RDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS
A View From Overseas with Oceanator Meet Tap Social Movement Take A Sip with Katie Malco Record Store Day 21 Discover Oxford’s Music Scene
ORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS
BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & REC
BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECORDS BEER & RECO
Drink Beer; Do Good.
thequeerbrewingproject.com / @queerbrewing
#issue 1 | 2021 EDITOR & DESIGNER Josie Faulkner
Ron AKA The Boss
COVER PHOTO BY Kev Douch CONTRIBUTORS Tom Bennett, Elise Okusami, Gaby Monaghan, Kev Douch, Gemma Heffron-Douch, Leigh Shorter, Ffin Colley, Conor McAuley HUGE THANKS TO Tess Taylor at Tap Social, Charlie Simmonds at Signature Brew, Gaby Monaghan, Katie Malco, Awesome Merch, Elise Okusami, Tom Bennett, Helen Messenger
New Pagans Photo: Aaron Cunningham
Welcome to the first issue of Beer & Records! We wanted to celebrate our new bricks and mortar craft beer and record store in Oxford, Big Scary Monsters Social Club, and of course all of our artists on the label — so we thought let’s put together a zine!
ADVERTISING To find out how Beer & Records zine could work for your brand or to enquire about advertising contact josie@bsmrocks.com BIG SCARY MONSTERS IS: Kev Douch, Dave Owen, Connor Laws, Josie Faulkner, Katie Malcolmson
In these pages we asked a bunch of our friends to sample some beers and pick their favourite LPs, had a chat with Tap Social Movement to find out more about their brewery mission, got to know more about Oxford’s own Pet Sematary and took a look behind the scenes of booking and promoting shows with the head booker at Signature Brew.
@bsmrocks / bsmrocks.com BIG SCARY MONSTERS SOCIAL CLUB IS: Kev Douch, Gemma Hefferon-Douch, Ffin Colley, Leigh Shorter, Holly Chadwick, Will Smith @bsmsocialclub / bsmsocialclub.com
All of the music featured in this issue is featured on our handy In The Spotlight playlist on Spotify, simply scan the QR code below and listen along as you peruse our zine. We hope you enjoy it!
Printed by Awesome Merchandise
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Big Scary Monsters Social Club
In This Issue 6. Getting To Know
Getting to know BSM and the labels new bricks and mortar craft beer & record shop in Oxford.
8. A View From Overseas
Elise from Oceanator takes us through her favourite breweries and tunes from the United States.
11. Tap Social Movement
A look at a brewery with a mission - social change and rehabilitation within the community.
Tap Social
14. Life In Ox with Pet Sematary
BSM has a chat with Oxford ethereal goth-pop shoegaze outfit Pet Sematary.
17. Take A Sip
Katie Malco pairs beers & records in the BSM Social Club.
19. Oxford Music Trail
Have a look at some of the best music gems in Oxford, from Truck Store, Music Box to Young Womens Music Project.
22. Get These In Your Ears
Oceanator Photo: Alex Joseph
Top new vinyl variants for Record Store Day 21.
24. Booking Bands
Charlie Simmonds takes us through booking bands for a brewery and a music festival for the first time!
26. Beer For Your Bark Who knew that you can treat your pets to a beer?
27. One For The Road
Conor McAuley from New Pagans tells us his fave tour stories.
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Jamie Lenman Photo: Derek Bremner
Getting To Know....
Big Scary Monsters & Big Scary Monsters Social Club
Label owner and founder of Big Scary Monsters Kev Douch set out start a record label when he was a teenager in 2001, burning CDs his bedroom and distributing them among friends. Skip forward 20 years and the label has grown to a team of five and has worked with bands from all over the world, while stepping into the label’s second decade came with a new venture in the form of a craft beer and record shop, Big Scary Monsters Social Club, in the heart of Oxford’s cultural hub - Cowley Road. Big Scary Monsters Social Club has been in the planning stages for a very long time. Like lots of record collectors I used to dream of one day opening a record shop and, similarly, like lots of drinkers I fantasised about running a bar. The Social Club is the meeting of those two thoughts. Part bottle shop, part record store, it’s a place to meet friends, discover new music and drink nice beers in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
moshpit only to emerge grinning and claiming this to be “the best gig ever” feels as right as it does wrong. What we do For those who aren’t aware, Big Scary Monsters Recording Company is a record label based out of a small office just round the corner from the shop on Cave Street. Now 20 years young, the label has worked with bands from all around the world including Modern Baseball, Jamie Lenman, American Football, The Get Up Kids, TTNG, Delta Sleep, Pedro The Lion, Martha, Kevin Devine, We Were Promised Jetpacks and so many more. The Social Club stocks all of these along with our favourite alternative, punk, math rock, indie and basically any other record we like (and yes that includes Parachutes by Coldplay).
