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OXFORD NEWBURY
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READING
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SALISBURY
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FOOD AND DRINK / THEATRE / ART / COMEDY / LIVE MUSIC
OCELOT THE
FatBoy Slim
and a host of others make a meal of it at Feastival! p52
ISSUE NO: 98
AUGUST 2014
FREE
Devizes Carnival p30
Woolley Festival p38
Swindon Shuffle p42
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What’s in your Ocelot?
For Starters p4
Jamie Hill
Luke Coleman; The Goat; Michael Bosley
Food and Drink p13
Brewery Bird; Pan of Mystery; Dave for all Seasons
Arts and Culture p25 Devizes Carnival; Creation Theatre
The Music section p36
Arts & Culture
A red panda. Just because...
has got the block-rocking beat master himself Fatboy Slim. If that isn’t enough we also look ahead to Woolleyfest in September and talk to headliner Jesus Jones. Phew. That’s loads. Now where did I put my refrigerator?
Food and Drink
this much since the merger of Simply Red Yello Green Day which you all must remember. Surely?) Maybe I’m already having the crisis. Maybe I’m not actually typing this. Maybe I’m just imagining typing this in my fevered mindscape as in reality I am running naked through the streets of Theale shouting ‘Has anyone seen my refrigerator?’ That’s why I’m dreading it. But there’s no reason for you lot to dread August as there’s plenty going on for you Oceloteers and we cover it all in these pages. There’s The Swindon Shuffle which we’re supporting as always, Devizes Carnival with its amazing street festival and Feastival which
For Starters
For me personally August is a dreaded month. A month when age catches up with me. I am no longer young. I will be 40 this month. It’s about time I had a mid-life crisis really, bought a sports car, dyed my hair and got a McBusted tattoo all across my back. Of course, I’m going to do none of those things (except for maybe the McBusted tattoo but what do you expect? They’re not only McFly but Busted. Two bands for the price of one. In my head each band member now has a second head grafted to their bodies, with four arms each and shared genitalia. But maybe that’s just me. A band hasn’t excited me
Woolley Festival; Groovers; Gig Monkey
The List p49
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Editor: Jamie Hill jamie@theocelot.co.uk Contributors: Brewery Bird, John Palmgren, Ed Dyer, Dave Franklin, David Murphy, Sid Siddle, Mark Muggeridge, Dave Stewart, Jacqui Thorndyke Printers: Advent Colour
What is an Ocelot? An Ocelot is a big
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For Starters
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Have you been spotted? out a barrage of petty and hateful remarks; from a person’s prowess in bed to (very often) inconsequential judgement of a complete strangers appearance or behaviours, regardless of whether that person, as it turned out in one example, happened to have learning disabilities. Although many of these observations can be executed in good humour and with a sparing amount of tongue-in-cheek, many more are simply po-faced tongue-lashings that are equally comparable to the naughty school children at the back of the bus; sniggering, taunting and pointing at the oblivious passengers on board. This has also encouraged a new breed of crusading busybodies whose self-appointed role is to tut, shame and disgrace all those who don’t live under the same devout virtuosity as they do, regardless of whether they may end up getting the wrong end of the stick and misconstruing the situation, they will defensively attest to having their “heart in the right place” and that they “only meant well” as a “concerned member of society” even if their post went something along the lines of: “To the woman in Tesco who let their child buy a Mars Duo bar – You’re an irresponsible mother and I hope you rot in the deepest pits of hell for what you’re doing to society, you wretched bitch!” Along with witch burning and George Galloway when he acted like a cat on Big Brother, these pages chronicle some examples of mankind’s unpleasant side; a side of which I can only hope won’t typify our generation.
The Nerd’s Last Word with Michael Bosley
The community bulletin board was once the place you went to scour for information about local events, lawnmowers for sale and lost animals. Now the “Spotted” Facebook page has taken its place, but not without some unpleasant side effects. The phenomenon of the “Spotted” pages has spread exponentially, to the point where even the tiniest and obscurest towns now boast their own page. If monitored and administered correctly, they can be a handy source of local information and even wry observation; but if left untended, they become a club of hostile, judgemental bullies, caught in the fervour of acceptance-chasing and presumptuous conjecture. They’ve reunited loved ones and warned other members of traffic problems and local crime, but recent high-profile stories including that of a mother photographed breastfeeding in public and consequently branded a ‘tramp’, shone the spotlight on the kind of members who often participate in these groups. As members can request for their posts to remain anonymous, the lack of accountability for what can often be extremely harmful and malicious comments mean that posters have free-reign to doll 4
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The Goat
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The Goat is our resident grumpy gruff. He’s always bloody moaning. So what has got on The Goat’s ..urm. goat this month?
For Starters
COOL PEOPLE Right guys. You, like, know that band Arctic Monkeys. Well, I am so with it that I knew there would be a kind of backlash against them when they were still sperms swimming around in their daddy’s scrotums. I grew a cool hipster beard when I was in nappies. I was the first to think Utopia was cool even before it had even been written. My jeans are so skinny that I now no longer have legs but walk around on two matchsticks. I wear my sunglasses at all times (even when I’m in the shower). In fact I came out of my mother’s womb wearing them. Facebook is so 2008. No, I’m so ahead of the times that I’ve discovered this new thing called talking to people. It’s really clever. You, like, open your mouth and all these words, like spill out and then the other person, like, uses words back at you. It’s totes the future and it even has its own emoticons as if you make your lips on your face move in a certain way you can make your own face look like an emoticon. Like a smiley face. Eating is another thing that is no longer cool.
Off The Grid with Luke Coleman (Our Man in Iraq)
Arts & Culture
Independence Day?
Food and Drink
How do you think I managed to fit into these jeans by ingesting food? No way. I’m not a vegan. Or a fruitarian. They’re barbarians. I’m an Airian. It’s what I call a ‘whale’ diet as I, like, just wonder around with my mouth open ingesting anything passing on the air currents as my nutrition. Unlike whales you don’t find many krill on the streets of Oxford but you occasionally, like, get a wasp or a few gnats. They’re, like, very nutritious. Okay, because of that diet most of my major organs have, like, packed up, literally. You know what they say ‘Live Fast, Die....uuuhhgh!’
www.lukecoleman.co.uk
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The List
strong case for independence being put forward – personally I think it's too soon, as the Kirkuk question is a long way from solution. However, the president is happy to point out that this situation has arisen not from terrorism (how I detest the multitude of ways in which that word is turned against innocents by those in power), but through patience. And who knows? A little more patience and in a couple of years, I could be Your Man In Kurdistan, if you'll still have me.
Music
Here we sit, almost a century since the Sykes Picot Agreement (agreed by the British and French, without much input from the dashed locals, awkward little buggers). That piece of paper that drew the boundaries of much of the middle east effectively ended Kurdish hopes of nationhood. It can be argued that many of the problems of the last 98 years in this region stem in some way or another from the meddling, superior and clumsy foreign policy of the west throughout the period. Wherever we lay the blame for the problems, it matters not. Israel will blame Hamas for provocation, Palestinians will claim apartheid and land theft. Blood will be spilt. The quest for statehood is always filthy, depressing and rarely successful. Or is it? Here in Kurdistan there is a
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Close the gate or the kids will get out!
The List
gallery, and a visitor attraction, as well as a year round programme of events. Daily tours of the original castle and jail are conducted for those wanting to learn more about the site’s interesting history at Oxford Castle Unlocked. For more information about the activities and the castle visit the website at www.oxfordcastle.com
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Arts & Culture
and guards, and how a former gaol can become a luxury boutique hotel. You can also see an original cell, which has been left untouched since the prison closed in 1996. The O3 Gallery welcomes you to visit their current contemporary art exhibition and leave your favourite memories, places, and stories on an interactive and creative map of Oxford. The Key Learning Centre will offer a verity of activities for children and families on the Oxford Castle Beach in Market Square, where you will also find yourselves among some highly skilled themed stilt walkers, which will bring the history of the castle to life. On Sunday 14th there will also be an exhibition of vintage automobiles in Oxford Castle Unlocked Courtyard, with experts on hand to discuss their history. Oxford Castle was originally built in 1071, and, after many years as a jail, is now a thriving part of the city centre with a hotel, bars, restaurants, an art
Food and Drink
Over the weekend of September 13 & 14, Oxford opens its doors inviting you in to the familiar and the unexpected, the unusual and the everyday. The Universities, the Colleges and the Town all take part, taking a fresh look at the many places where we live, study and work. This year Oxford Castle Quarter once again invites you to explore the history and heritage at the Oxford Castle site, in collaboration with the Oxford Preservation Trust and Oxford Open Doors. An entire weekend of discovery and fun is planned and everyone is welcome. Visit the heritage attraction and museum at Oxford Castle Unlocked, learn about the history and past inhabitants of St George’s tower, and climb the Mound to see Oxford in an entirely new way. Be sure to venture into the punishment cells hidden away in the castle gardens. Guided tours of Malmaison will be offered throughout the weekend to visitors interested in the former prison, past inmates
For Starters
Oxford Open Doors at Oxford Castle Quarter
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Yes, we can!
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The region’s favourite beer writer
The List
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English cask beers and English Country ciders as well as six bottled lagers from around the world.
Music
be served in the pub as well a full BBQ menu in the garden. This will also be one festival that will be all-weather with everything under cover so it won’t be affected by that pesky rain. It takes place from Friday August 15 to Sunday August 17 and there will be live music on the Friday and Saturday nights as well as Sunday lunchtime. There will be a selection of
Arts & Culture
Beer and BBQ at The Bakers Arms
Tucked away in the small village of Badbury just outside of Swindon nestles The Bakers Arms. This is a pub that shouts to the rooftops about its famous fish and chips. You can see why as this pub is quality when it comes to its food. So when we heard that it’s holding a beer and lager festival you can understand why we would get excited especially as the famous fish and chips will still
Food and Drink
11th September 2014. Somewhere in London. A New Beer Age is dawning. The first British Independent Beer Can Festival is set to take centre stage in a city which already boasts over 50 commercial breweries, and counting. No, your eyes do not deceive you Dear Reader, and what’s more, it really IS good news! Ok, so it’s not difficult to be slightly disturbed by this revelation if your only brush with canned beer is of the insipid lager variety or warm, metallic-tasting rubbish served up 20 years ago when British Rail ruled the tracks. But you can’t stop progress as someone once said, and progress in the Beer Industry sometimes leans towards the controversial. So why in The Name Of Sileneus (God of Beer and all-round lush), are brewers opting to plough their hard-earned cash and reputations into such a hideous receptacle? Well, aside from the obvious battle to win over the die-hard cask-heads, and the initial cost of installing your own canning plant, (contract canning is a cheaper option), the pros appear to far outweigh the cons… Taste – The nasty metallic aftertaste prevalent in beer cans of tradition (due to both the material and all too often bland, disappointing product inside) has been pretty much eradicated thanks in the main to the introduction of a water-based polymer lining that
For Starters
stops the beer from touching the metal sides, base and lid. Long Life – Cans are more effective at locking out oxygen due to the seal, neither can the beer be damaged by light (hence why brown glass is mainly used in bottled beer). We’re not talking aged beers here, as these are best left in bottles to mature. But for a bar short on storage, cans offer an easily stackable and storable solution. User Friendly – Considerably lighter than their glass counterparts, cans are easier to chill, are less easy to break and are a greener alternative than glass. For the brewer, there is bigger marketing potential; cans offer a larger area for brand promotion and can hugely increase sales by accessing new markets such as sports stadiums, aircraft, trains and events where bottles are not allowed for obvious reasons. And lower production costs are not to be sniffed at either. As usual, and as with the Craft Beer emergence, it’s our US counterparts who have really started to pave the way with over 320 breweries now choosing to can. And, what is classified as a success in the US doesn’t usually take too long to find its way Over Here. With breweries having to become increasingly adept at staying one step ahead of the competition, and with sales of draught beer falling; offering canned products as another option to customers could just be the lifeline some failing micros need. So why let packaging get in the way of great beer? It’s what’s on the inside that counts.
with Brewery bird
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Oxford Bashing Bores For Starters Arts & Culture Music The List
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the morning, and how mentally scarring that may have been. But please, for the love of God, will you just tell us about the food? The dining experience? The customer service? Without selfindulgently blathering on about your tormented youth. We get it, you didn’t like living here. I really rather do though - and I’m starting to get more than a little bored of your moaning. Oxford has its flaws, it certainly has its fair share of shoddy restaurants (you know who you are), but, it also has a selection of really fantastic restaurants - plus beautiful parks, stunning buildings, and some pretty awesome people you just have to look a little further than the end of your upturned nose. So, as an open request to all those national restaurant critics who may be visiting in the future - pleeeeaase, tell us about the restaurant, what you ate, what you thought of it, and by all means add a backstory... just go easy on the outdated and unecessary bashing, no one likes a bitter aftertaste.
