Sounds Around Town with Dave Franklin (From This Is Wiltshire)

Sounds Around Town with Dave Franklin

11:02am Thursday 26th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)

So here it is, the thirteenth instalment of my musings and recommendations, which is bad news if you are one of those superstitious types but good news if you are looking for something musical to entertain you this week - touch wood.

Miller Anderson may sound like an upper class gentlemens’ outfitters, but he is actually a top guitarist who has graced the ranks of such stalwarts as Chicken Shack, Mountain, The Spenser Davis Group and many more. Catch Glasgow’s favourite son at the Victoria tonight.

One of my favourite acts of recent times is over from Dallas in his continued mission to turn heartbreak into popular song; witness Tommy Hale at the Beehive. However if you don’t manage to catch this glorious roots Americana show tonight, he is also opening up for none other than Tyla and The Dogs D’Amour at the Crown in Faringdon on Saturday as well. Rock and Roll debauchery, for one night only.

Out in the sticks, Debbie Giles’ Midnight Train pulls into the Riffs Bar station as well tonight to deliver a mix of funky rhythms and blues standards.

Friday has more metal than Coopers scrap yard, with American Black Metallers Abigail Williams and Viatrophy at the Furnace plus Seregon and Traitor Born at Riffs Bar. For something a bit more nostalgic, The Small Fakers swing by the 12 Bar to recreate the seminal and sensational sixties sounds of Steve Marriott’s Small Faces. So if you happen to “feel inclined to blow your mind, Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun”, there is only one place to be. Support comes from Jordan, Ricky and Nick, ex- members of The Heys and The 211.

Off on a geographical tangent for a moment, just to say that those awfully nice people at Hilldrop Records have a night of “wistful folk” at Azuza in Marlborough. The sweetly crazed and slightly chilling sound of Nicholas Stevenson heads a musical smorgasbord that also features the overly talented Lucas Wilde and the ethereal vibes of Zoë Mead and her band.

And now a topical joke. What’s the difference between a savings bond and a folk singer? Savings bonds accrue interest and they mature over time! Sorry, too easy.

Back in town and the Melo-D’s, Rocket Box and The Chartists play the Victoria, and in the blast from the past department the Oasis has not only the legend that is …Lulu, but also Chaka Khan and Anastacia. Blimey!

Saturday seems to be all about tribute acts - again - so this week I will instead give a shout out to the Destination Anywhere Club Night with local DJs playing Motown, Northern Soul and Reggae at the Victoria.

I normally think club nights are to music what the Etch-a-sketch is to art, but this night is certainly an exception and worth whiling away a few hours at.

Over at Riffs Bar it’s all about the Rolling Zones and if you can’t work out what it is they do then you should stay in and watch X-Factor.

Continuing the big names that seem to be flocking to the Oasis these days, Sunday sees Alice Cooper’s Theatre of Death Tour descend on the town with the Sex Pistols/Def Leppard amalgam that is Man Raze in support.

Monday sees something a bit different at the Victoria in the form of a drum master class from Colin Woolway. Founder of the Drumsense teaching program and contributor to Rhythm Magazine, this is one that the tub thumpers of the community should not miss.

Anyone who caught ex-Seahorses front man Chris Helme the last time he was in town will be heading up the Victoria on Tuesday to experience great songs and wonderful between song banter. The Right Hooks are opening up the show. And the week rounds off with the emotionally injected roots sounds of Briana Hardyman at the Beehive.

Right, after trying to get my head around all of that quality music, I’m off for a swift sherry and an early night.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)