SPRING

2017

FREE
30TH
ISSUE

SLOWDIVE
SPEAK AHEAD OF OXFORD SHOW

INSIDE: THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, NICK CAVE

GAZ COOMBES, THE MOONLANDINGZ, GORILLAZ
SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE 2017 & MORE
 OMS30

MUSIC NEWS
June 1 has folk artist Sam Lee who was
nominated for the Mercury Prize. Sam
travelled around Britain collecting material
from the traveller community and has put his
findings to song for his last 2 albums. Tickets
are available from tigmus.com.

A slot supporting Bon Jovi or Guns N Roses

is the stuff of dreams for a band, right? Well
that’s exactly what local rockers, the previous
The lauded Scottish folk singer / songwriter members of Charlie Coombes’ New Breed
James Yorkston heads to Marston for the Jake Roos and Dave Ashworth have just done,
Irregular Folk Summer Sessions 1 dayer backing up ‘Shire – dwelling country - rock
on Saturday July 1. He has joined up with crooner Beth Thornton (beththorntonmusic.
jazz bassist Jon Thorne and sarangi master com), providing support to Bon Jovi at the
Suhail Yusuf Khan to fuse folk, jazz and Indian 20,000 capacity Air Canada centre in Toronto
sounds, their Neuk Wight Dehli All – Stars – even met the man himself.
album is on Domino Records. Joining them
will be Oakland’s experimental beats outfit Go
Dark (pictured) which features innovative rap
artist Doseone – an exclusive sighting this,
and Ralfe Band frontman Oli. The Summer
Sessions will happen in and around the
Victoria Arms pub in Marston.
For full lineup and ticket information, head to
irregularfolk.co.uk

Safe to say it’s been a year of ups and downs

for Oxford’s globe trotting Glass Animals.
They recently played the biggest headlining
gig of their career to 5000 ecstatic punters
at the Brixton Academy, along the way Similarly, riff-friendly pop / thrash merchants
completely selling out their UK, Europe Otherkin (pictured), whom you may have
and the US dates. Your next chance to see witnessed warming up for The Amazons at
them in action is at Latitude Festival in July, the Bullingdon recently have their dream date
and Reading and Leeds in August. On the coming up; with the aforementioned GnR
downside, frontman Dave Bayley fell off the playing to 80,000 people at Slane Castle in
stage at a gig in Chile, carried on performing, Ireland. Two days before this you can see
but discovered later that he’d broken his leg. them at the Cellar, headlining in their own
Thankfully, no gigs have had to be cancelled, right on May 25.
just no dancing on doctors orders. Apparently
they are trying to patent a discoball medical Trevor Williams makes tireless efforts to
boot. raise funds for and build awareness of, great
causes like MIND and Restore, has recorded
Gigs don’t come much grander than at the a new album, entitled The Start Line which is
Sheldonian Theatre, and esoterica is the name available this month. He has 2 shows coming
of the game with these two shows. First up up – at Wittstock Festival at Harlequins Rugby
is Nusrat’s (a huge influence on the likes of Club on Saturday May 20 and a free gig at the
Richard Thomson and Jeff Buckley) grandson Mad Hatter on Iffley Road on Wednesday
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, a household name in May 24. Listen at trevwilliams.co.uk
South Asian Qawwali folk world who appears
on Thursday May 25.
(Over)
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OMS30

MUSIC NEWS present

Similarly charitable, Saturday July 1 sees The

Kids Are Alright 5, a smorgasbord of local
sounds in the mini - amphitheatre on the top
DAY Tom Clarke
of Said Business School. Music runs from WEE AND
the afternoon into the night, including The TICKEKTEND U K T O U R 2 0 1 7
SALE NS ON
August List, Deadbeat Apostles, Chasing
Daylight, Loud Mountains, Les Clochards and
OW! 2nd - 4th June 2017 from The Enemy
The Shapes. The festival raised a tremendous
Cheltenham Racecourse
£2,500 for children’s’ charities last year. acoustically celebrates 10 years of
Tickets are £10 from WGT or Truck Store.

The Undertones are the surprise headliners,

albeit sans Feargal, at the 11th annual Witney Nominated “Best Family Festival” Every Year We’ll live and
Music Festival this year. There really is
something for everyone around the town over Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
die in these towns
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

the 18 days, with the main event at the Leys

on June 10. Acts include The Undertones,
Levellers | Buzzcocks | Billy Bragg
Inflatables, Kanadia and Little Brother Eli. The Strypes | The Dhol Foundation WANDERING WIRES

Another firm Bank Holiday staple is the all-

dayer at Cogges which boasts superlative
Aswad | Katy Ashworth (from Cbeebies!)
27.06 O2 Academy2 Oxford 16 MAY 2017
country rock from Ags Connolly, acoustic pop
from Genevieve Miles, rootsy folk rock from
Zac Abel | Jesus Jones | Thrill Collins
Ticketweb.co.uk
O2 ACADEMY 2 OXFORD
Kelly Oliver and more. The festival runs from
Smoove & Turrell | Electric Swing Circus LIVENATION.CO.UK - TICKETWEB.CO.UK
A LIVE NATION & ACADEMY EVENTS PRESENTATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH WORMFOOD

