friday Night’ is more buoyant is a neat skewering of our tendency to become JUNKYARD GOLF BIGTOPMANIA CIRCUS & ARTISAN
and on the face of it comes with a bit of vim, obsessed with the stuff; “Running round in circles FOOD MARKET
THE STORY MUSEUM PRES. ‘THE PUMPKIN’ & MORE
but you’ll struggle to find a hook big or strong like some kind of jerk,” growls Christian in the
enough to hang your hat or hopes on and it manner of ‘Infected’-era Matt Johnson of The PLUS SCRUMPTIOUS STREET FOOD COCKTAIL BARS CRAFT BEER & ALE BAR & MORE
thrashes and shimmers along as if it’s something The – and my goodness he’s not wrong even if
FULL LINE-UP & TICKETS
that just has to be done so it can get to the end. we all find it hard to resist the lure of the lucre. A
As with Flatland’s previous demos, and like stabbing keyboard refrain adds propulsion and the COMMONPEOPLE.NET
near musical neighbours like Amazons or Catfish tune is set up as a dialogue between Half Decent
and the Bottlemen, there’s more than a hint of and the man who lends the track its name.
Cowell-endorsed boy band about songs like `Tub Rob Langham
GIG GUIDE
joint tour. They’re joined by London’s noise rock metal from The Reaper at tonight’s Skeletor show,
brutalists Sky:lark and monstrous black/death alongside death, black and doom metallers Confront
metallers Savage Realm. the Carnage; thrash newcomers Damaged Reich
MOTORHEADACHE + MOFO: Fat Lil’s, and death/grind from Bloodshot.
Witney – Tribute to rock god Lemmy and co. WESTERN SAND + THE OUTLAW
ME & THE MOON + THE AUGUST LIST: ORCHESTRA + BLACK BULLETS: The
Magoo’s Bar, Henley – Hazy indie-folk from Me Cellar – Southern-fried hard rock with a classic 70s
& the Moon, alongside local darkwoods country- vintage from Dorset’s Western Sand at tonight’s
drone faves The August List. OxRox show, joined by Southampton’s southern
TUESDAY 1st guitarist and chums. rock and bluegrass crew The Outlaw Orchestra and
MAY
THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf HOLY MOLY & THE CRACKERS: Fat Lil’s, SATURDAY 5th Basingstoke’s biker rock crew Black Bullets
(6.30am) – The local funk, blues, ska and psych- Witney – Gypsy folk-rock from well-travelled GAZ COOMBES: Truck Store (6pm) – Acoustic FREERANGE: The Cellar – UK garage, grime Sunday 6th
flavoured party rockers play their traditional May septet Holy Moly & the Crackers, taking in show from the local hero, launching his new solo and bassline club night.
Morning show. klezmer, Balkan folk, ska and reggae in their world album, `World’s Strongest Man’. Order your copy METAL TO THE MASSES: The Wheatsheaf – THE WATERBOYS:
SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The James to promote new album `Wizville’, the follow-up fusion sound. from Truck and bag a priority ticket. Quarter-final of the competition to win a slot at this The New Theatre
Street Tavern – Weekly open mic night. to iTunes Top 10 debut `Chaos 93’, the new album CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS: summer’s Bloodstock, tonight with Promethean
featuring guest appearances from Method Man, Centre – Oxford’s longest running open night O2 Academy – Already sold out return to town for Reign, Honour in Ashes, Imminent Annihilation and A return to town for Mike Scott’s mercurial
WEDNESDAY 2nd Roots Manuva and Rodney P along the way. continues to showcase singers, musicians, poets, honorary Oxfordian Frank and his band of brothers Repercussions of Yesterday. rockers The Waterboys, touring last year’s Top
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empty barroom romance and regret, carrying an
Friday 4th air of stately melancholy as chief songwriter Ryan tFoagierpthoerrt ,C hoanvvinegn tpiorenv.iously been tour support to Saturday 5th tFol aBmloenndcoie aanndd Cboelyloisniodn. T Thheeyo’rrye, jpoliunse Ad ubdya Mcitayd DJs. sStirmatpolsep Mheirnicd sle avnedl oUf2 c. oImnsmteeardc iaa lt rsiuoc ocfe scsla asss ic
Boldt’s maudlin baritone mixes with keyboard
WILKO JOHNSON: player Geoff Hilhurst’s exotic array of vintage SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon – FRANK TURNER CLIVE GREGSON & LIZ SIMCOCK + mid-80s albums, `A Pagan Place’, `This Is The
Weekly open night. LEON GORMLEY: Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under- Sea’ and `Fisherman’s Blues’, steered clear of
O2 Academy instruments – including novachord, celesta and ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude The Obscure – & THE SLEEPING Wychwood – Wychwood Folk Club welcomes that sort of pomposity and the band remained
vibraphone. The band’s latest album, `Yarrow’,
Unplugged open night. veteran songwriter Clive Gregson – a founding more of a cult concern. Mass acceptance did
NINE BELOW ZERO: burrows into the dark heart of English folk and BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford – SOULS: O2 Academy member of Stiff Records signings Any Trouble but finally come in 1991 with the re-release of
country blues, taking fever and death as its cheery
Open blues jam. best known for this 80s musical partnership with epic single `The Whole Of The Moon’, but by
The Bullingdon starting point. Frank Turner has done a lot to defy expectations
Christine Collister – now teamed up with singer then Scott had already moved on, ditching the
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar – from pretty much every angle since he rose
Well here’s a clash to have gig goers of a FRIDAY 4th Liz Simcock and revisiting some of those old folk raggle taggle Celtic rock in favour of darker,
Fortnightly club night playing 80s hits; new wave; from the ashes of Million Dead in 2005, going
certain persuasion scratching their heads, classics, songs that have been covered by everyone more experimental waters. Last time Scott and
disco; synth-pop and glam. MIGHTY CROWN FAR EAST RULERS: O2 against the grain of the grab-fame-quickly
examining their loyalties and maybe flipping from Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin-Carpenter to co. (including longstanding alongside fiddle
Academy – The Japanese dancehall sound system approach to build slowly and surely from the
a coin. Two of British UK’s seminal r’n’b acts Fairport and Norma Waterson. player Steve Wickham) played this venue was
both in town on the same night. If they were THURSDAY 3rd hits town. bottom via endless touring (Nightshift fondly PETE FRYER BAND: The New Club, Wheatley in 2013 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the
