4 minute read
Milky’s Music Matters
MILKYS MUSIC MATTERS MATTERS
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FOCUS ON UPCOMING BEDFORD GIGS
HALLAN + GUESTS Esquires – Sat 5th March
If you’ve previously missed the likes of Idles, Sleaford Mods, Yard Act, Wolf Alice, Royal Blood etc etc at Esquires then be pre-warned about Hallan. Don’t come crying to us when this band are bigger than a dinosaur on Ben Johnson steroids and you stayed in (on a Saturday night!)
Hallan are a Portsmouth-based four piece who write and rehearse in an 18th-century fortifi cation built into the side of a hill and surrounded by a forest. It is within these dramatic surroundings that frontman, Conor Clements channels the frustrations, insecurities and events of early adulthood into his lyrics which are littered with observational poetry and messages of reassurance that you’re not alone in this overwhelming world. With the band drawing infl uences from the people they cross every day – in the supermarket aisles, on your Facebook feed, next door neighbours. Hallan observe and commentate on British life via an Orwell-infl uenced bleak vision of the future and the cut-up style of Burroughs and other beat generationers.
They’ve already started to build an army of local fans. Their last headline show sold out so quickly in advance that the support acts weren’t allowed any guests and having supported the likes of Porridge Radio and Sports Team they’re going to go from strength to strength.
The Woodentops are indie royalty from South London, formed back in 1983 and fronted by the enigmatic Rolo McGinty. After a debut single, “Plenty” on Food Records in 1984, which received a glowing review from Morrissey in Melody Maker, they signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records,
SUPPORT THE BEDFORD LIVE SCENE – UPCOMING GIGS FOR YOUR DIARY
ESQUIRES
Wed 2nd Feb Hamish Hawk Sat 5th March Hallan + The Byker Grove Fan club Thur 10th March Ricky Warwick & the Fighting Hearts Fri 11th March Melt Yourself Down Sat 12th March Jim Jones All Stars Sat 12th March The Woodentops (Room 2) Thur 17th March The Life of Riley Fri 18th March Paul Draper (ex-Mansun) Fri 25th March Enola Gay Sat 26th March The Skinner Brothers Fri 1st April Bambara Sat 2nd April Girls in Synthesis Fri 8th April The False Heads
+ many more, check listings at bedfordesquires.com for details or facebook.com/bedfordesquires Tickets available from Esquires, Slide Record Shop and online at seetickets.com
releasing a series of singles in 1985 and their debut album Giant in 1986. Brilliant singles releases ‘Good Thing’ and ‘Stop This Car’ were favourites of John Peel and the band moved onto a more experimental electronic infused sound. The band also started to become rawer and more unpredictable live, becoming one of the most exciting independent groups from the UK, while gaining an early hit on the burgeoning club scene in Ibiza with “Why.” Performing again on and off since 2006, this will unbelievably be their fi rst visit to play in Bedford.
GIRLS IN SYNTHESIS Esquires (room 2) – Sat 2nd April
Girls In Synthesis have quickly forged a fearsome reputation as one of the most exciting and volatile live acts in London. In equal parts frantic, considered, earsplitting and melodic, the group take their cues from the early DIY punk and post-punk pioneers to keep everything in-house; artwork, videos, performances and recordings are created entirely by the group and their handful of trusted collaborators, with their 3 hand-packaged vinyl E.P releases selling out in days on pre-orders. Experimentation sees them transgress the punk bracket into something more original and unique while stage shows present a complete and controlled spectacle, with the group moving from playing on stage to dragging equipment into the audience, desperately trying to remove the group/audience barrier. Their explosive shows have seen them handpicked for support slots with bands as disparate as Bad Breeding, Slaves, Pigs x 7, Wolf Alice, Warmduscher and Damo Suzuki.
COMING UP, COMING UP
Bands who will go onto bigger things (do not miss your chance to see them before they play much bigger venues) – Hallan, Bambara, Enola Gay, Girls in Synthesis St Patricks Day party – Life of Riley Indie Legends – The Woodentops Big names – Jim Jones, Paul Draper Rock – Ricky Warwick Indie Rock – The False Heads
Keep music live, Milky.