Food and Drink
A column by Bitten Oxford Words by Jacqui Thorndyke To reference Family Guy, my gears are well and truly grinding. I’ve read one too many Oxford 'restaurant review’ in the national media where the author spends the majority of the article whining on about how unhappy they were, many moons ago, while living and studying in Oxford. It started quite calmly, with Giles Coren’s review of Turl Street Kitchen , in which Mr Coren tells us, over the course of about a dozen paragraphs, about his disinterest in coming to Oxford University and subsequently awful time here, before telling us in about half as
many words that he actually liked TSK. Shortly afterwards came Giles’ review of The Oxford Kitchen, mostly focussing on how looooong it took to get his food. Now this one I get, I have kids too, an hour and a half sat in a restaurant waiting for food is beyond torturous for kids (and the accompanying adults). But, here again, little focus on the food - in fact I'm not even sure I know what he ate. More recenlty my atention was drawn to Tanya Gold’s bizarre review of The Cherwell Boathouse, which, quite possibly, would have been better suited to a psychiatrist’s office. Though if you read a previous article , where Gold names Oxford University as the "gateway to hell", you'd be tempted to believe she was warming to our wonderful city. Sure, I can see it must be hard, studying at internationally renowned Oxford University. Fitting in somewhere new, all those lonely young souls. I can totally imagine how impossible it was to find anywhere to eat other than a kebab van at two in
Dave for all Seasons
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with Dave Stewart
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For Starters
Cochinita Pibil – slow cooked pork with fresh oregano, annatto and tequila
A great one for outdoor eating. You can adjust the proportions up or down, make it well in advance and best of all, the dish will keep for days. When you’re ready to serve, just loosely shred the meat and stuff in a taco with some finely sliced onion, coriander and a little hot sauce of your choosing. If you’re having a BBQ, it’ll also work great in a hamburger bun topped with plenty of coleslaw and a good sprinkling of ground cumin and black pepper. It’s good, messy fun, and is dead easy to make as the oven does most of the work. Take around 800g of Pork Shoulder, remove most of the skin (but leave a generous covering of fat – this is very important for lubrication purposes), and loosely chop the meat into large cubes. Mix these in a non-metallic bowl with 2 tbsp ground annatto seeds (or equivalent achiote paste), 2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp ground black pepper, 1 tbsp ground cumin seed, 1 tsp ground allspice, 3 ground cloves, 4 crushed garlic cloves, 1 heaped tbsp chopped pickled jalapeno peppers, 2 heaped tbsp roughly chopped fresh oregano leaves, the juice of 2 limes, 2 orange, and, just because, a shot of good quality tequila (and one for yourself). Mix all this well, and leave everything to marinade in the fridge for at least 3 hours. As always, the longer the better, and give it a stir every now and then. Once marinated, cook until absolutely tender at 160°c, this will take somewhere between 3-4 hours. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt, pepper or chilli peppers as required!
Tenderstem Broccoli with pine nuts, lemon and Parmesan A simple way of jazzing up this great vegetable (tenderstem broccoli is also known as Broccolini). Steam 200g broccoli stalks over boiling water until just tender and bright green - about 3-4 minutes or to your preference. Once it's cooked, plunge the broccoli into ice cold water, or run under cold running water in a sieve until completely. This is to stop the greens cooking any further. Heat a little olive oil in a large frying pan, cook 1 finely sliced clove of garlic for about 30 secs, then add the broccoli and toss well, warming everything through for about 1-2 minutes, adding a pinch of salt and pepper and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Tip the broccoli onto a serving platter, with all the juices, and top with 1 tbsp roasted pine nuts and grated parmesan to taste.
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Also in season: Artichoke, Aubergine, Basil, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Celery, Cherries, Chillies, Chives, Coriander, Crab, Cucumber, Dill, Fennel, Figs, Gooseberries, Lettuce and salad leaves, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Raspberries, Runner Beans, Sage, Scallops, Sorrel, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watercress
Arts & Culture
Braised Artichokes with tarragon, parsley and lemon butter
Many people find these vegetables intimidating. But once you know how to prepare them, they pretty much take care of themselves in this recipe. And they make a great starter, pizza topping or antipasti side dish, and they’re in season right now so it’s the best time to experiment with these little beauties. Trim the 2-3cm off the stems and top of the artichoke, and then snip the tops off the pointy leaves. Also remove any of the toughest outer leaves. Cut lengthways into quarters and remove the fuzzy ‘choke’. Brush all the edges with lemon juice, to prevent browning. Place the artichoke quarters in a baking dish, cover in 1 litre of vegetable or chicken stock and bake for 1 hour at 180°C, until just tender. Meanwhile, make the sauce by melting 50g butter, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, ½ tsp dried tarragon, 1 chopped anchovy fillet and fry for about 2-3 minutes. Pour this sauce over the braised artichokes. Either eat them like that, or chop up the artichoke into slightly smaller pieces, top a margherita or ham pizza with it (sauce and all).
Food and Drink
Great for BBQ side salads, or as a lunch with a crusty baguette. Mix the sweet potato, red onion, thyme, fennel seed, allspice and a good pinch of salt and pepper in a baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes at 180°C, until the sweet potato is soft and just beginning to caramelise. Whilst that's cooking, roast the bell peppers in a pair of tongues or on skewers directly over an open gas flame or BBQ, caveman style, until completely blackened on all sides. If you don't have a gas stove, grilling will also work - the important thing is to get them soft and black on all sides. Once they are at this stage, place both the peppers inside a lidded tupperware container or sealed plastic bag, and allow to cool in their own steam for about 10 minutes. When the peppers are cool enough to handle, peel off most of the blackened skin (leaving on a few bits won't matter) and chop off the stalks, and remove most of the seeds. Roughly chop the roasted peppers and add them to a large bowl with the puy lentils, and roasted sweet potato and onion.
For Starters
Warm puy lentil salad with mint, sweet potato and chargrilled peppers
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Crazy Golf Coming Soon
Open all day for food every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer
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International Pan of Mystery
The List
Music
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
For Starters
Turning up the heat on some familiar and not so familiar ingredients from around the world.
Annatto seeds
These small, red, triangular shaped seeds of the achiote trees (and which are, in homage to this, sometimes known as ‘achiote’ seeds) have been prized for their deep red colour on these shores for centuries- most notably so in the production of Gloucester and Red Leicester cheeses. In the seeds’ homeland of central and latin America, they’re used in a wide variety of dishes – originally annatto seeds were used as a substitute for a more expensive colouring spice such as saffron, but are now used in multiple dishes in their own
right both for their colour and aroma. The warm, fruity, almost ‘nutmeggy’ flavour of the annatto seed is most famoulsy allowed to shine in the Yucatan peninsula’s wellknown ‘cochinita pibil’ dish - a rich stew of pork, annatto seeds, spices, garlic, and chillies, slow-cooked for hours and most often served shredded in a fresh corn taco, topped with a pickled red onion topping – and is a dish well worth checking out to introduce yourself to this spice. Handily, a recipe is provided in this issue in Dave for All Seasons on page 16. 20
Vinho di Montho
Le Petit Chat Malin French Rosé Wine
There’s nothing like a good rosé in the summer and this one is a blinder. Grenache and Syrah combined in a charming southern French rosé. This scrumptious dry rosé is packed with juicy, ripe berry fruit flavours, floral aromas and a subtle twist of sweet spice. Serve chilled with fish, tomatobased pasta dishes or simply lap it up all on its lonesome... Purrrfect! But we would save it for a salad niçoise personally. Our 'cunning little cat' ('Le Petit Chat Malin' in its native French) is a tasty wine and perfect for long hot summer days or evenings. It’s available now from Waitrose for £4.49.
NATIONAL WEEKS OF WHATEVER National Peach Month
August
August is Peach Month. That’s right. The peach gets a whole month to itself. And why shouldn’t it? It is the perfect time to enjoy the benefits and taste of these full-of-goodness fruit whilst they are at the peak of perfection. Peaches (Prunus persica) are native to China. The first written Chinese record of the peach goes back to 10th Century BC. They’re seen as the secret of a long life in Chinese folk tales so go on have a peach!
it Chat Malin h RosĂŠ Wine
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Monday August 4 Fancy a laugh? Four Comedians and a compere all for free!
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“You talkin’ to me?” A film column with Jamie Hill
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most original directors around. Gone Girl unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his beautiful wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick's portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife? Nick is played by Batman-inwaiting Ben Affleck. Ben is a talented director in his own right and someone who I have a lot of time for as an actor and director, despite the negative nerd press about him spawned by his highly publicised relationship with Jennifer Lopez and the mistake that was ‘gobble gobble’ Gigli. Rosamund Pyke, who is always good, plays the titular missing wife. Gone Girl is released on October 3 and I’m salivating already at getting my teeth into it.
Music
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which although it wasn’t the greatest commercial success was still a bloody good film and a brilliant adaptation of what is a very dense and complicated novel. He still has the option to direct the two follow ups to Tattoo but hasn’t committed yet probably because of the lacklustre box office of the first. He has said if he does do it, he would have to shoot them back to back for practical reasons. Let’s hope that happens as the Stieg Larrson novels were one of my personal pleasures in recent years. But, anyway, back to the point. We know that Fincher can adapt novels with imagination and verve whilst still remaining true to the source material giving us something new without taking away from the original. He is a director who obviously loves his books and stays loyal to them like he did with Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club. That is why I’m excited about Gone Girl. It’s got everything going for it. A fantastic source novel and one of the best and
Arts & Culture
If films were food then a thriller would almost certainly be the main course as there’s nothing like a meaty whodunnit to fufil your cinema cravings. You end up chewing on every scene trying to spot the clues as the plot takes you from one visual feast to the next, serving you up red herrings and leaving you guessing right until the very end. Last year, I read a bestseller called Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and I loved it from its first page to its denouement. It was a proper thriller and you really did not know exactly what was what until the very last page. It had more twists than The Nemesis at Alton Towers. And now it’s been made into a film and will be released in October. For me the best bit about this adaptation is the fact that it’s directed by David Fincher, who is quality and won my adoration with the double whammy of Seven and Fight Club. He’s also the man who brought us the Hollywood adaptation of
Food and Drink
Going, going, gone...
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Charlie and Lola
The Hunters Grimm
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classic, Alice Through The Looking Glass. You can follow Alice’s fantastical adventures in the strange world she enters through the mirror above her drawing-room fireplace. Meet Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Walrus and the Carpenter, The Lion and the Unicorn, and the Jabberwock. With poems and songs, this is a show for all the family to enjoy.
