Ocelot 130 april 2017 final artwork

No: 130 April 2017

Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire Edition

Swindon gets its theatrical groove on

Free

Shoebox Theatre and The Bohemian Balcony lead the new alternative charge sweeping through the Wiltshire town Read all about it on p37 Pic by Elmar Rubio

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/ STYLE / EATS / BREWS / SCREEN / TECH 27/03/2017 16:53

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#130

APRIL ISSUE

For Starters

04 Michael Bosley + Luke Coleman 06 Trolls 08 Encyclopaedia Oceloticca 09 Running for my life 10 The Bassett Rivers Echo 12 Writers Block Lifestyle

16 Get A Life 18 Get Away 20 Style 23 Tech 24 Screenzone Brews and Eats

28 Wine not?

29 The beer zone 32 Recipe 33 History of Custard Arts and Culture

35 The Theatre List 37 Swindon’s Alternative Theatre 41 Swindon Litfest Music

43 Gig Monkey Review 44 Wychwood Festival 45 Swindon’s centre live music scene 47 Next month at the O2 Academy 48 The Night of The Ocelot 50 Take The Stage 52 The Ocelot Presents 56 Live Music News 58 The Gig List The Final Bit of the magazine

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Spring is here...

Spring has definitely sprung.

In every corner of Ocelotshire people are now emerging from their houses bleary-eyed having spent the last few months hibernating.

And with the sun finally showing its face you will now start to see festivals coming alive announcing what they’ve got planned for your ears over the warmer months and we’ve already started to get into overdrive here at Castle Ocelot ready for the May festival guide.

It also means that people might actually go out and see some theatre and discover live music rather than be tied to their television screens for the colder season.

We try and strike a fine balance in celebrating everything that Ocelotshire has got to offer and attempt to not play any geographical favourites but we have gone a bit Swindon mad this month especially with the launch of two pretty damn special alternative theatre venues in the town in the past few weeks.

Swindon has always been seen as a bit of a creative desert but anyone who knows anything knows that is not true at all as the town punches above its weight when it comes to music and theatre so this is something that we want to celebrate this month.

Newbury, Oxford and Salisbury have always had good reputations when it comes to the arts but now it is finally Swindon’s turn to make its mark and to show us what a hive of creativity it has become.

Write in to me at jamie@theocelot.co.uk

Jamie Hill

Editor: Jamie Hill - jamie@theocelot.co.uk Deputy: Ben Fitzgerald - ben@theocelot.co.uk Listings: Mike Barham - mike@theocelot.co.uk Sales: Dave Stewart dave@theocelot.co.uk - 07872 176999 Rosy Presley rosy@theocelot.co.uk 07717 501790 Telephone: 01793 781986 Publisher: Positive Media Group, Unit 3, Arclite House, Peatmoor, Swindon SN5 5YN Printers: Stephens & George, Merthyr Tydfil 27/03/2017 16:53

For Starters A Nerd’s Last Word by Michael Bosley

1. All supermarkets provide a secret underground car park with valet service. This service can only be used when requested at the customer service counter. Tell them “Roy” sent you.

2. Tesco was founded in 1828 by little Johnny Tesco, an enterprising twelve year old who began his business ventures selling polished chestnuts and pickled gooseberries to weary travellers passing through his industrial hometown of Bleakness-on-Smog.

3. A little known clause in Sainsbury’s property lease states that should a baby happen to be born in one of its stores, the child becomes the property of Sainsbury’s and will be listed as an asset.

4. The barcode scanners used at checkouts are purely there for show. They elicit a beep that prompts the cashier to key in the correct prices, all of which they must memorise during training.

5. Asda have been printing haikus on the backs of the price labels found on the shelves. They can only be found on a few of the labels, so those looking for them may have to remove a few before they discover one.

6. Children have never been welcome in Waitrose since its first store opened in 1912; however, many managers ignore this rule as they find confronting customers to be rude.

7. Wobbly wheels on shopping trolleys are intentionally fitted to test the resolve and character of their customers.

Those who make it to the checkout without exchanging their trolley win a store voucher and a tin of ham.

8. Club card schemes like those operated by Tesco are directly linked to GCHQ headquarters in order to monitor suspicious purchases. Those customers purchasing more than three jars of Nutella or a bottle of conditioner without

Your guide to the weekly shop shampoo for example, will be reported and have their homes searched as they will most likely be terrorists.

9. Those who begin their shop from the back of the store and work their way to the front are scientifically more likely to catch a cold or illness as a result.

10. Picking up a shopping basket with another one stuck to it is seen as a good omen in eastern nations. Such an event is usually followed by three days of feasting and street parties.

11. In 1982, James Walker from Norwich became the first person to use a trolley with a pound coin lock. However, because the pound coin didn’t exist yet, it had to be introduced as currency shortly afterward.

12. Before deli counters, customers were expected to catch and kill animals which were released into the aisles of the store. Sainsbury’s didn’t think this was practical, safe or efficient for modern shoppers and subsequently introduced “Pre-Killed” counters to their stores. However, the name “Pre-Killed” didn’t stick and became “Deli” counters as we know them today.

Filming a doc in Iraq

Off The Grid with Luke Coleman - Our man in Iraq I mentioned a month or so back, in my regular ‘Things I Want To Do, But Probably Won’t Get Round To, But Might As Well Talk About Them Like They’re Certainly Going To Happen’ feature, about how I was going to make a film, because making a film is just something that happens, akin to having an opinion on crisp flavours.

Well, I pitched my idea. To a multi-EMMY winning director. Who said ‘yes’, and pitched up in Erbil with a cameraman and several thousand packets of Dunhill International. I guess I’m something like the producer? How the Dickens did I get into this? Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

We got kicked out of a village by security forces in the morning, then saw a young man confidently strolling around the conservative city of Duhok sporting nothing but a smile and a disturbingly large erection and witnessed a five year old boy getting sent somersaulting through the air after being hit by a car. That was day one.

Day three saw us travel to eastern Mosul, the liberated

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(and so does ISIS)

side. Well, mostly liberated – the neighbourhood in which we found ourselves was a good 2 miles from the last checkpoint, and there was not a single member of the police or army to be seen. That was sketchy. But you know – we’re making a film.

We shot in refugee camps, in the mountains, had interviews in homes, and meetings in bars. There was beer, the odd disagreement and a cascade of problems. Most of all there is the lingering smell of Dunhill International in my house and car. We go again in three weeks’ time.

www.theocelot.co.uk

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For Starters

The simple guide to being a troll

by Jamie Hill Trolls are everywhere at the moment. There’s even a ‘troll-in-chief’ in the form of super troll Donald Trump. In fact Trolls are pretty hot right now and good trolls have found themselves shaping Governments in the form of Brexit and plunging the world into a catastrophic downward decline by vocally denying climate change and being a bit racist. So how can you get on this popular bandwagon and become a troll yourself? Here’s your handy guide to finding instant gratification by becoming a troll.

1. Forget everything you’ve ever learnt in school. Grammar is not your friend. Nor is spelling. If you find yourself putting apostrophes in the right place please slam your head against your keyboard several times until you’ve lost enough brain cells to knock those pesky apostrophes out of their proper placement forever.

2. Learn to write in capital letters. This is a skill that isn’t hard to pick up. Maybe tape down your Caps Lock button just in case. AS NOTHING GETS YOUR POINT ACROSS BETTER THAN SAYING IT AS IF YOU’RE SHOUTING IT. 3. Try to have quite offensive views about everything. In the world of trolls there’s nothing wrong with being a bit prejudiced about everything. Remember an ‘ism’ is your friend. If it’s not sexist, racist or homophobic it’s not worth saying at all. This will stand you in good stead in the new world order and could even land you a job opportunity in Donald Trump’s government or as a UKIP MP. 4. Be angry about everything. Airbags in cars? THAT’S

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POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE MAD!!!! Girl scouts?

WHEN WILL THESE FEMINAZIS STOP!!!! The size of Mars Bars? IT’S A MUSLIM CONSPIRACY!!!

5. Always remain anonymous. Unless you are a Trump or UKIP supporter there’s no need to be as offensive as possible in public when you can hide behind a made-up online persona. There’s no awards for bravery in the land of the trolls. This is especially useful when describing a grieving mother as a slag on a social media site devoted to their child.

6. Never use facts. Just make stuff up and then repeat them ad infinitum as factual. Facts don’t come into it when they go against your narrow-minded world view. 98% of trolls use made up statistics.

7. Never back down. If someone argues against you with good informed opinion never let them win by conceding a point. Just ignore whatever they say and repeat your made-up facts over and over. Once a made-up fact is said enough times it becomes true anyway so just keep going.

8. If you are losing an argument resort to personal insults using as much offensive language as you can muster. If they persist keep upping the insults until you’ve made your point.

9. Dismiss anyone who argues against you in simplistic terms by lumping them in a group like ‘luvvies’, ‘lefties’, ‘remoaners’ or ‘disbeleavers’. Nothing irritates people more than labelling them.

10. Always have the last word even if that means having no sleep for 48 hours. As soon as people think it’s safe to go back into the thread, strike again.

www.theocelot.co.uk

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Science Fact: Lead poisoning and crime

by Ben Fitzgerald Believe it or not, violent crime has fallen over the last 20 years.

Despite the older generation insisting that society would be better if youngsters were forced to give up shooty computer games and do wholesome things like wheel bicycles up steep hills to deliver loaves of Hovis bread - fewer people are being nasty to each other.

But why..?

Weirdly there is a theory that suggests it could all be down to lead poisoning.

For most of the 20th Century, recorded crime has risen steadily upwards on a sharp incline - a bit like that sepia-tinted hill that people never used to wheel their bicycles up.

Then, inexplicably, in the early 1990s, something really odd started to happen.

People began to be less stabby towards each other and recorded violent crime has continued to fall, in broad terms, ever since.

The sudden decline was echoed in industrialised urban centres across the globe - with varying approaches to crime and punishment - and observers were at a loss to explain why.

Some began to identify a possible link between the amount of lead in petrol and the violent crime statistics. They found that those who were infants in the early 1970s, when exposure to lead in petrol was at its peak, were responsible for the highest rate of recorded violent crime in the early 90s.

One of the main players behind the theory is US economist Rick Nevin who was one of the

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Is lead poisoning responsible for all the ills of society?

Probably not.

first to notice that following the ban on lead in petrol, a corresponding fall in violent crime occurred two decades later.

The theory goes like this - lead is a poison that is absorbed into the bloodstream.

It causes kidney damage, inhibits growth and damages the nervous system.

Studies have also shown that exposure to lead during pregnancy reduces head circumference of infants exposure also has been shown to inhibit IQ and lead to aggressive and dysfunctional behaviour.

Could this have driven the rise in violent crime? Going further; Could lead poisoning have lead to the decline of the Roman Empire?

It’s a fact that Romans pioneered the use of lead piping for their water supply… So perhaps it’s a case of unfortunate plumbing choices that caused the greatest empire of its day to

turn in on itself in a violent self destructive vortex.

However, opponents of the lead fuelled crime theory say that the factors behind violent crime rates are many and varied - a combination of complex social and economic factors.

They say that to reduce the argument to biological causation is the equivalent of phrenology the pseudoscience of determining likely criminals from the shapes of their heads.

But I’m going to ignore this because most people prefer to think that there are simple reasons behind complex problems. And although the truth - like most truths - probably sits somewhere in the unattractive muddled middle ground, who wants to read about that?

And if you want to argue about it, bear in mind that I was brought up in the 1970s and my brain is probably swimming with lead - so watch it.

www.theocelot.co.uk

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Running for my Life

Giving up giving up

In January Ocelot editor Jamie Hill, at an impressive 18 stone of fattiness, announced that he planned to lose three stone in six months and would be running the first ever Birmingham Marathon in October in aid of charity ICP Support.

By Jamie Hill Right, I’ve got a bit of a confession to make.

For the entire month of March I did nothing.

I didn’t diet.

I didn’t do any fitness whatsoever.

I stopped writing my blog.

I basically failed.

And, absolutely bizarrely, more through luck than machination, I’m still on course as I didn’t put on any weight during that month.

Okay, I didn’t lose any either but the fact that I turned into a sofa spud for 31 days and still weighed the same as when I started is a miracle.

So I’m still at 17 stone 4 pounds. So I’ve still managed to lose a stone since the start of the year.

You might be asking yourself what I did instead in my unplanned month off. Well, the answer is a not very sexy ‘not much’.

I watched all seven seasons of Parks and Recreation on Amazon Prime. I also binge-watched Iron Fist on Netflix as well as getting really into Mass Effect Andromeda on the PS4.

The sum of my achievements was a basic nothing for the entire month.

At the back of my mind all month I knew I was being crap. It was there as a niggle every day - a small voice that was being drowned out by the cacophony of noise that is my life as I juggle work, kids and binge watching television.

There were some mitigating circumstances. I’ve had a fair bit on my mind of late and a major life decision to make so I just couldn’t get my motivation levels up. It all became a bit secondary.

But that is now over, and although I can’t reveal it here, the whole thing has resolved itself so I can finally get back on track.

If this was a Rocky film, I’m now in the stage where normally athletes have to get over an injury and the whole thing looks in doubt. Just swap the word injury for the word laziness and you’ll get the picture. Basically I suffered from laziness for the month of March.

And here comes April and I’ve got a plan.

From Monday April 3, a new me will be born. This me doesn’t let anything get in the way of me getting match fit for a marathon. There’ll be no binge watching of telly to distract me. It’ll just be me training and nothing else

Don’t you just hate it when people on TV stop what they’re doing to smell your feet

apart from the occasional toilet break.

So for six days out of every week I’ll now be exercising in the form of workouts, running, walking or whatever.

I’m going to be an unstoppable fiend when it comes to making my muscles work.

My goal for the month is to lose half a stone and end the month on 16 stone 11 pounds - giving me a total of a stone and a half loss since the start of the year.

Then I’m back on track.

And I won’t be stopped by anything as I’ve now watched all seven seasons of Parks and Recreation and my Lesley Knope obsession has subsided.

I’ve just got to remember that this is for ICP Support - a charity that is close to my heart as my three children might not be here if it wasn’t for them.