RHYS LEWIS + JACK GOLDSTEIN + remembers Frank when he was playing support
sharing a stage it’d be an unmissable double YEAR OF THE KITE: Truck Store (6pm) – WEDNESDAY’S WOLVES: O2 Academy – down at the Wheatsheaf back at the very release of `Fisherman’s Blues’, but the band
bill for fans of the genre, but this clash will Gorgeously gloomy pop vibes from the local band Oxford/London bluesman Rhys Lewis continues his start), while releasing chart-topping albums SUNDAY 6th aren’t stuck in that past, regularly releasing
doubtless split the audience. At the Academy, launching their new album `With Sparks Flying’. rise and rise, following up sold-out shows at The on indie label Xtra Mile. He’s also defied the THE WATERBOYS: The New Theatre – Return new albums and with `Out Of All…’ rewarding
former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson LOWER THAN ATLANTIS: O2 Academy – Cellar and The Bullingdon with his biggest local stereotype of the politically-minded folk-punk to town for Mike Scott’s mercurial roots rockers, them with their highest chart placing in over
continues to enjoy life more than ever, having Increasingly pop-friendly anthemic rock and post- show to date, with a soulful take on electric blues. singer-songwriter as woolly Guardianista or touring new album `Out of All This Blue’ – see two decades. These days they perform live as
survived a diagnosis of terminal cancer and hardcore from Watford’s enduring crew, last year’s He’s joined by Fixers frontman and psychedelic Marxist firebrand by daring to declare himself main preview a nine-piece, giving those big, epic songs the
deciding to head off on a farewell tour before Top 10 album `Safe In Sound’ as close to U2 and sonic adventurer Jack Goldstein and folk-pop duo a libertarian (for which he earned a whole heap MALLORY KNOX: O2 Academy – Big-boned arrangements they deserve.
meeting surgeon Charlie Chan at Cornbury Coldplay as to their punk roots; live their polished Wednesday’s Wolves, whose Joan Baez and Natalie of undeserved stick). But then the Bahrain-born, stadium rocking from Cambridge’s Mallory Knox,
Festival in 2013 and subsequently getting the sound comes into its own and a moshpit is still Merchant-influenced acoustic songs have seen them Eton-educated Turner simply does things his back in town to promote third album `Wired’ after Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, the band mixing
all-clear (returning to play an emotional set guaranteed. supporting Amber Run, Seafret and Flyte. way and does them very well indeed, earning their show here last year. up Cramps-y rockabilly, early Arctic Monkeys indie
at the festival in 2016). The subject of Julien SIR WAS: The Cellar – Smoothly eclectic blend WILKO JOHNSON: O2 Academy – Clash of the his place at the top table when he played the TIGERCATS + BLUE HOUSE + LAUSBERG and glitterstomping rhythms. They’re joined by
Temple’s 2015 film The Ecstasy of Wilko of soul, funk, jazz, hip hop, electronica and yacht British r’n’b legends – in the blue corner – see main Olympics opening ceremony back in 2012 and + VENUS TROPICAUX: The Library – Four London’s fuzzy grunge rockers Calva Louise, back
Johnson, he remains one of the most energetic rock from Gothenburg producer Joel Wästberg, preview selling out each and every tour he sets out on, doses of prime indie fillet courtesy of Divine in Oxford after playing last year’s Ritual Union,
performers around with a distinctive take on touring last year’s debut `Digging a Tunnel’ album NINE BELOW ZERO: The Bullingdon – And in accompanied by a trusty backing band that Schism with a return to town for east London’s and local post-punk crew Spinner Fall, channelling
classic r’n’b. And just to prove he’s adept with and finding a middle ground between Brian Wilson the red corner – see main preview features Oxford scene heroes Nigel Powell, expansive, exuberant kalima-led pop outfit Fugazi and Wire.
more than one kind of axe, he’s also played and Money Mark. TROPICLE POPSICLE: The Bullingdon – The Tarrant Anderson and Ben Lloyd, which, along Tigercats, joined by soft-centred surf-pop duo Blue FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT: The Cellar –
the Lannisters’ executioner in chief in Game of BRAVE NEW WORLD: The Cellar – Techno, tropical house and disco club night bows out on with his regular appearances in town, has made House and Rotterdam’s angular post-punk crew Indie, alternative and post-punk club night.
Thrones. Nine Below Zero, meanwhile, shared funk and edm club night, with a live set from the Oxford scene, preparing to take its exotic club him an honorary Oxonian. Previous visits to Venus Tropicaux. LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon – Free
in that late-70s r’n’b charge, while enjoying Vaunce, plus DJs. experience to London. jazz session in the front bar.
Oxford have seen him play The New Theatre BEARD OF DESTINY + FRANKLIN’S
their most successful period in the early 1980s SHOWHAWK DUO: The Bullingdon – Acoustic KLUB KAKOFANNEY with PAPA NUI + OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim –
and Oxford Town Hall, always selling them TOWER + THE MISSING NOTES +
with albums `Live At The Marquee’ and trance from the busking duo whose interpretations LIME + PUPPET MECHANIC + STEEVO Weekly open mic night.
out well in advance, so it’s no surprise that RIVERSIDE VOICES: Donnington Community
`Don’t Point Your Finger’. Founding singer of everything from `Bohemian Rhapsody’ NUISSIER: The Wheatsheaf – Klub Kak’s
tonight’s gig has long since done the same. His Centre (6pm) – Free early evening of live music,
and guitarist Dennis Greaves still leads the and `Adagio for Strings’, to old school trance monthly party night brings funk-pop outfit Papa debut solo release, `Campfire Punk Rock’, is a including blues duo Beard of Destiny and Grateful TUESDAY 8th
band’s high-energy blues charge alongside classics and funky house tracks has earned them Nui to the Sheaf, alongside moody Radiohead and
description that still suits his music well, mixing Dead tribute Franklin’s Tower. INTRUSION: The Cellar – Oxford’s only goth
fellow veterans Mark Feltham and Brian appearances at Glastonbury and Secret Garden Tindersticks-inspired rockers Puppet Mechanic and
rock and roll performance with solo acoustic OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms – Weekly club night brings the darkness with Doktor Joy and
Bethall, and like Johnson it’s always been live Party. dark-hearted synth-pop man Steevo.