We spent a long time searching for locations around Oxford and when 98 Cowley Road came up, we immediately knew it was the one. Situated opposite Big Society, which fellow old people will remember used to be The Elm Tree, a venue I frequented as a teenager to watch tiny punk bands and ultimately give birth to the idea of starting a record label. The fact I can now look out of our window straight into the room I saw my friend have his eyebrow ring unceremoniously ripped from his face during a Stampin’ Ground
On the beer side we have a rotating cast of 200 different cans and bottles in stock at any one time. 6
Images courtesy of Helen Messenger
Gender Roles at BDO Ffin Colley trying to balance all the cans!
Jamie Lenman at Big Day Out A fine Selection from Gemma
Team BSM
Cheers Leigh!
A weekend at the Social Club
We make it a point of pride that no one visiting the shop will ever see the same selection twice as we constantly look to bring in weird and wonderful new options. Everything from hazy IPAs to German pilsners to dessert stouts to triple fruited sours fill our fridges, along with a whole array of nonalcoholic options, so there should be something for everyone and if there isn’t, let us know and we’ll make sure there is next time you visit! Having planned the shop during lockdown one, opened during lockdown two, dallied with the various tier restrictions before hitting lockdown three, it wasn’t quite the start we’d hoped for and ended up operating mostly as an off licence, providing the local community with their
(essential) craft beers during a difficult winter for everyone. Now, as spring hits and *fingers crossed* things begin to ease, we’re excited to finally welcome people in to drink and experience The Social Club as we first envisaged it. The perfect pre-drinking location before a gig, a quiet place to meet friends after work, perhaps even the location for a few fun live in-stores one day. We have so many ideas and plans and cannot wait to meet even more of the local community as we all look to get back out and celebrate a brilliant summer. Big Scary Monsters Social Club will (hopefully) be open fully from June 2021. For more information head to bsmsocialclub.com 7
A View From Overseas Photo by Alex Joseph
Elise Okusami - Oceanator) NYC multi-instrumentalist Oceanator takes us through her favourite breweries stateside and some non-alcoholic tipples that should be making waves across the pond! Okay, let’s start with the local New York ones! I’ve actually yet to visit these breweries, I was planning to last summer, but alas.
afternoon when it was hitting just right between the buildings. Sometimes the neighbors would be out on their roof and we’d do a far away cheers and wave. Pair with: Forever, Ever: Anime, Trauma and Divorce by Open Mike Eagle Oh…: Oh… Brat by Nnamdï Green City: No Dream by Jeff Rosenstock
Other Half Brewing I love Other Half. They have some of my very favorite beers. They make Singlecut Brewery Another place that does really good a really good IPA and they have a IPAs. I like the IPAs that have a little bunch of them that are just subtly bit of fruitiness more than bitter ones, different. My favorites are the Green City, the Oh… and the Forever Ever. and they do some really great ones. The Forever Ever is a session IPA, New England Style IPAs. They’re Two big beers from named after a style of guitar, and too, which is great because these Other Half Brewing, Brooklyn, NY recently did a little series of beers days one big beer is a lot for me. Over the summer I’d pick one out, then crawl out onto dedicated to music stuff. I only got to try two of them - Grunge, which had a plaid background and my fire escape with a book or my journal and my those white round sunglasses Kurt Cobain used to headphones and just hang out in the sun in the 8
wear, and Weird & Gilly after Bowie, which was actually one of my favorite beers I’ve ever had. Pair with: Weird and Gilly by David Bowie (you kinda have to) Diving by buddie Any Heatmiser
In The Spotlight Leigh Shorter
Weird & Gilly from Singlecut Brewery, NY
Athletic Brewing I found out about these folks because Adult Mom posted about them on twitter. At the beginning of the pandemic I was having a nice beer every day as something to look forward to (as mentioned above), and I thought it might be nice to try finding some NA versions that could take the place of that occasionally. They’re based in Connecticut, but you can have the beers shipped to you in the mail so that’s what non-alcoholic IPA from I did. They’ve got a bunch of Run Wild Athletic Brewing co, CT different kinds. I started with the Run Wild, which is good, sort of like an IPA. I recently met up with a friend and we did a little trade of different NA beers we had so we could try some more stuff, and he gave me their Free Wave one and that’s really nice too. Pair with: Run Wild: Free I.H.by Illuminati Hotties (this was on repeat all summer) Free Wave: Flower of Devotion by Dehd
Beer: Don’t Fear The NEIPA by Black Iris Brewery. I’m really enjoying this juicy as fuck New England IPA from the Nottingham crew and its got the Reaper crushing a beer on it. What’s not to like?