Music
Charlie and Lola's Extremely New Play – Oxford Playhouse 21st – 23rd August Playful, funny and full of surprises, this new play about friendship and adventures will be enjoyed by parents and children alike. This magical mix of puppets, live action and music is based on the books by Lauren Child and the BBC TV Series. Join Lola as she follows Charlie and Marv on a Pirate Squidbones adventure. Recommended for ages three and up. The Hunters Grimm – Watermill Theatre 11th – 17th August Performed in the gardens around the watermill, the audience will be up and about joining in with the action. You can dance with the musicians of Bremen, help a frog find a Princess and try on a slipper for a Prince. The play tells stories of love and laughter, poverty, and longing that will make familiar characters strange and strange characters familiar. Recommended for ages six and up. Alice Through The Looking Glass – Lydiard Park 15th August Quantum Theatre brings their lively brand of comedy, music and magic to Lewis Carroll’s timeless
Arts & Culture
With the school summer holidays upon us there are lots of things to do to keep the little ones occupied, but should going to the theatre be one of them? There are plays for all age ranges from toddler-targeted productions for three
year olds to thought provoking pieces aimed at teenagers. These can be just as powerful as any adult pieces of theatre. At its best you have impressive actors exploring the difficult subjects around growing up. Plays can explore bullying, depression and loss in a safe environment. But there are also plenty of light hearted things to choose from as well. Here are a few highlights of what's happening this month:
Food and Drink
Breaking a Leg with John Palmgren
For Starters
Kidding around at the theatre
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Creation Theatre goes from strength to strength
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boring reason but true!! “As a follow up for your original story we did raise the £50,000 we needed from donations from members of the pubic and audiences at our Christmas show in response to that appeal.” Creation Theatre is renowned for finding unusual spaces to tell their stories. They see the setting as part of the story. The stories aren’t set in theatres so they don’t put them there. Castles, antique mirror tents, college gardens, bookshops and factories… they’ll go wherever the stories take us, and so far they’ve taken over 500,000 people with them. From the thousands of children who’ve told classic stories in new ways through their education programme, to their professional actors and directors, you’re always most likely to find them lost in a good book. 18 years, 54 shows, half a million audience members aged 5-95 and they’re still going strong thanks to the support of the general public. So keep it up. Tickets for Macbeth are available from 01865 766266 or www.creationtheatre.co.uk
Arts & Culture
As Blackadder demonstrated to very comedic effect the Scottish play or Macbeth as it is really called is definitely a daunting prospect for actors. It is one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays and it is apt that Creation Theatre, who are known for their daring productions should tackle it. The play is being performed from Friday August 1 to Saturday September 13 at Lady Margaret Hall. It is described as a political thriller and a horror story. Fast paced, unrelenting, absorbing, repugnant. This never was safe theatre and in Creation’s hands it becomes a rollercoaster of dreams and visions, re-imagined within the confines of a sanatorium within earshot of the guns of the Western Front. Gathered for a strange wake and seated at tables before the edifice of Lady Margaret Hall, the audience is drawn into a disconcerting world that drifts among them like whispering eddies of dreaded gas. As for Creation’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes it was a close-run thing. Charlie Morley of Creation Theatre said: “As far as our recovery is concerned, it was really down to a very successful year last year with sell-out runs of Jekyll & Hyde at Blackwell’s, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe at The North Wall and Henry V at Oxford Castle. “We were very kindly donated some office space by GBS architects and our core team is now only six people so we’ve effectively reduced our overheads and had a bumper sales year. Perhaps a bit of a
For Starters
Last year we put out an appeal for people to raise funds to help save the company Creation Theatre. Since then they have been going from strength to strength with the help of generous donations and strong sales for their shows. This month they are putting on Macbeth in Oxford and it will be one hell of a performance.
Carnival time in D
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Lucky Peterson
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) brings you two weeks of free entertainment and fun with a spectacular two-day international street festival, a joyful Confetti Battle and an array of fringe events, culminating in the biggest, and brightest carnival for miles around. Devizes will be transformed as top international performers from the world of outdoor arts are welcomed to the town, to entertain, surprise and amaze!
The excitement of the international street festival will begin on The Green in Devizes, on Sunday 24th August, where you can relax and enjoy a heavy sprinkling of wonderful family friendly shows. These include two outstanding performances of The Iron Man, by Graeae Theatre Company, a force for change in world-class theatre, breaking down barriers, challenging preconceptions and boldly placing disabled artists centre stage. There will be masses of free outdoor arts shows and children’s entertainment to see throughout the day. Why not enter the jaws of a giant silver whale to be serenaded by a love-sick mariner from Talking Birds, or relax in style with Maison Foo in the most eccentric café around. With a bit of planning you can see all the shows and enjoy the sounds of the live music stage which presents an eclectic line-up of blues, reggae, folk, cajun, dub and street jazz! Street Festival Sunday entertainment starts at midday and will culminate in a special elemental performance ‘The Sunday Night Show - a landscape symphony of light and sound’, which will lead off from
The Green at 7pm. DOCA is looking for people to help create, produce and perform in The Sunday Night Show as ‘Show Makers’. The show will be inspired by English celebratory traditions of noise, fire and music and Show Makers will work with professional outdoor arts company Rag & Bone on all aspects, from creating the visual elements to making the music, performance and production. To find out more or to register your interest in being involved (no previous experience necessary) call 07880 239598 or email info@docadevizes.org.uk On Street Festival Monday DOCA presents a spectacular programme of street theatre, contemporary circus and walkabout performances from some of the best companies from around the world including France, Australia, Peru, America and Sweden and of course the UK. Look out for Magmanus, two artists who are hopelessly connected – when one falls, the other flies! And don’t miss the amazing double act from Garaghty and Thom with their impromptu madness hilarious routines. The festival also welcomes emerging company Can’t Sit Still, who will take you on
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groups, friends or individuals. The Devizes Carnival Parade, on Saturday 30th August, will bring the Festival Fortnight to a vibrant and colourful end, showcasing a mix of traditional and contemporary carnival styles, music and dance. Devizes Carnival, which is 102 this year, is the biggest community event in Wiltshire and masses of fun for spectators and participants alike. Keep an eye out for school and community groups who have been working hard to create magnificent ‘feet on the street’ entries alongside all the wonderful, floats, bands and dancing groups in this all-out celebration of spectacle, drama and excitement. For details of all events visit www.docadevizes.org.uk For enquires email info@docadevizes.org.uk or call 07880 239598. Follow on Twitter @DOCA_info #DevizesISF #DevizesCarnival Dates of all events - August 2014 Sunday 17th - Picnic in the Park Monday 18th - Carnival Quiz Night Wednesday 20th – Skittles Contest Thursday 21st – Carnival Comedy Night Friday 22nd – Fish and Chips Cruise Sunday 24th & Monday 25th Devizes International Street Festival Sunday 24th – Sunday Night Show, a landscape symphony of light and sound! Tuesday 26th – Market Cross Event Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th – Carnival Workshops Wednesday 27th – Confetti Battle Friday 29th – Carnival on the Canal Saturday 30th – Devizes Carnival Procession
For Starters
a journey of rain and storms, weather reports and whales to tell a true story of the future, and the DooLolly’s – 3rd year students from Circomedia whose expert guidance will ensure safe passage of each and every person they encounter. The festival also welcomes back Natural Diversions, a company of disabled street artists and the newest branch of the Natural Theatre Company, so expect to be entertained, enthralled and excited! The Monday music line-up on the Corn Exchange stage retains its reputation for quality and diversity, beginning at midday with The Long Notes and their distinctive folk, roots and celtic sound. The Cumbia All Stars, who come from the legendary bands of Peruvian Cumbia, present a sound of delirious melodies with bold, resonant guitar lines and jerky beats. In contrast 2 Rude play their unique style of two toned inspired hits and rightly claim their title as one of the hottest live acts in the country. Headlining will be Lucky Peterson – the most dangerous triple threat working in the blues scene, who has gained a reputation as one of the most preeminent performers of the modern era. A searing guitarist, fantastic organist and first-rate vocalist, Lucky’s many talents are mindboggling. There will be festival food and drink, craft stalls and children’s activities galore on both days. The fun and outdoor celebrations don’t stop after the street festival though. The next day, Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th August, come to our free Carnival Maker workshops and make colourful costume pieces or a giant (and we mean giant) puppet! The workshops will be a fun and easy way to join in Devizes Carnival as part of a pop-up costumed group - ideal for family
The Iron Man picture by Alison Baskerville
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Gig Monkey goes to the theatre! A review of TS Theatre Productions #theorder By Ed Dyer Okay, if I can review live music I am sure I can have a reasonable crack at Theatre, can’t I? I have seen several productions by local Swindon theatre group TS, who do not seem to like to do things the traditional way (using music venues to stage their shows for example, as in this case at The Victoria in Swindon). They are not known for pulling any punches either. Previous productions have included some pretty dark characters; prostitutes, serial killers, paedophiles and suicidal teenagers all featuring along with some of the creepiest performances and writing I have seen on local stages. As a group they all seem to have perfected the art of getting under your skin and unsettling you and they have continued this with their latest production, titled #theorder. However, in a departure from their usual MO the majority of the unease generated by this play stems not so much from the characters, who are far less vulnerable or twisted than usual, or from the on stage action but from the background to the plot. Starting with some fairly scary projections of social media facts you quickly realise that this is a very current plot, as it unfolds you are left with a distinct thought that this could easily happen, we are balanced on a fairly keen knife’s edge and one wrong twitch could have us all tumbling down the path the plot follows. Taking place in contemporary times, in our social media saturated lives, it takes a searing look at how far under the spell of our little glowing screens of tech we have fallen, and how easily influenced society has become, acting as the majority seem to do with a bizarre herd mentality, following any instructions like odd little sheep fearful of the nipping teeth of media sheep dogs. As they point out, how could the X Factor appear to have such cultural relevance if people had
the ability to think freely, or most of the vapid music in the charts be successful if radio stations actually broadcast anything with artistic merit? Society does as it is told, yes more subtly than Orwell foretold in 1984, but the effect is very similar. Following the fall out of a happening known simply as #theorder we follow a disparate bunch of survivors holed up in a shelter, and follow them as they try to make sense of what has happened. Of course, all is not as it seems, these are not ordinary survivors, they are all there for a reason, and as the story unfolds and we get to learn more about who these people are, why they are here and what they have become involved in we follow a roller coaster of a narrative arc in their stories. Who is good? Who is bad? What has happened? And why? Although the characters are less colourful and bombastic than in other productions, the actors still work their socks off to make them believable, imbuing each with a fragility and fear at first, that as they learn more about what has happened, becomes replaced with determination, horror and action. This particular production was not set up in the usual “audience faces stage” format. Rather the set was on the floor of the venue, and the actors performed in and around the audience. This added so much, we felt involved, inside the story, like we were genuine fly’s on the wall dipping in and out of the scene. It also helped to ramp up the tension, being this close to the actors you could feel the pressure of the situation and the atmosphere. TS perform uncompromising theatre for modern times, relishing challenging themselves as much as the audience. Go and see whatever they come up with next. It may creep you out or shock you. But it will also make you think. And that is good art. 32
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AUGUST LISTINGS Fri 1st
The The Bowie Experience 8pm £7adv £8dr
Sun 3rd
Kit Off For Cancer Fundraiser Midday £2
Sat 2nd
Mon 4th
Tues 5th
Thurs 7th Fri 8th
Sat 9th
The Original 999 Band + The Chaos Brothers 8pm £8 The Ocelot Comedy Night 8pm free Quiz Night 8pm free
Super Squarecloud + SkysBurnsRed + Dead Royalties + Si Hall + The NightJar 8pm free Swindon Shuffle 8pm free
Rammlied Ramstein Tribute 8pm £6
Thurs 14th
The Vic Acoustic Sessions + Feat. Jimmy Moore +
Fri 15th
Ghouls + Specials Guests 8pm £4adv £5dr
Thurs 21st
Songs of Praise presents Flashfires 8pm free
Sat 23rd
The Doors Alive Doors Tribute 8pm £10
Sat 16th
Fri 22nd
Dan James Ball 8pm free
Toxic Female fronted cover band 8pm free
Josie & The Outlaw + Jittery Jack 8pm free
Sun 24th
The Ultimate Bank Holiday Disco 8pm free
Fri 29th
Wacky Disco 8pm free
Tues 26th
Sat 30th
Open Mic Night All Welcome 8pm free
Erin Bardwell Collective + SN Dubstation + DJ Pete Murphy 8pm £5
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The Reggae Garden!