sets with highly personable passion. His seventh open mic night. Bookhouse playing classic goth, ebm, deathrock
that the band have made their reputation. So WITCH FEVER + DEATH OF THE MAIDEN BOSSAPHONIK with THE TURBANS: The
studio album, `Be More Kind’, is released the FOLK JAM: The Half Moon – Open folk session, and industrial.
make your choice. + RAINBOW RESERVOIR: The Jericho Cellar – World dance club night, playing Afrobeat,
day before this show, so expect new songs from every Sunday. TRIO HLK: The Mad Hatter – Complex,
Tavern – Superb triple bill courtesy of All Tamara’s Balkan beats, Latin dancefloor and nu-jazz, tonight
that as well as all the old favourites. MIGHTY REDOX: The Tree, Iffley (4-6.30pm) rhythmic jazz deconstruction from the Scottish
Parties tonight with Manchester’s alternately dark, with a live set from The Turbans, fusing their
piano/percussion/guitar trio.
brooding and raw, feral punk/grunge outfit Witch Turkish, Bulgarian, Greek, Spanish, Iranian and
Fever marrying Sabbath-heavy riffage to Seven British roots to make a sound combining eastern MONDAY 7th SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The James
Street Tavern
Year Bitch-style punk venom and Madonnatron’s European traditions and Middle Eastern grooves. THE BLUETONES + VELVET HANDS: O2
gothic atmospherics. Death of Maiden’s elegantly EKE BUKA + THE CELETOIDS + SKY:LARK Academy – For there is nothing certain in life
traumatic Brechtian pop and Rainbow Reservoir’s + SAVAGE REALM: The Library – Double dose except death and taxes and another Bluetones tour. WEDNESDAY 9th
cheerily bitter-sweet post-riot grrl bounce pop of Croatian punk and hardcore at tonight’s Smash STRANGE BONES + CALVA LOUISE + MARY GAUTHIER: St Barnabas Church – The
provide top drawer local support. Disco show with Zagreb’s velocity hardcore crew SPINNER FALL: The Cellar – Raucous punked- New Orleans singer/songwriter returns to Oxford
THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Wheatsheaf Eke Buka and raw garage-punk outfit Celetoids, up blues rocking from Blackpool’s Strange Bones, for the first time in eight years – see main preview
– Classic blues and rock covers from the veteran both signed to Doomtown Records, out on a out on a headline tour after supporting Cabbage and JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE: + DOOMSDAY
Limpet Space Race and Matt Chanarin. A limited party starters The Shapes; funk-pop outfit Papa Soul, funk and disco club night. TUESDAY 15th
edition label mixtape will be available on the night. Nui; rootsy country songsmith Ags Connolly; HER’S: The Cellar – Pop-friendly slacker noise FANGCLUB: The Cellar – Grunge, garage-rock
JUDAS: The Cellar – Anthemic rock from Judas, elegantly atmospheric Americana band The Great in the vein of Mac de Marco from Liverpool-based and pop-punk in the vein of Foo Fighters, Dinosaur
out on tour after sets at Truck, Y Not, Isle of Wight Western Tears; grizzled blues crew Francis Pugh Anglo-Norwegian duo Her’s, touring their debut Pile-Up and Milk Teeth from Dublin trio Fangclub,
Festival and a main stage slot at last year’s Leeds & the Whiskey Singers; soulful jazz/blues people album `Songs of Her’s’ after tour supports to back in town and touring their debut album.
festival. The Ragged Charms, and Delta blues duo Beard Happyness and Dutch Uncles. MINUS KENDAL: The Cellar – Boogie, disco
DMA’S: O2 Academy – Having been banished of Destiny. There’s kids stuff (under 12s go free) SIMPLE with MALL GRAB: The Bullingdon – and funk from RevivHer Crew’s Minus Kendal at
to the colonies 20 years ago, Britpop’s prison ship and food and it all finishes off with a set by The Already sold out night with the long-running house tonight’s Isis-hosted club night.
docked in Botany Bay and Oasis, The Verve and Deadbeat Big Band, with members of all the acts on and techno club night hosting an Oxford debut for ROBYN HITCHCOCK: Fat Lil’s, Witney – A
Cast alighted to bring the message of mid-paced the day playing classic covers. lo-fi house star Mall Grab – aka Australian DJ and solo acoustic show from the English psychedelic
indie rock trudge to Australia’s youth. DMA’s’ SEETHER: O2 Academy – South Africa’s post- producer Jordan Alexander – with a fun-focussed troubadour’s English psychedelic troubadour
Wednesday 9th debut album `Hill’s End’ suggests they lapped it up. grunge behemoths hit the UK, touring their most house sound that dips into techno and disco on and one of the nation’s most oddball national
MOJO DEMON + FULL CIRCLE + recent `Poison the Parish’ album, the band, led tracks like `Feel U’ and `Caught Slippin’. treasures. From his days in The Soft Boys, through
MARY GAUTHIER:
SOMETHINGSOMEDAY + MARK COPE: by declared Kurt Cobain acolyte Shaun Morgan METAL TO THE MASSES: The Wheatsheaf – the creative highs fronting The Egyptians, to his
St. Barnabas Church The Bullingdon – Raw, rocking blues in the vein drawing heavily on Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Quarter-final with Broken Empire, 13 Burning, Ape extensive run of solo recordings, he’s never lost Thursday 17th
of Led Zep, The Doors and Little Walter from Mojo Deftones for inspiration. and MSRY going all out to win a slot at Bloodstock. his tight but genial grip on a very peculiar sense of THE UNDERGROUND
Mary Gauthier’s start in life might have Demon with Ady Davey’s groove-heavy riffage DEATH REMAINS + IMMINENT 40s REVIVAL NIGHT: The Harcourt Arms – whimsy and humour, in the lineage of Syd Barrett
finished many others off – abandoned at birth battling with Markus Butler’s raw, free-ranging ANNIHILATION + DOOMTRODON + BRING Music from the 1940s. and subsequently an influence on generations of YOUTH: The Cellar
by her mother who, years later, refused to meet harmonica. THE ONSLAUGHT: O2 Academy – None-more- SYNTRONIX: Fat Lil’s, Witney – 80s synth-pop psych-minded songwriters.