Brewdog NA’s I know Brewdog is a big old company over in the UK, but they’ve got a brewery here in Ohio, too. I wanna talk specifically about the NA beers here though. I think their Hazy AF is my favorite of all the non-alcoholic beers I’ve had so far (still looking for more Hazy AF non-alcoholic stuff though!). I also like the IPA from Brewdog, UK Elvis AF which is super juicy. Pair with: Hazy AF: Sorry is Gone by Jessica Lea Mayfield Elvis AF: Untenable by Bad Moves
Record: Closer’s Within One Stem. It’s a short, sharp, sweet slab of post hardcore/screamo loveliness. SLAPS HARD! Check out our In The Spotlight playlist - perfect to accompany your favourite tipple
So those are my top 4 four right now I’d say! Someday in the future I’d like to go around NYC and explore some more of the small ones, or take a trip upstate and check out the ones that are popping up out there, but that’s for postpandemic times.
Want to try Black Iris? We’ve got you covered. Head to bsmsocialclub.com or visit us in store! 9
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Tap Social Movement Making beer to make a difference
If you’re based in Oxford then you’ll no doubt be very familiar with the work and taste of local brewery Tap Social, but if you’re further afield then the brewery’s movement may be unfamiliar, but growing at a rapid rate. Now situated across three sites in the historical city, Tap Social works with people who have been affected by the criminal justice system by employing and training them in the world of hospitality. We spoke to founder and Director Tess Taylor to find out more.
Images courtesy of Tap Social
Tell me a little about why you started Tap Social Movement? “Tap Social was founded out of a passion for social justice and good beer. We’re a social enterprise craft brewery and hospitality organisation that trains and employs people who have been affected by the criminal justice system; both currently serving prisoners and people who have been recently released from prison sentences. My co-founders Amy, Paul and I all worked in criminal justice for several years before setting up Tap. I was a counsellor for ex-offenders with a non-profit organisation in Canada, Amy was a policy advisor with the Ministry of Justice, and Paul is a criminal barrister. Between us, we’d seen first-hand the devastating impact of a broken justice system, with a major lack of support and opportunity 11
for those leaving prison very often resulting in unemployment and an inevitable revolving door effect. Tap Social was set up to offer real opportunities to people coming out of this system and to help turn lives around permanently. We work with people who are on day release from prison, or have finished prison sentences and are struggling to find employment because of a criminal record. The brewing industry offered the perfect vehicle for what we wanted to do as it incorporates so many jobs: from the brewing itself to packaging, warehousing and logistics, sales, marketing and advertising and so on, as well as being a fun and exciting sector to work in. It’s also a booming industry with hundreds of breweries across the UK, which meant there would be plenty of job opportunities for people all around the country. We’ve now worked with over 25 people directly on site, plus dozens more through training sessions in prisons and through the prison art departments. All of the artwork used on our labels and pump clips is custom created for us by the men serving at HMP
Huntercombe, and they’ve also created beautiful canvases that are displayed in our hospitality venues.”
our success to the wonderful support and enthusiasm we’ve had from our community. On the brewery side, we were joined from the start by Matt, a What challenges did you face company Director who leads on when you first started the wholesale operations, and Jason, brewery? our head brewer. Together with “Like any small and independent the brew team, they’ve helped business, we faced plenty of to expand things substantially; challenges when we set up – the in the past four years we’ve expected things like the logistics increased our brewing capacity of starting a new business, tenfold, taken on a second keeping on top of cashflow, and premises, installed a canning line, managing our growth. We really and have had our award winning don’t see our criminal justice beer stocked in over 250 pubs, mission as having created any restaurants and shops. additional challenges; instead it’s We’re surrounded given us a talented, dedicated by brilliant people who drive us pool of employees to work with to make Tap successful every who have helped us grow and day and I think that’s been have shaped Tap Social from the instrumental in getting us where start.” we are. We still have a long way to go though!” How have you overcome those challenges to now growing to a What are your favourite kind of brewery with multiple sites? beers to make and why? “Tap has grown a lot since setting “That’s tough! In our first few up in 2016 and we’ve had so years of brewing, we did loads much support to help us get us of experimental, sour and small here. We feel very lucky to have batch brews. That was a ton of an incredible community around fun and meant there was always us here in Oxford, full of people something new and exciting who believe in our cause, buy coming up. Since then, we’ve our beer, visit our venues and really stripped back to refine shout about what we’re doing. our core range, and spent the We definitely attribute a lot of last year tweaking our core 5 and focusing on brewing them. We’ve got an IPA, APA, session pale, lager and stout in the core range, and while I love them all, my favourite is definitely the IPA – it’s super juicy, fruity and delicious. Generally speaking, my favourite beers to drink are hoppy and hazy IPAs and funky sours. I’m looking forward to getting some more special brews in once the Covid situation has improved and we’re back to a full brewing schedule.” You recently opened your new pub The White House. How long had you been working on it? “We’re so stoked about this! 12
“
..we’re excited to continue growing our wholesale distribution and spreading information about the criminal justice system as far as we can... We’ve spent the majority of the past year renovating and revamping a Grade 2 historic listed building ready to open after lockdown. It’s a really exciting venture for us as we’ve put in a full kitchen and will have a proper menu featuring interesting, local and sustainable food. We’ve launched a stripped back takeaway offering and rolled out our full menus when we opened. This has allowed us to extend our employment opportunities to culinary and hospitality positions too, which we’re really proud of. The venue itself is really beautiful – we’ve stripped back to some of the original
features of the building, including exposed brick walls and wooden floor boards. We’ve put wood burners throughout and the walls are covered in stunning artwork created by men in prison (the same artwork that features on all of our cans of beer). We hope to create a real community space where people can come and hang out, have nice coffee and beer, enjoy some really good but affordable food, and just make themselves at home.” What other exciting plans do you have in the works that you can tell me about? “We plan to open a bar, the Market Tap, in Oxford’s historic 13
Covered Market later this year. We were due to open it last June, but things were obviously delayed with the pandemic. We’re revisiting these plans now and look forward to getting things underway. We’ve been picked up by a few new stockists recently that are helping us to get our beer further afield and into more hands – so we’re excited to continue growing our wholesale distribution and spreading information about the criminal justice system as far as we can.” Want to get involved or fancy trying some Tap Social Movement beers? Find out more at tapsocialmovement.com
Life in OX
PET SEMATARY
Photo by Ian Wallman
Get to know the Oxford based ethereal-come-shoegaze four-piece. Pet Sematary are a moody, soaring goth-pop outfit with an unexpected twist: their latest single Heady features shimmering with jangly guitars that almost launch them into shoegaze territory. We asked Gaby about the Oxford scene and what the band have been up to...