May 26 to June 11. The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band

For the full lineup, visit Beans on Toast | Let’s Eat Grandma
witneymusicfestival.co.uk
Kanda Bongo Man | InHeaven | Cabbage
Local residents may report strange Richter - Professor Elemental | CC Smugglers
bothering rumbling emanating from Abingdon
United’s ground in August. Oxrox Alive 2017, is The East Pointers | Murray Lachlan Young THE MISSION PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
a 2 day indoor heavy rock fest on 4-5 August. Big Boy Bloater | Aaron Keylock THE SKELETAL FAMILY · PAULINE MURRAY
This year’s headliners are Blaze Bayley, Guns
2 Roses and the mighty Desert Storm, with 21 and many more!
bands ranging from a heavy to an even heavier Fun for everyone-100 artists on 4 stages, 100 workshops
persuasion. Hurry to grab a ticket as the and activities for all ages. Comedy, kids literature festival,
capacity is limited to 250. Camping is available. speakeasy, Real Ale festival, The Headphone Disco,
For full lineup and ticket info go to idyllic camping, all in an intimate setting, plus loads more!
oxroxalive.co.uk
Under 5s & parking free. For more information and to book, please visit:
OMS is published 4 times a year, every May,
September, November, February. We are always on
www.wychwoodfestival.com
the lookout for people to contribute – mainly gig
and music reviewers so get in touch at the OMS
Facebook page or on Twitter @omsmagazine. Please
send news and music links for review to below email
address.
Oxfordshire Music Scene is published by Back & to
the Left Publishing Contact: back2left@gmail.com
ANOTHER FALL FROM GRACE TOUR 2017
Editor: Stewart Garden / Design by: Autumn Neagle.
THURSDAY 18TH MAY
Thanks to all the contributors: Richard Brabin, Leo
O2 ACADEMY OXFORD
Bowder, Jake Smalls, Russell Brown, Tom Jowett,
Hugh Garrety, Autumn Neagle, Miles Walkden, Helen TICKETWEB.CO.UK · THEMISSIONUK.COM

Messenger, Vicki Bailey, Liz Green, John Blunt. AN ANGER MANAGEMENT & ACADEMY EVENTS PRESENTATION
BY ARRANGEMENT WITH PRIMARY TALENT INTERNATIONAL

4 5
FESTIVALS
OMS30

BIG FEASTIVAL
KINGHAM
August 25 - 27
Olly Murs, Madness, The Cribs,
De La Soul, Norman Jay,
Ella Eyre
thebigfeastival.com
WOOD
Braziers Park
May 19 - 21
Magic Numbers, CC Smugglers, CHEROKII TOWERSEY
Blue Rose Code, Brent Cobb
woodfestival.com Every year the good and the great, the Don’t miss this riotous TOWERSEY VILLAGE
local two-piece, playing August 25 - 28
past, present and soon-to-be of the at Common People & KT Tunstall, Eliza Carthy, Newton
COMMON PEOPLE
South Parks music world set their GPS controls for Wychwood. Felix and Jack Faulkner, Foy Vance, Jon Boden
share their best ever festival towerseyfestival.com
May 27 - 28 the heart of Oxfordshire. Here’s what’s experiences – on and off
Sean Paul, Saint Etienne,
Rag n Bone Man, Wild Beasts, in store! stage.

Nightshift Uncommon stage, • Topping the Truck stage at Riverside Festival last year
Coldredlight, Foals DJ set to an awesome crowd. FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY
ROB DA BANK - COMMON PEOPLE
oxford.commonpeople.net “The ultimate small city festival with a big heart and huge
• Seeing Vienna Ditto smash the Uncommon Stage at CONVENTION
Common People last year. Cropredy, 10 - 12 August
ambition!” Looking forward to: Rag‘ n’ Bone Man and Pete
• Playing a short but, super intense set at last years Divine Comedy, Petula Clark,
WITNEY MUSIC Tong’s orchestral shindig should be pretty special on Sunday
Cowley Carnival. Fairport & friends, Richard
night! I was the first radio DJ to give Rag a live session on BBC
FESTIVAL Radio and me and Tongy go back years so it will be emotional.
• Watching Radiohead headline and blow Reading Thompson, Show of Hands
The Leys, / Various Festival 2009 away, opening with Creep. Utterly fairportconvention.com
Most pleased about booking: I’m really excited about seeing
May 26 - June 11 brilliant!
Wild Beasts but, in so far as a coup, getting The Selecter and
The Undertones, Doctor & The Beat to play one after the other will be a huge afternoon for
• Playing and supporting The Oxford Beard Festival
the Medics, Ags Connelly, the ska and reggae heads. Changes from last year: A bit bigger
which is wicked fun and a great laugh. WILDERNESS
Little Brother Eli Cornbury Park, Charlbury
maybe but only so there’ s more space to dance. Any time there’s great company, good music and a little
witneymusicfestival.co.uk August 3 - 6
sunshine... those things make a festival!
Two Door Cinema Club,
Michael Kiwanuka, First Aid Kit,
WYCHWOOD Bonobo, Grace Jones
Cheltenham Racecourse, WILDERNESS Toots & the Maytals
June 2 - 4 Most excited about: Seeing Bonobo, who is always astonishing, wildernessfestival.com
Buzzcocks, OMD, The Levellers, and Ray BLK, who we are slightly in love with. Toots & The
Billy Bragg, The Strypes, Jesus Maytals for singing along, big brass party songs on The Carousel,
Jones, Kanda Bongo Man or straight up stars like Grace Jones. New things: Our newest
wychwoodfestival.com stage The Love Hotel. Not to mention a one-off collaboration IRREGULAR FOLK
with famed light artist Chris Levine with a show designed SUMMER SESSION
especially for Saturday night. Top 3 Wilderness moments: Goldie The Victoria Arms, Marston
TANDEM closed The Valley last year with everyone screaming, with hands-
July 1
Lower Farm, Ramsden in-the-air joy. The Saturday Night Spectacle in 2015 where we
Go Dark, Ralfe Band
June 16 - 18 suspended 52 audience volunteers from a crane as part of a
James Yorkson
The Moulettes + art, talks, Human Net. The best ever year of streakers at the Wilderness irregularfolk.co.uk
theatre, workshops, crafts Cricket Match last year on Sunday. Photos: Left, Riverside.
tandemcollective.org Above, Cornbury; Top, Wychwood