her estranged daughter; running away from her CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community Centre metal line-up with London’s Death Remains back classics, from Numan, Visage and OMD to Human SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The James You can argue all you like, the coolest
adoptive parents and becoming lost in drink SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon in action with their second album `Destroy/Rebuild’ League, Depeche Mode and Ultravox. Street Tavern band photo ever taken was of The Velvet
and drugs, and coming to terms with her sexual ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude The Obscure and cranking it out in the vein of Killswitch SPARKY’S SPONTANEOUS SHOWCASE & Underground with Nico: black clothes,
identity – but the New Orleans singer-guitarist BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford Engage and August Burns Red. They’re joined by SPOTLIGHT JAM: The White House – Sparky Raybans and expressions of sullen boredom.
WEDNESDAY 16th
has made her life into music, worked through Aylesbury’s Imminent Annihilation, inspired by hosts his monthly bands and jam night, tonight with It’s been an inspiration for generations of
her experiences in songs and stories and over FRIDAY 11th Meshuggah, Machine Head and Lamb of God; local Beard of Destiny, Monk 9 and Then The Jam. BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE SAVAGES: musicians since and none more so than Berlin/
the course of the past two decades has released old-school metallers Doomtrodon, and Aylesbury FOLK JAM: The Half Moon O2 Academy – Raw, visceral garage rocking, blues, Manchester quartet The Underground Youth,
some ten albums and won enough awards to PREMIUM LEISURE + ESTHER JOY: The metalcore merchants Bring the Onslaught. TIM FRIERS & THE MERCENARIES + soul and rock’n’roll from the veteran Florida singer who’ve even borrowed two thirds of their
justify installing a couple of new mantelpieces Bullingdon – Laidback, groove-led slacker funk THE OXFORD SOUL TRAIN: O2 Academy – NOVA KICKS + THE JUNIPER CLUB: St. and bandleader, back in action since 2010 after a name. Unsurprisingly they walk along pop’s
in her Nashville home. After her turbulent and classic 60s psych-pop in the vein of The Kinks, Michael’s Hall, Summertown – Benefit gig for 25 year hiatus, one that’s done nothing to tame his dark side, all reverb and repetition, gothic
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writing songs at the age of 35, her raw, emotive pop singer and producer and former Nightshift O2 Academy KLUB KAKOFANNEY with MARK from former-Space Heroes Of The People person together the influence of The Brian Jonestown
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OBuUllTinLgAdWon + – TOHxREo BxL hAosCt Ka rBetUurLnL vEisTitS to: Ttohwen for fitdoroiuomrsiny Pgnh ctirhlaaetdiirce llspaithneigsate’ sra lSRbauamdmi a,C t`ooProl aHky-oP tshapreir toSatlot,, n ltgehdse Y bbyoa un d gbBreaufxontrgeeer ghaeantsdt i dnErgan wintisno r roMecgokur olraincr owcnoheme snpo adurunistdyot nrcasac ltklos m.L uansiac , eJCnAHdCoIBrKsAe Gm: OTenhLte.D LSiTbEraIrNy +– GJaUckN GNoBlUdsNteNinY l a+u nches Iesnoledncigtarsno f ncroilcamss s ehixceaprl e `frUuimsnideonenrt,a talhinsedt P BIirnriosehns ’ah aMalrbpcuiVmsti,t atsilieon,n gpgelsar iyadinend g CTFrHeeneEt gr PeigE iTn Eth Fe RdoYwEnRst aBiArsN bDar:. The Wheatsheaf –
ill-starred 90s hard rockers Love/Hate, still helmed Like’, after previously touring with Martha. del Ray and Nancy Sinatra for her ability to his latest solo album, `A Tiger Shark…’ (don’t guitarist Miles Cochran. SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon
by sole remaining original member, singer Jizzy THE HOUSE PARTY: The Bullingdon do sad-eyed drama and shift gears instantly ask us to type out the full title, please), the Fixers BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude The Obscure
Pearl, They toured with Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC THE MIGHTY REDOX + ANTON BARBEAU from dulcet croon to startling shriek. Her BLUES JAM: The Catherine Wheel, Sandford
frontman taking the pop path least expected, his
and Skid Row, but a volatile line-up and myriad & THE THRUST: The Black Swan – Swamp commanding onstage persona proves she’s her
psychedelic noise taking diversions via Flaming THURSDAY 17th
record company fall-outs stymied any chance of blues, festival funk, psych-pop and more from local own person though and while she’s previously FRIDAY 18th
wider commercial success. They’re joined tonight veterans The Mighty Redox, alongside psychedelic stated – possibly disingenuously – that she’d Lips, Butthole Surfers, Todd Rundgren, Brian THE UNDERGROUND YOUTH + SHOTGUN
by Derby’s full-on blues rockers Doomsday troubadour and honorary Oxfordian Anton B. like Black Honey to remain a secret band, two Wilson and Suzie Quatro along the way. There’s SIX + CIPHERS: The Cellar – Underground by WOOD FESTIVAL: Braziers Park, Ipsden
Outlaws, and biker rock crew Black Bullets. THE OXFORD BEATLES: Old Fire Station years of festival appearances, a tour support to some double Jack action with the brief return of his name, underground by nature – see main
SPORTS TEAM + SEAFOAM + OLD SWING: – Following their tribute to `Sgt. Pepper’, the friends Royal Blood and the imminent release of old band Gunnbunny in support tonight, playing preview THE OXFORD
The Cellar – Angsty, intense millennial post-punk local Beatles acolytes perform `The Studio Years’, a debut album suggest that’s unlikely and indie live for the first time since supporting Sextodecimo ILLEGAL EAGLES: The New Theatre RECORD & CD FAIR
from London newcomers Sports Team. playing the Fab Four’s later material. icon status is Izzy Baxter’s imminent future. in 2014, channelling the heavy-duty downtuned – Eagles tribute.