Jack (Kendrew, guitar) and Casper (Miles, drums) to join the project and help shape the songs to be even bigger.”
Tell us about the beginning of Pet Sematary? “Pet Sematary started as an escape really. I’d been playing in a couple bands where the industry side of things really drained the life out of me, when all I wanted to do was to make music purely for the sake of making music, and that’s how PETSEM Vol I was born. Me and my friend Luke (Allmond, bass) recorded the EP in two days at Safehouse in Oxford. We didn’t really expect people to like it but it ended up getting some cool feedback, and so I started playing solo shows. I always plan songs in my head to be larger and heavier, and was lucky enough for my pals Luke,
From your experience, what is the Oxford music scene like? “Ever since I started playing shows there when I was 18 it felt like home. The whole music scene is so welcoming and all-embracing. I’ve met some of my best friends through the Ox scene and it really is just great.”
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How would you describe your music? “Dreamy gothy oversharing ft. loads of reverb.”
What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced since starting the band? “I can’t imagine any other answer other than COVID-19. It really put a spanner in the works in every single part of being in a band. Not only
Photo by Helen Messenger Photo by Helen Messenger
the recording/rehearsing/performing side, but it really took a toll on my mental health and made it extremely difficult to be creative and write. It’s only been the past few months that I’ve managed to pull myself out of that creative slump, and fuck does it feel good to be making songs again.” What are your main influences? “Jeff Buckley is probably my favourite songwriter of all time. I just love everything about him - his voice, his lyrics, the amazing weird voicings and tunings he uses on guitar. He has such an ethereal quality about him that makes his music
just endlessly inspiring to me. Aside from that I draw influence from a bunch of artists. I love artists like Alice in Chains, Deerhunter, Elliott Smith, Anna Calvi. Just anything sound-scapey and operatic and amazing. More generally I’m influenced a lot by my friends, relationships and the people around me, cause they are just great creative people who inspire me a lot.” What’s next for Pet Sematary? “Writing writing writing. We have a few shows lined up for this year as well as some studio time in the Summer so new tunes galore. Lots to look forward to really and I’m just gassed.” 15
Take A Sip Photo by Helen Messenger
with Katie Malco
In June 2020 Singer/Songwriter Katie Malco released her long awaited debut album ‘Failures’, a cathartic yet beautiful collection of songs that embodies a sense of vulnerability across a bed of riffsm gentle guitar picking and keys. Having played with the likes of S.T. Manville, We Were Promised Jetpacks and The Xcerts, in September 2021 she’s off on the road again across the US with pal Julien Baker, as well as a string of shows in the UK. In May, Malco popped by the BSM Social Club and we asked her to pick her favourite three records and pair them with our beer collection. “Julien Baker’s new record, I’ll choose that cause I’ve got a good story about when we did a tour a few years ago. We were in gridlock on the motorway and I had to shield her while she peed at the side of the road with a flannel shirt. So that was a bonding moment for us.” she laughs while flicking through the records. 16
“Quite clearly I’m going to choose Linkin Park, because obviously I’m gonna choose Linkin Park to pair a beer with, and I’m gonna choose Pedro The Lion because it’s also one of my favourite records. For Pedro The Lion I’m going to choose Juice Springsteen (Alphabet Brewing) because I believe David Bazan definitely likes Bruce Springsteen and also my favourite music is the music of a husky voiced man. And I’m gonna go for…” she muses while studying a can of 18.05 North Sea Sessions 05 by Northern Monk, “Considering my story about the pee on the M1, I’m gonna go for this, and there is a man surfing on it with some splash back, sponsored by fin ester so you know it just reminds me of the spraying action of...let’s just get that one for Jules.” she laughs. “And then what other record did I choose? Linkin Park? Ok so we need a nu-metal type beer. I’m gonna go for Unfiltered British Lager (Utopian Brewing) for Linkin Park. And I don’t need to give you a reason for that.”