TRUCK HALFWAY TO
COWLEY ROAD CORNBURY
Hill Farm, Steventon, RIVERSIDE
2000 TREES SEVENTY - FIVE
CARNIVAL July 21 - 23 Mill Field, Charlbury
Withington, the Cotswolds Great Tew Park The Libertines, The Vaccines, Isis Farmhouse Pub, July 29 July 29 - 30
ford July 2 July 6, 7, 8 July 7 - 9
Various, East Ox The Wombats, Slaves, Franz Little Brother Eli, Rachel Laven, Knights of Zurich, Brightworks, Knights
Processio n an d stages Slaves, Mallory Knox, Honey Bryan Adams, Pretenders, Ferdinand, The Moonlandingz,
Mentis, Rosellys, Jonny Payne,
of Mentis, Prohibition Smokers
o.ukal.c Deadbeat Apostles, Nick Cope
cowleyroadcarniv Blood, Pulled Apart by Horses, Kaiser Chiefs, Imelda May, Idris Elba, British Sea Power riversidefestival.charlbury.com
halfwayto75.com
Gnarwolves Scouting for Girls truckfestival.com
twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk cornburyfestival.com
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OMS30

HUGH PHILMORE – CORNBURY

Top 5 musical moments ever: Joe Cocker in 2005 – gave
an incredible performance including some rather scary stage
jumps. Elvis Costello – dedicating a very emotional Shipbuilding
to the victims of 7/7 in 2005. Robert Plant – a scorching Whole Lotta Love closing
his performance in 2006. Echo & The Bunnymen – awesome version of Lips Like Sugar in a
very smoky second stage in 2008. The Faces with Mick Hucknall – Stay With Me – perfectly
shambolic version of the classic with Mick doing a pretty good imitation of Rod Stewart. Excited
about seeing this year: I think Bryan Adams will be pretty amazing – every song a hit. The Kaiser
Chiefs who I’ve never seen – Pretenders, Imelda, Jack Savoretti – and also the newer stuff – Lee
Fields, The Expressions, St.Paul & The Broken Bones. Right Said Fred are really good live too!

GRAEME MERIFIELD – WYCHWOOD

What are you looking forward to: The Strypes, and OMD, plus the return of Wychwood favourites
Billy Bragg and the Dhol Foundation. New things to look out for: We’re increasing entertainment
in The Green, with late night music around the fire pit, a speakeasy with Murray Lachlan Young,
giving late night revellers more choice alongside the headphone disco & comedy stage.
Best Wychwood moments ever: It’s usually the most hair-raising moments that stick in my mind...
Mory Kante in the first year refusing to get on his flight from Paris, as they wouldn’t let him take
his kora on, and making his own way to the festival arriving on site 2
minutes before being due to go on. Customers in pantomime horse get
- ups trying to out run our security down the racecourse.

ANDY PICKARD – RIVERSIDE

“An old fashioned festival...no charge to get in, no £6 a pint,
no VIP and no James Blunt” Most excited about: The crowds
pouring through the gates. It never ceases to amaze me about
how many people turn up; in my head not much has changed
since the first Riverside twenty odd years ago. Music wise, it has to be Zurich. They’re
headliners and are just brilliant! New things: The green field and country crafts section
is going to be much bigger this year. Also the theme of the whole festival is bees.

WILL BANKS – HALFWAY TO SEVENTY - FIVE

Most excited about: It’s difficult ... it’s always nice to welcome a
performer from the USA, and Rachel Laven is such an incredible
talent. She’ll be backed by the Rosellys and it’s a performance I’m
really looking forward to. New things: We’ll be going on a Roots
Ramble in between the acts on the main stage!

DEADBEAT APOSTLES’ FESTIVAL SURVIVAL KIT

1 Big black marker pen: To scrub out the middle 5 songs of your set list when you’re running over time
2 Bribes: For your new best friend The Sound Technician so people can hear you
3 Spare pants: Excessive boozing and snacking on steak tartare can put you in jeopardy so be prepared
Deadbeat Apostles are appearing at Wychwood and Halfway To Seventy-Five

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Shine Once More “We wanted to record new music and not be a
OMS30

SLOWDIVE ‘heritage’ band playing only older material”