grunge of Tad and Mudhoney. BLUE ORCHID + PORT ERIN +
STEVE LAMACQ: The Jericho Tavern - An QEII: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Queen tribute. St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE
OXFORD CLASSIC JAZZ: Harcourt Arms – JONNY RACE + OAKLAND ROAD
evening of conversation with the veteran DJ and
Classic jazz and ragtime from the local ensemble, + GOOD CANARY: The Bullingdon – 40 Pembroke St, St Aldates, OX1 1BP
music journalist and lifelong champion of up and SATURDAY 12th
coming bands, talking about his years at NME as playing Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Fats Blues and psych rock from Blue Orchid Saturday 19th May
DAY OF THE DEADBEATS: Isis Farmhouse, Domino and more. at tonight’s It’s All About the Music
well as Radio 1 and 6Music.
Iffley Lock (2-11pm) – Local soul, r’n’b and LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon showcase. 10am-4pm
country rock ensemble The Deadbeat Apostles OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal Blenheim CARTER SAMPSON + JESS
THURSDAY 10th launch their debut album, `Day of the Deadbeats’, IMAR: Nettlebed Folk Club – Lively instrumental AYCOCK + LAUREN BARTH: Fat Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres
UPCYCLED LABEL LAUNCH: Truck Store with an all-day mini-festival on the banks of the Scottish and Irish folk from the Glasgow quintet, Lil’s, Witney – Rootsy Americana Accessories/memoriabillia/books.
(6pm) – Launch night for the local label whose Thames. As well as The Apostles themselves, formed by members of Talisk, RURA, Manran and from much-travelled Oklahoma singer- Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl
roster includes Jay Sunaway, Rosie Caldecott, there are sets from r’n’b/new wave/folk-punk Barrule. songwriter Carter Sampson. www.usrfairs.co.uk
– Opening day of the tenth eco-friendly festival. added burlesque flourish and Latin swing. Who else – Decidedly oddball triple bill of musical SILVERVOID: The Wheatsheaf – OxRox
Treetop Flyers, Yama Warashi, Grace Petrie and to provide local support than The Long Insiders, adventurous – see main preview rock and metal night with Harrow’s Thin
Julie Murphy are among the acts performing over with their midnight surf and rockabilly, Gretch-ing FAIRPORT CONVENTION: Nettlebed Lizzy and AD/DC-influenced heavyweights
the weekend – see main preview it up in the style of The Cramps, Dick Dale, Johnny Folk Club – The Godfathers of English Meansteed back in town alongside Midlands
URBAN VOODOO MACHINE + THE LONG Burnette and Jerry Lee Lewis. folk-rock return to the intimate setting of outfit Disciples of Sin, whose glammy horror-
INSIDERS: The Bullingdon – Exotic and sleazy UPRISING with FLIGHTS OF HELIOS + Nettlebed’s historic folk club for their annual punk is inspired by W.A.S.P, Murder Dolls,
mix of bourbon-soaked gypsy dance, junkyard SELF HELP + THEO + LAKE ACACIA + pre-festival season show. Motley Crue and Alice Cooper
blues, rockabilly, mariachi and folk-punk from LACUNA COMMON: O2 Academy – Another LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon NAOMI SCOTT: The Cellar – The actress
London’s notoriously theatrical gutterhearts, the quality bill of local music from the O2 Academy’s OPEN MIC SESSION: The Royal and singer tours her third EP `Vows’.
ensemble touring their latest album `Hellbound team-up with BBC Introducing in Oxford. Space- Blenheim RUBIX BRISTOL TAKEOVER: The
Hymns’, written and recorded in the wake of the age electro-pop, folktronica and self-described Cellar – Reggae, jungle and drum&bass club
death of two of their bandmates, including guitarist griefcore from Flights of Helios, alongside Monday 21st TUESDAY 22nd night hosted by Rubix with Bristol’s Garda,
and former Flesh For Lulu frontman Nick Marsh. exuberant garage pop and punk from Self Help; Fat Stash and Traction taking over the decks,
FATHER MURPHY ADAM BARNES + GITTA DE RITTER
Frontman Pau-Ronney Angel channels his inner delicately soulful electro-pop from recent Kele alongside Belgium’s The Deeper Way and
+ THE IDLE WOMEN: Old Fire Station
Tom Waits as the band party in the style of The Okereke support Theo; post-grunge rocking from residents.
/ LUCY LEAVE / – Tender-hearted musical melancholy from
Pogues, Johnny Cash and Johnny Thunders, with an Lake Acacia, and dirty, energetic, bluesy garage- LITTLE RED: The Jericho Tavern –
Adam Barnes, leavening his reflection,
rock from Lacuna Common. JACKDAW WITH longing and sorrow with a poetic approach Album launch show for the Oxford/Reading
Friday 18th – Sunday 20th HYMN TO APOLLO + ENJOY ALL HUMANS dark-folk trio and recent Nightshift cover
to songwriting and moments of genuine
+ JOKERS PARADE + GHOUL: The CROWBAR: stars, `Draw Blood’ featuring recent singles
WOOD: Braziers Park euphoria.