In case you didn’t know ICP Support helps sufferers of Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), also known as obstetric cholestasis (OC), which is the most common liver condition specific to pregnancy.

It is a very worthy charity. And I’ve just got to keep that in mind as I’m doing my training and stop any more selfish laziness invading my thoughtwaves trying to make me stop. In essence I’ve given up giving up.

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Bassett

The

Rivers Scary news for scary times...

CAKE SALE GOES QUITE WELL More follows as we get it...

Echo

New ‘no trainers’ immigration policy for Bassett Rivers

by Kit Chentable

MIGRANTS coming into Bassett Rivers will have to adhere to a strict door policy to gain entry.

This comes after a new recruitment drive has seen several of the town’s night club bouncers replacing customs officials.

Tattooed Baz, who used to work in Broken Dreamz Night Club off Bassett Rivers High Street, said: “My new job as the interim head of customs and excise at the Bassett Rivers border isn’t so different to my job at the night club. Except you get a lot less hen parties if you know what I mean!

“My mate Daz says that’s probably because you don’t get many hen parties trying to escape war torn Iraq but he reads the Guardian so what does he know!”

Since the introduction of the new members of staff, entries to Bassett Rivers have been cut by 90% mainly

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because of the ‘no trainers or sportwear’ policy.

Baz added: “When we first arrived to take over we noticed that they were letting any old sorts in even if they’d not made an effort.

“We had to spend our first few days repeating the mantra ‘You Look Good But You’re Not Right For The Night’ and introducing a strict one-in one-out policy. You’d think that these refugees and economic migrants would get the message and get the iron out to make sure they pass muster but they still show up dishevelled as if they’ve not had a shower in weeks!

“You’d think having made such an effort to get here by risking life and limb with people smugglers crossing deserts and the Mediterranean they would actually put a bit of a lippy on when they finally arrive at our border.

“We’re holding our first Ladies Night on Friday so let’s hope they make a bit more of an effort then!”

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Giant cheques to discontinue as bank discovers that giants are mythical creatures and don’t actually exist Bassett Rivers MP Giles Hetherington-Smythe’s Column

A group of really small people with a normal sized cheque yesterday

THE Bank of Bassett Rivers has announced that it will no longer be issuing giant cheques.

Bank manager Melvin Bogtrotter announced the move as part of its high street branch’s refurbishment plans.

He said: “We’ve just found these giant cheques to be more of a pain than we first envisaged.

By getting rid of them we no longer have to have giant sized paying in slots, giant cashpoints, or giant cheque guarantee cards.

“It’s also good for the environment as we no longer

have to produce giant sized cheque books as it takes two Norwegian forests just to produce one book.

“As a bank we’re used to throwing away money as it’s not usually ours to begin with but we just couldn’t find a viable reason to carry on with giant cheques.

“Also my five-year-old niece Chardonnay pointed out that giants don’t exist any more and are mythical apart from Big Derek who lives around the corner but he uses online banking nowadays anyway.”

Hair Force One

The new album from Donald Trump

Includes the singles ‘Sweet Little Lies’, ‘Mr Tangerine Man’ and ‘If She wasn’t my daughter’ Available in all the best record shops

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I’m still quite a newcomer to the ranks of UKIP having mistakenly crossed the floor to the political party after the referendum last summer when I took a wrong turn trying to find the newly refurbished parliamentary toilets.

But I am definitely happy with my mistaken decision as I’ve met some jolly nice people and have even been introduced to something called ‘shots’ by new chums Tattooed Baz, Gaz and ‘Guardian’ Daz on a night out in Stoke a few weeks ago. Apparently these are little mini drinks and are not to be savoured like my usual tipple of blended 40 year old Scotch.

The fact that I woke up the next morning in Daz’s arms and had a new tattoo on my lower back of St George fighting Angela Merkel didn’t put me off wanting to have another foray into this new form of weekend entertainment with Baz, Gaz and especially Daz. Nuttall seems to have calmed down a bit since the by-election and has stopped glassing anybody who looks in his direction whilst frothing at the mouth. But he still seems rather taut, especially after he got a dressing down from Nigel and Arron.

I would have thought that they would have had more respect for the man especially as he was the first boot on the ground on D-Day in Normandy, discovered the hidden tomb of Tutenkamun and invented velcro. But they’re upset because he should have had a better showing in Stoke which was prime Brexit territory.

It’s weird as you’d think that all of those people who voted in the referendum would support the rest of our policies automatically.

I’ve tried asking Nuttall and Nigel what those other policies are but they keep looking at me and saying ‘you’re not another Carswell are you?’ so I’ve now learnt to shut up and just carry on singing ‘Jerusalem’ with the others at the start of every meeting instead.

My new tattoo still smarts though.

Toodle pip!

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Writers Block

Part Two: VIP Cinemas, Sinkholes and Being in a Hollywood Film In the second of a series of articles Tobias Baughan blogs about a life-changing trip to Mexico.

Visiting Xcaret theme park on the first day of my trip, I have one of the best swims of my life. Maybe you would too. That day, the sun shining with the kind of light that will burn the memory of this day on to your retinas, The Americans behind me loudly inform me that I have my life jacket on the wrong way round, presuming this is to hide the fluorescent pink on the outer surface, when in fact I’m just stupid and don’t know which is the right way. Life is full of surprises and bananas and cheese is another of them, arriving conspicuously on an otherwise normal plate the next morning at the hotel. The only thing I have experienced with even a passing resemblance is the cheesecake I glimpsed once, chilling in the cold November night, a trail of icing sugar marking its path through the cosmos.

I think about several meals I have had on the trip with Robertha, Norma, Octavio and others, at some of which I am unable to finish everything that it put in front of me. At one meal

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time Octavio takes my plate and finishes my crab stew for me. At another Robertha tells me her great grandmother, who was previously speaking very loudly in Spanish, has said she will not cook for me any more if you don’t like her food, as I look down, misty eyed, at the last few pancakes covered in Philadelphia cheese and toffee sauce. As these scenes pass me by I shout to my past self not to worry, that I will find a way to impress my hosts, but he cannot hear me, this is just a figure of speech and it would be scientifically impossible.

Another day, another mystery.

I am whisked off somewhere else, in this case the cinema.

Now going to see Jurassic World might not be the first thing you’d think of doing when travelling, it might be riding an elephant, going to the beach or seeking out the Irish bar, but when I invented a machine to calculate the hierarchical number for this in my order of preference for things to do it came out as 687654478.

As usual however someone else decides and I’m happy to admit they know better than me. This is always going to be likely seeing as I’m in Mexico and they

are Mexican. Indeed, they have VIP cinemas here, with fancy leather seats where you can order popcorn and beer while you put your feet up. The beer is good too! Moreover, especially in the case of Hollywood film is a very visual medium, so the fact it’s in Spanish does’t stop me from understanding that dinosaurs have escaped from their enclosure and are trying to eat people, so must be disposed of in a manner the RSPCA would doubtless have something to say about. A dinosaur is not just for Christmas or even a cash cow quadrilogy... The star of the film, beefcake Chris Pratt, a dinosaur language speaking park employee who only ever loses the plot when Bryce Dallas Howard takes her shirt off is an interesting hero, because he’s so boring. The positive message this brings to the film is it’s ok to be boring, as long as you can be a man, which is a lot easier than being interesting, that’s for sure. Interesting to notice also, however, that he seems to be able to pack down the food... Without a doubt he would go down a storm in my present company, gobbling down corn and meat like a human

www.theocelot.co.uk

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Writers Block

Hoover, giving more validation and justification to a host’s cooking than my comparatively small stomach is able to.

I will find a way. I will find a way.

Another day, another hotel.

Cancun. I get dressed and washed, doing everything I can think of, ready to be picked up

by Norma, Octavio and Robertha at nine. They don’t arrive at this time and I wonder where they might have gone without me, or maybe, if they have forgotten me completely. I look at the pictures I have taken of them on my Canon 1100D and wonder if they will like them. I’d like to take the opportunity now to thank Canon, whose 1100D mixes affordability with professional level picture quality, it’s accessible range of functions making it easy to create pictures for work or pleasure that will last until ~4567899654.

It’s only when using a product of this quality that I have my eureka moment.

Back in the cinema I am watching a film, only now, instead of Chris Pratt it is Tobias Baughan on screen. I see him ushered to the site of the sinkhole by the family he is visiting, as they

are all pursued by dinosaurs.

Tobias and Robertha run one way, Norma and Octavio the other. The dinosaurs follow Tobias and Robertha, preparing salsas and beers as they go to help to aid digestion. As the flesh eating reptiles close in, we escape one by one using a zip line which travels over the sinkhole, or Cenote as it is known in Spanish, to safety. A device well supervised and maintained by this tourist destination’s kindly staff. Next, another vertiginous feat of escape must be performed, abseiling down into the sinkhole. And again, Tobias lets everyone else go first, not because he’s scared, but because he is a big, brave powerful and boring man, who leaps down in the Cenote dramatically - once his abseiling line is secure - the jaws of ten carnivorous beasts simultaneously snapping at the space he had occupied only a moment before.

As one the whole of Mexico, including the family he is visiting, clap with approval that such a nice young man is visiting their country. Everyone orders another round of fizzy drinks and popcorn too, from their VIP seats in the

cinema.

Fade to black. ...Down in the sinkhole I put a life jacket on and jump into the glassy water. I lay on my back and move slowly towards the centre, water filling my ears so everything is quiet. I kick my legs now and again, so gently I feel I could do it forever. I am at one with the fish, man!

The lens cover of my camera, however, wasn’t so lucky, and is still sinking, probably even now towards the bottomless depths of this pool. I have no doubt that, thanks to me, in the year 4,000, after the human race has been bought to the brink of extinction on many occasions, all prefigured by films created by that civilisation’s version of Hollywood, they will, in an archaeological excursion find my camera lens among the skulls of an ancient civilisation’s human sacrifices and conclude that Canon was the brand of camera they favoured.

It’s only then I remember that in Jurassic World there is a giant sea dwelling mammal that rises from the deep to eat humans. I start to swim towards the edge of the pool.

Ain’t that the hole truth.

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Imagine stumbling across a smokey back street bar’s late night jam featuring Django Reinhardt and The Pogues and Robert Johnson accompanying Edith Piaf and Bob Marley’s jammin’ with Stephanie Grappell. Tom waits to join in.

This is French Connection.

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Get A Life

Learning to play Guitar Are you one of those people who always said you’d learn to play guitar? Bought all the gear and now it just sits in the back room? Mike Barham is on a mission to get you rocking again!

Music is one of the most important things for modern life on Earth. Other than air, water and food of course.

I truly believe that...

In the animal kingdom, music in one form or another is used for communication, displaying to the opposite sex, even just to pass the time swinging through trees (when it comes to being a howler monkey that is).

For us humans, music can bring about a litany of emotions; joy, sorrow, excitement, craziness, elation and of course also be used for displaying to the opposite sex.

If you believe the stereotypes that is...

Learning to play any instrument is a journey of self discovery, as music resonates with us on a primal level and is full of small idiosyncrasies that make every musician unique. You literally cannot sound like someone else, no matter how close you get in terms of equipment, skill or desperate longing, purely because you play your instrument in your own way.

And that leads me nicely on to why most people give up learning guitar. Aspiration is by no means a bad thing, but some people pick up an axe to emulate their idols, and get so wound up on becoming “that good” it distorts their progress.

I first picked up a guitar in my secondary school music room. Walking into a friend’s guitar lesson, I stupidly asked if I could see what he’d been learning. 10 minutes later I’m trying to wrap my head around the first few notes of Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers, trying to understand finger positions and what a fretboard even was... things like that.

I’ve now been playing guitar, entirely self taught, for

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about 10 years, for better or worse. I will be the first to admit I’m no Hendrix, but I’ve learnt enough to earn a music degree, play regular shows and support some incredible acts locally and further afield.

Playing a guitar in my own way has enabled me to meet people I treasure as good friends, engage with my local community and help forge new opportunities for myself and others. And I’ve never had a guitar lesson...

I truly believe 90% of learning an instrument is down to confidence in yourself. If those sounds coming from your strings sound good to you, I promise it will sound good to someone else. That’s your sound, your musical output. The other 10% is just learning to refine that playing technique so it doesn’t break said instrument or sound like it’s split itself open.

Sure, there are going to be moments where you want to throw it away, stop torturing yourself and wonder why you’re doing it. But the end result is a total freedom to express yourself. And if you still end up in a situation like the one below... well, there’s always drums?

Three points I would advise anyone thinking of learning guitar to remember: 1. Buy decent equipment when you start out.

I’m not saying you should go out there and splash £500+ on a guitar and the same on an amplifier, but make sure you’re working with an instrument that sounds, looks and feels good

www.theocelot.co.uk

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to you. The most likely excuse for giving up guitar is that you just don’t like picking it up and making a horrible racket, so make sure you’re using the right tools for the job from the get-go. Plus, if you like the look of it you’re going to play it more! Psychology!

2. Some people will be better than you, and that’s okay.

Unless they are rubbing it in your face that is, in which case, write a song about it! As I said previously, your sound is unique to you, so don’t worry if someone is shredding in front of you showing off. You can build technique, but Nirvana became one of the biggest bands in the world from just four chords. So don’t stress!

3. Get out there to some gigs and be inspired!

Get A Life

This is probably the most important thing about engaging in music. Playing guitar in your bedroom is great, but nothing will be more inspiring than realising that there are some incredible local musicians right on your doorstep, and they are some of the most welcoming and supportive people you’ll ever meet. And it’s not just the other players; promoters, venue owners, bar staff, sound men - all of them can become friends for life.

And that can only help your playing, as it links back to confidence.

Ultimately, just pick up a guitar and give it a go. If it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll know.

But if it is, you’re in for a world of fun!

For those of you wondering what in the world the numbers below mean, let me clue you in.

This is guitar tablature (or tab for short) which is an easy to understand method for putting your fingers in the right places on a guitar fretboard. And pretty much every song you’d ever want to learn can be found in this easy to read format online, through numerous sites and forums!

Essentially, the number is shown on the string and fret that you should place your finger on to play a note. Purists will argue this doesn’t tell you which note it actually is, but if you want to dive into full music theory please feel free! That’s a whole new world to explore for you...