In The Spotlight Kev Douch
Before we opened the shop I thought I hated sour beer and now it seems to be my go-to. Beer Riff are a brewery from Swansea I’m not ashamed to admit we stocked them because their cans looked cool so I was delighted to discover their Sharp Dressed Sour was an absolute delight. Blueberry and cherry with a strong maple flavour to finish. So good!
“I want songs to stay with me for life, but I don’t really want the taste of beer that I drank to stay with me for life.”
- The Taste Test “Ok so Juice Springsteen to go with Pedro The Lion. As I said before in relation to a husky voiced man, so let’s give this one a go.” Malco states before cracking open the can. “Delicious actually, Thank you! It’s a delicious beer and I’m just trying to come up with some kind of pun. I’m struggling. I would definitely drink that beer on a night out down the pub. “We’ve got Linkin Park which I think goes with Unfiltered British Lager because the reason I’ve chosen that is that the metal scene in the UK when I was a little nipper was strong indeed. So I’m just giving an ode to the UK numetal scene. I loved Linkin Park and all of their good songs,” she says before taking a sip. “That is a beer. You know once again, in the end it doesn’t really matter alright? Cause it all goes down the same way and it gets you pissed. “Right, [the] last one we’ve got Julien’s
As for my top record, I’d have to say The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots And All by New Pagans. Dark yet catchy rock for fans of Sonic Youth, Wolf Alice and The Pixies. Check out our In The Spotlight playlist - perfect to accompany your favourite tipple
Want to try Beer Riff? We’ve got you covered. Head to bsmsocialclub.com or visit us in store! 17
In The Spotlight
Gemma Hefferon-Douch
We’ve got a great selection of non-alcoholic drinks as we wanted to make sure that we never leave anyone out. If you’e the only nondrinker in the group, we’ve got you covered! This section will continue to change and we’re always on the hunt for more interesting soft drink options. Sometimes 12pm on a Saturday is just a little to early to crack open a beer while looking through hundreds of records, so for those times, crack open a Soda Folk Cream Soda or a Square Root Ginger Beer and sit back, relax and revel in the fact that you’ve just found the last variant of that record you’ve been searching for!
“This is like a surf beer for surfers. That’s just Jules all over man. She loves surfing.” really lovely record. We’re supposed to go on tour in the states and I’m supporting her this year. That will be good. I hope she doesn’t chuck me off the bus for this.This is like a surf beer for surfers. That’s just Jules all over man. She loves surfing. Malted barley hops, alright let’s try this. “It’s got a very powerful aftertaste that really lingers for a long time and I’ll say that about this record actually: it’s very powerful, it lingers for a long time and the songs will stay with you for life. I want songs to stay with me for life, but I don’t really want the taste of beer that I drank to stay with me for life, but I think that was probably the closest pairing. “I like the Juice Springsteen the best. That one’s just like nice juice so maybe I just don’t like beer anymore? Maybe I grew out of beer? Anyway, good records, good beers, lovely time.” Watch the full video on the Big Scary Monsters YouTube Channel! 18
There’s loads of great LPs in the shop so this pick is a hard choice. But my current favourite has to be Love In The Time Of Email by Antarctigo Vespucci. It’s full of hits that just makes me want to dance around and sing along to. For anyone that doesn’t know, it’s a collaboration of two great artists Chris Farren and Jeff Rosenstock. Check out our In The Spotlight playlist - perfect to accompany your favourite tipple Want to try Soda Folk Cream Soda? We’ve got you. Head to bsmsocialclub.com or visit in store!
Oxford Music Trail
Discover the great haunts, organisations and stores around Oxford.
Instagram: @jerichotavern
Truck Store
The Jericho Tavern
Find it: 101 Cowley Rd, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 1HU
Find it: 56 Walton Strt, Jericho, Oxford, OX2 6AE
Located on Cowley Road, Truck Store is a staple for tunes on wax. You pick up almost anything from indie, pop, jazz, RnB and rock and more on vinyl and has become an infamous music lover’s stop in Oxford. They’ve got delicious coffee supplied by Mostro Coffee and in normal times host live in-stores right in the window!
Across the other side of the city lies The Jericho Tavern just outside the old city gates. Known for it’s classic yet quirky pub features and a huge beer garden out the back, this spot is also renowned for hosting live music, including the likes of Mannequin Pussy, Penelope Isles, Cassels and Happyness. Definitely check out this local loved spot next time you’re in the city!