Saturday September 6 2014 (12pm - 9pm) Old Town Bowl, Swindon, SN1 4PP Advanced Tickets: Adults £15 + B/Fee - Under 14's £5 + B/Fee - Under 5's FREE Ticket outlets: Swindon Visitor Information Center - 01793 466454; Moshan Grill (Swindon) - 01793 619988 / 01793 495256; Forum (Swindon) - 01793 480051 The Ticket Sellers: www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/events/?id=10030974 For more info: www.thereggaegarden.com // 07401477765 // 07921227763
and a powerful collaboration of talent. PETER SPENCE One UK reggae artist whose name is on a lot of people's lips right now is Peter Spence; a Birmingham born artist with street credentials to spare, but whose gifts increasingly demand a more international setting. He will be backed by Friendly Fire Band who are back for their fourth consecutive year. JAMATONE Jamatone is a Roots, Reality, Reggae, & Dancehall band. Promoting unification near and far. they always come with something new and fresh, they deliver real music to get you in the mood to dance the day away. TERRORIST NUCLEAR SOUNDSYSTEM These Swindon’s King Sound and Reggae Garden resident selectors will be behind the controls for their forth successive year. DJ FEVA Original turntablist DJ feva breathes rhythm with his reggae mash ups and cuts. Fever brings fire to the decks and has been energising crowds from Birmingham to Brazil. MESSENJAH YOUTH Swindon's young selectors Messenjah Youth continue to rock events and festivals across the UK and Europe promoting a positive message through music. ZEEKS Hosting this years festival is Swindon's finest reggae and dancehall artist - Zeeks. With an impressive back catalogue of original material, his vibe and stage presence always brings a great energy to the show. More info at: www.thereggaegarden.com
Stirring up a potent mix of positive beats, top live acts, and delicious soul food, The Reggae Garden aims to bring Reggae culture to a brand new audience. Celebrating its 4th year, the UK's most scenic reggae music festival returns to the Old Town Bowl, Swindon on Saturday September 6. This year’s soul food will be provided by Moshan Grill, Wiltshire's premier Carribean restaurant and there will also be a bouncy castle and facepainting for the kids. Here’s the Line Up: SAXON SOUND INTERNATIONAL The legendary Saxon Sound International are known as one of the finest UK Sound Systems, regularly producing dubplates and touring worldwide. Saxon has produced many artists such as Papa Levi, Maxi Priest, Smiley Culture and Tippa Irie and they annually host a stage at Notting Hill Carnival. EARL SIXTEEN & THE UPPERCUT BAND Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica before Earl left school he was already touring as lead singer of the Flaming Phonics. Over the next decade Earl’s solo career led him to work with Jamaica’s heavyweight artists including Lee Scratch Perry , Augusto Pablo, and Linval Thompson to name but a few. During this period his timeless ‘Love is a Feeling’ was produced at Studio One Records. Earl relocated to England in the late 80’s joining forces with the Mad Professor. As well as being an active member of the dubwise band Dreadzone, Earl also tours with reggae influenced electronic giants Leftfield as well as running his own record label. ZION TREE BAND FT. BARRY DREAD Zion Tree are a 13 piece reggae band accompanied by the Brassika Horns. Part of the Subajah Family, they are culturally diverse, conscious
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The Woolley Festiva
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The Woolley Festival in Bradford on Avon sprung from quite humble roots as part of a pub event from The George in Woolley Street. But over the years it has grown and grown and this year it’s become such a behemoth they’ve had to move it down the road and have attracted such big names as Joe Brown, Chas and Dave, Jesus Jones and Dreadzone. It takes place from Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7.
The Woolley Festival will be held across the weekend of Friday 5th until Sunday 7th September on the grounds of Merkins Farm, Bradford Leigh, in Bradford on Avon. 2014 is its 16th year in 2014 - and it’s celebrating by starting from scratch. The line up is a mixture of genres across four stages - everything from established international artists to young up and coming talent, as well as an extensive family programme. The latest additions are The Selecter (Saturday night headliners), and Dizraeli & The Small Gods. Joining the previously confirmed Chas & Dave and Joe Brown will be Dreadzone, Hidden Orchestra, Jesus Jones, Yes Sir Boss, The Aristocrats, Zun Zun Egui, 3 Daft Monkeys, Courtney Pine, Martin Simpson, Joe Driscoll & Seckou Kouyate, Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston, The Peoples String Foundation, World Government, Funkinsteins, Batch Gueye & The Band, Malaprop, Billy in the Lowground, Fruke, Calico Jack, Lady Nade & The Silhouettes, Blue Rose Code, The Doubtful Guest, Sophie Barker, Pete Taylor, Taran Stormes Martino, Wessex Contraband, Act 1, Ushti Baba, Electric Swing Circus, The Duval Project, Thelonius, The Greasy Slicks, Port Erin, The Daturas, Derry, Charivari, My Social Orbit, Budada, Dirty Public, The Bad Hands, The Robert Brian Quartet, The Zen Hussies, The Hot Tin Roofs, Bartoune, Hip Pocket, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, The Croutons, The Cleverley Brothers, Jess Vincent, Poppa Shep, Tom Rockliffe, Cosmic Sausages, Bertie Wright, and The Morris Men. Phew! That’s a hell of a lot. There will also be Circus Performers, Puppeteers, Interactive Workshops, and a plethora of childrens entertainment providers. Tickets cost £70 for an adult weekend ticket to give you an idea of the pricing, making it a bargain compared with other festivals of a similar size. For more information visit the website at www.woolleyfestival.com
3 Daft Monkeys
Joe Brown
Selecter
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like being with your extended family anyway. The first September date is Woolley Festival. Why is that an important gig for you? It’s very important. It’s where me and Gen started out from. It’s going to be very weird and I’m a bit anxious. It’s different playing to what will be old school friends and people I knew growing up than to an arena full of fans. These are people who knew me at the age of 14! Will you be playing Doubt in full at Woolley Festival? Yes. We will be. It’s the first night of our tour so we will be to gauge the audience reaction of what we’re doing in a friendly place. We’re really looking forward to it. Is there something special for you about playing live? Definitely. When you’re younger it’s all about ego saturation. Feeding yourself but as you get older you start playing for pleasure and it becomes all about communicating with the audience. They feed off you instead of you feeding off them. It’s a great feeling. So are you guys ever going back into the studio? It’s been the plan for a while. It’s something that we would all love to do but it’s hard to get us all together. If we did it I’d like to think it would be because we genuinely have something new to say rather than just doing it for the money. I’m wary of the cashing in that a lot of bands do nowadays when they go back to the sudio.
Arts & Culture
So tell us about the tour playing Doubt in full? We did it with the first album Liquidizer which was a huge tour. It was always our intention to do it with Doubt as well. It’s weird as there are songs that we play all the time like Right Here, Right Now but there are other songs that are on the album that we never play live. I’ve had to learn them all over again. It’s been a very nostalgic experience. Why was Doubt such an important record? It kind of put us on the map. Right Here, Right Now was such a hit in the US. It was when we were at our peak and everything that we had been trying to achieve before then came together. We toured it extensively and we were having the best time of our lives. Does it bring back a lot of memories revisiting this old material? Definitely. In the songs themselves you can see what I was into at the time. Acid House. Sonic Youth. It was from a specific era and it instantly takes me back to everything that was happening at the time like a photograph does. Not just personally but the actual time period and what was going on at the time like Tiananmen Square and stuff. As a band have you mellowed with age as you’ve got older? I guess so. But it feels exactly the same. We all get on so well and have that same banter but I suppose we’ve got other family commitments and stuff that we didn’t have back then. But being with the guys is
Food and Drink
Jesus Jones are massive and they are going out on tour this September playing their bestselling album ‘Doubt’ in full and Woolley Festival is the first stop on their tour which is fitting as Bradford on Avon’s where the band first started 25 years ago. Jamie Hill had a chat with lead singer Mike Edwards.
For Starters
A chat to Woolley Festival headliners Jesus Jones
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This is New Music with Mark Muggeridge
This is TIAAN
Having discovered her minimal, low and sensual sound during a recording session in Sweden TIAAN is the latest artist who is helping redefine the contemporary sound of soul. TIAAN started her journey of discovery in Bali when she met Arnthor Birgisson who now produces tracks like the funky and mesmeric, Devil’s Touch, which is the latest release from her self-titled ep. Along with earlier track Deep Dive, the young singer and her collaborators have discovered a deep well of musical introspection that draws the listener in and seduces you in a way that makes you want to do mischievous things. The singer told us, ‘We did one song that set a fire off in everyone. I went a lot deeper with the lyrics than I ever had before.’ The place TIAAN takes us to on these tracks is one that we can only go to with her. Once you go there it’s a place you won’t want to leave. (tiaanofficial.com)
This is BETTY WHO
22-year-old Betty Who delivers pop that is best suited to massive stadiums or packed to the rafters nightclubs full of hedonistic partygoers. If her debut single High Society is anything to go by, these are targets that will soon be met and conquered by the New York based musician that studied cello at the prestigious Interlochen music academy before progressing onto three years study at Berklee College of Music. On her debut EP World’s Apart, Betty give us a slice of Katy Perry style fantasy in the form of the up-tempo, Somebody Loves You but it’s on High Society that she really loosens up to show us the potential that could fill those stadiums I was talking about. If all this is not enough of a guilty pleasure, how could you not love an artist whose fan newsletter promises to send you Vegan Recommendations, Twerk Tutorials and more. (bettywhomusic.com)
This is Laura Welsh
Laura first came to our attention back in 2012 with her single, 45 so it’s been a bit of a slow burn for this artist who has been drawing comparisons with Ellie Goulding, Jessie Ware and even Adele. Regular readers of TisM will know that we are fans of great songwriting and that’s the hallmark of all the Laura Welsh tracks we’ve heard including Call to Arms and Cold Front. Laura gives us proper grownup pop that would do as well on Radio2 as it will on Radio1. Her distinct vocals on the Gorgon City track, Here for You were as good a house music top-line as you will hear anywhere and on her current single Break the Fall she really takes her vocals out to full stretch in a way that makes me sure that within a few years we’ll be seeing Laura on the main stage at festivals filling the shoes of the likes of Florence but with her own dark, sharp edged and exciting presence. (laurawelsh.com) 40
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Fri 1st - Slagerij + 2 Sick Monkeys + Foxpunch Fri 8th - Or So She Said + Supports
Fri 15th - Beer Fest feat. Sixfish + Them Dirtbags Sat 16th - Beer Fest All Dayer w/Guest Headliner SN Dubstation Weds 20th Salisbury Open Mic
Fri 22nd - Super Squarecloud + Supports Fri 29th - Faux + Supports
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The Gig Mon key
All the skinny on the Swindon Shuffle 2014
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Gig Monkey, AKA Ed Dyer, is a primate on a mission to discover as muc be out and about as well as reviewing as much stuff as you can send h
As you may have noticed over the last few years, us here at The Ocelot like our festivals. Especially the local ones like The Oxford Punt (which was awesome again this year). Another that we have a special place in our hearts for is the Swindon Shuffle. Pictures by Paj.
The whole thing kicks off as it has done the last couple of years with an open mic session at The Queens Tap on Wednesday 6th. This is then followed up on Thursday with a bit of a fringe shuffle in Old Town, centred around a Songs Of Praise night at The Victoria featuring the musical talents of bands as diverse as quirky popsters Super Squarecloud, orchestral rockers SkyBurnsRed, math-grunge-punks Dead Royalties and psychedelic upstarts The Nightjar, as well as featuring Si Hall in his debut full band show. Or you can shuffle around to catch live poetry readings alongside acoustic music with a message from the likes of David Marx and Steve Leigh at The Roaring Donkey and weird hippy trip out disco from Zetan Spore at The Beehive. On Friday the festival proper kicks off with none other than us! Yes, The Ocelot takes over the Victoria for a night of riotous fun and guitar music headlined by the fantastic indie anthems of British Harlem. And, in a real coup we have managed to squeeze in several other bands that could easily headline themselves – Ocelot favourites the ever odder Nudybronque and gutter rockers The Racket. Acting
Taking place from 6th August to 10th August this year marks the 8th running of the event, and to be honest it looks better than ever, with a cracking line up of local talent planned. And, as started happening last year, it is not just music that will be going on to entertain you, with poetry and live art thrown into the mix. In addition, we have been getting pretty heavy with those guys over on the organising committee and have blagged ourselves another stage to programme.
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ate on a mission to discover as much quality original music playing as possible. He will ng as much stuff as you can send him to ed@theocelot.co.uk Nudybronque
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local R’n’B advocates Cartoon Heroes. The Castle hosts a fantastic night of chilled out pop and folk music from the likes of Colour The Atlas, Cook & The Case, Billyjon and Luke De-Sciscio as well as a rare acoustic set from Port Erin. And to add to all this throughout the day there will be all sorts of musical stuff cropping up in the town centre (where That’s Entertainment and The Central Library are hosting music) and at The Outlet Village (the Billabong store has several bands playing) along with Old Town as Baila Coffee & Vinyl mark their appearance in town with a Shuffle hook up. It all wraps up on Sunday with a family fun and music day at Riffs and an extended rootsy session at The Beehive that features such talented folk as Hip Route, The Shudders, Mr Love & Justice, Black Sheep Apprentice, Splat The Rat, The Labradors and Mel Hughes. After which anyone left standing can incoherently compare Shuffle tales and favourite bits, ponder the appearance of blisters, headaches and wonder which bar has most of their money in its tills. All through the weekend you should watch out for the live art of Sketch Crawl, as they wonder the sessions drawing what they see and be nice to anyone jangling a bucket under your nose. They are collecting for the Goldenhar charity, so would appreciate whatever you can spare. Of course, details are correct at the time of writing, but are liable (and likely) to change a little, so keep an eye on the website www.swindonshuffle.org.uk or the facebook page to keep up to date with any changes, announcements or to poke fun at the organisers as they like that.