Wheatsheaf – Church of the Heavy local rock and `Woebegone’, `Diamond Back’ and `Siren
THE C-BOMB: The Cellar – Sex-positive
Started in 2008 by brothers Robin and Joe metal showcase. The Library disco and feminist party bangers. Song’ and finding a sweet, gothic meeting
Bennett as a response to the floods of 2007 that EYRE LLEW + KID KIN + GHOSTS IN THE In an age where words like alternative and SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The James point between The Wicker Man and O,
devastated Truck Festival as well as much of PHOTOGRAPHS: The Cellar – Epic, Sigur Ros- experimental are bandied about without Street Tavern Brother, Where Art Thou?
the rest of Oxfordshire, WOOD has not only styled sounds from Eyre Llew, back in town after ORPHAN COLOURS: The Cornerstone,
meaning or context, genuine outré bands
established itself in the local calendar since but their excellent set at Ritual Union back in October. Didcot – Country-tinged rocking and
remain a rare treat. Italy’s Father Murphy are WEDNESDAY 23rd
become as much of a pioneer on the festival They’re out on an extensive European tour to Americana from the band formed by members
happy to describe themselves as the sound
scene as Truck was. It was recently given an promote new album `Atelo’ and joined tonight by COCO & THE BUTTERFIELDS: O2 of Ahab and Noah & the Whale, out on tour
of catholic guilt, though there’s little that’s
Outstanding Award by A Greener Festival for its two of Oxford’s best ambient/post-rock acts, Kid Academy – Canterbury’s folk-pop-hip hop and fresh from playing WOOD Festival.
happy about their songs of love, death, religion
dedication to environmental responsibility: one Kin and Ghosts in the Photographs. Rescheduled crew come to town, the band lead by singers KING HAMMOND & THE RUDEBOY
and more death as they mix occultism and
of only two UK festivals to get one. from March. Dulcima Showa and Toma Twyman, who met MAFIA: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Classic ska
funeral marches with wayward psychedelia,
The tenth anniversary finds WOOD continuing SOUL SESSIONS: The Cellar – Disco, soul and on their local busking circuit, the pair’s duets and Two Tone from former Bad Manners
industrial churn and pulse, religious chants
to do what it’s always done so well: host three funk club night. lending a sense of drama to beatbox-driven and Selecter man King Hammond, who’s
days of music that falls loosely into the folk/ STRAIGHT OUTTA COWLEY – FINALE: and the strangest of southern European folk Celtic folk and bluegrass-flavoured pop. also worked with Lee `Scratch’ Perry, Laurel HARCOURT ARMS
music. Here’s where This Heat and Robert
Americana/world/roots fold across various The Bullingdon – Hip hop classics, from Jay-Z to STARBELLY + MERRIMACK P.D. + Aitken and Prince Buster.
Wyatt meets Carl Orff. No surprise that the
stages and tents powered by renewable energy Jurassic 5 and Biggie to Buster Rhymes. JAMIE FELTON: The Wheatsheaf – It’s THE TOM IVEY BAND: Prince of Wales,
trio have collaborated with former Swans siren Saturday May 12th
(used fat, cycle, solar), alongside organic food FLATLANDS + ADAM BARNES: Magoo’s All About the Music showcase night. Shippon – Blues, rock and funk covers and
Jarboe and toured with Deerhoof, or that they
and drink, compostable toilets, workshops, Bar, Henley – Melodic and grungy punk-pop from RISE & CUNTRY LIVING: The Cellar originals. 40's Revival
released a four-sided vinyl EP that needed
talks, kids activities and more, while again Flatlands alongside poetic musical melancholy from – House and electro club night with rising
each side to be played concurrent to others to
celebrating an icon of British wildlife – this Mr Barnes, playing songs from his recent `Vacancy young south London DJ and producer Mallard SATURDAY 26th Night 
make sense. Sadly this is their farewell tour, so
year’s is The Year of the Water Vole. at NASA’ album. make sure you get your wyrd rock (cruci)fix on the decks. Benefit night for environmental COMMON PEOPLE: South Park – The
charity Rise and local feminist zine Cuntry
Among the musical highlights is a return to before they call it a day. Superlative support in Jacksons, The New Power Generation, Aswad
Braziers for London’s delicate 60s-flavoured SATURDAY 19th the form of local post-punk/jazz-rock oddballs Living. and Boney M head up the disco-themed first Monday May 14th
indie folk and Americana crew and previous WOOD FESTIVAL: Braziers Park, Ipsden Lucy Leave, fresh from releasing their debut day of Common People – see main preview Oxford Classic
WOOD headliners TREETOP FLYERS; FAREWELL ALL-DAYER: The Bear & Bean – album, Cardiacs, Deerhoof, Soft Machine THURSDAY 24th DISCO SHED COMMON PEOPLE
singer, musician, campaigner and comedian Cowley Road’s coolest coffee shop sadly bows out and Minutemen colliding sideways on with THE SHIRES: The New Theatre – AFTERPARTY: The Bullingdon – Count Jazz
GRACE PETRIE, who has recently toured but on a noisy high with a full day of free live music an oblique approach to rhythm and melody Authentic Nashville-style country out of Skylarkin’ and his Disco Shed chums host
with Billy Bragg and Emmy the Great, as and DJs. From 3pm there’s punk and noise from the to make for one of the most inventive bands Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire with duo their own after party, with reggae, dancehall,
well as Josie Long and Robin Ince; Bristolian likes of Worry, Fancy Dress Party and Drama Kids, around. And while Father Murphy are bowing Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes becoming the funk, soul, ska and more. Saturday May 26th
Japanese folk dance-influenced art-rock plus loads more to be confirmed. out, former Peel faves Jackdaw With Crowbar first British country act to sign to a major SOUNDER: The Cellar – Deep house and Fat Orange Wolf
collective YAMA WARASHI; Welsh folk MUSICAL MEDICINE with KRYWALD & reformed a few years back after an extended Nashville record label, 2016’s debut album, underground sounds with Finest Wear from
singer JULIE MURPHY; Americana outfit FARRER: The Bullingdon – The monthly funk, hiatus, the Leamington band’s visual approach `Brave’, becoming the first homegrown Nordic Trax and Large Music, plus Damian Finisterre
ORPHAN COLOURS, formed by former disco and house club night hosts Percolate residents to music and gigs having pre-empted much country album to go Top 10. The pair are Charles and Lone Soldier.
members of Ahab and Noah & the Whale; solo Krywald and Farrer for a set of international nu- of today’s multi-media artists. Musically their out on their biggest tour to date to promote METAL TO THE MASSES: The Rosie Caldecott
singer and fiddle player JACKIE OATES; disco and house. spiky, dark-edged Beeheart-inspired blues and third album, `Accidentally on Purpose’, and Wheatsheaf – First semi final of the
local kids songwriter NICK COPE; loved-up GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with DAISY + punk won them cult status among acolytes of doubtless hoping for a hat trick of Number 1s. heavyweight BOTB.