Photo by Helen Messenger
Young Womens Music Project Music Box Find it: 53A Cowley Rd, Cowley, Oxford OX4 1HP Music Box is a treasure trove for any musician. Covered from floor to ceiling in all manner of instruments, from trumpets and guitars to saxophone, ukeleles and flutes, there’s plenty to discover in this hole in the wall on Cowley Road.
Find it: https://www.ywmp.org.uk/ YWMP provides an inclusive, supportive space for young women to make music, learn new skills and express themselves in Oxford. The project is a community that has worked with hundreds of young people across the area and they’ve recently moved into a new home in Makespace, Aristotle Lane. Check out their work and become part of this brilliant organisation online. 19
In The Spotlight Ffin Colley
Twitter: @TheLibraryPub
The Library Find it: 182 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE The Library may be small, but as a venue and boozer it packs a punch. Across three different levels: including a garden out the back and music venue in the basement, The Library is a friendly, vibrant pub/venue that’s loved by the local music scene. They’ve got a great selection of craft beers in the fridges plus pizza on offer - this place is packed out any day of the week past 6pm when the sun is out or there’s a band playing.
Now, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I really, really like beer. They are like my little babies, so choosing favourites can be a little tricky but fuck it here we go, you’re getting a fave from each style. Merakai’s ‘I’m Your Biggest Fan’ DDH Pale Ale has loads of tropical notes: big, full bodied, juicy delicious business. Augustiner’s ‘Maximator’ Dark Lager: Big ass bottle, 7%, like £4, class. Pastore’s ‘Blood Orange Waterbeach Berliner Weisse’ has got that tang but not too much tang, you feel like you’re getting stabbed in the mouth by flavour. Belching Beaver’s ‘Viva La Beaver’ Peanut butter & Chocolate Stout is literally like drinking peanut butter and chocolate and I love both of those things. I think that there’s a few records I’ve really gotten into over this first quarter that might have flown under my radar if it hadn’t been for the shop. Me Rex’s Triceratops/ Stegosaurus has really beautiful songwriting, evocative, charged lyricism with some massive hooks. ‘Swingset’ (and I say this with no exaggeration) might be the best song ever written. Ever.
Photo: oxfordmail.co.uk
The Wheatsheaf Find it: 129 High St, Oxford OX1 4DF Stepping inside The Wheatsheaf is like stepping into your favourite rock and roll bar, except it’s full of friendly faces and wallet friendly pints. Upstairs is the music venue which has seen the likes of Supergrass, Stornoway and Foals grace it’s stage. Sadly there are plans to close the music venue and convert it into flats, rendering the city centre without a single music venue. While there is a campaign to #savethesheaf online, do pop in for a pint (and hopefully a show) when the world allows.
Origami Angel’s Somewhere City! My man is fuckin mad good on guitar and I can’t wait to see them live and sing along to ‘Find Your Throne’ when that bit, the bit comes in, you know the bit, the big bit. Finally Ultrapop by The Armed. Just an absolutely mental band really. Mad for it. 20
We wanted to use this advertising space just to remind you that:
You are wonderful just the way you are. Heads Above The Waves is a non-profit organisaaon that supports young people who are struggling with their mental health. We’ve been through it ourselves and come out the other side. We want you to know you’re not alone.
headsabovethewaves
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Find out what we re up to!
May June July 2021
Get These In Your Ears Upcoming Releases & Variants)
There’s so many new releases coming up including many new re-issues and deluxe variants just in time for Record Store Day 2021! This year there will be two drops for RSD, on 12th June and 17th July, so make sure you get down to your local record store to pick up some absolute gems. We’ve picked out a few of our favourite vinyl releases coming up, and all are available at Big Scary Monsters Social Club both online and instore. Visit bsmsocialclub.com for more info.
Reuben - Racecar is Dangerous Xtra Mile Variant: Clear 2LP (RSD)
Alkaline Trio - From Here To Infirmary Hassle Records Variant: Red/Black Splatter (RSD)
Weezer - Van Weezer Atlantic Variant: Pink
Arlo Parks - Super Sad Generation Opeth - Morningrise Beatnik Creative Spinefarm Records Variant: Black LP Variant: Grey Translucent Blue 2LP (RSD)
Origami Angel - Gami Gang Counter Intuitive Variant: AB/CD White/Black 2LP
Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere Vagrant Records V: Blue Multicoloured Splatter (RSD)
Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend Dirty Hit Variant: Transparent Green (RSD)
Anti-Flag - 20/20 Division Spinefarm Records Variant: Red (RSD) 22
Senses Fail - Let It Enfold You Hassle Records Variant: Orange/Black Marble (RSD)
Squid - Bright Green Field Warp Records Variant: Green
Portugal The Man - Oregon City Sessions Approaching AIRballoons Variant: 2LP
Free Throw - Piecing It Together Triple Crown Variant: White/Green/Red Splatter
Therapy? - Nurse Virgin Music Variant: Red (RSD)
Lakes - Start Again Big Scary Monsters Variant: Green
Tigercub - As Blue As Indigo Blame Records Variant: White
Part Chimp - Drool Wrong Speed Records Variant: Clear
Salem - Salem II Roadrunner Records Variant: Black with etched B-side
Def Leppard - Live In Oxford Island/Mercury Variant: Black 2LP (RSD)
Easy Life - Life’s A Beach Island Variant: Orange (RSD)
MAN ON MAN - S/T Big Scary Monsters Variant: Hot Pink
23
Behind The Scenes A Look At Promoting Shows...In A Brewery Photos by Derek Bremner
We spoke to bookings manager Charlie Simmonds about how he got into promoting live music, it’s challenges, particularly over the past year, putting on shows inside a Signature Brew and landing their own stage at Bigfoot Festival.