Which of your older songs get the biggest the first couple of years. They were the best
cheer? When the Sun Hits and Alison.... independent label in the country in our view
and we were pretty kinda starstruck initially. I
Have you re-worked songs or stayed faithful think we were so lucky to be on that label at
to arrangements? the start. When things degenerated within the
By nature with us, playing live - songs always label and then within the band it was pretty
change.... I’m not sure that many of them depressing.
are truly faithful to the recorded versions -
Slowdive is though. Is band life more or less complicated as
you’ve got a bit older with responsibilities?
Which other countries have been most Way more complicated in some ways.
receptive to the band? Becoming a parent is life changing and
In honesty everywhere we have played over everything else comes second for me
the last couple of years have been really great. personally being a mum. I am far happier in
We played Paredes de Coura in Portugal a my forties than I was in my twenties / thirties.
Singer Rachel Goswell talks to OMS about the process couple of years ago which is around 18k Band lifestyle? We are all parents, we’re a
people and the audience response there was pretty sedate bunch, enjoying playing music
of the band reforming, drones at gigs in Russia, the phenomenal. Moscow was really interesting. together and just genuinely enjoying every
The audience was predominantly quite second of it this time round. The angst of the
Creation days and new album. young. There was a little drone flying above past is firmly left there.
the audience and three people wearing the
How has your new material gone down at How would you say your new material same clown mask... Do you ever look back at old press –
shows? compares to previous work? anything you’ve particularly enjoyed / found
We’ve played three new songs live so far - I don’t particularly like to compare the Have you been faithful in using the same funny / particularly hated?
Star Roving, Sugar for the Pill and No Longer different records. It will be in the ear of the equipment? Neil & I have continued to No I don’t look back at anything. I actually
Making Time. So far they have gone down listener to do that. There are nods to Souvlaki use Roland JC120 amps. Nick still uses stopped reading the music press in 1992 here
well. It’s good fun for us playing new material. and Pygmalion but also nods to the future his Stingray bass though has added in a because having met many journalists over
direction of the band. Thunderbird. We had one Yamaha FX500 that period - some good - some awful - my
Did you have to write all new songs? left and tried it in initial rehearsals; however illusions were very firmly shattered. Melody
The album was recorded over an 18 month Was it a quick decision to get back together? technology has moved on so much it was Maker & NME were my bible growing up.
period and somewhat sporadically due to We were offered Primavera in late 2013 - I quickly ditched and I just replaced with a few But I soon realised that too many writers had
everyone’s availability. We did a mixture of went and sang with Neil at a couple of his pedals instead. way bigger egos than any musicians I ever
things - some rehearsals just to play out ideas solo shows in London in October of that year met and I became very disillusioned and
- Neil brought some in, others organically and Nick & Christian came along to the show. Which new bands do you like? disappointed with the whole hierarchy of it all.
grew from just plugging in and playing around. We discussed the possibility of doing that We all really love Ulrika Spacek. They have
and also of doing new music. It was a pretty done a couple of shows with us and we Did you ever find out who did the Slowdive
You’ve had all sorts of pressures when quick decision, yes. We were all at a point in have asked them back for the Oxford show. stencil on the statue in the US [the band had
recording previously – how did the process our personal lives where we all felt able to We had a young band called Twin Palace in some controversy in the US when a statue
for the new album compare? commit to the band and give it another go. Bristol who I’m keeping my eye on. I really like celebrating the end of slavery was stencilled
The process this time round was far more what they are doing and they kinda remind with their name)
relaxed. We had no label to answer to and Was it difficult to get your performances me of us when we were starting out. Ha, no I don’t believe we did!
no time constraints. We decided very early back to where you wanted them to be?
on prior to our first shows in 2014 that we We studied You Tube videos prior to Do you keep up with any of your Creation
wanted to record new music and not be a rehearsals... remembering tunings etc contemporaries eg Ride? Rachel Goswell talking to Stewart Garden
‘heritage’ band playing only older material. was probably the most challenging thing. I’ve enjoyed seeing Ride’s return. I loved the
We spent much of that year just playing Technology has moved on so much in the tours we did together and have some fond
shows and getting familiar again playing music last two decades. I do think we are better live memories. I’m looking forward to hearing
Slowdive appear at the o2
together. We had nothing to lose by trying to now than we were then, without a doubt. their new album. Academy, Oxford June 2.
create new music and decided if we thought Two decades of new guitar pedals, most of us
it was rubbish it wouldn’t see the light of day. continued doing music post Slowdive so have How would you sum up being a Creation act
Their new album Slowdive is
Thankfully things came together over time a wealth of experience gained during that at the time? out now on Dead Oceans
and we are really happy with the record. time which I think makes us better musicians. It was an exciting time to be on Creation in
10 11
 OMS30

WHAT’S IN YOUR RECORD What always makes the journey to a

gig go quicker? Elvis and Roy Orbison

COLLECTION Early morning, back on the road –

what we listening to? Meat Loaf, Metal-
lica, Guns n’ Roses and Wilco.
With Olly Wills from local country ...and after a gig? Black Flag
rockers The Epstein First dance at your wedding was?
Dylan - She Belongs To Me
“Guiltiest pleasure? Listening to The Sound
Which Oxford bands do you
of Music soundtrack with my two kids!” admire? Loving Willie J Healey, The
August List, Ags Connolly and The Great
Are you vinyl, MP3, stream or CD? Increasingly I listen to music
Western Tears at the minute but we are
on all formats. With a great record player at home and a pretty
so lucky to have such a rich heritage of
decent collection I do try to keep a regular turnover of vinyl in
great music in the city.
my life but there is just so much music out there, combining it
all really gives you a never ending library of choices.
Guiltiest pleasure in your collection
Listening to The Sound of Music
What was the first and last record you bought? Aerosmith - Big
soundtrack with my two kids!
Ones – and the last, Ags Connolly’s new album Nothin’ Unex-
pected – which is a stunning record.
See The Epstein with Vienna Ditto,
Where do you buy your records? When The Epstein were tour- Zaia, Balkan Wanderers, Shaodow,
ing Europe a lot we all spent a fair amount of time - and money The Shapes and many more at
- in record shops in The Netherlands and Germany where there Nightshift magazine’s Uncommon
are some amazing emporiums of music. In Oxford it is Truck stage at Common People, South
and in Witney, Rapture... we are so lucky to have these amazing Park May 27 - 28
record shops on our doorstep.

What is your most prized possession – what’s the rarest?

Prized - Bruce Springsteen The River and a very old John Lee
Hooker record. Rarest - A couple of Scott Joplin records from
the ‘60’s.

We’re coming round for dinner – what’s on the stereo?

Dylan - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Soundtrack, The Band, Bonnie
Prince Billy, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Ry Cooder’s Paris
Texas, Father John Misty and the Once Upon a Time in America
soundtrack.

You have to leave your house in a hurry – you can take one re-
cord –what is it? Probably Pat Garrett or Paris Texas. Both those
records take me to another place instantly.