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as appetiser to this three part main dish are the punked up acoustic rock n roll of Marky Thatcher (the only man on earth who has performed at every single Shuffle) and Ian Doeser, erstwhile Hamster From Hell and all round punk and blues terrorist of many years’ experience. And, to keep things ticking along and to ensure a damn good party afterwards we have enlisted vinyl warrior and legend of the true turntable Bobby The Persuader who will be rummaging in his big bag of hits to play you the best records you have never heard. Things are a little more gentle over the road at The Castle (marking their 2nd year of involvement) with an exciting line-up headlined by Cirencester band Familiars, purveyors of fine piano driven stadium indie. Also appearing will be the brilliant Wildest Dream, the latest band for Zoe Mead, one to watch nationally for sure judging by the press coverage they have been getting. The entrancing Faye Rogers also appears as do acoustic troubadour Ben McDanielson and the new vehicle for former Street Orphan (the band, not for real) Harry Sayers – Blind Man’s Bastion. Meanwhile, out of town Riffs get in on the act with their usual open mic alongside a brilliant double bill of acts The Black Feathers and The Cadbury Sisters. The best of local acoustic Americana and folk right there on the one bill. Well worth the trip out to Hook for that one. Saturday goes bonkers with too much to fit in. It starts off in the afternoon at the Rolleston with a showcase of students from The Academy Of Music & Sound, then moves into a session featuring the return of Charlie Bath from her musical mission to London, Some agit-folk from Kitchen Sink Drama’s then goes a lot louder with sets from acts like Adam Crosland’s latest artnoise project Sea Mammal, swamp rockers Armchair Committee, unruly punks Strength in Blunders, Pink Floyd obsessives The Automaniacs and Boss Cloth, returning to the scene of the show last year that first prompted us to hail them as our newcomers of the year. And it all finishes off with a full set from rock n roll stalwarts and hardest working band around David Mark & The AK Poets. Elsewhere, you can catch folk band Ells & The Southern Wild at The Beehive, along with this years appearance from The Swindon Samba band and
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THE KITES
“This indie pop quintet come proffering airy melodies, well-bred songs and subtle, enticing vocals.”
OCTOPUSES
“This bright, smily alt-pop collective will fascinate the mind, whilst tickling ”a few dancing feet.”
THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS
“This trio will probe some eerie Nick Cave corners and start the night with a gothic shiver.”
Saturday August 30
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GROOVERS ON M
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Temple Funk Collective
By David Murphy If there’s one concept set steadfastly in the foundation of grassroots music, it’s that covers band are awful. Soulless. Unworthy. Just shit. But, contentious though it might be, I feel that this platinum rule can sometimes be broken, and it’s possible to play another’s compositions and still be artistically valid. Take Jacqueline Du Pre; she could squeeze more originality and invention into 8 bars
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Ox Th fo e rd bi t
than most denizens of Oxfordshire will manage in a career of writing original songs (and, let’s be honest, if you’ve heard B B King, Ed Sheeran and The Arctic Monkeys, you’ve effectively already heard 25% of all songs – ahem – written in the county in the past month). So, for this reason I’m very happy to devote my column this month over to a band I stumbled across at the Cowley Road Carnival, The Temple Funk Collective, a brass septet (or brass sextet with a drummer, if you like), performing covers and medleys with notable wit and musicianship. From the moment I heard them sliding “Superstition” effortlessly into the Superman theme, I was convinced the band had no dearth of ideas - phrasing and arrangement take skilful
inspiration too, you know. Highlight of a set of insightful segues was a mega-mash-up of 90s chart dance hits, from 2 Unlimited to Corona via Outhere Brothers, Vengaboys, C & C Music Factory, and a few others my blushing brain won’t dredge up for fear of being thrown out of the music journo fraternity - feel the funky force of those sousaphone basslines! If you’re reading this infuriated that your proper original band should be on this page, never mind, channel that and write some new songs: remember, it’s I-IV-V, and “baby” rhymes with “maybe”. fb/TempleFunkCollective
time to come. Not that anyone would ever actually admit to having been part of the scene but we all know whom I am talking about here. And if you don’t here is a quick checklist. Is your music taste much cooler than those around you? Is your haircut so complex that even Freud would have trouble unravelling it? Was your beard last seen playing keyboards for The Band? Are your glasses intentionally too big for you? Have you ever drunk triple shot espresso out of a jam jar? Have you ever been mistaken for the bassist in a post-hardcore, math rock outfit? If the answer to any of these is yes, then it is very likely that you are the hipster of your social group. But you knew that, right? Still everything is cyclical so don’t throw those Parquet Court albums out just yet. Take that pork pie hat that you picked up in Sue
Ryder. You initially wore it to indicate that you were an outsider, a break with conservative fashion. Then a few people pick up on the idea and you are seen as a trendsetter, the hat a cachet of cool. Next thing you know it is mainstream and everyone cool is wearing one but fashion is a fickle mistress so soon it loses its popularity. After a while, because of its lack of popularity it becomes ironic, the jokey status eventually passes into nostalgia and after a while it is seen as a sensible fashion statement, and so we have gone full circle. Then again, maybe hipster isn’t dead…it just needs a new hat, if you know what I mean.
The Hipster is dead…long live the Hipster!
Music
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
For Starters
Travels around the local music scenes of Swindon, Oxford, Reading and Salisbury and their outl
By Dave Franklin of Dancing About Architecture blog It is with a heavy heart that I have to give you some sad news. At 14.27 today it was announced that the culture known as “hipster” had passed on. As the shock wave resonated the length and breadth of Hackney, tattooists and beard-groomers were preparing themselves for a financially difficult
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Reading and Salisbury and their outlying areas with our hand-picked team of music writers.
Re T ad he played some of the most life in affirming, joyful and all round fun gb shows I have seen for many a year. Especially New Years Eve 2013. A must it see live band. They love playing shows.
By Sid Siddle of Club Velocity
Slagerij
Sa
lis The bu ry b
it
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The List
One of the things we’ve always loved about Salisbury at Castle Ocelot is the city’s unconditional love for new music wherever it comes from. Unlike other places I could mention, they’ve got a music loving crowd who will turn out to experience bands and acts even if they are from ‘out of town’. That is why so many Swindon bands are finding themselves very welcomed in Salisbury. This month for example one of the city’s main
Music
venues is playing host to four Swindon bands throughout the month. I’m talking about the Winchester Gate. Kicking off on Friday August 1, The Winnie plays host to the excellent and very noisy Swindon ska-punk pairing of Slagerij and Two Sick Monkeys. Then on Saturday August 16 as part of its annual summer beer festival all-dayer the guest headliner will be the ever excellent SN Dubstation who have been making massive waves in Swindon recently. If that wasn’t enough Swindon love for one month you can pop down on Friday August 22 and catch the ever excellent Swindonian band Super Squarecloud who have got so much critical acclaim for their offbeat and leftfield tunes that it’s surprising they haven’t been offered a residency at the Tate Modern yet. Anyway, The Ocelot salutes you Salisbury for being so open to new music.
Arts & Culture
Swindon takes over Salisbury
Food and Drink
Burnt Tomorrow are a fabulous Reading based four piece, they deal in intelligent forward thinking alternative punk folkcore. Over the last couple of years they have been causing quite a stir round these parts. They have
Sound? Throw in Flogging Molly, Frank Turner, Jonah Matranga and local pop star Laura Marling. They combine hard rock melodies with the soul of folk and just a smudge of country. Then you have the sound of Burnt Tomorrow. They released their debut album 'My First Mistake' in 2013. It is as great statement of intent of a debut album.That a lot more people should have heard. Are there too many punk-folk bands around? Maybe - but Burnt Tomorrow are much more than that. Check them out-you will not be disappointed. Burnt Tomorrow headline the Rising Sun Arts Centre 30 Silver Street Reading RG1 2ST August 29th. £5 8pm All Ages. www.burnttomorrow.com
For Starters
BURNT TOMORROW
The List
Music
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
For Starters
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Here Comes The Sun You might be forgiven for thinking that there’s only one festival in Reading this August. And granted, Reading Festival which takes place from Friday August 22 to Sunday August 24 is going to be huge, but we would recommend you pop along to one festival that is on a much smaller and more intimate scale. We’re talking about the fifth ‘Here Comes The Sun’ Music and Arts Festival at The Rising Sun Arts Centre in Silver Street on Saturday August 9 from 11am to 11pm. On the music side of the bill, Oxford five-piece Co-Pilgrim will be making their Reading debut at the festival, while festival favourites Vienna Ditto and Lawrence Piddock will be making a welcome return. Also returning to the centre will be the intricate musicianship of Buildings on Fire and Circulus, plus unique performances from Filip Hnizdo and Matthew the Didgeridoo Man. These acts join an already hefty line-up that boasts Violet Class, Ben Marwood, Haze, The August List, Laura Moody, Lonesound and much more. Performance artist Olivia Stagg will be bringing her unique furniture-based practice, while acclaimed performance poet Wendy Klein joins the previously announced A.F. Harrold, Nathania Hartley and Shakespeare on the Dinosaur in representing the wider arts at this year's festival. There will also be children's activities, food and drink, Indian head massages and loads more fun to 48
be had. If you want to get involved there are two great opportunities. The Outdoor Cinema is looking for short films to be shown during the evening of the event. If you fancy yourself a budding film-maker, please get in touch for a chance for your short film to be shown in our unique open-air cinema. If you're more of a dab hand in the kitchen, the annual bake-off is being revamped for this year. Expanding from just cakes to, well, anything, the Freestyle Sweet & Savoury Cook-Off offers a prize for the best dish in each of the sweet and savoury categories. Everything from a cupcake to a curry is eligible, as long as you've made it yourself, and anyone who enters will be eligible for FREE entry to the festival. But spaces are limited, so drop the organisers a line to let them know you're interested, and what you plan to make! Set in the venue’s rustically charming Grade II listed building on Silver Street, the festival will run on three stages, including an evening chill-out area and cosy back garden ‘Tree Stage’ (rarely open to the public). The Rising Sun Arts Centre has been at the heart of community arts in Reading for over 20 years and is almost entirely staffed by volunteers, with no regular external funding. All proceeds from the event will be re-invested into the centre. Entry is £7, with free entry for children 14 and younger.