country duo TREVOR MOSS & HANNAH FANCY DRESS PARTY + PET SEMATARY: late night 80s and early 90s alternative radio. THE LEWIS HAMILTON BAND: The FAT ORANGE WOLF + FINISTERRE
LOU and many more, with potential highlight The Wheatsheaf – The monthly live music club Bullingdon – Undoubtedly the fastest rock + ROSIE CALDECOTT: Harcourt Arms Open Mic Every Sunday
of the festival being a set by BENNETT, night hosts dark-hearted emo and punk-pop starlets stage tribute to Led Zep. band on the circuit, brothers Lewis and – Jazz’n’blues from local trio Fat Orange
WILSON, POOLE, WOOD host and Daisy alongside melancholic sulkwave popstrels THE UNDERCOVER HIPPY: The Cellar – Nick Hamilton mixing up blues, rock and Wolf, alongside Newbury’s Finisterre, playing live music at the heart of jericho
Dreaming Spires frontman Robin Bennett joing Fancy Dress Party and gloomy blues vibes from Pet Anthemic reggae vibes and hip hop floor fillers. Americana at tonight’s Haven Club show. covers and originals, and sweet-natured Cranham Terrace Jericho Oxford ox2 6dg
Danny & the Champions of the World’s Danny Sematary, the new solo project from Coldredlight OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms CURSE OF LONO: Fat Lil’s, Witney acoustic folk-pop from Rosie Caldecott. 01865 556669
Wilson, and guitarist/producer Tony Poole for and Le Feye singer/guitarist Gaby-Elise. FOLK JAM: The Half Moon – Dark, cinematic Americana and gothic BUDDY – LEGEND REBORN: The
some CS&N-flavoured Americana. The original DAVE GIBB + THE PARSONS: The Swan southern rocking from the London band, out Cornerstone, Didcot – Tribute to Buddy
spirit of Glastonbury and the free festivals is Inn, Ascott-under-Wychwood – Wychwood Folk on tour. Holly.
MONDAY 21st
alive, and in its own small way it’s here to save Club hosts Scottish singer, guitarist and storyteller CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford DAMN GOOD REASON: Fat Lil’s,
the world. Dave Gibb, mixing traditional songs with his THE MAGIC NUMBERS: The Bullingdon – Community Centre Witney – Blues and rock covers.
own compositions and supported tonight by Irish/ The double brother and sister quartet – Romeo and SPARKY’S NEW MOON: The Half Moon
Wiltshire male/female folk duo The Parsons. Michele Stodart and Angela and Sean Gannon – ACOUSTIC THURSDAY: Jude The SUNDAY 27th
DRIVIN’ SIDEWAYS: The Brewery Tap, make their first visit to Oxford since 2014, returning Obscure
to action to promote new album `Outsiders’, the COMMON PEOPLE: South Park – It’s
Abingdon – Harmonica-led rocking blues covers.
F.U.D.: The Old Anchor Inn, Abingdon – Classic follow-up to 2014’s `Alias’, continuing to balance FRIDAY 25th indie day at Common People, with Ride,
joyous 70s-style harmony pop with elegant James, Sparks and Maximo Park on the main
rock covers. melancholy, their once charmingly anachronistic ALBOA + STORYTELLER + FUJI + stage – see main preview
sound increasingly sounding prescient with the CRYSTALLITE + JONNY RACE: The COCAINE PISS: O2 Academy –
SUNDAY 20th advent of Americana’s rebirth. Bullingdon – It’s All About the Music local Simmering and splenetic hardcore, noise-pop
WOOD FESTIVAL: Braziers Park, Ipsden FATHER MURPHY + LUCY LEAVE + bands showcase. and riot grrl from Belgium’s difficult-to-
BOOTLED ZEPPELIN: The New Theatre – Big JACKDAW WITH CROWBAR: The Library MEANSTEED + DISCIPLES OF SIN + forget-the-name Cocaine Piss, touring their
Steve Albini-produced `The Dancer’ album – wired
Oxford music to the world, paving the way for
and wonderful. Shame it coincides with Common
Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals and others. After
People – be great to see them on the same bill as
their emotional reunion show at the O2 Academy
Drore and Worry.
in 2015, and last year’s return to The New
SIMPLE with OR:LA: The Bullingdon – Acid
Theatre, South Park feels like the natural next step
and techno bangers from Northern Ireland-via-
up as the band re-establish their rock crown. From
Liverpool producer and DJ Or:la, founder of the
`Drive Blind’ and Chelsea Girl’ through to `Charm
Deep Sea Frequency label.
Assault’ and `Pulsar’, they’re as immersive a
OPEN MIC SESSION: Harcourt Arms
spectacle as rock music gets.
FOLK JAM: The Half Moon
Sunday’s impressive line-up also features a
MONDAY 28th
seriously rare treat in the form of SPARKS, who
Nightshift has wanted to see live for as long as we LIVE JAZZ SESSION: The Bullingdon
can remember. Ron and Russell Mael’s quirky,
acerbic art-rock band have been in a league of TUESDAY 29th
their own since the early 70s – from hits like SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS: The James
Saturday 26th / Sunday 27th `This Town Ain’t Big Enough For the Both of Us’ Street Tavern
and `Number 1 Song In Heaven’, through to last
COMMON PEOPLE:
year’s comeback album `Hippopotamus’, which
WEDNESDAY 30th
went Top 10 in the UK, the duo always far more
South Park AVI BUFFALO + LOWPINS: The Jericho
successful over here than in their native USA.
Tavern – Avi Zahner-Isenburg returns to live
While previous festivals in South Park seem to Glasgow’s superb garage-pop duo
performance after taking time out of his band to
have been cursed (anyone remember Summer HONEYBLOOD add more guitar noise to
concentrate on producing other acts, the Californian
Fayre or Oxford Oxford? No, because they never Sunday’s line-up, while CRAIG CHARLES
songsmith’s cracked, reedy voice and rootsy
even went ahead), Common People has proved brings the funk and soul. There’s lo-fi house from
psychedelia reminiscent of Flaming Lips, Built To
how to get things right and now, in its third year, ROSS FROM FRIENDS; THE LONDON
Spill and even Fleet Foxes at time.
already feels like an established part of the local AFRICAN GOSPEL CHOIR perform Paul
DUCKING PUNCHES + WE BLESS THIS
music calendar. Simon’s `Gracelands’ in its entirety; ELVANA
MESS + ASH LEWIS: The Wheatsheaf – Indie-
Its mix of big name acts and a strong local provide the necessary Elvis-fronted Nirvana
punk from Norwich’s Ducking Punches, touring
line-up means it feels like a big event but also tribute, and LOW ISLAND make the move from
their new `Alamort’ album.
a community one. The fact it’s enjoyed great the Uncommon stage last year to the main stage,
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: The Cellar
weather in its first two years hasn’t done it any proving they are an Oxford band on the rise.