We racked our brains to think of a nice, simple yet popular song for you guys to try out for the first time, and then something a little tougher to “graduate” to once you’ve nailed the first one. So below (left) is Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, one of the most iconic riffs for modern guitar players. And then on the right is Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers, that first song that baffled and bewitched me. (Or find your favourite tune online and get practicing!)

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Get Away

Uncover secret Oxford, the city of dreaming spires and spying dreamers is an incredibly rich destination brimming with cultural wonders and historical highlights - so much so that it can all be a struggle working out where to go and what to do.

This is where Visit Oxford Tours can lend a guiding hand.

Taking a walking tour is one of the best ways of getting to know the city inside out.

Relying on the expert knowledge of a professional guide can help lift the lid on fascinating facts that might otherwise pass you by - for example, who knew that Brasenose College (pronounced Brass Nose) gets its name from the unusual bronze door knocker which dates from the 11th century and was stolen by some rebellious students from Lincolnshire in 1334 and put on a house in Stamford.

It was only returned to its rightful place 500 years later

when the college bought the whole house just to get the door knocker back.

It is just these sort of important facts that can enrich your appreciation if you sign up for one of the Oxford City and University Walking Tours.

But… the fun doesn’t stop there. Perhaps you’re an incurable Harry Potter fan or you might have a thing for the crazy world of Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse - nil desperandum... Visit Oxford Tours have got you covered with

Just a shark stuck in a house. Whatever.

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specialist walking tours to cover all manner of niche interests after all, Oxford is the home of English eccentricity.

Speaking of which, if you’re ever in the eastern suburbs of Oxford, you might just want to mosey over to 2 New High Street in Headington where you can find an unassuming terraced house... with a massive 25-foot-long shark sticking out of the roof.

Like I said anything eccentric is entirely normal in Oxford - in fact it’s encouraged.

A raft of punts

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Get Away

Oxford

Six of the best l Mad Hatter’s Oxford Walking Tour: Visit Christchurc h, the home of Lewis Carroll and Alice and discover how real-life events inspir ed the development of Oxford’s most famous story. Led by Oxford’s political candidate for the Monster raving Loony party. l Harry Potter in Oxford Walking Tour: See how Hogwart’s student life compares with an Oxford education. See world-famo us Harry potter film sites. Potter-mania quiz to win prizes. l Inspector Morse Oxford Tour: help solve Inspector Morse’s crime riddles. Visit film sites & learn about how Oxford ‘town and gown ’ have never been the best of friends over the years. Tour ends at Morse’s favourite pub. l Shakespeare Street Theatre Oxford Tour: Enjoy street theatre comic sketches against Oxford backdrops as part of an anecdotal walking tour to introduce Shakespeare’s Oxford connections and the life of a Shakespearean player. l Oxford Tapas Food Tasting Tours: Enjoy sampling 4 or 5 of Oxford’s best food marke t stalls on the Oxford Tapas food tasting tour. l Oxford’s Comic Ghost-Hunting Tour: A tongue-in-c heek ghost tour led by an Oxfo rd prison-keeper. The guide offers a selection of lively stories and anecdotes about Oxford’s darker side.

Top to bottom: The Mad Hatter’s tour, Shakespeare Street Theatre Tour and the Comic Ghost Hunting Tour.

For further details about Visit Oxford Tours: www.visitoxfordtours.com

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Style

By fashion writer Gina Akers

Let’s get

Sports Luxe, leisure wear, athleisure wear, fit wear, active wear - call it what you will but it is now everywhere!

These types of garments used to be reserved for the gym but they have now entered the remit of our regular daily attire - well they are still activities, right!

In all honesty this kind of clothing is actually very practical as well as stylish and comfortable, bringing together a pretty awesome synergy of functionality and fashion. High end designer labels have been launching ranges of active wear for some time now ever since the sports luxe trend was seen on the catwalks a few years back. Even celebs such as Beyonce (with her Ivy Park brand in Top Shop) have launched their own active wear labels.

Whatever your favourite brand or designer, they’ll now have a line of active wear or it will be on the way soon.

Jack Wills have just launched their first sportswear collection, which includes the Caldecott Gymwear Top (£29.95),

Redcliffe Gymwear Joggers (£44.95) and the Forton Gym Hoodie (£64.95) available www. jackwills.com No sports luxe look is complete without the right accessories and the Guess Mens Radar Alarm Chronograph Watch is the perfect match, £64.50 from www.WatchShop. com It’s not just watches that bring technology and style together in daily active wear, electric bikes such as the Gtech eBike can give you assistance when needed due its battery power. It is lightweight and gives that extra bit of power for a challenging bike ride - costing £995 with a 14-day trial and two year guarantee from www.gtech.co.uk With all this activity going on you will need a phone case that suits an active lifestyle.

The Evo Check case (£29.95) and Evo Wallet Active Edition case (£39.95) by Tech 21, are made for iphones and tested to withstand drops of up to three metres, the wallet edition also has detachable storage,

available from www.tech21.com Ilu Fitwear’s active range works as well for leisure as it does for fitness with items such as the Modern Mesh Top (£42) which is available in a range of colours, visit www.ilufitwear.com Retro style sports wear has long been a key fashion trend but is now a huge theme in leisure and active wear. The pioneers of retro sports style are still just as on trend today as they were way back then with the Adidas Originals Sandra 1977 Track Top, £58.00 from www.next.co.uk Keeping with a retro sports wear vibe Next’s Black Sporty Track Jacket (£36.00) is also a great option along with the Grey Half Zip Top (£26.00) both available from Next stores and online.

ECCO have demonstrated the super cool combination of sport and leisure style in their footwear, check out their mens ECCO Soft 8 Hi Top Sneakers, (£135), from www.eccoshoesuk. com

From left Next Grey Half Zip Top

(£26.00) Jack Wills Redcliffe Gymwear Joggers (£44.95) Adidas Originals Sandra 1977 Track Top £58, ECCO Soft 8 Hi Top Sneakers, (£135)

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physical

Style

Top left Jack Wills Caldecott Gymwear

Top (£29.95), right Jack Wills Forton Gym Hoodie (£64.95). Pictured right, Next Black Sporty Track Jacket (£36)

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Tech Big changes in F1... should we care?

By Mike Barham With the new F1 season beginning with the Australian Grand Prix on March 26, I’m taking a look at the big rule changes that have been imposed on the sport, and how this affects you and I. Put simply, F1 wants to be seen as the pinnacle of automotive achievement, and throughout the years the series and its contemporaries like Le Mans and the World Rally Championship have brought about many safety and efficiency advances that have filtered down to our day to day road cars. Systems like ABS, crash test improvements, disc brakes, roll cages; motorsport has contributed to all of these technical innovations that have ended up in our road cars in one form or another.

Over the past 10-20 years F1 regulations designed to level the competitive playing field have

Formula E high-energy all-electric racing slowed the visible level of integration between the sport and day-to-day motoring, but the effects are still being felt.

Due to the hybrid formula being used in Formula One these days, Mercedes, Renault, Ferrari and now Honda, as well as their subsidiary or affiliated companies are able to explore smaller and more powerful engines that are also more efficient and kinder to the environment.

Already this technology that propels Mr Hamilton around Monaco at 100mph is being employed in those flashy Mercs you see flying past in the outside lane of the M4. Take that as positive or negative, at least they aren’t burning through as many rainforests as they put pedal to metal. Although we don’t advise you use this as your excuse in court...

Some of you may hark back to my hydrogen powered vehicle column from a couple of months back and think this is a complete U-turn from your technical correspondent. I would hastily add that I still think

hybrid vehicles aren’t the way forward, but if we can help change perceptions and attitudes by going down that route and then advancing to hydrogen further in the future, I’m happy to see a few more hybrids on the roads. So long as it’s not the awful marketing exercise that is the Toyota Prius.

If you’d prefer to go down the fully electric route, you can get your kicks in the rapidly expanding Formula E championship, which is proof that battery powered cars aren’t just for running rings around the family pet at Christmas. The racing is fiercely competitive on tight street circuits and sometimes is more entertaining than its older, more sophisticated brother Formula One. Although that’s probably also down to the fact the cars are being driven by competitors usually found fighting at the back of an F1grid. And crashing.

But Formula E is informing the motor industry as well, proving that battery power doesn’t have to be synonymous with dreary cars for old people. In fact, American company Tesla are already persuading businesses to give up the aforementioned Mercedes lane hoggers and take to refined all-electric motoring.

We see loads drive past our offices every day.

Motorsport still has a place in 2017 clearly, and the technological arms race that drives teams to be the best is still benefiting you and I, just in a more covert way.

Safety became paramount in F1 after the tra deaths of Ayrto gic n Senna (pictur ed) and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola in 19 94.

cars d of hybrid F1 The 2017 bree ster fa s nd to four seco claim to be up ... nt ie fic ef el fu and even more

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Screenzone: TV Another day, another day of drifting

This Country Screen Grab A TV column by Jamie Hill Living in an idyllic Cotswold village, a stone’s throw away from the urban centre of Swindon, is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Especially if you’re a member of the disaffected youth where every day mingles into one and your future prospects are pretty nil.

This is what BBC3, now solely on iPlayer, looks into with the new mockumentary This Country.

And Kerry and Kurtan are now my new favourite comedy characters.

Like all good mockumentaries it is a seat-squirming watch as you follow these characters aimlessly going about their lives.

Growing up in Marlborough in the shadow of urban Swindon I felt I knew these fully formed characters already. It’s a great place to live but when you’re young there’s just simply nothing to do and to get anywhere in life you have to leave or you just end up squandering your days as everybody else moves on.

In fact Kurtan could be my mate Shaun - wondering aimlessly through life but still smiling as he does it.

We all know a Kurtan or a Kerry. They’re the people at school who just couldn’t be bothered and now just live to scrape by.

There’s literally nothing for them to do in the village that they live in. It’s a bubble that they are scared to leave where time moves so slowly that whole episodes revolve around them arguing about who gets the top part of the oven when cooking a pizza.

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People Just Do Nothing

Their lives are ripe for comedy but they’re also ripe for a bit of biting social commentary and it says a lot about this show that you end up laughing with them and not at them but you also feel for them and their plight.

Although it follows the mould of The Office, Parks and Recreation and even The Thick Of It as we are essentially the fly on the wall, it most closely resembles People Just Do Nothing. Like their fellow BBC3 stablemate it follows the antics of the younger generation as they try desperately to find their place in a society that has forgotten them.

The characterisations on both shows are spot on. These are real people who you recognise and know.

It is this generation who are being left behind and if it takes a bit of biting satire in mockumentary form for us to start taking notice then so be it.

It’s also bloody funny though.

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Screenzone: Gaming

I don’t Bolivia it...

Game On!

by Mike Barham Believe it or not gaming fans, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is going to be the tenth instalment of the Ghost Recon franchise.

I know, I feel old too...

Tom Clancy games of late have been a bit hit and miss as far as I’m concerned, with Rainbow Six Siege falling flat, Splinter Cell Blacklist never really re-capturing Sam Fisher’s heyday and the less said about The Division and its lumbering lack of delivery on potential the better.

I’m fully aware I wrote a glowing piece ahead of The Division’s release, but I will hold my hands up and admit I prematurely celebrated all over one of the most disappointing online gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

But I’m supremely confident that won’t happen again with Ghost Recon Wildlands. You can even quote me on this should lightning strike twice!

First impressions are good to say the least. You are immediately hit with the scale of the Bolivian setting you find yourself dropped into, as part of an elite squad of four “Ghosts” - apparently the best covert operatives the US is able to field. Jason Bourne must have been busy or something...

It genuinely feels like all of Bolivia stretches before you. Ascend one of the numerous mountains around you or steal a helicopter, which seem to be the Bolivian version of the family hatchback due to their abundance, and test how high you can go before the depth of field starts eliminating graphical elements. It just doesn’t happen.

But this is a war game first and foremost, meaning the combat is the main focus here. Thanks to the open world

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mechanic, you feel like you have total autonomy over how you approach your targets. For instance, a Bolivian military outpost situated by a river can see you sniping a clear path for your team from the hillsides, fashioning a water-borne assault from the river itself, sneaking through the swamplands to find a back door, possibilities abound!

That’s the joy of this title; freedom to explore a vast world but also carry out objectives however you see fit.

Think of it as a polished, non glitching Arma 3 or less hardcore version of Operation Flashpoint.

And the best part is the narrative racks up the tension like a medieval torture device, pitting you against a ruthless drug cartel, the aforementioned corrupt Bolivian military and the environment around you. All you have at your disposal is a group of local rebels, your team mates, a LOT of guns and a pet drone. ‘MURICA! The only downsides I’ve currently encountered (potential spoiler warning here) is that you can choose to end the story pre-maturely, and be “treated” to an alternate cut-scene which really means nothing in the long run. It’s a little bit of an anti-climax to say the least, but you are then greeted to the news that once you exit the “endzone” you’re actually free to complete all the objectives on the map and really bring the cartel to its knees.

This would beg the question “why add a false ending in the first place?”. As a single player experience, with the freedom and options available, it feels like The Division to play (which is a good thing), but not constrained to the island of Manhattan. As long as the developers don’t try and introduce another Dark Zone or create obvious payto-win challenges, it will keep hold of you. I’ll freely hold my hands up and admit it next month if I’m wrong...

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Screenzone: Film The Guardians will remember to turn off the gas next time

Space opera at its best Are You Talkin’ To Me? A Film column by Jamie Hill

Regular readers of this column might remember how I waxed lyrical about Guardians of the Galaxy back in 2014. For most of that year I was yelling from the rooftops about just how great that movie was. I couldn’t stop myself.

Well, now that the inevitable sequel is released this month I’m not going to pass up another opportunity to yet again extol the virtues of what was one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.

It was a proper crowd-pleasing, popcorn romp that left everybody with a smile on their faces.

In fact, I would go as far to say, that if you didn’t enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy there must be something wrong with you and you need to take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror to make sure that you’re actually a human and not some ‘Kree’ infiltrator come to earth to undermine the thrill-sensors of the planet’s population.