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COMEDY Saturday August 2 Jongleurs Comedy Club MANDY KNIGHT + TOM WRIGGLESWORTH + MATTHEW OSBORN Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:30 pm - A great night out with 4 top-class comedians in an approximately 2 hour show. prices from £17
Weds August 13 and Thursday August 14 South Street Arts Centre MILTON JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DA...WORK IN PROGRESS - Special intimate warm up for the much loved comic. 8pm Saturday August 16
Saturday August 23 Jongleurs Comedy Club JARLATH REGAN + PAUL TONKINSON + CHRISTIAN SCHULTE LOH + JIMMY MCGHIE Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:30 pm - A great night out with 4 top-class comedians in an approximately 2 hour show. prices from £17
DANCE NEWBURY
Saturday August 23 Corn Exchange RHYTHM OF THE DANCE - Beautiful Irish lassies, Irish lads with colorful Celtic-themed costumes. 2.30pm and 7.45pm £23 DJ NIGHTS Every Thursday Oakford Social Club
Saturday August 30 South Street Arts Centre DARKLANDS - August Club night playing postpunk, fuzz, C86, Goth, Electronic, Indie pop and Industrial. 8pm FAMILY EVENTS
STOCKCROSS
Saturday August 9 to Sunday August 24 Venues across Stockcross STOCKFEST 2014 - 1 Village, 9 Venues, 35+ Events! The village of Stockcross, nr Newbury will be hosting a unique series of events raising money to help village groups and projects. Stockfest 2014 will be a celebration of local talent, arts, music, culture and sport. Something for everyone to enjoy from 6years to 60+ - For full details of what's on and how to book tickets visit www.stockfest.co.uk or e mail stockfestinfo@gmail.com FILM NEWBURY
NEWBURY
Friday August 1 Corn Exchange THE LITTLE RED HEN - Making bread is hard work, but not if the animals lend a hand! £10/£8 2.30pm Friday August 1 to Saturday August 2
Corn Exchange SHLOMO’S BEATBOX ADVENTURE FOR KIDS Shlomo is a world record breaking beatboxer who, in an incredibly energetic live show, makes all kinds of music just using his mouth and a mic. 7pm £10 Saturday August 2 Corn Exchange YCE MINI FESTIVAL - A day of fun family activites, celebrating summertime! Get creative with local practitioners to create your own pieces of art, try out performance workshops and enjoy some great local talent at the Young Corn Exchange's very first open mic evening for young people. There is also a great range of free craft activities on offer throughout the day, so be sure to drop by and join in the fun! Sunday August 3
Market Place FALCON’S MALTESER - Get on the case with the Diamond Brothers detective agency! 10.30am free
Thursday August 28 to Saturday August 30
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Friday August 1 to Thursday August 7 Corn Exchange BEGIN AGAIN (15) - In this uplifting tale, Mark Ruffalo is Dan, a New York record-label boss who is flailing in both his personal and professional life, and Keira Knightley plays Greta, a songwriter FULL PRICE £5.50 £7.50 Saturday August 2 Corn Exchange DESPICABLE ME 2 2D (U) the film revisits the now-reformed Gru, the mischievous sisters Margo, Edith and Agnes, and the crazy scientist Dr Nefario 10.30am 1pm £5.50 £7.50 Saturday August 2 to Tuesday August 5
Corn Exchange CHEF (15) LA chef Carl Casper was once hailed as a culinary wunderkind, but now finds himself dispensing the same slick fare night after night, his creativity stifled. FULL PRICE £5.50 - £7.50 Sunday August 3 to Tuesday August 5 Corn Exchange FINDING VIVIAN MAIER (12A) - This documentary is a tribute to Vivian Maier, an unsung genius of urban photography. FULL PRICE £5.50 - £7.50 FOOD AND DRINK EVENTS
The List
READING
Friday August 15 Sub89 HISTORY OF DUB W/DAWN PENN + SOLO BANTON & MORE! 10pm £15
Friday August 22 to Sunday August 24 Richfield Park READING FESTIVAL 2013 sold out
Music
Saturday August 30 Jongleurs Comedy Club KEVIN DEWSBURY + PHIL WALKER + JOE BOR + BRYAN LACEY - Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:30 pm - A great night out with 4 topclass comedians in an approximately 2 hour show. prices from £17
Friday August 8 Sub89 CUBED W/ GREG WILSON + TSC (DE LA SOUL AFTERPARTY!) 10pm £8
FESTIVALS READING
Arts & Culture
Jongleurs Comedy Club DAVID WHITNEY + MATT RICHARDSON + PAUL T EYRES + DANA ALEXANDER - Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:30 pm - A great night out with 4 top-class comedians in an approximately 2 hour show. prices from £17
Friday August 1 Sub89 ADJUSTED AUDIO + SUBFACTORY: CALYX & TEEBEE + More 10pm £8
Food and Drink
Saturday August 9 Jongleurs Comedy Club ANDREW ROPER + ANTHONY KING + STEVE GRIBBIN Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:30 pm A great night out with 4 top-class comedians in an approximately 2 hour show. prices from £17
Every Friday Face Bar RELOADED CLUB NIGHT 9pm
Corn Exchange OUR TEACHER’S A TROLL - An outrageous and deliciously funny play for young people. FULL PRICE £10/£8 - THURS 6:00PM SAT11:30AM
For Starters
READING
REMIX CLUB NIGHT 8pm to 1am Sub89 PROPAGANDA CLUB NIGHT 10.30pm
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For Starters
STOCKCROSS
Thursday August 14 Stockcross House Croquet lawn CHEESE & WINE TASTING WITH "JUST ADD GRAPES" 7.30pm - Love wine? Love Cheese? This is for you! Tickets £15pp pre booking essential at www.stockfest.co.uk or e mail stockfestinfo@gmail.com GIGS AND CONCERTS
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
NEWBURY
Saturday August 2 Highclere Castle BATTLE PROMS AT HIGHCLERE CASTLE The 14th Annual Battle Proms concert at Highclere Castle 2.30pm £35 READING
Wednesdays Pavlov’s Dog OPEN MIC 8pm free
Thursdays The Walkabout OPEN MIC 8pm free - all styles welcome
Friday August 1 Sub89 EASY STAR ALL STARS PERFORMING 'DUB SIDE OF THE MOON'! 7pm £16
Queens Arms Club Velocity presents 999 + THE DECKCHAIRS + GO GO CULT + THE COTTONETTES - Doors 8pm 18 plus £12 (door) £10 (advance) www.wegottickets.co.uk Tuesday August 5 Sub89 STIFF LITTLE FINGERS 7:30pm £18.50
The List
Music
Friday August 8 Sub89 DE LA SOUL - Celebrating 25 years of Hip Hop 7pm £25
Saturday August 9 Face Bar BIRDEATSBABY + AMY'S GHOST 9pm Birdeatsbaby want to increase their Reading fan base on the back of their soon to be released third studio album, The Bullet Within. Sunday August 10 Risc and Global Cafe READIFOLK presents ‘HOME & AWAY’ READING'S FOLK SONG & MUSIC CLUB Sundays 8pm -10:30 p.m @ The Conference Room at RISC (Reading International Solidarity Centre) - Theme ‘Home & Away’ Songs about your holiday destinations perhaps? Lots of other links possible – you decide. So come along and play your heart out £2
Tuesday August 12 South Street Arts Centre doubledotdash!? present ACTION BEAT + SILENT FRONT + MORASS OF MOLASSES + WORKIN' MAN NOISE UNIT - doors 7.30pm (1st band on at 7.50pm)
Saturday August 16 Rising Sun Arts Centre Bandoramma/Club Velocity presents DAMIEN A PASSMORE & THE LOVEABLE FRAUDSTERS + THE FRANKLYS + LAKE OF KINGS 8pm All Ages £5 (door) £4 (advance) www.wegottickets.co.uk South Street Arts Centre MICK TURNER (DIRTY THREE) + MIKE NOGA + WILD ISLAND (SOLO) - Mick Turner is an Australian musician and artist, best known as the guitarist for Dirty Three. doors 8pm
Sunday August 17 Risc and Global Cafe Readifolk presents JIMMY LEE AND THE EDGE OF CHAOS ORCHESTRA 8:00 -10:30 p.m @ The Conference Room at RISC - Bringing together musicians from the world of folk and classical music, this ensemble will delight and surprise you. £6 Thursday August 21
South Street Arts Centre Thirdsday Blues - WILL KILLEEN - Monthly Blues Night doors 8pm
Sunday August 24 Risc and Global Cafe READIFOLK presents SINGERS NIGHT 8:00 10:30 p.m @ The Conference Room at RISC (Reading International Solidarity Centre) Another DIY night when you have the chance to show us what you can do. £2 Friday August 29
Sub89 AC/DC UK 7pm £8 Rising Sun Arts Centre Club Velocity presents BURNT TOMORROW + OXYGEN THIEF + MATT MALTESE 8pm All Ages £5 (door) £4 (advance) www.wegottickets.co.uk STOCKCROSS
Saturday August 9 Stockcross House Garden OPEN AIR JAZZ PICNIC FEATURING THE GAIL HENDRIX JAZZ EXPERIENCE - Gates open 5pm. Bring your own chairs, rugs and picnic. Enjoy top quality jazz in a glorious private setting. Tickets £10 in advance or £12 on the gate. QUIZ NIGHTS READING
Every Monday
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Oakford Social Club THE OAKFORD SOCIAL PUB QUIZ 9pm TALKS AND POETRY READING
Friday August 15 South Street Arts Centre POETS' CAFE - OPEN MIC NIGHT - Monthly poetry night hosted by A F Harrold doors 8pm THEATRE NEWBURY
Monday August 11 to Sunday August 17 The Watermill Theatre THE HUNTERS GRIMM Devised by Teatro Vivo Wednesday August 27 Corn Exchange LUNGS - A play about the different types of love we feel in a lifetime. 7.30pm £14/£12 Friday August 29 Corn Exchange THE INITIATE - A thrilling tale of altruism, greed, and a search for how to belong.
Friday August 29 to Saturday August 30
Northcroft Park FURIOUS FOLLY: ART, WAR AND INSANITY ON A GRAND SCALE - Taking place, as night falls, in the no-mans land between the two sides, the audience are immersed within an open-air collage of sound, kinetic devices, pyrotechnics and performance. 9pm free READING
Monday August 11 to Thursday August 14 South Street Arts Centre Reading Between the Lines & Berkshire Theatre School present CHARLIE'S CHOCOLATE ADVENTURE - Musical Theatre Magic 10am - 3pm Friday August 22
The Hexagon STARMAKER SUMMER SHOW 6pm THEATRICAL SCREENINGS NEWBURY
Sunday August 10 Corn Exchange GLYNDEBOURNE - LA TRAVIATA - New to the Corn Exchange Live screenings from Glyndebourne Opera FULL PRICE £14 CONCESSIONS PRICE £12 5:30PM
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The List
Music
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
For Starters
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The Big Feastival Here are some facts about Fatboy Slim aka Norman Cook. He started a punk fanzine as a teenager. He was a member of the Housemartins. He has a star on the city of Brighton's Walk of Fame, next to that of Winston Churchill. And he will be playing this year’s Big Feastival alongside Jamie Cullum and De La Soul. The Big Feastival, presented by Jamie Oliver, returns again as a three day family friendly event combining food from some of the country's top chefs with a top drawer selection live music acts. It takes place at Alex James' farm in Chipping Norton over three days from Friday 29th until Sunday 31st August 2014. The festival will be raising funds for Jamie Oliver's Better Food Foundation to help change the lives of disadvantaged young people. Think village fete with a music festival vibe, the event offers a weekend out for the entire family, and all kids can go free. Music Line-up Fatboy Slim will be headlining Saturday night, Jamie Cullum headlines Sunday. Also confirmed to
appear are Kelis, Laura Mvula, De La Soul, Stornoway, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Jack Savoretti, Lee Thompson's Ska Orchestra, Molotov Jukebox, Norman Jay, The Cuban Brothers, and Duke. This year for the first time a full Friday programme is added to the festival, the first acts for which are Guilty Pleasures, Bjorn Again, and Fleetwood Bac. Plus for the kids there's Justin Fletcher aka Mr Tumble, and Ben Faulks (a.k.a Mr Bloom). Chef Line-up The culinary line-up joining host Jamie Oliver in the Big Kitchen includes Mark Hix, Rachel Khoo, Natalie Coleman, Levi Roots, Gizzi Erskine, Martin Morales, Aaron Craze, Emily Watkins, James Graham, Gennaro Contaldo, Monica Galetti, Nathan Outlaw, Ashley Palmer-Watts, Valentine Warner and Christian Stevenson aka DJ BBQ, and Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park will also be making a return to this year's festival. So, if you head to the feastival and really go for it as far as the food is concerned you’ll definitely be leaving a ‘Fat Boy’ who’s no longer ‘Slim’. You don’t get jokes more laboured than that. www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival 52
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BEER AND CIDER FESTIVALS Friday August 1 to Sunday August 3 Cornerstone Arts Cornerstone Presents: SIXTH ANNUAL BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL - Top live bands, a range of the best beer and free admission. CABARET OXFORD
COMEDY OXFORD
Saturday August 2 Glee Club The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy presents KEITH FARNAN + CRAIG MURRAY + WES ZAHARUK + COMIC TO BE CONFIRMED 8pm Saturday August 9
Saturday August 16 Glee Club The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy presents JARLATH REGAN + CHRIS MCCAUSLAND + COMIC TO BE CONFIRMED + COMIC TO BE CONFIRMED 8pm
Saturday August 30 Glee Club The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy presents GARY DELANEY + RYAN CULL + ANDREW O'NEILL + MATT RICHARDSON 8pm DJ NIGHTS/DISCO OXFORD
Thursday August 21 to Saturday August 23 Oxford Playhouse CHARLIE AND LOLA'S EXTREMELY NEW PLAY Join a magical journey through the seasons, as Charlie and Lola discover that everything is different and not the same. Playful, funny and full of surprises, this extremely new play about friendship and adventures is a treat for everyone. FESTIVALS CHIPPING NORTON
Friday August 29 to Sunday August 31 Alex James’s Farm THE BIG FEASTIVAL with FATBOY SLIM and a host of others OXFORD
Thursday August 7 to Sunday August 10
Cornbury Park WILDERNESS FESTIVAL - Various ticket options including early bird, weekend and young person TOWERSEY
Thursday August 21to Monday August 25 Venues Across Towersey TOWERSEY FESTIVAL WALLINGFORD
Friday August 8 to Sunday August 10
Braziers Park, Ipsden SUPERNORMAL FESTIVAL with Gnod / Esben And The Witch and many more £80 (adult) / £50 (teenager) FILM
DIDCOT
Wednesday August 27
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GIGS AND CONCERTS
ABINGDON Mondays
Old Anchor Inn MONDAY NIGHT MUSIC GROUP (folk singing, poetry reading etc). 8:30pm and all welcome Tuesdays Old Anchor Inn OPEN MIC NIGHT 8:30pm all welcome Saturdays Old Anchor Inn LIVE BANDS 9pm free OXFORD
Every Monday The Port Mahon OXFORD UKULELES WORKSHOP 8pm £5 Every Tuesday The White Rabbit OPEN MIC 8pm free Play for a drink!