Favourite producer and why? Glyn Johns is right at the top of

the list... having worked with Led Zep, The Stones, The Who and
the Small Faces. You could listen to his albums for months and
stay happy!

Favourite sleeve ever and why? The Basement Tapes – Dylan

and the Band. Such an evocative shot... imagine being in that
room with all those characters!

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LIVE LIVE
OMS30

THE JESUS CHEROKII

& MARY Fat Lil’s
CHAIN Sombreros, go-faster stripes, gleaming white
guitars and big hair & beards – rock duo

o2 Academy Cherokii clearly raided their mum’s dressing-

up box and cherry-picked a belting new outfit
from the glittering carcass of rock’ n roll.
Oxford Quickly carving out their own niche - recently
supporting ham-rockers Electric Six and
One week after the release of Damage and album tracks from across their rich catalogue. popping up at choice gigs and festivals all over
Joy, their first album of new(ish) material The pulsating All Things Must Pass stood out, town, the likeable lads have tickled the fancy
since 1998, the Jesus & Mary Chain rode into a song they debuted on their live reformation of promoters and music lovers everywhere.
Oxford. The Reid Brothers may lack some of in 2007, but only now included on a studio The crowd instantly warms to their infectious
the onstage belligerence of earlier years with
most of Jim’s minimal chat being apologies
album. Reverence, with its pounding
dancefloor beat, still has the power to shock
THE energy. Singer Jack storms through the
set like a glam rock Ed Sheeran/Jethro Tull
about songs needing a better singer (they
don’t) and the false start to Head On. William
and awe after all these years, with an animated
Jim crooning the infamous “I wanna die” MOONLANDINGZ morphed on Red Bull, as – keeping with folk-
tradition of bashing out a quick acoustic in
prefers to let his guitar do the talking, and refrains surrounded by dry ice. Some Candy the crowd – drummer Felix hurls his drum to
what a mighty sound it makes, with a strong Talking was also a highlight, its classic mix of The Bullingdon other end of the venue and smashes the living
daylights out of it.
rhythm section, including Oxford’s own Mark girl band hooks and thunderous noise forever
Crozer on bass, putting the Academy’s sound enthralling, while the new War On Peace is “He’s out-back wrapping himself in cling- An epic rendition of recent single Hurricane
system to the test. a perfect closing track, the delicate ballad film..” is the talk at the door, setting a suitably spells it out, “This sound’s coming down like
The set had something for everyone; ascending into a joyous, squalling thrash. Withnail-esque scene as the capacity crowd a hurricane’ – be sure and buckle up for the
selections from the new album blending A more than fitting ending. (RB) ramps-up for Lias Saoudi and his inglorious ride. (AN)
seamlessly with singles and fan - friendly Photo by Helen Messenger
rock-horror circus.
Hype abounds as half of punk’s great hope,
The Fat White Family, return with concept folly
The Moonlandingz, following collaborations
GAZ COOMBES WILLIE J HEALEY with performance art icon Yoko Ono and
Sean Lennon. It’s no secret they broke The

The Jericho The Bullingdon

Bullingdon with a bake-off orgy last time
around, so frankly we can’t wait to see what
happens.
Gaz Coombes is very much the solo artist If hype was ever justified, anticipation ever Taking the stage, they launch headlong into a
these days. He has just surfaced from a necessary and buzz ever warranted, it is for glittering noise assault of cosmic proportions.
six-month stint at the studio with minimal this young man. You can’t take your eyes off the painted
contact, so he’s a little taken aback by the His brief foray back to his home town, spectacle of ringmaster Lias, he’s gone full
rapturous mass of humanity that throngs supporting indie rockers Palace, merely Tropic Thunder straight out of Dismaland.
the Jericho. This sold-out show showcased rubber-stamps his credentials as a musician Life imitates Art, as – smeared with graffiti
material from Matador and Here Come the who will inevitably emerge into the limelight carnage and wrapped in a cellophane
Bombs. He ends on a track so new (arranged, in the coming months and years. Playing cummerbund – Lias rampages through Sweet
on Thursday 1st June
4 hours ago, he says) that he has the lyric bluesy, swaggery, chunky rock and roll, Saturn Mine – “I don’t feel alright”, Glory Hole,
sheet in front of him: a gritty rock’ n’ roller
(possibly called) ‘Oxygen Mask’. Switching
Healey belts through a set of catchy, but
never corny, compositions with all the
the deliciously lewd Velvet Underground
homage Strangle of Anna, and raucous
Sam Lee & Friends
from keys and widdly analogue samplers and conviction of a musician who clearly knows finalé Man In Me Lyfe. + DUOTONE
effects to 3 guitars, his lupine, dynamic voice what he wants out of his music and exactly After an electrifying turn worthy of his anti-
and sound is pristine and full, but you sense how to get it. Not one song in his frustratingly hero Mark E. Smith or Iggy Pop at his best, he at The Sheldonian Theatre
he has more to give. It is, perhaps, telling, short half hour on stage could be considered shrugs endearingly – he’s got the whole thing
that the biggest audience reaction comes an album track, such is the infectious nature covered. (AN) All tickets from
with a banging acoustic version of Strange of Healey’s material to date. tigmus.com/shows/in/oxford
Photo by Miles Walkden
Ones written with his old muckers over 20 With an album soon to be released on
years ago. However, when someone shouts Columbia records, we eagerly await the next
“Alright!” the response is a swift “out!”! (LB) step in his budding career. (RB)