Okay, let me get this straight, this wasn’t another crashy bashy

superhero film from the Marvel stable as this had as little to do with Captain America, Iron Man and co as the cast of Friends have to do with the making of the Great British Bake-Off. This was a proper sci-fi alien galaxy type flick.

It managed to out Star Wars Star Wars and out Star Trek Star Trek and in fact gave us something completely new and fun and awesome in our need to explore other universes through the medium of flickering images on a giant screen.

The greatest thing about Guardians was that it didn’t take itself too seriously. It had laser guns but with a knowing smile.

Couple that with an awesome

mixtape as a soundtrack and you’ve got cinema gold.

So, on April 28, we finally get Volume 2. And, as you can probably tell, I can’t wait.

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, the new film continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Star-Lord Peter Quill’s true parentage.

And it’s got Baby Groot. More Yondu, played by the fantastic Michael Rooker and more Drax.

Add to this the fact that we’ve got some Nathan Fillion action (you might remember him from Firefly), Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell and we’re looking at another movie that is bound to be a complete blast told with wit, music and lots of explosions.

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Brews and Eats

What to drink?

By Darren Wilmott Knowing that I love my wine it’s perhaps no surprise that my dining companions invariably ask me to choose the bottle when we go to a restaurant.

In many chain establishments or in pubs, when perhaps there are only a handful of different bottles available, it is good to know that a wine buyer somewhere along the way has taken all of the hard work out by only choosing wines that will pair well with their food offerings.

If you’re going somewhere that offers a greater range or if you are preparing a special meal at home and want to go the extra mile, it’s very true that you can become sufficiently over-whelmed by all of the variety and begin to panic. Like anything though, there are numerous tricks and tips you can use to get the right wine for your food, and certainly for you to get in the right broad category.

If you follow the below tips there’s a good chance you will probably enjoy your meal more, and it may inspire you to try out new and exciting combinations.

Above all, it may just mean you look a bit fancy in front of your friends!

Tip 1 – What grows together goes together.

Even if you’re not too hot on your geography this is nice easy way to make a good match.

When just dipping your toe in to the world of wine it can sometimes look like anything grows everywhere, but there is a pattern.

The grape varieties that survive and thrive are there

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for a reason and so, if you are ordering Italian food, invariably a bottle of Italian wine will match best. Great swathes of the Mediterranean have a culture of wine being present at the dining table, and the style of the wine has developed to specifically blend and compliment the food in advance.

Tip 2 – The colour code So you’ve got the right country for your dish, but which wine do you go for: red, white or rosé?

Even just the colour of a wine can give you hints as to what it will pair best with it. At the simplest level this can be matching a white wine with lighter coloured foods such as fish and pasta, red wines will go well with darker dishes such as meatballs or steak, and rosé is good with salmon or cut meat such as prosciutto.

Tip 3 - How much do you weigh?

No this isn’t a personal question, but more about the weight of the dish you are ordering. I’m going to expand on my above tip to ensure you are matching your wine to the overall weight of your dish as opposed to its main ingredient.

The oft repeated myth that fish pairs with white wine and meat dishes pair only with red can easily be turned on its head by the style of the dish. For example, if you are ordering a well grilled fish, or a meat dish with a creamy mushroom sauce, the opposite of which wine is best is actually true.

Think about the overall weight of the meal and then balance it with the weight of the wine you eventually order. Along the same lines, the sweetness of the wine

needs to match the sweetness of the foods, so when heading for the dessert menu, your standard dry wines will be easily overpowered and you’ll need to head for a specifically labelled sweet wine.

By using the tips above you are 90% of the way to choosing the right wine for your food but, like anything, there is a whole level of detail you can immerse yourself in, such as the specific flavours that each particular grape variety will add.

The last thing I will say though is that, in most cases, the best wine that will go with the food you are eating is the bottle you are drinking at the time.

Cheers!

Read Darren’s wine blog at vinesight.me

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Brews and Eats Taking the crown for ale In a series of ground-breaking one-on-one interviews, Brewery Bird gets the low-down from some of Ocelotshire’s most hard-working and beerchampioning licensees with no-holds barred in… Meet The Publican!

Name: Steve Jenner Pub: Three Crowns, Causeway, Chippenham, Wiltshire How long have you worked in the trade?

It’s been nearly seven years since I took over the Crowns. Prior to this, I was the part-time, bar steward at Bradford on Avon Rugby Club.

What made you want to become a publican?

It wasn’t the plan. Tom, my son, was going to be the landlord and I was to assist, but it didn’t work out that way. But I had got the taste, literally, whilst at the rugby club, where I introduced real ale and ran beer festivals.

Describe yourself using three beer style characteristics: Complex, slightly nutty with a good

head (of hair) Where do you think the future of ‘the local pub’ lies?

Adapt and evolve, but keep the core values of “hygge” as the Danes would say; and stonking good beer!

Excluding this one, if you could run a pub anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?

Australia or New Zealand.

Somewhere where there is a decent climate and demand for real pubs and real beer – whilst there are a number of small micro-breweries who are producing some interesting keg beers, you can’t help but hanker for a pint of cask beer after a while.

Which three famous people (from history or alive today) would you most like to share a pint with, and

why?

Oliver Reed – I’m sure he would always get his round in Mercator – I love maps. Beer and maps. My kind of heaven.

William Webb Ellis – To find out, did he really pick up that ball and run with it? I’d also love to learn the original rugby songs they would have sung back in the day.

What words of wisdom would you give someone thinking of running their own pub?

Don’t expect it to be easy. Stick to your principles of what makes a proper pub.

If you could have a Super Power, what would it be and why?

The ability to be in several places at the same time. Super Multi-Tasker Man!

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Brews and Eats

Brewing a social conscience

By Ed Dyer - The Beer Monkey Oxford’s newest brewery just happens to be its most exciting, and for once this is not solely down to a rather radical selection of brews.

Tap Social Movement, a social enterprise brewery, taproom and community space, has recently opened its doors on North Hinksey Lane at the back of Curtis Industrial Estate. But this is not any ordinary brewery. Far from it. As well as brewing a host of great beers (and specialising in a style until recently fairly unheralded this side of the Port of Zeebrugge) they also provide training for people serving prison sentences, offering courses in brewing and business start-up, and providing one-onone support in securing permanent employment to assist in effective rehabilitation.

Brewing and the rehabilitation of offenders are not obvious bedfellows however, so what has brought this unusual coupling into being?

The brewery was founded in 2016 by an intrepid trio of entrepreneurs who all had varying experience across the criminal justice system (one is a criminal barrister, another is studying for a doctorate in criminology for example) that led to them witnessing the difficulty people face when trying to turn their lives around after coming into contact with the law. Seeing large numbers of people who have spent time in prison struggle to access education, training and employment, hindering their rehabilitation, and drawing them back into a life of crime, they realised that the booming craft brewing industry involves a range of transferrable skills that make it a great way of getting people engaged and interested in work.

So, once a brewery had been established and the first brews struck they set about creating a range of Tap Social programmes, offering an opportunity for people serving prison sentences to work closely with the team to develop new skills, learn about setting up and running a small business and to get real work experience in an engaging and fast-growing industry.

So, ethics aside, is the beer any good? Tap Social

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beers are made by American head brewer Jason from a handful of natural ingredients and are vegan-friendly.

The core range includes well known styles such as pale ale and stout, but also has a couple of fantastic examples of sour beers which are refreshingly tart, innovative and exciting.

Sour beers are a much rarer style, originating in Belgium, and are much harder to produce. Unlike in modern brewing, done in a sterile environment to guard against the intrusion of wild yeast, sour beers are made by intentionally allowing wild yeast strains and specific bacteria into the brew. The most common agents used to intentionally sour beer are Lactobacillus, Brettanomyces, and Pediococcus, which all give their own unique taste and character to the brew.

Traditionally, Belgian brewers allow this to happen by cooling the wort in vessels a bit like large bathtubs (called a coolship, or koelschip), left open to the outside air to allow these wild yeasts and bacterias into the beer. Of course, this is an extremely unpredictable way of brewing, so modern brewers tend to avoid it, this uncertainty meaning the beer may take months to ferment and can take years to mature.

Our favourite Tap Social sour is the wonderfully named Big Boy Pants a Belgian farmhouse style sour ale with tart grapefruit flavour and aroma and low bitterness. It’s a great sour beer for those who haven’t tried one before – the low ABV and high carbonation make it very refreshing. The rest of the range are also very well crafted and tasty beers and easily some of the most original and exciting to be found in Oxfordshire.

What’s more, the taproom and bottleshop stock a range of other brewers’ beers including Ocelot favourites Renegade Brewery (open 4pm until midnight every Friday and Saturday) and brewing courses are available for individuals and groups of any size to spend a day learning how to brew, sample some beers in the taproom and take home their own beer.

To get in touch or for more information check their website out: www.tapsocialmovement.com

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Brews and Eats

Old Town Beer Festival returns for fifth year The fifth Old Town Beer Festival takes place on Friday 5 (6-10pm) & Saturday May 6 (12noon-10pm).

This is the first time the event has run over two days and the organisers are hoping to generate even more funds for the church, community and other local charities.

This year the festival is supporting Phoenix Enterprises, an independent social enterprise charity whose commercial activities support training and employment opportunities for people in the Swindon area with mental health issues.

The festival will also assist the Old Town Rotary Club who will be selling ducks for their inaugural duck race on Bank Holiday Monday May 29 at Westcott Recreation Ground on Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon.

The Old Town Beer Festival pride themselves on choosing good quality beer and ciders and this year have a selection of 50+ beers and 30 ciders.

The Hop Inn and Los Gatos have agreed to sponsor

the event for the second year running as the local businesses show their community spirit and assist each other. Jason, landlord at The Hop Inn said “We support the Old Town Beer Festival to promote local appreciation of the good stuff. What we share is a love of a quality natural product, be it food or drink.

If it’s made with care from good ingredients, it’s for us, and we hope it’s for you too. Our investment in the local community is as important to us as the community’s support for our businesses”.

Tickets are priced at £10 for the Friday night/ Saturday day time and include a glass. Organisers are also introducing a £5 ticket for the Saturday evening from 6pm to help finish off the remaining liquid. Tickets go on sale as of April 1 and can be purchased in person from The Hop Inn, Devizes Road or Magnum Wine Shop on Wood Street. Online tickets can be grabbed from: www.oldtownbeerfestival.com

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Brews and Eats

Kale and hearty

Guy’s Kale Hash This is a real treat on a cold day. You can use any cabbage or sliced Brussels sprouts in place of kale here.

To make a complete supper, top with a poached egg.

300g kale, stripped from its stems (cavolo nero or curly are best for this recipe, but you can use red Russian too) 1 tbsp olive oil 300g chorizo, chopped 1 onion, chopped 500g cooked potatoes, cut into 2cm dice 2 garlic cloves, crushed salt & black pepper

l Blanch the kale in a large saucepan of boiling water (1–2 minutes for curly, 2–3 minutes for cavolo nero; 30 seconds for red Russian).

Drain well, refresh in cold

water and drain again.

Squeeze out excess water and chop roughly. l Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the chorizo and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes, until just starting to brown. l Remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon and set aside. l Add the onion to the chorizo fat in the pan and

cook gently for 10 minutes. l Add the potatoes and garlic, turn up the heat and cook for 5 minutes, turning the potatoes until browned.

Return the chorizo to the pan with the kale, reduce the heat and cook gently for a further 5 minutes, until well mixed and thoroughly heated through.

Season and serve.

Greek Olive restaurant is a smashing place

by Richard Wintle The Greek Olive has been on Faringdon Road in Swindon for a couple of years now, but the visiting experience is always a pleasure. And as a birthday treat it’s even better. On being seated we had a foretaste of the fayre, with a complimentary aperitif of Feta cheese, hummus, a large chilli, and the Greek staple, olives accompanied with a lightly toasted bread. For starters I opted for the kalamarakia, deep fried squid rings, a favourite of mine. My wife opted to abstain from the starter, citing that the main course would be ample;

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as indeed it was. Being English, we think of lamb on the bone as a leg of lamb, slowly cooked, and served complete with the bone, but on the island of Kos the lamb is served off the bone, in a paper wrapping. Head chef Michael Kalotinis has over 20 years’ experience running his own restaurant in Kos, so the lamb arrives in a foil-wrapped paper package. Undo the parcel,

and, like an eagerly anticipated present, the contents don’t disappoint.

The lady chose Soutzoukakia; traditional Greek meatballs in tomato sauce with a choice of potatoes or chips. We opted for the latter so both meals were served with those large fluffy chips that the Greeks seem to have perfected.

The family had departed and the vacant seats were filling, as our taxi arrived to take us back from a little piece of the Hellenic islands that has been exported to Swindon at last. www.thegreekolive.co.uk

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Brews and Eats

The history of Custard

By Mike Barham Oh yes, we are back with another romp through the culinary history books, this time plunging into the depths of the nation’s favourite dessert accompaniment custard!

While custard may refer to a wide variety of thickened dishes, technically the word “custard” (in French cookery it would be crème or more precisely crème moulée) refers only to an egg-thickened custard.

When starch is added, the result is called pastry cream, or confectioners’ custard, made with a combination of milk or cream, egg yolks, fine sugar, flour or some other starch, and usually a flavouring such as vanilla, chocolate, or lemon.

The pastry cream can be used in an array of desserts, with Napoleon’s being a favourite of our French friends across the channel.

Mixtures of milk and eggs thickened by heat have long been part of European cuisine, since at least Ancient Rome. Custards baked in pastry (custard tarts) were very popular in the Middle Ages, and are the origin of the English word ‘custard’: the French term ‘croustade’ originally referred to the crust of a tart.

Examples include ‘Crustardes of flessh’ (which doesn’t sound at all cannibalistic) and Crustade, in the 14th century English collection ‘The Forme of Cury’. Which is not a handbook on how to create the perfect korma.

These recipes include solid ingredients such as meat, fish, and fruit bound by the custard, although trying this

out with those packets you buy in the supermarket and a leg of lamb might not be the best idea.

Remember that episode of Dr Who? With Matt Smith eating fish fingers and custard? Doesn’t sound so weird now, when you realise the yellowy substance has been used to accompany a variety of meats and fish through the ages. Why don’t you go and try some, see what you think?