as a shipping container bar and a small patch of grass for an acoustic stage, to now taking over the second stage with the freedom to book bands on the heavier side of the spectrum. “When it was postponed for the year and moved to this year they sat down with From DIY shows in Guildford to Tufnell their bookings team and said ‘we think there’s Park’s The Dome, Signature Brew’s booking a massive blind spot here for punk and guitar manager Charlie Simmonds has been putting on music’. So we suggested they add in a second shows for almost 10 years. With residencies at stage and they were like ‘Cool, how do we do acclaimed venues such as the Green Door Store, this?’” he says over a zoom call on a dreary The Dome and Boston Music Room, Tuesday afternoon. “They just “We think there’s a decided that our small patch of The Underworld in Camden and Pink Mist under his belt, before grass outside our shipping container massive blind spot the world came to a halt he found should turn into the Signature Brew here for punk and a home as part of the team at stage and collectively we should guitar music...” Signature Brew: the brewery that look at booking a whole 3 day stage demands music lovers “don’t go and give us our own tent. They gave to gigs and drink shit beer. Throughout 2020 us a budget and [I] spent about 6 weeks putting a they ingeniously kept faithful drinkers’ thirsts line up together and absolutely have never done quenched with their Pub In A Box — quite literally that before and it is an insane task.” a box stuffed full of beers, a branded glass, music Simmonds began his promoting career quiz and traditional pub snacks delivered right to in 2010 when a close friend decided they should your door. Score! put on a show. The green-faced teenagers With summer 2021 promising to let the booked their mates band Yearbook at a local good times roll, Simmonds and the team have venue and almost made back the cash they spent secured their own stage at Bigfoot Festival, a so decided to put on another show, and the rest, three day green field event marrying both craft as they say, is history. “He just decided that one beer and music all in one place, originally booked day he wanted to put on some gigs and stuff and 24
we both realised we knew some people in bands “With the beer collab stuff it’s mostly and we should do it. Yearbook ended up being John (Longbottom) who sits behind me and he’ll the first band and then it just kind of snowballed. sometimes be like ‘ah this band’s got in touch I think a year later we ended up putting on Dads about it what do you reckon?’. The Sports Team and that was our first time putting on an American beer came from me, but that’s the only one band. We just got absolutely thats happened since I’ve fucked over by an agent on been there. The Darkness it, we had to go through this happened but I had no say in mad back and forth with that one. I had a stupid idea their tour manager...and that I think we’re gonna try they’re showing us emails on and do, where we have The phones and stuff. It was like Darkness as the in-house pub maybe like 8 years ago now band and have them play at and I don’t think I had a very least two or three shows a good phone with emails easily week in the taproom for as accessible on it, but trying long as we can.” He laughs. to be like ‘The contract that “It’s slowly evolving with the I’ve signed is not the contract new pilot kit we’ve got at the you’ve signed’ was mad brewery. Which means for “Yo we’re doing this Jamie stressful and then they just kind Lenman show, shall we do the gigs we can brew a beer of agreed to disagree on it.” He that’s just for those evenings, so a Lemonade?... We brewed there’s been certain shows with laughs. a beer with Black Peaks for that where I’ve got to be like ‘Yo From there a spark for booking and promoting three shows that never got to we’re doing this Jamie Lenman bands ensued, boasting show, shall we do a Lemonade?’ happen” having a hand in Bring Me The We brewed a beer with Black Horizon’s insanely small show as part of War Peaks for three shows that never got to happen Child’s BRITs Week back in 2019, as well as Show and we were gonna brew a beer with Bossk for Me The Body, Jamie Lenman, The Get Up Kids, some shows that never got to happen. But it’s and Gouge Away. cool I get to be like ‘Hey guys we’ve got a show at “I started putting on some local shows this time do you reckon we could make a beer in Hersham on Walton at an arts centre called the for this night?’ and everyone will be like ‘Yeah fuck Riverhouse Barn. That was when I was like ‘Woah! it, that sounds fun!’” People get paid to do this as a job for someone Set with new challenges and despite an else and all I have to do is put this show together unavoidable year of uncertainty, Simmonds and and someone else will do all the hard work on it? the crew are starting to get back into the swing Like hell yeah, I’ll try and do that!’ So that was of things, with indoor shows already on the books the first time doing it regularly, but it wasn’t until and live music in full swing for drinkers outside. maybe 3 years later when Toni (Coe-Brooker) at “I hope it all gets to happen. There’s the Green Door Store offered me a job booking a lake right next to where our stage is going to the venue with her.” be so I’m hoping we can rig it so our backstage But now Simmonds has the added area is there,” he laughs. “Signature Brew’s 10th challenge of marrying craft beer with live music anniversary is also coming up so we’re working at Signature Brew, at the main taproom/brewery on 10 nights of shows and we’ll do a hell of a lot in Walthamstow as well as in their sister venues of beer stuff around it as well. The shows are all across North East London. slightly different from each other so it’s not all just “There’s a lot of similarities [working for like 10 punk shows back to back. I think with the way a brewery rather than a venue], but then there’s that previous [beer] collaborations have gone it’s not also a lot of things that are super different. The like you fit it in a certain box, like you go from Frank main difference is that essentially I’m the one Turner to Professor Green and Dynamite MC into at the brewery that has to understand how a Mogwai and Idles and everything is fairly different, venue works and how the live music side of things so we wanted to try to stick with that theme and works.” He says. “Cianne (Miller) who works on have it look a little bit more like our beer line the events team with us is absolutely amazing at up than it does an all dayer. So you’ve just got 10 running events and doing everything in person back to back shows of stuff you wouldn’t normally on the day but sitting down and doing emails and catch in the brewery and hopefully do some beers dealing with the calendar and stuff is just me.” with it. It’s gonna be mad!” 25
Beer is one of the oldest and most widely
consumed alcoholic beverages on the planet. It’s estimated that the earliest clear chemical evidence of beer produced from barley dates all the way back to 3500 - 3100 BC and archaeologists speculate that our favourite tipple was instrumental in the formation of civilizations. Skip forward to 2021 and beer has not only surpassed simple fermentation on barley, hops and yeast, but it’s also available for our favourite canine friends.
From fancy bottles of Posh Pooch’s Tailwagger Creek Wine (yep, a white wine for dogs), a non-alcoholic, non-carbonated drink packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to a “traditional” Bottom Sniffer beer made from dandelion and burdock, the dog beer market is growing...and thriving. They’re a great treat that you can serve up straight or pour over food, perfect as a present on special occasions or just as a why-the-hell-not? So now there’s no excuse not to bring man’s best friend down to the pub! Want to try Bottom Sniffer or Posh Pooch’s Tailwagger Creek Wine? We’ve got your pooch covered. Visit BSM Social Club in store or online at bsmsocialclub.com
A beer for your bark
ONE ROAD FOR THE
“
“Everybody loves an aul tour story.” New Pagans’ drummer Conor McAuley recounts what gave him the touring bug.
Ahh tour stories. If anyone in this band has tour stories it’s Cahir! Charlene our manager too, actually. Everybody loves an aul tour story. I recommend checking out Fighting With Wire tour diaries for a good laugh. Mine are all pretty tame in comparison, to be honest. I mean there’s the usual pish and boke stories that everyone has. Like this one time I fell asleep in the driver’s seat of the tour bus on the very first night. It was the only seat that wasn’t occupied by completely steamin’ strangers, naturally. On my way to “bed” I found a bottle of rum in one of the many hidden cupboards in what used to be a school bus or something (to paint the picture, they had only just stripped a caravan and rebuilt it inside this bus). We were two bands doing shows around Ireland. 15 people packed into an uninsured library bus, hurtling at the speed of light around the back-arse of nowhere. All you could hear was ‘clink-clinkclink’. That tour did the damage. I’ve had a thirst ever since.
But anyway, I’m straying. I’ll cut to the chase. There were around 60 people partying in this bus after the gig, and only one place left to sleep. The driver’s seat. First night of tour. What happened was. Well, let’s just say it was fairly messy. Yeah…actually that’s all I’ll say on that one. But my touring life has settled now, and I get completely bombed less and less. I do enjoy the odd shindig though. Some highlights: partying in a bank vault in San Boi, drinking Slovakian poitín at a traditional folk-dance festival in Holland (turned out it was a front for pretty heavy mushroom trips), all-nighters, a few lost nights on Rumple Minze - many a hairy night in the States. But the thing I love most about touring, is the people you meet. I would be a talker. I’ll chat to anyone. People are quite chatty to strangers they’ve only just met. You meet some incredible people kicking around this planet, if you’re open enough. 27
The new album from
Out 30th July
bsmrocks.com
LAKES
the sonder bombs
new pagans
remember sports
clothbound / out now
the seed, the root, the vessel and all / out now
like a stone / out now
the gloria record
lakes
me rex
start here / out now
start again / out 30th july
megabear / vinyl out 23rd august