GALICIAN MUSIC SESSION: James Street
harm either.
Tavern – Traditional music from northern Spain.
Talking of the Uncommon stage, Nightshift is
So, the difficult third? Not at all, as this year’s once again proud to host the local bands stage,
Common People has both a good selection of star with a hopefully eclectic line-up that takes in THURSDAY 31st
names, and a more cohesive main stage line-up hardcore punk; atmospheric electro-pop; hip CINDER WELL with ROSIE CALDECOTT:
than last year. hop and r’n’b; post-rock; alt.country; Brechtian Truck Store (6pm) – Dark folk from Amelia
Saturday has been designated Disco Day – baroque pop; Egyptian and Turkish folk dance Baker, also of Californian anarcho-folk-punk outfit
complete with the world’s largest disco ball and a fair few things in between and beyond. Blackbird Raum, on tour in the UK to promote new
on site, which will doubtless do battle with the This month’s Nightshift cover stars INNER album ‘The Unconscious Echo’.
world’s largest bouncy castle. Heading the bill PEACE RECORDS join country/soul collective SPACE ELEVATOR: The Bullingdon – Polished
are THE JACKSONS, whose enviable hitlist DEADBEAT APOSTLES atop Saturday’s line- 80s-style stadium rocking and glam from the band
includes `Can You Feel It’; `Blame It On The up and are joined by TIGER MENDOZA; THE formed by guitarist David Young from the We
Boogie’; `I Want You Back’; `ABC’, and `Wanna AUGUST LIST; CANDY SAYS; DEATH OF Will Rock You West End musical, unsurprisingly
Be Startin’ Somethin’’. Feelgood pop gems from THE MAIDEN; EARINADE; LAIMA BITE; inspired by Queen as well as The Darkness, Heart
start to finish. PREMIUM LEISURE and WORRY. Sunday and Fleetwood Mac.
Prince could probably match The Jacksons on that features a headline set from recent cover stars BENNETT WILSON POOLE: St Barnabas
score, and while he’s tragically no longer with us, BRICKWORK LIZARDS, who are joined by Church – Album launch gig for Dreaming Spires
THE NEW POWER GENERATION continue THE GREAT WESTERN TEARS; DRORE; frontman (and Truck and WOOD Festivals founder)
his legacy, with typically virtuoso runs through of MSRY; LUCY LEAVE; YOUNG WOMEN’S Robin Bennett; Danny Wilson from Danny &
`Sign O’ The Times’; `U Got The Look’; `Nothing MUSIC PROJECT; HAZE; 31 HOURS; the Champions of the World, and producer and
Compares 2 U’; `Raspberry Beret’ and more, so GHOSTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, and 12-string Rickenbacker player Tony Poole, the trio’s
really, what are you doing sitting there reading this SELF HELP. Quality from start to finish, so pop eponymous debut mixing up their love for Crosby,
when you could be out on the dancefloor? in and see the cream of the local scene in action. Stills and Nash with an occasional earthy bluegrass
Elsewhere on Saturday there’s more classic 70s feel and sweet three-way harmonies.
disco from BONEY M, from `Rasputin’ and `Ma And there’s even more talent in action in the ZED PENGUIN + EGRETS + GHOSTS
Baker’ to `Brown Girl in the Ring’ and `Rivers of dance tent and in the legendary Disco Shed, IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS: The Library
Babylon’; soulful trip hop from MORCHEEBA; with sets from NATTY MARK; SIR SAMBO – Impossible to pigeonhole, taut, theatrical,
classic British reggae from London veterans SOUND; EM WILLIAMS; WHITE MAGIC; sometimes awkward post-punk from Edinburgh’s
ASWAD; house-friendly rappers THE JUNGLE COUNT SKYLARKIN’; NICK & NELLY’S Zed Penguin, lead by Aussie ex-pat Matthew
BROTHERS; raga DJ GENERAL LEVY; potty- ZODIAC DISCOTEQUE; PEEPSHOW Winter, the band’s sounds touching base with
mouthed Latino funk and hip hop crew CUBAN PADDY; BOSSAPHONIK DAN, and loads Modest Mouse, My Bloody Valentine, Joseph K
BROTHERS, and Devon drum&bass duo FRED more. and Captain Beehfheart at various points, but rarely
V & GRAFIX. Throw in The Pig’s Big Ballroom, hosting all sitting still long enough to get a firm fix. Support
manner of vintage sounds, from TERRY & at tonight’s Divine Schism show comes from
Sunday’s line-up brings indie more to the fore, JERRY to VOTE PEDRO; a kids area; a gin 90s-inspired post hardcore/shoegaze crew Egrets
with headline sets from JAMES and RIDE. festival; circus skills; carnival dance classes and cinematic post-rock instrumentalists Ghosts in
The Manchester heroes’ euphoric guitar pop is and… hang, did someone say gin festival? This the Photographs.
perfectly suited to a festival crowd, and if `Sit is going to get messy. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING: The Black
Down’ is the inevitable mass singalong, it’s the Swan – Free live music session.
likes of `Sometimes’, `Come Home’ and `She’s This is also going to be bloody brilliant. Don’t
A Star’ that have made them such an enduring forget to visit the local stage and don’t forget to
Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for
success. buy us gin.
inclusion is the 20th of each month, no
Ride’s set will be something of a triumphant Full line-up and ticket details at:
exceptions. Listings are copyright of Nightshift
homecoming for the band who more than any took oxford.commonpeople.net
and may not be used without permission.