No?! Okay...

Stirred custards cooked in pots are also found under the names Creme Boylede and Creme boiled. In modern times, the name ‘custard’ is sometimes applied to starch-thickened preparations like blancmange and the aforementioned packeted Bird’s Custard.

In the UK our custard has various traditional recipes, some thickened principally with cornflour rather than the egg component, and others involving regular flour.

You may not have known that a quiche is a savoury custard tart, or that some kinds of timbale or vegetable loaf are made of a custard base mixed with chopped savoury ingredients.

Then you have custard royale, a thick custard cut into decorative shapes and used to garnish soup, stew or broth. In German it is known as Eierstich and is used as a garnish in German Wedding Soup (Hochzeitssuppe).

So it seems custard is a lot more than simply something slopped over your apple pie or rhubarb crumble!

Remember, the next time you’re tucking into a vat of the golden dessert topper, try some fish fingers with it!

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Theatre List Saturday April 1 FAMILY EVENTS: Bright Sparks Times Vary - BT Studio at Oxford Playhouse, Oxford FAMILY EVENTS: A Dragon’s Tale 11am - Watermill Theatre, Newbury COMEDY: Bilal Zafar - Cakes 8pm - New Greenham Arts, Newbury FAMILY: Swindon Fringe - Alf The Highwayman 10.30am - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon FAMILY: Swindon Fringe - Clown Workshop for Children 12pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon COMEDY: Church of Phil Recruitment Seminar + A Visit From Miss Prothero 2.30pm - Bohemian Balcony, Swindon COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - Fools Gladly + Gatecrash Comedy Improv Feast 7.30pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon Saturday April 1 to Sunday April 2 DANCE: Dance Sensation: Pop, Classic Times Vary - Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury Sunday April 2 FAMILY EVENTS: Monday’s Child 2pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot Monday April 3 COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - James Luckraft-Law + Paul Lawless 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon

Thursday April 6 THEATRE: Flat 73 7.30pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - All American Scream + Pugilist Specialist 7.30pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon Thursday April 6 to Saturday May 6 THEATRE: Twelfth Night Times Vary - Watermill Theatre, Newbury Friday April 7 THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - Antigone + Blooming Out 7.30pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon Friday April 7 to Sunday April 9 THEATRE: Alchymy: Plays from the Lab Times Vary - North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford Saturday April 8 FAMILY EVENTS: Puppets Go Wild: Macamu Times Vary - Pegasus Theatre, Oxford CONCERT: Caro Emerald 7pm - New Theatre, Oxford COMEDY: Glee Comedy - Darius Davies + Tom Deacon + Andrew Ryan + Chris McCausland 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - Laughs With Tricks + Man Of 1000 Farces 2.30pm - Swindon Town Hall

THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - Solo 6.30pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon

COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - Kevin, King of Egypt + The Accidental Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 7.30pm - Swindon Town Hall

Monday April 3 to Friday April 7 FESTIVAL: Marmalade 2017 Times Vary - Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford

FAMILY: Swindon Fringe - The Homeless Panda 10.30am - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon

Monday April 3 to Saturday April 8 THEATRE: Abigail’s Party Times Vary - Oxford Playhouse, Oxford Tuesday April 4 TALKS: Christine Wallace Bakes... Lemon Meringue Roulade 7.30pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot

Sunday April 9 FAMILY EVENTS: Morgan & West Magic Show For Kids and Childish Grown-ups 2pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot

Monday April 10 FAMILY EVENTS: Mr Fox’s Fables 9.30am - The Top Room at Oxford Playhouse, Oxford FAMILY EVENTS: The Boy and The Mermaid 2pm - Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury Tuesday April 11 THEATRICAL SCREENING: ROH Live Jewels 7.15pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury COMEDY: Hammer and Tongue 8pm - Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford Tuesday April 11 to Saturday April 15 FAMILY EVENTS: Fantastic Mr. Fox Times Vary - Oxford Playhouse, Oxford Wednesday April 12 FAMILY EVENTS: Jurassic Adventures Times Vary - Corn Exchange, Newbury THEATRE: As the Crow Flies Trowbrige Town Hall, Wiltshire Wednesday April 12 to Sunday April 23 FAMILY EVENTS: How To Hide a Lion Times Vary - Oxford Playhouse, Oxford Thursday April 13 COMEDY: Tweedy’s Lost Property Times Vary - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot FAMILY EVENTS: The Party 1.30pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury Thursday April 13 to Saturday April 15 THEATRE: Tamburlaine 7.30pm - Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford Saturday April 15 THEATRE: Oliver in the Overworld Times Vary - Neeld Community and Arts Centre, Chippenham COMEDY: Mark Oliver + John Gordillo + Liz Miele 7pm - Glee Club @ The Bullingdon, Oxford

THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - A Snap Musical + Only For Now 2.30pm - Swindon Town Hall

THEATRE: Letters To Myself 7.30pm - BT Studio at Oxford Playhouse, Oxford

Tuesday April 18 FAMILY EVENTS: Amazing Bubble Man Times Vary - Corn Exchange, Newbury

COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - The Missing Easter Egg 10.30am - Swindon Town Hall

COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - Tony Cowards + Matt Hoss 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon

Tuesday April 18 to Saturday April 22 THEATRE: Pygmalion Times Vary - Oxford Playhouse, Oxford

COMEDY: Swindon Fringe - Anglichanka

by Abi Roberts 7.30pm - Swindon Town Hall

Thursday April 20 THEATRE: Offside 8pm - North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford

THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - The Door 6.30pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon

THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - A Shoebox Full of Songs 12pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon

Thursday April 20 to Saturday April 22 THEATRE: Made in Dagenham Times Vary - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot

Wednesday April 5 THEATRE: Swindon Fringe - Breaking Point + The Justice Equation 7.30pm - Bohemian Balcony, Swindon

CABARET: Morgan and West - Parlour Tricks 7pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot

THEATRE: This is Living by Liam Borrett 7.30pm - Shoebox Theatre, Swindon

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Theatre list Friday April 21 TALKS: Analyse Thou 7.30pm - Old Fire Station, Oxford Friday April 21 to Saturday April 22 FAMILY EVENTS: The First Hippo on the Moon Times Vary - New Theatre, Oxford Saturday April 22 FAMILY EVENTS: Braniac Live!

Times Vary - Corn Exchange, Newbury COMEDY: Laura Lexx + Nick Dixon + Tom Wrigglesworth + Lost Voice Guy 7pm - Glee Club @ The Bullingdon, Oxford Sunday April 23 to Monday April 24 FAMILY EVENTS: The First Hippo on the

Moon Times Vary - Corn Exchange, Newbury Tuesday April 25 DANCE: Dance Scratch Night 7.30pm - Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford THEATRE: Human Story Theatre Scenes from....

7.30pm - Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford CONCERT: Yamato Drummers 7.30pm - New Theatre, Oxford Wednesday April 26 THEATRICAL SCREENING: RSC Live Julius Caesar 7pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury

DANCE: Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe Somewhere In Time 7.30pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury Thursday April 27 COMEDY: O No! 7.30pm - Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford POETRY: Luke Wright: The Toll 8pm - North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford Friday April 28 COMEDY: Jongleurs - On The Road 8pm - Neeld Community and Arts Centre, Chippenham

New writing celebrated at inaugural festival at North Wall Alchymy is the North Wall in Oxford’s first-ever festival of new writing for the stage, taking place from April 7 to 9.

Over three days, the theatre will be showcasing vibrant contemporary work at all stages of development, from full productions to the very first readings of new material.

Alongside these shows the arts centre in Summertown will present a rich and diverse series of talks, masterclasses and workshops with leading figures from across the theatre industry.

The festival kick starts on April 7 at 5.30pm with a panel discussion and Q&A entitled Writing For Our Time with some of the UK’s leading female theatre-makers talking about the state of the industry, the challenges facing young playwrights and practitioners, and the stories theatre-makers should be telling in 2017. Speakers include writer and director Stella Duffy, playwright April de Angelis, writer Zoe Cooper, director Ellen McDougall and writer Katherine Soper.

This is followed by Theatrecraft 2017 at 7pm which is the North Wall’s prestigious annual residency for six emerging writers and directors. This is the culmination of their intensive two-week programme: a fast-paced evening combining extracts from six brand-new plays performed by an ensemble of professional actors.

The opening day culminates with a 9.45pm performance of Phroot Salad. How do you solve a problem like a “clenchy c***”? Perry, a young Filipina Australian stuck in Brisbane’s sweaty suburbia, goes on a hunt to find out.

A colourful intermingling of comedy, cabaret, and new writing, Phroot Salad is a performance about the peaks, troughs, and peculiarities of living between cultures, and the murky double-edged waters of sex.

Day two of the festival on April 8 starts with a panel discussion Page to Stage: Producing New Writing at 10.30am which is followed by a 1.30pm performance of I Guess Ideally I’d Be Me - the first reading of some new poems and a couple of monologues examining desire,

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doubt, and what they might have to say to each other. At 3pm there’s Madonna and Child - a story about the fierce relationship between mothers and daughters. Then at 4.30pm there’s Two Short Plays by Catriona Kerridge with performances of Shoot, I didn’t mean that and Bunch.

At 5.15pm you can catch Ella Hickson: In Conversation as the playwright discusses her career and work so far. A play written by Rosie Kellett that explores family relationships and fostering Roost takes place at 7.30pm. And the final piece for the day is Songs from Fragment written by John Hoggarth & Dom Coyote, which takes the audience on a musical voyage as the pieces of a broken heart are finally put back together.

The final day on April 9 kicks off with masterclass Shaping New Plays with Stephen Unwin at 11am. At 3pm is The B*easts written and performed by Monica Dolan - a work in progress about criminal pyschotherapy. Then finally at 4.30pm is Weapons - a new play about the police by Tom Brennan.

For details and to book tickets visit www.thenorthwall.com

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Theatre

Swindon in the spotlight Cultural ‘desert’ is blossoming into an oasis of creativity

by Ben Fitzgerald Swindon’s a cultural desert – this well-worn adage seems to have been around since Sir Daniel Gooch stuck his ink stained finger on a map and boldly declared “this is the ideal location for the Designer Outlet shopping village.”

But there’s nothing like a chip on the shoulder to fan the flames of creativity.

People who live here have always been aware of the vast pool of talent in the town.

But just lately Swindon’s arts scene, like a maligned middle child, has stepped out of the shadows. People are beginning to sit up and take notice. People from important places such as...

Oxford and even... London.

Big things are beginning to happen, there is an electricity in the air and it’s exhilarating!

Plans are in place for a £22 million museum and art gallery, the reputation of the town’s

literature festival continues to defy expectations and the town is punching above its weight in dance, music and heritage.

However, it is in the town’s theatres that something of a mini revolution is taking place.

For years, we have subsisted on a steady diet of mainstream acts at the Wyvern Theatre and more select performances at Swindon’s Art Centre.

But punchy little upstart that Swindon is, we want more, there is a passion that cannot be contained.

Local performers have been crying out for years for suitable venues to showcase that plethora of local talent – and now their prayers have been answered.

Swindon’s

Shoebox Theatre, a creative space next to the Wyvern Theatre, exploded into being at a launch event this month attended by new patron, Swindon-born actress Billie Piper.

And through the singular vision of one man arts dynamo Dan Rivers, the Bohemian Balcony has blossomed on the top floor of the former Palladium Cinema – a multi-faceted creative hub which has opened its doors to writers, poets, performers and theatre groups to develop their skills in a supportive environment.

The Balcony, on Jennings Street in Rodbourne, has been utilised as a bingo hall and printing house before Mr Rivers struck a deal with the building’s owners to renovate and use the space for the creative arts.

Swindon has a new found confidence and the future is dazzling.

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Theatre

Members of the Wrong Shoes Theatre Company at the opening event. Below, director Luke Marquez

Does my arts look big in this?

Pint-sized Shoebox Theatre packs a punch

Swindon’s Shoebox Theatre celebrated its official launch with a visit by newly appointed patron Billie Piper and a live theatrical performance.

At the ticket only event, invited guests included prominent members of Swindon’s artistic community, including Museum and Art Gallery Director Hadrian Ellory Van Dekker as well as other invitees from the wider town community including Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard and Ocelot editor Jamie Hill.

The Shoebox Theatre, based in a 6m x 12m multi-performance space next door to the Wyvern Theatre, was set up last August with the aim of providing a platform for Swindon’s non professional actors to tackle new works and contemporary scripts.

Speaking at the opening, Swindon-born actress Billie Piper praised the work of performers, who staged excerpts of The Magnificent Doctor Faustus, and

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underlined the importance of grassroots theatre opportunities.

“The Shoebox is small, humble and wonderful. I’m a huge fan and I’m honoured to have been asked to be a patron of the Shoebox Theatre and I’m looking forward to being a regular fixture here.”

Founder and director of the company Luke Marquez said: “We have been here for almost a year now and we are pleased to have been able to contribute to a diverse and cultural landscape in Swindon.

“It’s a great way for people from the local community to work on something

collaboratively. It’s important to us that we have a space for these emerging artists to have somewhere that is affordable.

We want this to represent all the people of the town.”

As well as hosting a programme of contemporary theatre and new work, the Shoebox Theatre also provides access to quality actor and performance training. Managed by Wrong Shoes Theatre Company in collaboration with Artsite Ltd it provides an affordable space to develop new work and support emerging artists. To find out more log on to www. shoeboxtheatre. org.uk

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Theatre

Billie’s blessing

Ben Fitzgerald spoke to Billie Piper about her love of theatre, her shifting priorities and her home town.

Swindon-born Billie Piper has grown up in the spotlight - graduating from teen pop sensation to television actress she has recently been gathering critical acclaim for her stage appearances.

But she’s not forgotten the town that shaped her and provided the springboard for her early success.

And now she’s keen to use her high profile to support projects such as Swindon’s Shoebox Theatre that can provide opportunities for the next generation of aspiring actors.

“Projects like the Shoebox Theatre are really important. When I was growing up in Swindon I came through the traditional drama route, I was part of Sixth Sense and the Judith Hockaday Drama school which is great, but projects like the Shoebox Theatre give young actors alternative ways of developing their drama skills.