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 LOCAL REVIEWS
OMS30

LIVE DJ DEREK’S SWEET

MEMORY SOUNDS THE AUGUST LIST, RAMSHACKLE TABERNACLE
The Bullingdon Any local show with The August List on the bill usually comes with
a satisfaction guaranteed notice. It’s always a tricky task to convert
Easter Day usually celebrates the resurrection that sort of energy to record, but The August List successfully play
of Jesus, but today, at the Bullingdon Bar, both to their strengths and their limitations as a duo here. From
it celebrates the singular life of DJ Derek, the country-stomp rock opener Old Rip, the album moves from
the septuagenarian legend Bristolian reggae upbeat rambling folk-pop tunes such as on Connie Converse
selector and real ale connoisseur - whose to dark acoustic ballads such as Petrified Forest. They are at
tragic and still mysterious end occurred a year their best when they layer songs with flourishes of omnichord,
ago. The magnificent DJ Wrongtom opens droning harmonium or a ghostly musical saw. They might not be
with an eclectic and grooveworthy set, before pulling up any trees with this release, but their knack for mixing
Laid Blak, also from Bristol, bring the sunny the pastoral with the celestial gives them the edge over the more
sounds with them to a receptive crowd. conservative iterations of Oxford’s Americana scene. (TJ)
Don Letts photo by Leo Bowder

The highlight is Don Letts - he of Punky Reggae Party fame, friend to Bob Marley and the Clash, the
Rebel Dread himself. His selection takes in ska, dub, dubstep and unusual reggae versions - much CO–PILGRIM, MOON LAGOON
as his BBC radio show does. It’s a musical education in itself. Finally we are left in the very capable Co-Pilgrim are a group whose music I associate with homely
hands of Count Skylarkin’ who gives his late DJ friend a worthy send off with all his favourites. matters. Not the homes we live in, but my ideal home. One in
Derek would have loved it. (LB) which a smoggy coal-fed fire warms a perilous log cabin. One
where five unlikely US high school kids repeatedly turn up, only to
be butchered to death by the soft sounds of Americana.
‘I used to come home and put on David
NICK CAVE Bowie live albums and practice my moves
This showpiece album opens with acoustic guitars fed though a
Sunday-lunchtime-appropriate level of crunching distortion. The
with a broomstick. It seemed like a good
Oxford Union career move’.
cabin creaks to Americana that is honest to the bone. By Moon
Lagoon, grandma’s wardrobe has been smashed through a rusty
While most of Oxford is nursing a May He also turns out to be surprisingly iron mangle, with no digital effects to deprive it of its old-time
Morning hangover a lucky few are taking in knowledgeable about rap, revealing, with slight loveliness. Joe Bennett is well known as half of the Dreaming
the soft - spoken Australian crooner’s Union tongue in cheek, ‘I am a f#”*cking authority Spires, and a founder of Truck Festival. But it’s with Co-Pilgrim that
address. The early evening show starts off on rap music’ and that Kanye West’s Yeezus is he has found his voice. (JB)
slightly bizarrely – first question coming the album he wishes he’d written.
from audience member Henry Lee, who A too short glimpse into the world of one of
our finest songwriters and its not as dark as THE LONG INSIDERS, LOVE TORTURED BLUE EP
enquires about the song from 1996. The
Red Right Hand man does ask as to whether some people might think. (SG) This EP is their first recording since the group stripped down to
he was named after it, but sadly it seems a a trio in 2014. The songs, all in a minor key, find henchman Nick
Kenny grumbling over his Gretsch with characteristic b-movie
coincidence. And so we’re off on a range
of topics, including poetry: ‘I’m not sure the BILL KIRCHEN aplomb. Listen to the Dick Dale reverb on True Blue and My Love
and you may believe that the electric guitar was only invented in
songs work as well on the page. I don’t see
myself as a poet but I have stepped into
The Bullingdon order for him to play it. Womankind is voiced with enough venom
that area’. He goes on to the process of to make an office coffee machine spout blood. The group keep
Once the guitar sound of Commander Cody
songwriting, mentioning Dylan and Cohen one foot unapologetically lodged in the 1950s but, while these
and his Lost Planet Airmen and forever the King
as huge influences, ‘Novels, screenwriting, songs may be loaded with retro kitsch, they serve as a permanent
of Diesel - billy. Accompanied by a stellar back-
music for films is all peripheral to the reminder of the timelessness of heartbreak. (JB)
up, Bill played two sets of concentrated magic.
songwriting.’ He is asked about his songs We were treated to Semi-Truck, Think It Over,
being miserable ‘well, they ARE miserable”, All Tore Up and Truck Stop at the End of the LOWWS , CALM WATER
though he does point out the humour in World, wowed by the virtuoso ‘history of music’ Lowws have taken the ‘sounds better with reverb’ mantra to the
them. Another question is about the duets he medley Hot Rod Lincoln and keys-man Austin nth degree by pouring a thick gloop of the stuff all over their new
has performed ‘With Kylie Minogue, I was a de Lone excelled on Dr John’ s Such a Night. EP. Combining spacey textures on top of indie-dance hooks that
fan of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman stuff – Best of all was Back in the Day from Bill’ s most build towards grand crescendos of wall-of-sound guitars, it does
she had a lot of people telling her “don’t’ do recent album Transatlanticana, a little gem of a appear that many tracks have been torn straight from the Spanish
it – it’ll taint your career in an evil way”, but number co- written by Bill’ s daughter. One of Sahara playbook. That is not necessarily a criticism. It so happens
she brought something very beautiful to the the most satisfying musical evenings I’ve spent that Lowws make this play particularly well. Overall, Calm Water is
song.’ On his early life he discloses: in a while. (HG) a very accomplished little exercise in epic. (TJ)
16 17
 OMS30