The James Street Tavern THE SPARK SIDE OF THE MOON 8.30pm free Every Wednesday
Cape of Good Hope, The Plain OPEN MIC 8.30pm free TheJolly Postboys, Florence Park Road OPEN MIC 7.30pm free Every Thursday Cape of Good Hope, The Plain LIVE LOUNGE CAPE 8.30pm free
The Half Moon, St Clements SPARKY’S FLYING CIRCUS - Weekly open music, poetry and song session 9pm Free
Every Sunday The Crown, Cornmarket Street JAZZ AT THE CROWN with OXFORD JAZZ KITCHEN 4pm to 6pm free The Half Moon, St Clements FOLK SESSION - A mix of folk led by Mick Henry. Open session, all welcome. 8pm Free The Harcourt Arms, Jericho HOAM OPEN MIC 8pm Free The Old Bookbinders Arms, Victor Street BOOKIE’S OPEN MIC hosted by Chris Padmore 8pm Free
The List
Every Wednesday O2 Academy, Cowley Road 0844 4772000 BROOKES BIG NIGHT OUT w/ Dub Focus - Students only 10.30pm to 2am O2 Academy 2, Cowley Road 190 CLUB NIGHT 10pm to 2am Over 18s
OXFORD
Wednesday August 20 to Sunday August 25 South Park FOODIES FESTIVAL www.foodiesfestival.com
Music
Saturday August 23 Glee Club The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy presents PAUL TONKINSON + ANTHONY J BROWN + LEROY BRITO + COMIC TO BE CONFIRMED 8pm
FAMILY EVENTS
OXFORD
Arts & Culture
Glee Club The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy presents TIM CLARK + STEVE GRIBBIN + COMIC TO BE CONFIRMED + COMIC TO BE CONFIRMED 8pm
Friday August 1 Cellar Bar, Frewin Court MIGHTY LEAP + SURPRISE SPECIAL GUEST + COUNT SKYLARKIN 10pm - 3am £5
FOOD AND DRINK EVENTS
Food and Drink
Every Thursday East Oxford Community Centre, Cowley Rd CATWEAZLE CLUB 8pm to 11pm the city’s longest running and best cabaret show
Every Saturday O2 Academy, Cowley Road Tel - 0844 4772000 PROPAGANDA + TRASHY + ROOM 101 + JACK FM Oxford’s biggest indie night. 18+ 10:30pm £5-£6 The Cellar, Frewin Court EXTRA CURRICULAR weekly electronic and bass-heavy music night FREE B4 11pm £5after
Cornerstone Arts Didcot Film Club: DOUBLE INDEMNITY 7.30pm
For Starters
DIDCOT
Every Friday O2 Academy, Cowley Road 0844 4772000 SWITCH DJ NIGHT 11pm
For Starters
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Monday August 4 Holywell Music Room THE CUT – DEAD RAT ORCHESTRA CANAL TOUR 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm £10 / £7 (concessions) Thursday August 7 The Library Arms HUCK & THE XANDER BAND + SWINDLESTOCK 8pm - 11pm £5 Friday August 8
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
O2 Academy Oxford NOFX 7.00pm Sold Out
Friday August 15 O2 Academy Oxford KARMA TO BURN + DESERT STORM, HATEMAIL + EVAVOID + OVERLORD 6.00pm Monday August 18
St John the Evangelist Church CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS 7:30 pm 11:00 pm £20 (advance) / £22 (door)
Tuesday August 19 O2 Academy Oxford TONIGHT ALIVE 7pm
Saturday August 30 Cellar Bar, Frewin Court OXROX PRESENTS.... MASSIVE WAGONS + DEFY ALL REASON + DIATESSARON 7pm / £4 adv £5 otd - Massive Wagons are five British hard rockers from the land of hotpot and rain, and like to think they can rock as hard as anyone from anywhere! Wheatsheaf, High Street Gappy Tooth Industries presents THE KITES + OCTOPUSES + THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS 8:20 pm - 11:00 pm £3.50 (advance) / £4.50 (door) WITNEY
Music
Saturday August 2 Fat Lil's REPLICA 8pm
Thursday August 14
Langdale Hall STEELEYE SPAN 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm £19.50 Friday August 22 Fat Lil's BON GIOVI 8pm
Saturday August 23 Fat Lil's BON GIOVI 8pm Saturday August 30
The List
Fat Lil's BREAKER 1-9 8pm
Sunday August 31 Fat Lil's MONTHLY BLUES JAM 3pm free
SPORTING EVENTSEVETNS OXFORD
Sunday August 31 Court Place Farm HEADINGTON ROAD RUNNERS 5 MILE RUN http://www.hrr.org.uk/ To be confirmed TALKS AND POETRY OXFORD
Wednesday August 6 Wytham Woods BADGER WATCHING AT WYTHAM WOODS https://www.facebook.com/WythamWoods#! /events/541634685934259/ THEATRE OXFORD
Monday August 4 to Friday August 8 Pegasus Theatre PLAY IN A WEEK WITH TASTERS 10.15am – 3.30pm - A whole week of activities for 6-12 years. Taster sessions in drama, dance, craft and more every morning followed by an afternoon making your very own play to share with friends and family. Monday August 11 to Friday August 15 Pegasus Theatre MUSICAL THEATRE WEEK 10am – 4pm - A whole week of activities - Join SJB Productions in a full week of hands-on theatre for 10-16 year olds! Get totally immersed in stagecraft, music and dance technique as you put together your very own music theatre production. Suitable for 6-12 years Monday August 11 to Saturday August 16 New Theatre AVENUE Q (7.30pm, plus 2.30pm matinee on Wed/Sat) - (suitable for audiences 14+)
Tuesday August 26 to Saturday August 30 Oxford Playhouse BLACK COFFEE - All is calm on a quintessentially English country estate, until murder shatters the peace and throws the house guests into chaos. Arriving at the estate just moments after the discovery, one man sets about deducing which one of Amory’s guests betrayed him. Hercule Poirot is on the case.
Weds August 27 to Saturday August 30 Pegasus Theatre SOUTH PACIFIC 7.30pm (Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm) Youth theatre company RicNic Oxford present a classic summer musical Ricnic Oxford returns to Pegasus with the Tony Award-winning classic, South Pacifi c, perhaps the defi ning musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein (The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!,
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and Carousel). Set on a gorgeous tropical island during the Second World War, South Pacifi c tells the tale of two parallel love stories threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war, and features such classic numbers as Some Enchanted Evening and I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy. Following sell-out performances of West Side Story and Guys ‘n’ Dolls, this talented company of local young people promises another show fi lled with memorable songs, larger-than-life characters, and guaranteed fun for the whole family. Price £10, £8 concessions- Suitable for all ages WITNEY
Thursday August 28 Cogges Manor Farm The Festival Players Present: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS - Picnic on the manor lawn with a summer of Shakespeare - Gloucestershire’s acclaimed Festival Players will be taking a contrasting Shakespeare twin tour across the UK and into Europe this summer, pairing The Bard’s shortest comedy and shortest tragedy, performing both plays at Cogges in the atmospheric setting of the manor lawn. In Shakespeare's 450th birthday year, The Players will perform the farcical 'The Comedy of Errors' AND the Scottish play, the great tale of superstition, ambition and retribution that is 'Macbeth'. The company, who this year celebrate their 29th year of touring outdoor Shakespeare productions, will be fielding their traditional all-male cast in alternating performances. Both productions will be directed by Worcestershire-based Michael Dyer, Artistic Director of The Festival Players. www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk Doors open from 6pm, performance starts at 7pm. £12.50 adults / £8.50 U16
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The List
Music
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
For Starters
Bella Loka
Pewsey Music Festival - Saturday August 2
Pewsey Music Festival 2014 features the usual colourful melding of genres we’ve come to expect from this bijou gem since its inception in 2007. Headliners The John E Vistic Experience won the American Independent Music Award 2005 for their song Riverboat Blues. They also won the Rockstar ’09 competition and were the first confirmed band for Glastonbury 2010. They wowed the crowd there again last year. They are known for their raucous rock ’n’ roll and unrelenting live performance. The Rockingbirds are the UK’s most authentic take on Americana, with melodies and harmonies which have converted seasoned country doubters. Ultimate Elton & The Rocket Band won Official UK No 1 at the National Tribute Awards 2013. And even the real Elton’s producer
and sound engineer, Clive Franks, was impressed. Bella Loka, will be taking the place of previously billed Chaklive and the indie duo will be bringing their warm, fuzzy indie pop to Pewsey. British Harlem have the seeds of stadium rock sown into every aspect of their being, from their songs to their engaging, selfassured live performances. AJ Live, led by AJ Mayhew – who played at Pewsey back in 2009 with Beatbullyz – are a funky reggae-influenced group, with AJ’s everyday chitchat rap flowing reassuringly over catchy tunes, and an inclusive energy which will make you dance. On Deaf Ears have a worldly wisdom to their lyrics and music, with songs about the madness of evil, god, death, love and whisky. A second, showcase stage will feature performances from six 56
local up-and-coming acts. This will be kicked off by the excellent Plummie of The Racket at around midday. Two stilt-walkers will patrol the site as “the tall bouncers”. Mad Pete will entertain the children with his balloon animals and magic show. And there will be something inflatable for kids to play on. This being Pewsey, local arts and crafts will be a key character element of the day, with sculpting, thatching, knitting and spinning. There will also be various stalls, a beer tent and food stalls. Advance tickets cost £10. On the day tickets cost £15. Entry is free to under-12s. Tickets are available from Sound Knowledge in Marlborough, and in Pewsey from Wessex Print Centre, The Cooper’s Arms, The Crown Inn and The Waterfront or www.pewseymusicfestival.org
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ART EXHIBITIONS & CRAFT WORKSHOPS Wednesdays Riffs Bar, Greatfield ART CLASSES WITH MIKE YORK 18:30 to 20:30
Fridays Riffs Bar, Greatfield CAFE @ RIFFS 10am - 2pm - Crafty Coffee Morning! CABARET
Monday August 4
Wyvern Theatre MONDAY NIGHT MAGIC in the Wyvern Restaurant 7pm £10/£8.50 CHARITY EVENTS
SWINDON
Sunday August 3 The Vic KIT OFF FOR CANCER FUNDRAISER midday with BANJOVI on stage at 6pm and More acts TBC. £2 entry CHIPPENHAM
First Sunday of every month Old Road Tavern COMEDY CLUB 8pm DEVIZES
Thursday August 21 Bear Hotel, Market Place DEVIZES CARNIVAL COMEDY & MOONRAKERS COMEDY at The Cellar Bar – Doors 7.30pm Comedy 8.30pm – Tickets £10 from Reception 01380 722444 SWINDON
The Vic THE OCELOT COMEDY NIGHT with GEOFF WHITING + ROB HUGHES + COMPERE STELLA GRAHAM + JACK SHANIK + ZAHRA BARRI 8pm free DJ NIGHTS/PARTY NIGHTS
MARLBOROUGH Fridays
Saturdays
FESTIVALS
PEWSEY
Saturday August 2 Coopers Field PEWSEY MUSIC FESTIVAL midday SWINDON
Wednesday August 6 to Sunday August 10 Venues across Swindon THE SWINDON SHUFFLE www.swindonshuffle.com FILMS
SALISBURY
Thursday August 21 Salisbury Arts Centre THE LUNCHBOX 7.30pm - A delicious feelgood romance of crossed wires and swapped lunches starring Irrfan Khan (The Life of Pi). GIGS AND CONCERTS
ASHTON KEYNES
First Sunday of the month White Hart OPEN MIC NIGHT 8pm free BRADFORD ON AVON
Friday August 1 Three Horseshoes BOHEMIAN EMBASSY 9pm free Saturday August 2
Three Horseshoes THE ALL NIGHTERS 9pm free Sunday August 3 Three Horseshoes TROY ELLIS 9pm free
Friday August 15
Three Horseshoes THE RADIO NASTY'S 9pm free Saturday August 16 Three Horseshoes TRIPLE JD 9pm free
Sunday August 17 Three Horseshoes THE LUKE DOHERTY BAND 9pm free Tuesday August 19
The Swan Bradford on Avon Folk Club presents SINGAROUND - Floor spots. Free entry. 8pm. Friday August 22 Three Horseshoes ACT TO BE CONFIRMED 9pm free Saturday August 23 Three Horseshoes ACT TO BE CONFIRMED 9pm free Sunday August 24 Three Horseshoes ACT TO BE CONFIRMED 9pm free
Tuesday August 26 The Swan Bradford on Avon Folk Club presents MITCHELL & VINCENT - great multiinstrumental acoustic duo. Floor spots. Free entry. 8pm Friday August 29 Three Horseshoes CHEATER SLICKS 9pm free Sunday August 31
Three Horseshoes THE MIKE HODDINOTT BLUES ALL-STARS 9pm free CHIPPENHAM
Tuesday August 5 The Swan Bradford on Avon Folk Club presents SINGAROUND - Floor spots. Free entry. 8pm. Friday August 8
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Second Sunday of the month Old Road Tavern FRENCH OPEN FOLK SESSION 8pm free Third Sunday of the month Old Road Tavern OPEN FOLK SESSION 8pm free Fourth Sunday of the month
The List
AZUZA, Hughendon Yard Tel - 01672 513380 TOP DJS 11pm to 2.30am only £2 all night. Drink promos...