“It’s really exciting that the Wrong Shoes Theatre Company have got this home now and are working with devised theatre - letting actors develop a script collaboratively. It’s another way of doing things and it’s wonderful.”

Billie explained that she still has close ties to her home town, despite living and working in London, often visiting family and friends.

As a mother of two, parenthood had given her a new perspective - and said this was a motivation to lend her support to grassroots projects such as the Shoebox Theatre.

“I’m at a new stage in my life and I suppose that I’m more aware of the importance of

having these sort of opportunities available to help youngsters who want to follow a career in the arts to achieve their ambitions.

“I suppose it’s something to do with getting older, something to do with parenthood that has given me a new perspective. And at the moment I’m at the point in my life where I can look at things with a new focus.”

And the future?

“I’ve got a lot of interesting things going on at the moment.

I’m really involved in theatre work at the moment and I’m also working on a film, but I’m afraid I’ve been sworn to secrecy about that.”

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Theatre

The Fringe is back This month sees the return of the Swindon Fringe Festival - a wonderful showcase of top notch comedy, workshops, family friendly shows and not forgetting the Groovy Pig Music Festival.

The event, running from April 1-9, is seen as an opportunity for many acts to trial their work before taking them on to the Brighton Fringe in May, the Greater Manchester Fringe in July and then the Edinburgh Fringe in August.

Highlights of the week include The Groovy Pig Music Festival at The Victoria on Sunday 2 April where 10 different bands will take their place on the stage in the back room of The Victoria and the bar will be open all night.

The opening night at The

Bohemian Balcony on April 1 will be a fun evening of drinks, raffles, prizes and entertainment provided by local musicians and a standup comedian.

There are workshops for children and adults to take part in: Clown Workshop for Children by Swindon Fringe Festival award winner Bianca Bertalott and the Spoons Workshops by Jo May will be a fantastic addition to your family talents.

There will be some excellent improv on the first weekend and brilliant stand-up on the last.

Physical theatre and dance on Friday April 7 at the Shoebox Theatre will be a great chance for the more experimental audiences to experience something unique

and beautiful.

And finally, the chill-out afternoon from midday on Saturday April 8 will put you in a great mood for the end of the festival.

Tickets are available from the Wyvern Theatre Box Office and you can either purchase individual tickets ranging from £5 - £10 each or get yourself a platinum ticket (£50) giving you access to every show during the Swindon Fringe Festival.

The stand-up comedians and The Groovy Pig Music Festival are offering a Pay What You Want system so you can enjoy the comedy and music and give what you feel the performance was worth.

For more information log on to: swindonfringefestival.com

Tread the boards with Gatecrash theatre Swindon’s Gatecrash Theatre, the resident theatre company of New College, offers weekly professional workshops, day long masterclasses, production opportunities, professional mentorship and audition preparation.

Auditons for this year’s Yearn and Learn project - ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ will be held on Sunday April 9 at Wyvern Theatre Swindon for the show which will be

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performed at Swindon Arts Centre from July 27 to 29.

Contact Natasha Garbutt gatecrashtheatre@gmail.com Other workshops include a one-day Stage Combat and Media Make-up Workshop on Saturday May 13 at New

College.

For anyone wanting to hone their drama skills, Gatecrash runs the Ignite drama group for adults every Thursday 7-9 (no audition needed) and the Evolve group, which meets every Tuesday 7-9pm.

Auditions to join Evolve are taking place at New College April 4.

Contact: gatecrashtheatre@ gmail.com.

For details see www. gatecrashtheatre.co.uk

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Litfest

Book your place for the 24th Swindon Festival of Literature Swindon’s 24th Festival of Literature will see a host of literary luminaries head for the town.

Among the authors appearing at the event in May are author and politician David Owen; prize-winning novelists Lionel Shriver, Mark Lawson and Xiaolu Guo; columnist Polly Toynbee; psychiatrist-author Oliver James; philosophers Roman Krznaric and Stephen Law; courageous funny woman

Francesca Martinez; science guru Marcus du Sautoy; kidnap-survivor Terry Waite; Archers’ linchpin Graham Harvey; royal writer Ingrid Seward; solo explorer Benedict Allen, and radio’s Charlotte ‘the voice’ Green.

The festival, which is funded by the Arts Council, also includes the early-morning dawn chorus; the eighth Swindon Think Slam; a children and families day; the twenty-

first Swindon Poetry Slam; and the Poems, Pints, and Music Finale. The free event is now firmly established on Wiltshire’s cultural calendar. It is loved locally and held in high regard nationally.

Running from 1 - 13 May, the festival features numerous other talks, readings and storytelling at theatres, arts venues, libraries, parks, museums and galleries. swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk

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Art

Offatthe wall style Oink For those of you who need a regular fix of art or like to lavish your homes with beautiful designer items, Oink Gallery aims to inject all the necessary ingredients to bring you an array of art and unique designer objects from all over the country, both from local artists and designers and further afield.

Oink Gallery has a collection of art from over 25 artists, with prints and designer gifts starting from as little as £10 through to larger more considered pieces.

The mix of contemporary modern art and designer products, jewellery, lighting and furniture create a sophisticated Aladdin’s cave for all to appreciate.

Amongst the constantly evolving displays, the gallery has dedicated one of its largest walls to monthly solo exhibitions.

March saw the first of these, showcasing London artist Dan Hillier’s latest collection of work some of which can still be viewed in the gallery.

The preview night featured a live Facebook feed from the artist in the Gallery’s Diary Room, allowing guests in the gallery and online to chat to the artist.

Oink’s next instalment comes from Brick Lane’s very own artist Adrian Boswell.

Adrian is a well-known East London collage artist who mixes the surrealism of Salvador Dali with the humour of Monty Python.

Adrian said: “I enjoy collage, finding the right material in magazines and photographing objects. The exciting thing about

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Gallery

Artist Adrian Boswell at work in his Brick Lane studio and inset, the Oink Gallery’s basement space. Below, Oink Gallery showcases a diverse mix of work from all over the country. Photo: Adrian Boswell

surrealism is that you create a fantasy world where everything is right – a fried egg flying through space, a polar bear riding a rock, a guy in his favourite chair with remote control floating through space not realising there is no TV and no Earth.”

The exhibition will be supported by the artist himself, working in the gallery’s basement space, to create new pieces, which will then be exhibited alongside his existing collection of work in the gallery.

Adrian Boswell’s exhibition runs throughout April with the opening night on Friday 7 April 6.30 - 9.30pm. The basement

studio will be also be open to visitors to see Adrian creating his work from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 April.

Gallery owner Mark Pepperall said: “I’m really excited about the future of the gallery, we’ve been really happy with the response the gallery has evoked. We are really committed to constantly evolving the space and bringing new exciting work and products to Swindon - the solo artist wall is just one of many new twists customers will see over the forthcoming year.”

Check Oink Gallery’s Facebook page for forthcoming events.

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Gig Monkey Gig Monkey, AKA Ed Dyer, takes a rummage through the best music released by local artists. If you like the sound of something please check it out Send your reviews to ed@theocelot.co.uk

The August List – Ramshackle Tabernacle (LP)

Oxford has been good to us in the initial part of the year, as we get hit with yet another early contender for Record of The Year. The August List’s last album, ‘O’Hinterland’ still rates as one of my all-time favourite listens so this has been much anticipated. Luckily, it has far from disappointed as this is easily the equal of its predecessor.

‘Ramshackle Tabernacle’ is not a carbon copy of their debut however, it shows a development in their craft as musicians and songwriters and makes an utter mockery of the infamous curse of the second album. Yes, it doesn’t have quite the untamed rawness of the first record and songs like 40 Rod of Lightning. Here the energy is tamed and more controlled, but this just means it can be directed more accurately, a musical sniper rifle rather than shotgun.

Sonically we still get the duo’s whole “back porch” style, all analogue and rustic, but everything is bigger, there is more of a band vibe – the metaphorical creaking of the rocking chair that was behind the earlier songs is now hidden under additional layers of instrumentation. Brilliantly though, this doesn’t detract; while the production and craft is all upgraded, they never stray too far from the backwoods feeling that was so attractive in the first place.

There is an authenticity in the lyrical aspect of the writing, the words chosen fit the style and feel of the music perfectly, a sensitivity and reverence to place and time that somehow makes the songs fit all places and all times. This is analogue music of wood, and strings and breaths

The August List - intelligent music for the vinyl generation and right All Ears Avow - Edge of This of air that is all about simpler days, troubled ages, youth and twilight years; yet it fits into a modern, digital word with barely a murmur. This is music for those who still read books, speak on a telephone and listen to vinyl records without denying the march of progress.

All Ears Avow – Edge of This (EP)

All Ears Avow continue their relentless march towards world domination with yet another cracking selection of songs, making them surely the most prolific and consistent band to come out of Wiltshire in some time. The relentless work rate is paying dividends however – not only are their live shows some of the best you will see with bigger and bigger crowds, the constant playing helps hone the songs and playing into inch-perfect form with no rough edges – technically perfect and artistically accomplished.

The whole of ‘Edge of This’ is a compelling blend of crunching riffs, slick melodies and polished production, principally pulling in elements of modern alternative rock, pop-punk, melodic metal and even atmospheric electronica.

It is then peppered with almost

imperceptible traces of soul, rhythm & blues and funk, nods to the historic roots of all that is good in music.

The pace of the record is relentless, with even the more downbeat moments having a drive and dynamism that keeps dragging the listener along with it.

Just For Me follows the relentless opening trio of Caged, Gone and Hurricane, calming you down then picking you up and putting you down again and again, following the band’s usual M.O. of not ever quite allowing the listener to take a step off the ride they are taking you on. Title track Edge of This follows similar tactics, completing a mid EP pit-stop before you are blasted back to the stratosphere with closer The Middle. You are with them for the duration – All Ears Avow are becoming masters of dynamics, structure and momentum, and this EP is the new pinnacle of their achievement.

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Wychwood Festival The best in upcoming Irish talent, The Strypes will be taking to the Wychwood main stage on Saturday June 3

The Strypes, Inheaven, Cabbage and more added to packed Wychwood Festival line-up Wychwood Festival announce that The Strypes will be taking to their main-stage.

Joining them will be InHeaven, The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band, Bunny, Stevie Parker, Cabbage, Yonaka, Murray Lachlan Young and making this year’s line-up the most diverse yet.

The Hobgoblin stage have also added The Black Feathers, Sandtimer, Lucas & King, Aaron Keylock and more. Wychwood Festival takes place June 2 – 4 on the stunning grounds of Cheltenham Racecourse, with the likes of OMD, The Levellers and Buzzcocks already announced and more still to come.

Four-piece Irish rock band The Strypes started playing together before they were even teenagers, relentlessly gigging around Ireland and quickly becoming the hottest ticket in any town. Taking inspiration from the likes of Elvis Costello, The Stones, The Jam and many more, The Strypes will be debuting their no-nonsense blues repertoire to festivalgoers.

Joining them will be ‘Ones to Watch’ InHeaven echoing the sounds of 90’s grunge as well as debuting tracks such as ‘Regeneration’ and ‘Treats’. BBC Radio 6 Music’s resident poet Murray Lachlan Young will also be on-site loaded with poem’s on hugely diverse subject matters.

The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band also join the main

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stage with a spectacular celebration of vibrant, colourful lifestyle and enchanting beats.

Hotly-tipped new band Cabbage will be headlining the Smashing Blouses stage on Sunday with their semi rebellious – but ultimately meaningful punk anthems, also joining them explosive psychedelic rock The Shimmer Band. Rising Bristol Star Stevie Parker bringing her ambient electro pop to Wychwood alongside Bunny and Yonaka.

The Hobgoblin Stage also adds a whole host of acts, Saturday Headliner Arron Keylock, The Prohibition Smokers, musical duo The Black Feathers, The Black Hats, Oxford band Deadbeat Apostles, Sandtimer, acoustic country Paul McClure and The Local Heroes, George Montague, Newton Country, Society, folk duo Lucas & King as well as The Brickwork Lizards, Wes Finch, Peerless Pirates, The Epstein, Holly Redford-Jones.

They will all be joining the already announced Buzzcocks, Levellers, OMD, Billy Bragg, Zac Abel, Let’s Eat Grandma and many more for confirmed for 2017, making Wychwood one of the most unmissable events of the Summer.

Wychwood Festival day tickets start at only £47 and under five year olds go free with a ticket-holding adult.

For ticket information and more details, including further line-up announcements as they happen, head to: www.wychwoodfestival.com

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Swindon Town Centre Music scene is Live and Kicking in the heart of town

Groves Company Inn The new kid on the block in Swindon’s town centre, the Groves Company Inn has set its sights on providing something for everyone.

The food looks great, the booze is a diverse and plentiful mix and there is a particular focus on regular live music throughout the weekend. Whether it be the best tribute acts, cover bands or singer/songwriters, Groves Co. is again catering for all comers.

Managers Pat Rigby and Lee Hazell have dedicated their time and investment to updating

and focusing on the new venue, and hope to become one of the central hotspots in the town centre.

Pat said: “We’ve really come into this project with significant investment and a drive to cater for all tastes. As well as the great food and putting some incredible music on, we’ve got all the sports occasions covered with our big screens. We want to make sure everyone that comes through those doors feels welcome.”

Lee added: “We are very much a chameleon business. We feel all this area needs is a chance to show people looking for a great night out what it can really offer.”

The Groves Company Inn is located on Fleet Street in Swindon, for more information visit: facebook.com/TheGrovesCompanyInn

The Rolleston

The Locomotive

Level III

Be honest, if you live anywhere near Swindon, (and if you’re reading this, it’s likely you do) every one of us has had a good night in The Rolly.

If you haven’t yet experienced the old school charm of one of Swindon’s longest standing music loving pubs, get yourself down to Commercial Road and get a couple of pints in. The Rolly has some great acts passing through for you to dance the night away to. Every weekend there is something different, so make sure you check them out online to keep abreast of what’s coming up: therollestonarms.co.uk

Live music and sports - that’s the mission statement from The Locomotive on Fleet Street.