ACADEMY EVENTS PRESENT

Getting ready for summer

BBC INTRODUCING at a festival near you!
With show Producer Liz Green FEATURING:
Here at BBC Introducing in Oxford we are getting ready for festival season. As I write, we
are currently putting forward our suggestions for this year’s Glastonbury Festival to BBC
Introducing HQ. Glastonbury-hopeful choosing has proved to be very difficult but we have LITTLE BROTHER ELI
LUCY LEAVE
picked two excellent acts that we hope will find favour with the Glasto panel.
Last year synth pop won the day - Oxford’s Esther Joy Lane (pictures) played the Introducing
stage. You can still catch her performance of Spaces on the BBC website bbc.co.uk

COMMON PEOPLE
Speaking of Esther, last year was very busy
for her as she was picked by Rob da Bank to
play the first Common People Festival held in HARRY PANE
GHOSTS IN THE
South Park in Oxford. Alongside her, loads of
Oxfordshire’s finest musicians played on the
Uncommon Stage – the talent expertly picked
by Ronan Munro of Nightshift Magazine.

PHOTOGRAPHS
We had loads of fun at this event with full
coverage on the show – special mention goes
to (BBC Introducing in Oxford’s Act of the
Year) The Young Women’s Music Project who

SLEEPERS’ DOME
put on a great show. We will undoubtedly be
back again this year (27 - 28 May) to interview
the acts and bands who play.

TRUCK SUMMER FESTIVALS

This year we will also be returning to Truck We’ve also got loads of other great
Festival (21 - 23 July) and in exciting news we opportunities for bands to play this summer,

FRIDAY 19TH MAY 2017

will again be hosting our own stage on the we’re taking part in Offbeat Festival (23
Friday which will surely be brimming with our June - 2 July) – hosting a few nights of live
favourite local acts. You can still apply to play music at the Old Fire Station. We’ll have more

O2 ACADEMY2 OXFORD
via their Band App. Please do! The festival is information on this soon!
already sold out so if you haven’t got tickets,
why not listen to the action from the comfort They’ll also be coverage of Henley (5 - 9
of your own home by tuning in to us on the July), Cornbury (7 - 9 July), Cropredy (10 -
Saturday. We will be broadcasting live from
site with exclusive highlights from our stage
12 August) and Towersey Festival (25 - 28
August) across BBC Radio Oxford, so make
DOORS: 7PM / CURFEW: 11PM / TICKETS: £8 ADV
and maybe even a cheeky interview with The
Libertines - who knows?!
sure to tune in every Saturday 8 -9pm to hear BUY FROM BANDS OR TICKETWEB.CO.UK
the very best local music!
18 19
OMS30

LET’S GO DOWN THE STUDIO By Richard Brabin NATIONAL REVIEWS

WITH... ARCA, ARCA ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ACCELERATOR STUDIOS Alejandro Ghersi, the brainchild and single component of Arca,
already has a back catalogue of some of the most imaginative and
provocative work in the field of electronic music. Often sparse and
“It’s small but very professional with a lovely sound and a brutal but always cutting edge, Ghersi’s self titled album is possibly
his most approachable to date. In previous work his schizophrenic,
relaxed atmosphere” ADHD approach meant his music skipped from theme to theme
How long has the studio been After decades playing other in a hurricane of creative output. However in his most recent
going for? peoples’ stuff Ron decided to offering he seems to have slowed his methodology down and
About seven years with my try his hand at songwriting... allows his compositions to breathe more freely. Arca shows a
two predecessors. I don’t think he recorded a mini album musician finding, albeit in a highly contemporary way, melodies
the studio was professionally which has turned out rather and harmonies in the abstract chaos of his music and tracks like
set up or adequately equipped well. Notable is the ‘Brexit Desafío almost contain enough coherence to consider it digestible enough for a mainstream audience.
until I was asked to take it on. Song’a ‘protest’ song of sorts, However, that is not to say that Ghersi’s music is in any way watered down or anodyne as a result, the
I upgraded both hardware and refreshing nowadays when flickers of disorder contrast emphatically with moments of sheer majesty, his thematic, expressive and
software when I took over at artistes are so strictly controlled. expansive work never failing to do anything other than amaze and spellbind.
the back end of last year.
Any particular moments
What’s your favourite bit of of creativity / inspiration FATHER JOHN MISTY, PURE COMEDY
equipment you have? which have happened there? As close to a warrior poet as the 21st century is likely to spew out
The new firewire desk: Allen Actually it’s often strictly comes Josh Tillman aka FJM, a musician who packs melancholic
and Heath Zed R16 – beautiful business when people come storytelling, modern day scepticism and a Sinatra - esque ability to
analogue sound. It also means in to record – they want to add a romping and theatrical chorus line into his alt folk ballads.
we can mix in the traditional Alan Fowler at the controls use the time they’re paying for Although Pure Comedy is a brave and perceptive record, his
way; hands-on a physical desk. as productively as possible – audacious subject matter being humanity, the universe, God and
None of this on-screen ‘virtual’ What bands record / rehearse therefore they usually stick to well... everything else, it fails to quite strum the heartfelt chord we
mixing. The desk converts there? what they’ve rehearsed. That’s know FJM is so capable of. In his previous work Tillman’s confusion
analogue to digital and then We have regular rehearsal probably the best way to do and disorientation with his surroundings is what is truly compelling
back again for mixing down. bands such as Mad Larry, it unless you have the luxury but Pure Comedy shows a different Tillman altogether, a preaching
There is also zero latency when Steamroller, Special Riders, The of unlimited studio time and Father who singles out individuals and societal groups in his fire and
monitoring through hardware Demoiselles plus several solo you can afford to go off on a brimstone sermons. Opinionated and hostile tirades suffocate the
unlike the usual software performers and occasional tangent. record and make it actually surprisingly unpalatable given the accessibility of his previous work. There
method which is the bane of users like the Headington
is still a great deal to enjoy, Tillman’s wit and articulation is something that few possess, and his ability
most studios Hillbillies. It’s taken a little while What do you think is special to act as a protest singer to his own misery is captivating enough to keep Pure Comedy a pleasantly
to build up a decent reputation about your studio? subversive record. (3/5)
What other bits do you use? for recording but its buzzing It’s small but very professional
This would be our main these days. Several clients this with a lovely sound and a
software. We use the industry’s year have recorded CD material relaxed atmosphere. HAPPINESS, WRITE IN
best kept secret: Harrison in addition to the usual demo Write In is the type of album that is something of a rarity these days.
Mixbus running natively on work. With a propensity towards garage rock, obvious comparisons to
Any extra information?
Linux. Some of the best selling such lethargic musical anomalies as Pavement and Sparklehorse are
We’ve been offering discounted
albums of all time eg Thriller, What’s the best song / album not only predictable but relatively accurate. However there is huge
rates this year but we can’t keep
Graceland were recorded using that’s been recorded there – variance in approach throughout the record, the bands persona
it up for long. Currently £180
Harrison consoles. We use the anything been released? seemingly morphing on a song by song basis, and the theme
per day which is extremely
software version of their very The Demoiselles are intending that runs throughout Write In is that of palpable and nauseating
reasonable for what you get.
expensive desks – it mimics the to officially release the five-track claustrophobia, the walls seeming to move ever closer as the
Don’t hesitate to ask – if we
workflow of a traditional desk EP they recorded a few weeks record moves through its meandering structure. This sense of
can help we will. You get good
with lots of sexy features like back. If you like rock on the impending anxiousness holds Write In together impressively and we
value and we care about the
built-in tape saturation. There’s heavy side but melodic they’re are treated to little detours down cul-de-sacs, showcasing not only
end result.
nothing better around at the highly recommended. Ron Happyness’ clear and vibrant mission statement but also glimpses
moment. Wyatt also deserves a mention: Get in touch: of a band who certainly don’t favour short cuts in reaching their final destination. Although Write In is
Ron is a veteran rocker who has acceleratorstudio@gmail.com pitched very much as a slacker rock record, it seems somewhat reductive to label it as such. In truth
been playing in bands since the acceleratorstudio.co.uk Happyness have created an album full of surprises, diversity and subtlety and it’s a real declaration of
BUSINESS FEATURE 1960s. intelligence and not by any means the work of a one trick pony. (4/5) (Over)
20 21
NATIONAL REVIEWS OMS30