Tuesday August 26 Wyvern Theatre ANGELINA BALLERINA check times and prices
Tuesday August 12 The Swan Bradford on Avon Folk Club presents DAVID WADDDINGTON - fine young local singer/. songwriter. Floor spots. Free entry. 8pm
Music
Monday August 4
Sunday August 3 Wyvern Theatre MILKSHAKE! check times and prices
Arts & Culture
COMEDY
SWINDON
Sunday August 10 Three Horseshoes STEEL YARD BLUES 9pm free
Food and Drink
SWINDON
FAMILY EVENTS
Three Horseshoes CONWAY 9pm free
For Starters
SWINDON
AZUZA, Hughendon Yard Tel - 01672 513380 TOP DJS 11pm to 3am £3 before midnight £4 after
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Old Road Tavern OPEN MIC NIGHT 8pm free
The List
Music
Arts & Culture
Food and Drink
For Starters
CORSHAM
Thursday August 7 Royal Oak Acoustic Oak presents SINGERS NIGHT. Floor spots. £2 entry. 8pm Thursday August 14 Royal Oak Acoustic Oak presents SINGERS NIGHT. Floor spots. £2 entry. 8pm Thursday August 21 Royal Oak Acoustic Oak SPOTLIGHT NIGHT. Floor spots. £2 entry. 8pm
Thursday August 28 Royal Oak Acoustic Oak presents SINGERS NIGHT. Floor spots. £2 entry. 8pm DEVIZES
Sunday August 3 Bear Hotel, Market Place JAZZ SUNDAY LUNCH in the Bear Grills Bistro & Bar – Noon – 2.30pm- book your table with Reception – 01380 722444 Thursday August 28 Bear Hotel, Market Place OPEN MIC NIGHT – The CELLAR Bar - 7.30pm – Free admission MARLBOROUGH
First Friday of the month Marlborough Football club OPEN MIC NIGHT 8pm free (except Jan) Saturday August 2 Green Dragon IMPERIAL G-MEN 9pm free VINTAGE ROCKNROLL/JUMP/JIVE
Barge Inn, Honeystreet OFF THE CUFF 9pm free
Saturday August 9 Barge Inn, Honeystreet SWEETCHUNKS 9pm free
Saturday August 16 Barge Inn, Honeystreet THE LONESOME STAMPEDE 9pm free Saturday August 23 Barge Inn, Honeystreet THE TATSMITHS 9pm free
Saturday August 30 Barge Inn, Honeystreet Built for Comfort 9pm free
ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT
Saturday August 2 Waggon and Horses BANKSY 9pm free 60s to today Saturday August 9
Waggon and Horses BIG AL (PENFOLD) 9pm free POP,ROCK,INDIE COVERS Saturday August 16 Waggon and Horses BROKEN IMAGE 9pm free CLASSIC ROCK COVERS Saturday August 23 Waggon and Horses CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE 9pm free SALISBURY
Friday August 1 Winchester Gate SLAGERIJ + 2 SICK MONKEYS + FOXPUNCH 8.30pm, Free Entry Sunday August 3
Saturday August 9 Green Dragon OPERATION 77 9pm free SKA PUNK MOD
Salisbury Arts Centre Live Lunch: THE BLACK FEATHERS - Midday free - An award-winning duo combining an earthy blend of English Folk and American Roots.
Saturday August 23 Green Dragon FLASH HARRY 9pm free - folk rock gypsy cajun
Friday August 15 Winchester Gate Beer Fest feat. SIXFISH + THEM DIRTBAGS 8.30pm, Free Entry
Saturday August 16 Green Dragon CRASH UK 9pm free POP,ROCK,INDIE COVERS
Saturday August 30 Green Dragon HYPERBOLICS 9pm free ROCK/POP/INDIE COVERS PEWSEY
Saturday August 2
Friday August 8 Winchester Gate OR SO SHE SAID + SUPPORTS 8.30pm, Free Entry
Saturday August 16 Winchester Gate Beer Fest All Dayer w/Guest Headliner SN DUBSTATION free Sunday August 17 Salisbury Arts Centre
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Live Lunch: BLACKHEART - midday free Avant-garde ethereal Folk from an acclaimed duo that combines acoustic instruments, vocals and ancient synthesisers. Wednesday August 20 Winchester Gate SALISBURY OPEN MIC 8.30pm, Free Entry
Friday August 22 Winchester Gate SUPER SQUARECLOUD + SUPPORTS 8.30pm, Free Entry Saturday August 23 Salisbury Arts Centre Live Lunch: ISOBEL THATCHER - midday free Blues infused with Pop, Indie, Soul and Ambient influences from Salisbury-born singer songwriter Isobel Thatcher Sunday August 24 Salisbury Arts Centre Live Lunch: SOLARFERENCE 12pm free - A genre-defying mix of electronics and traditional Folk song from an inventive West Country duo. Friday August 29 Winchester Gate FAUX + SUPPORTS 8.30pm, Free Entry SWINDON
Wednesdays The Vic WACKY WEDNESDAY 8.30pm free
Riffs Bar, Greatfield BLUEGRASS JAM Free entry. starts at 7:30pm. Thursdays Riffs Bar, Greatfield CROONER NIGHT WITH STEVEN COLEMAN bringing the Rat Pack to Riffs! 8pm Fridays Riffs Bar, Greatfield THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS with featured artists and Open Mic, starts at 19:30. Free
Friday August 1 The Vic THE BOWIE EXPERIENCE - THE WORLDS FAVOURITE TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE! 8pm £7 (adv) £8 (door) Rolleston SHADES OF BLUE 9pm BLUES /BLUES ROCK/ R&B
Saturday August 2 The Vic THE ORIGINAL 999 BAND + THE CHAOS BROTHERS 8pm £8 Rolleston 2 SICK MONKEYS + STRENGTH IN BLUNDERS + 50 SHADES OF PUNK 9pm free Woodlands Edge
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BI POLAR BEARS 9pm free DUO PLAYING 50S TO TODAY
Thursday August 14 Brookhouse Farm TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL BUBLE 9pm free
Friday August 15 The Vic GHOULS + SPECIALS GUESTS 8pm Admission: £4 (adv) £5 (door) The Messenger CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE 9pm free DUO PLAYING A VARIETY OF COVERS Rolleston MISSIN' ROSIE 9pm free CELTIC ROCK
Brookhouse Farm ANDY MARGRETT 9pm free ROCK COVERS Rolleston DODGING THE BULLET 9pm free CLASSIC ROCK COVERS Royal Oak, Newport Street OPERATION 77 9pm free SKA PUNK MOD Woodlands Edge KOVA ME BADD 9pm free PARTY MACHINE
The Vic JOSIE AND THE OUTLAW - Chess Blues, Sun Rockabilly, Atlantic, Rock n Roll! 8pm free The Messenger CHARLOTTE FOX 9pm free 80s rock & pop , motown & soul Rolleston LAURENCE JONES BAND 9pm free UP AND COMING BLUES GUITARIST
Thursday August 21 to Sunday August 24 Wyvern Theatre BUGSY MALONE check times and prices
Saturday August 30
The Vic ERIN BARDWELL COLLECTIVE + SN DUBSTATION + DJ PETE MURPHY 8pm £3 Brookhouse Farm SWITCH 9pm free POP,ROCK,INDIE COVERS Rolleston JOSIE AND THE OUTLAW 9pm free Woodlands Edge TUNDRA 9pm free POP,ROCK,INDIE COVERS LADIES NIGHT
SWINDON
Friday August 29
Wyvern Theatre LADIES NIGHT 8PM in the Wyvern Restaurant QUIZ NIGHTS
SWINDON
Tuesday August 5 The Vic QUIZ NIGHT 8pm free THEATRE
SALISBURY
Monday August 4 to Saturday August 9 Salisbury Playhouse OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR in the MAIN HOUSE Friday August 15 Salisbury Arts Centre
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The List
Saturday August 23 The Messenger BI POLAR BEARS 9pm free DUO PLAYING 50S TO TODAY
Friday August 29 Wyvern Theatre BOOT LED ZEPELLIN 7.30pm Queens Tap HAMSTERS FROM HELL 9pm free Rolleston MICK OTOOLE 9pm free Southern Cider Punk with an Irish twist
Saturday August 16 Wyvern Theatre FAWLTY TOWERS DINNER SHOW in the Wyvern Restaurant
Music
Friday August 22 Queens Tap DAVID MARX AND THE AK POETS 8pm free
Tuesday August 26 The Vic OPEN MIC NIGHT 8pm Free
Friday August 15 Lydiard House and Park ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS in LYDIARD PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE check times and prices
Arts & Culture
Saturday August 16 The Vic PENFOLD - Swindon Premier Indie Party Covers Band! 8pm free
Sunday August 24 Rolleston THE GREAT NOTHING 9pm free ROCK COVERS
SWINDON
Food and Drink
Saturday August 9 The Vic RAMMLIED - The UKs No.1 Rammstein tribute band as featured in KERRANG! 8pm £6 Woodlands Edge HYPERBOLICS 9pm free ROCK/POP/INDIE COVERS
'ARTIFICIAL THINGS' A multi-media performance on the theme of 'Artificial Things' created by a talented group of young people during a two week residency.
For Starters
Friday August 8 The Messenger METSON 9pm free DUO PLAYING 60S TO TODAY Rolleston REPLICA 9pm free POP,ROCK,INDIE COVERS
Rolleston PRIEST UNLEASHED 9pm free TRIBUTE TO JUDAS PRIEST Royal Oak, Newport Street COVER ADDICTS 9pm free POP,ROCK,INDIE COVERS Woodlands Edge FLY ON THE WALL 9pm free CLASSIC ROCK COVERS
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Agony Girl
Everybody’s favourite advice columnist!
Seven-year-old Agony Girl is trying to learn to ride her bike this summer holiday but she still has time to help with your problems. We read her the questions and these are her answers. Honest!
DEAR ANNABEL My girlfriend thinks I talk too much and that I’m boring. But it’s not my fault I like talking about my love of stamp collecting which did you know collecting began at the same time that stamps were first issued, and by 1860 thousands of collectors and stamp dealers were appearing around the world as this new study and hobby spread across Europe, European colonies, the United States and other parts of the world. The first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840 and pictured a young Queen Victoria. It was produced without perforations (imperforate) and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While
unused examples of the "Penny Black" are quite scarce, used examples are quite common, and may be purchased for $20 to $200, depending upon condition. One of the earliest and most notable was John Edward Gray. In 1862 Gray stated that he "began to collect postage stamps shortly after the system was established and before it had become a rage". What can I do so that she doesn’t find me boring? Brian, Oxford You could say that it’s not my fault that I just like collecting stamps or you could give her some flowers and chocolates shaped as love hearts. DEAR ANNABEL I’ve got two cats and I love them
Twisted Peel (www.twistedpeel.com)
Next month’s issue..
both. But one of my cats Methistopholes Archibald Caesar The Third keeps clawing my sofa. How can I make him stop? Sarah, Henley Put the cat in a cage but give them food and water and stuff to eat and drink and still let them out when she wants like on Tuesdays. If she scratches the sofa say bad girl and put her back in the cage. DEAR ANNABEL Have you ever caught a real life froggy? Stan, Devizes Yes. I had to chase it around the garden. It hopped around and landed on my daddy who screamed. Send your questions to stuff@theocelot.co.uk
by Peter Roy
ptember 1st is out on Se
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