As part of the burgeoning town centre live music offering, The Loco is building its reputation for putting on some of the area’s very best bands, but also providing the ideal venue to catch up on the big sporting events.

Quickly becoming a place to party and enjoy a good old-fashioned night out, The Locomotive can easily serve as either your first stop on a big night out, or the home away from home to enjoy those good times with friends. www.the-locomotive.co.uk

Even though it’s attached to The Rolleston, Level III is a hotspot all to itself.

The largest and oldest music venue in Swindon, previously known as The Furnace, this incredible space has played host to the likes of Funeral for a Friend, Therapy?, Bad Manners and more recently has seen Reading Festival warm up shows from the likes of skater punks Gnarwolves.

The team at Level III are always looking to support local acts and welcome submissions to perform or support touring acts at the venue. Simply head to their website for listings and how you can get involved: www.leveliii.co.uk

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O2 Academy Oxford

Spring has arrived at the O2

Stunningly brilliant country twins Ward Thomas will ease you through to the summer months on May 6

You know them, you love them - Feeder are at the O2 Academy Oxford on April 3

Mallory Knox hit the O2 Academy on April 4

It’s non-stop through April and May at the O2 Academy in Oxford, as an almost weekly revolving cast of acts come to the city to give you a damn good time. Whatever you’re into, there is a show for you!

The Jesus And Mary Chain are touring their long-awaited new record, Damage and Joy. The Scottish alternative band will be sure to come along armed with their classic songs as well as a raft of new tunes to re-invigorate their dedicated fan base as well as pull in the new ones on April 2 Feeder are back with their latest album All Bright Electric, and are bound to sell the place out fast, so consider this your last minute warning to get your tickets for April 3. We will be there jumping up and down to Buck Rogers as soon as the first chord is played!

The very next night, we might be tempted back to the Academy as Mallory Knox rock up as part of their Spring UK tour on April 4. Lonely The Brave and Fatherson will be providing the warm up to arguably one of the best touring acts on the circuit at the moment.

The end of April sees the uniquely talented Rat Boy charge into the O2 Academy with his bar spitting, black-and-white approach to hip-hop fused with indie pop. Sure to be an anarchic live show on April 29.

Rolling into May, chart toppers Ward Thomas return to the stage for a full UK tour including the Academy on May 6.. 22-year-old twins Catherine and Lizzy made history with their stunning major label debut, Cartwheels, when it topped the UK album charts, becoming the first-ever UK country act to achieve the feat. A beautifully mellow way to welcome in the summer months.

If you’re looking for something a little different, a bit more experimental, get yourself upstairs to the Academy2 on May 16 when The Comet Is Coming will be supporting their Mercury-nominated debut album, Channel the Spirits.

The band’s intoxicating sound fuses elements of jazz, funk, electronica and psychedelic rock, and with support from Flamingods and Wandering Wires, this is going to be one hell of a roller-coaster ride for your ears!

And on May 19 it’s time to celebrate the local guys and girls as Uprising by BBC Introducing takes over the Academy2 for another big showcase event! Our Night of The Ocelot headliners Little Brother Eli will be chalking up another well deserved top-of-the-bill placement and leading the charge, Lucy Leave will yet again impress with their crazy yet wonderful approach to music, and with Harry Pane, Ghosts in the Photographs and Sleepers’ Dome on the same bill, it’s going to be a riotous night for celebrating the Oxford music scene.

For tickets and more information on the litany of other offerings that we just couldn’t squeeze all onto one page, visit: www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academyoxford

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The Night of The Ocelot

Oh, what a Night!

Little Brother Eli de livered a breathtaki ngly brilliant performance at The Victoria in Sw indon

ide Swindon sl m Ji o er h r a guit the Blair from ip Route amazing H

Royal Wootton Bassett’s acou stic sensation Brad ley Cowtan

The Night of The Ocelot turned into a night to remember as your favourite free popular culture magazine welcomed some of the best musical talent in the area to The Victoria in Swindon at the end of March.

All three acts were in impeccable form, delivering their very best in a showcase of the talent we have in our area. Just as we’d intended!

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The Thursday night crowd were out in force from the very start as Bradley Cowtan and his newly formed backing band took to the stage. The Royal Wootton Bassett singer/songwriter switched effortlessly between his ukulele and acoustic guitar during a powerful set that marks Mr Cowtan out as one of Wiltshire’s stand out young talents.

Also, the majority of the band had only had one

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The Night of The Ocelot

rehearsal prior to appearing on the night, aside from guitarist Sam Bates who confidently wielded his axe without any rehearsal at all.

We thought it couldn’t get any better, and this was just the opening act!

But if anyone could cope with the pressure, Hip Route were the ideal men for the job.

Blasting into their distorted delta blues riffage, the three piece lit up The Victoria stage, not with physical energy and running around, but with pure power and skill. Jim Blair’s deft touch on both lap steel and standard acoustic guitars drove a sonic battering ram through the room and left no foot untapped.

When you’re in the presence of a band that can create a sound so primeval, that resonates to your very core as Hip Route do, it’s hard not to be more than impressed. By the end of the half hour juggernaut of noise, it’s safe to say the room was boiling over, rather than simply warmed up, for our headline act.

If our assembled Oceloteers weren’t already in the dancing mood, we had an ace up our sleeves. We’ve watched with interest the career of Little Brother Eli, as they bloomed from obscure blues rockers to powerhouse headline performers, and not once have we ever written them off or thrown them in the metaphorical dumper. Our faith and passion for these talented gents from Oxford was more than repaid in full as the four piece (for the night) tore into their catchy, pulsing tracks including latest single release Oceans.

Watching Little Brother Eli, and the party atmosphere they invariably create in any room, is utterly awe-inspiring. Lead singer Alex Grew owned the stage, throwing his trademark shapes and shuffles around The Vic as if he’d grown up in the place, and the exceptional harmonies bolstered by Josh Rigal and Adam Stowe, as well as the thick, pulsating instrumentation driven by drummer Benji Page (and his train-like bass drum boot) simply boggled the mind.

All of our acts on the night brought their A-Game, and convinced us that we should get another one of these nights together soon.

If you’d like to be a part of it, simply email mike@theocelot.co.uk for more details.

Our thanks go out to all those who attended.

We wish we were able to thank you all in person, but shaking that many hands was tiring!

The night was made all the more incredible by your generous support.

THANK YOU!

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Take The Stage

n i w e d a p a Esc e g a t S e h T Take After four heats, 12 incredible acts and hundreds of people through the doors of the Neeld Community and Arts Centre in Chippenham, Bath based indie rock group Escapade prevailed as Take The Stage winners on Friday March 3.

The final saw almost 200 people cram into the Neeld for a superb show from all four finalists; Misfires from Swindon, Caught by the Bears from Bath, Backwoods from West Wiltshire and the eventual victors Escapade.

The winners have netted themselves a slot at Fieldview Festival in August as well as a place on the ChippFest line-up, which starts in June. Runners up Misfires also netted a ChippFest spot and Backwoods received recording time at Riverbank Studios, who

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have successfully set up and organised another great showcase of youth talent from the local area.

Guy Britton, part of the dynamic duo that operates Riverbank Studios alongside Hoggs Bison drummer Tom Mallard, said: “This year’s Take The Stage was the perfect follow up from last year’s success with the competition.

“Once again we’ve been really surprised by the quality of the acts coming through and it’s great to see so much local talent involved.

“The turnout for the final was amazing and it was easily one of the best nights we’ve put on as Riverbank.

All being well we’ll be running the competition again next year and in the meantime we will have plenty of live shows and other stuff going on at the studio!”

With a wide range of influences, Escapade have burst onto the local music scene with their indie riffs and expressive lyrics. Citing influences ranging from Catfish and the Bottlemen to Nirvana and Paramore, the four friends met at Bath College and have been building their live repertoire across the areas they grew up in, and are making all the right moves to become local favourites. We sat down for a chat with your Take The Stage victors to find out what it means to them:

So guys, Take The Stage winners! How does that feel?

As a band, winning a competition like Take The Stage is a great feeling, we are still hyped about it now!

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Take The Stage For us, it’s not all about the winning, just playing in front of 150 odd people was an amazing experience and something we won’t forget for a long time. There were three other great bands we were up against and all of them put on a great show.

How did you end up applying for the competition?

Billy: Basically, I was just browsing Facebook and a sponsored ad came up about the Take the Stage battle of the bands. So I just sent a screenshot to the band group chat and after that we filled out the form and got a place for the second heat against Television Villain and Lacuna’s Grace.

Fieldview and ChippFest to play; have the nerves started to kick in or are you really looking forward to it?

Benn: The nerves haven’t kicked in just yet, but I wouldn’t doubt on them arriving soon! On the whole, we’re all really excited to be given this brilliant opportunity to play at two of the biggest local festivals. It’s a fantastic chance to show people our original content and to hopefully build up our fan base in local towns.

If the turn out to these festivals is good, it will be our biggest shows played to date! So get buying your tickets people!

What’s the plan for the rest of 2017? Keep pushing Escapade onwards and upwards?

Ewan: We have a lot of great things to come during the rest of the year.

Including the release of our EP on May 26 at St James Wine Vaults in Bath, playing at the O2 Academy Bristol in early May and tonnes of other gigs scattered throughout the year.

We also have the opportunity to collaborate with a student at Southampton Solent University making a music video for one of our songs which is pretty exciting. Other than that, we’ll be in the studio recording some new material for people to hear, so look out for that.

If you all changed roles in the band like a literal game of musical chairs, who would do what?

George: Ewan likes to think he can drum so we’ll give him a chance on that. Billy is pretty decent on the bass, but can also shred on a guitar, so lead guitarist I’d say. Benn’s lead stuff is pretty good but unfortunately we’ll have to chuck him on bass for this one, and I’d put myself on rhythm guitar and vocals.

For any more information on the next Take The Stage, how you can apply, or to find out more about Riverbank Studios, visit: www.riverbankchippenham.co.uk www.theocelot.co.uk Ocelot 130.indd 51

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The Ocelot Presents...

The Ocelot Guide to...

HEAVY METAL

The Ocelot Presents... Lowws How did Lowws come about? Were you all playing separately or always in bands?

All of us have been involved in various musical projects, bands, solo stuff, working in recording studios. We met through the usual channels, adverts, word of mouth, friends of friends. We share an ethos that music should be more than the sum of its parts, epic guitar solos or show-off techniques are not really our thing.

Where does “The Sound” of Lowws come from?

Our sound is very much collaborative, brought together by each member of the band bring our own ideas and styles - we have very different musical backgrounds and influences. It’s been an interesting road in bringing these together, which we hope will continue to change as we make more records and music.

With the EP, were you going for any sort of theme or did you want to convey a certain message?

We struggle to articulate this but we’d hope this EP conveys paranoia, division and different perceptions thereof.

We’ve always been interested in the difference between our own personal feelings as humans, and how the people around us interpret us, edging into discussions around society and interaction as a wider context.

Does the new EP differ from your previous work in your eyes?

Yes, we feel this really stands above our previous work. Producing this ourselves has given us more control on

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the overall sound of the EP. The songwriting on the EP is more concise and the hooks in the tracks are better.

Looking forward to the release show?

Absolutely, we’re playing with two ridiculously good support bands, (Kone, 31 Hours), at a great venue in our hometown and alongside our favourite promoter (Daisy Rodgers) in Oxford so it really feels like we are planning a big party together! We’re even doing top secret special goody bags for the night, containing one-off Lowws ‘stuff’…

What does the near future hold?

Festival slots? Big supports? Just lounging around with a bowl of CocoPops?

Aside from the big EP launch itself at The Bullingdon, Oxford on 28 March we’re going to be playing a fair few shows to promote the EP as we’re really proud of it. There’ll be something in London early summer too, alongside some good support slots locally and a few headline shows nearby.

Our first single released from the EP (Okami) has a video currently going through post-production so we can’t wait to get that out too.

BONUS QUESTION – What’s your favourite sea creature?

Perfect question! We like the anemone so much we named a song after it.

Probably the first song we knew we’d be keeping for a long time as a band, we’re still proud of it now. We had this as our set closer and still play it at our shows! facebook.com/lowwshq soundcloud.com/lowws

Although there is some disagreement among metallurgists, heavy metal is characterised by great density and volume.

Classic heavy metals include such familiar examples as copper, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and Tin Lizzy as well as precious examples such as silver, gold, Metallica and platinum.

However from the early 1980s light metals began to be classified such as magnesium, aluminium, bon jovi and titanium. Along with this are the more exotic and less well known heavy metals including gallium, thallium, hafnium and mötley crüe.

Heavy metals are relatively scarce in the Earth’s crust and the rich seams that could be found notably in the West Midlands and other British post-industrial wastelands have been depleted over the years - although it is thought that vigorous fracking could produce a new generation.

As well as being relatively dense, heavy metals tend to be slow to react and will generally only mix with other metals.

Combining metals has lead to dire consequences in the past however, such as the atomic bomb and worse still, The Darkness.

Heavy metals are often assumed to be highly toxic or damaging to the environment and high levels of heavy metal has lead to documented cases of hearing loss and possibly brain damage.

Next month - Rock: Classic or Igneous.

www.theocelot.co.uk

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The Prof. Elemental Interview

Prof-essional madness Pioneer. Free-thinker. Rap Duelist. Occasional shoplifter. All titles belonging to the truly unique artist known as Professor Elemental. The steampunking, chap-hop innovating wordsmith

based in Brighton returned to Salisbury and Swindon in March, so we caught up with The Prof to chat about tea, the music industry and just where he gets his superb collection of trousers...

How do you approach your songs? Do you craft the beats first or ink down your lyrics and find something that fits?

Whilst on your exhaustive travels, could you diagnose the state of our national musical offerings?

Well, I am lucky enough to have the finest producer known to man, Mr Tom Caruana. He sits in a studio in an enchanted woodland crafting beats all day and nine times out of ten, they provide the inspiration for the words.

You can hear more of his stuff at his website and whether mixing up the Wu-Tang and Beatles or stripping back folk music to mix into hip hop, it’s all very beautiful: teasearecords.net

It’s a double edged sword- on the one hand I am lucky enough to see so many amazing bands of all sorts playing live. It’s particularly heartening to see that, thanks to the internet, even the strangest niche band can reach a global audience and take things wherever we’d like.