THE MOONLANDINGZ, INTERPLANETARY CLASS CLASSICS

Labelled by some a supergroup, a theatrical illusion by others and
just a private joke that got out of hand by the band themselves,
The Moonlandingz came from nowhere to release one of the
most sensational records of the year so far. With their bold as brass
approach, Moonlandingz pull their audience kicking and screaming
through the opening few tracks of the album, the swagger, pulse
and sheer arrogance of their music creates a seemingly endless
crescendo of momentum and bravado. There is certainly enough
to remain buoyant for the first half of the record and the impetus
and driving nature of Interplanetary Class Classics keeps attention
intact, such is the brash, vulgarity at its essence. Of course, when
ambushed with bold and blustering concepts they seem at first
infallible, then overly confident and finally somewhat tedious and this is certainly the evolutionary
thought process the album emanates. With all the subtlety of a stampede of disenfranchised elephants,
the record starts to feel a little like being bludgeoned by a crazed, mental patient who’s been off his anti
psychotics for one too many days. And not in a good way. (3/5)

TALL SHIPS, IMPRESSIONS

Tall Ships are a band who like to keep their fan base waiting. Just
two albums in their eight year existence doesn’t seem as much
productivity as you’d like from a band who did have considerable
buzz and expectation surrounding them. The problem with such a
long-winded approach to getting material out is that often windows
of musical style open and close very quickly and once shut, music
of that era dates quickly. And unfortunately with Impressions there is
very little to cling on to as genuinely original or distinct in an album
filled with predictable blandness and melancholic mediocrity. Stand
out track Home is good and it really tells us absolutely everything
we need to know about Tall Ships without having to listen to the
remaining seven tracks. It encapsulates their entire repertoire in
six minutes and doesn’t leave the gelatinous, nondescript after-taste that some of the less appealing
work on the album does. Perhaps it’s too harsh to condemn Impressions, it doesn’t provoke feelings of
malice or frustration, it neither pleases or displeases, upsets or comforts but in a way that makes it all
the worse. (2/5)

GORILLAZ, HUMANZ
Laden with a great deal of glitzy studio production and a whole host
of celebrity collaborators, return Gorillaz with Humanz, a record
hard to ignore and one which is sure to push them back into the
consciousness of a quick flowing mainstream. The album doesn’t
really feel like a Gorillaz album, gone is the downbeat and lazy vocal
lines in favour of deep beats and a more hip-hop aesthetic. Given
the copious amounts of featured artists, Albarn is sidelined for much
of the material, and the record is the worse for it, his delivery being
the quintessential voice of Gorillaz. Seemingly wanting to appear
somewhere in between Jamie XX and Run The Jewels, Humanz
lacks true identity and doesn’t appear to know what it wants to
be. In their generous 20 track album, there are tunes which will
inevitably get dancehall playtime, such is the nature of their radio-
friendly upbeat revival. However, the thing that made Gorillaz unique, the personalities and musical
inflections of fictional, primal creatures has gone, and in dragging Gorillaz into the present day, they’ve
lost the essence of their four principle characters. (2.5/5) By Richard Brabin 23
22
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