I couldn’t be happier with the demise of major record labels and am delighted to see we don’t need them any more to make music professionally.

There’s always a down side though, I am incensed at how we treat our precious live music venues and that more isn’t done to protect the ones we have left. The idea that we have lost 50% of live music venues over the past decade is more than worrying. That, combined with the inevitable rise of streaming sites like those bastards at Spotify, mean there are still a lot of challenges for independent musicians.

One way of countering that has been the renewed trend in

Is there a certain source of material that you can always rely on? Something that always gets you fired up?

Books of all sorts usually get me going. I have a good library of weird Victorian tomes, strange comics and old horror novels. If nothing else, they help clear the mind so that strange ideas can find their way in.

supporting artists directly- I’ve found Patreon to be amazingly helpful in providing a regular income. Sorry about the plug, but people can see how that works here: patreon.com/ professorelemental Where do you get your incredible attire?

Borrowing, thievery, occasional shop lifting, my attic, donations and trips to Shoezone.

We are aware you are a connoisseur of tea, but what would you favourite accompaniment be?

So many things go well with a cuppa- a tasty custard cream, an exotic pipe of some sort, freshly buttered toast, a bath of gin....

It’s too hard to choose.

But if I had to, I think I’d go for a rainy day, an old armchair, some shortbread and a pan book of horror stories from 1978.

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Hip Route feat. Gary Stringer

Hip Route bring in Reef vocalist Gary Stringer on new material As if playing at The Night of The Ocelot in March wasn’t enough of a thrill, Swindon based rocking roots act Hip Route have drafted in REEF vocalist Gary Stringer to perform on their new upcoming release ‘Shout Out’.

The popular three piece have been recording at Ladder Factory Studios with local sonic genius Sam Bates and decided one of their new tracks could do with something different to really bring out the best. So why not put in a call to one of your heroes right?

Jim Blair, vocalist and slide guitar wizard in Hip Route, said: “We wrote the tune ‘Shout Out’ about a year ago. It’s a song about celebrating life as you never know what’s going to happen or what may lay around the corner.

“We then laid a version of it down at The Ladder Factory Studio with the very skilled help of Sam Bates at the end of March 2016.

“While we were listening to it during the mixing stage I turned to Jon (bass) and Steve (drums) and said “You know who would sound awesome on this right?”

They both replied “Gary Stringer?”.

“Hip Route had done a few support slots in the past for Them Is Me (the band that Gary and Jack Bessant put together while Reef were on a break) and I had done some solo support slots for StringerBessant (their acoustic project).

“So the next day I thought well you don’t know if you don’t ask man! I got a much quicker reply than I ever expected from Gary asking if he could have a copy of the track but that he was very busy at the moment.

“A few more exchanges of messages were had over the next few months and then in January this year it all

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became very real, very fast!

“He came to The Ladder Factory studio and laid it down! I can honestly say you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer, more professional fella. I still couldn’t quite believe that I was watching Gary Stringer from REEF (one of my all time favourite singers and bands) singing my lyrics on a tune Hip Route had written!

“The tune will eventually end up on our next record that has the working title of ‘Angels and Devils’.

“But until we’ve got the funds to finish the album we will, for now, be releasing ‘Shout Out’ (feat. Gary Stringer!) as a download only single from all the usual places. No firm date as of right now but it WILL be within the next month or so! Followed by a video not long after.

“Keep an eye on/like our Facebook page/ Instagram/twitter etc for a release date, all our gigs and other Hip Route shenanigans.” facebook.com/HipRouteBand / hiproute.com / twitter.com/HipRoute / instagram.com/hiprouteband For all things REEF - facebook.com/reefmusic

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Sat 1st - Salisbury Hospice Charity All dayer with music from 2pm Fri 7th - Faux + Towers + The Sour Taste Sat 8th - Music and Cider Festival with music from 2pm featuring The Skimmity Hitchers Fri 14th - Bands TBA Sat 15th - The Tribe + Support Thurs 20 - Las Suso (Mexico) + Vatican Romp Fri 21st - Brightlight City + Support Sat 22 - The Toasters (USA) + The Intercepteurs - Tickets ÂŁ5adv Fri 28th - Sun 30th Real Ale and Music Festival

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The Music News Boston Manor announce tour date in Swindon Sheer Music have announced that Liverpool’s Boston Manor will be headlining Swindon’s Level III on Wednesday May 24.

Tour support comes from South-Wales crew Casey whilst the local force on the bill comes from A Way With Words, and opening the show is emo-acousticsoloist Dan O’Dell, aka Heartwork.

It’s a mid-week show, so those Sheer boys are opting for early doors, start and finish.

Boston Manor have had a crazy busy year already, clocking up the miles opening for Four Year Strong on a 16 date European tour, as well as a 28 date US tour with fellow Brits Moose Blood. And at the end of this short UK run they’ll be performing at Slam Dunk!

Grab your tickets via WeGotTickets.

Port Erin gain Beautiful South backing and producer Broughton Gifford based alt-rock group Port Erin are receiving the backing of Paul Heaton from The Beautiful South, as well as working with his producer Marco Migliari, on their next release.

Having shared the stage with Paul, the trio have previously worked with Marco, who produced albums for The Beautiful South, on their last two albums Floating Above The City and Wheel Inside A Wheel.

Check out Port Erin via their website: porterinmusic.bandcamp.com

Music Box Salisbury celebrates seventh year Now celebrating its seventh year, The Music Box in Salisbury is well established as one of the premier venues for live music and underground club nights in the city, regularly attracting the big names and showcasing new talent from every genre of music.

Having recently played host to DJ sets from acts like Frank Turner and regularly serving as the rallying point for local and touring musicians from across the spectrum, The Music Box has become a central hub in the burgeoning Salisbury music scene.

Every Thursday is Open Mic, followed by guest artists and DJ’s from 8pm until the early hours, entry is free. Fridays vary the most, please check listings. Saturdays open from 10pm - 3am and feature regular live bands and Dj’s across three rooms, entry is free before 11pm / £5 after (except NHS & NUS which are free all night) All upcoming events can be found on the Music Box facebook page: www.facebook.com/themusicboxsalisbury

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www.theocelot.co.uk

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The Music News Bizarre Blissfields will be a weekend to remember Blissfields Festival have announced their theme, headliners and a load of acts confirmed for the 2017 event.

Kicking off on July 6, this year’s instalment of the popular festival includes performances from Beans on Toast, Sundara Karma, The Japanese House, Funke and the Two Tone Baby and will be headlined by The Cinematic Orchestra on Friday night and Metronomy on the Saturday.

Established in 2001, the Blissfields team are always thinking up new ways to entertain and amaze their loyal attendees, and this year the theme is getting Bizarre! The very fabric of your perception is warping as Blissfields breaks on through to the under side. A tunnel through the fantastic, via fantasy and freakshow, will see the festival celebrate and fearfully poke the unknown. www.blissfields.co.uk

Wild Willy Barrett brings French Connection to Oxford

Wiltshire College student off to Nashville and Memphis in May

From a cafe in Paris, via a hoolie in Dublin, to a night out in New Orleans with rip-roaring fiddle and banjo – Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection will be throwing around all of these musical styles at the Old Fire Station in Oxford on April 22.

Imagine stumbling into a late night jam at a smoky back street bar with Django Reinhardt, The Pogues and Robert Johnson accompanying Edith Piaf; Bob Marley jammin’ with Stéphane Grappelli and Tom Waits joining in. This is French Connection. At the ensemble’s heart is the undisputed talents of multi-instrumentalist, erstwhile Godfather of grunge folk, Wild Willy Barrett. Featuring an original melange of French, Irish and English acoustic arrangements, using everything from a guitar and cello, to Irish pipes and banjo, there really is nothing else quite like them. For more information and ticket enquiries head to: www.oldfirestation.org.uk

She may only be 16 years-old, but Wiltshire College student Nia Nicholls has clear aspirations of becoming a countryrecording artist.

Inspired by Dolly Parton and Kacey Musgraves, the Level 3 Music student will be returning to Nashville in May to perform at Richards Café and Bluebird Café before singing at South Main Sounds Memphis on May 12, which is a songwriting platform aired on cable TV. Nia said: “The past year especially feels a bit of a dream.

In Nashville, everyone wants to help each other get to where they want to be.”

Wiltshire College offers Music and Music Technology courses from Level 2 through to HND. To find out more visit: www.wiltshire.ac.uk. Follow Nia’s journey on her Facebook and YouTube accounts: @nianicholls1

Swindon 105.5 Music Project to hold first Open Jam Session The newly formed Swindon 105.5 Music Project will have their very first Jam Session at The Liden Arms in Swindon on Sunday April 2.

The group successfully launched with their first Open Mic at Bake ‘n’ Roll on Groundwell Road during February, and have taken up residence at the new Sir Daniel Gooch Studio alongside Swindon 105.5 Community Radio, where they will be providing recording facilities to service users.

Starting at 4pm, the floor will be open for any musically minded people of any skill level to come along and play some songs or simply have a chat.

For more information, contact Swindon 105.5 via their website: www.swindon1055.com

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Gig list Saturday April 1 Jizzy Pearl/Love/Hate + Bulletproof Rose 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Roger McGough and Little Machine 7.30pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot Blind Lemons 9pm - The Locomotive, Swindon Freerange - UKG/Grime/Bassline 11pm to 3am - The Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £5 all night DJ Prodigy + Matt Paul - Belko’s Birthday Bash After-party 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Winter Mountain + The Lost Art 7.30pm - The Jericho Tavern, Oxford Covered in Cake - Macmillan fundraiser 7pm - The Beehive, Prospect Plc, Swindon Shocks of Mighty DJs 9pm - The Beehive, Prospect Plc, Swindon NEW: Music Showcase 7.45pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury Dragster + Hatepenny + The Setbacks 8pm - The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon Salisbury Hospice Charity All Dayer 2pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury STIPE: The R.E.M Tribute 8pm - Level 3, Swindon The Rolling Clones 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon Angel Up Front 8.30pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Electric Troubadours 8.30pm - The Castle Inn, Swindon Hyperbolics 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Jack Humphries 9pm - The Moonrakers, Devizes Interlight 9pm - Woodlands Edge, Swindon The Wirebirds 9pm - The Brewery Tap, Abingdon-onThames Vulcan Reign 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon People Like Us 10pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Switch ft. Chase & Status (DJ Set) + 1991 10pm - O2 Academy, Oxford

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Sunday April 2 Swindon Fringe - Sweet Nightingale + Damon T & Mark Cole + Flame & Co. + Against The Grain + Annette Gregory + Tera 45 + People Like Us + Plucking Different + Reel Time + Spunking Octochoke 4.30pm - The Victoria, Swindon Bloodstock: Metal to the Masses 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford The Jesus and Mary Chain + Willow Robinson 7pm - O2 Academy, Oxford Hip Route 8pm - The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

The Sitting Tenants 8.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon Tigertailz + Terminus + Nasty High 7pm - O2 Academy, Oxford Kate Atkinson’s Memorial Rave 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Faux + Towers + The Sour Taste 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury Brockley Forest + Rattlesnake Voodoo 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon Newbury Unplugged (Open Mic) 8pm - ACE Space, Newbury Jamie R Hawkins + Mike Barham 8pm - The White Hart, Calne

Beehive Quiz Night 7.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon

Peloton 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon

Monday April 3 Alejandro Escovedo Band 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

Bossaphonik with Konga Dia Ntotila 10pm to 3am- The Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £7 adv/ £8 on door

Feeder 7pm - O2 Academy, Oxford

Sally Ironmonger 8pm - The Village Pump, Trowbridge

Tuesday April 4 Mallory Knox + Lonely The Brave + Fatherson 7pm - O2 Academy, Oxford Wednesday April 5 The Emiglios 8pm - The Queens Tap, Swindon Get Lit with Mai Gai + Zyklon Sound + Beanhead + Effi Brooks + Effi + special guests 11pm to 3am- The Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford free entry Thursday April 6 Danny Bryant 8pm - Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury Open Mic + Not Like Moses LP launch 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury The Acoustic Buzz with Ags Connolly + MG Boulter + Blind River Scare 8.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon Dealer + Serafine 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon Singers Night 8pm - The Royal Oak, Corsham Wiltshire The Emiglios 8pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

The Emiglios 8pm - The Mermaid, Burford The Mustangs 8pm - The Cellar Bar, Devizes El Toro 9pm - The Queens Tap, Swindon Syntronix 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Saturday April 8 Music and Cider Festival 2pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury Church Of The Heavy Presents Audio Chemistry + Strike One + Raised by Hypocrites 7pm to 10.30pm- Cellar Bar, Oxford £7 Caro Emerald 7pm - New Theatre, Oxford DJ Prodigy + Matt Paul + Parka Hickman 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Open Mic 8pm - The Bell by The Green, Devizes Bare Knuckle Parade 7.30pm - Old Fire Station, Oxford

Mike Barham 9pm - Qudos, Salisbury

Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan - Every Grain of Sand 8pm - New Greenham Arts, Thatcham

Friday April 7 OxPHWOARd: The Self Love Show 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

Bastard + Nightmotor 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon Georgie Fame

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Gig List 8pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot King Solomon 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon STAGS + Special Guests 8pm - Level 3, Swindon Champagne Charlie 8.30pm - The Castle Inn, Swindon No Middle Ground 8.30pm - The Lamb Inn, Marlborough Echo 9pm - Woodlands Edge, Swindon The Bull Town Boys 9pm - The Queens Tap, Swindon The Chaos Brothers 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon Angel Up Front 10pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Bandantree 10pm - The Locomotive, Swindon Turf DJs all Night 11pm to 3am- The Cellar Bar, Oxford £5 Sunday April 9 Urban Cohorts 8pm - The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon Jamie R Hawkins 4pm - The Blue Boar, Aldbourne The Emiglios 8.30pm - The Lamb Inn, Marlborough Hammerman Day 8.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon Monday April 10 Giles Robson 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Feast of Fiddles 7.30pm - Neeld Community and Arts Centre, Chippenham

Future Perfect presents The Orielles + guests 7pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford £7 Get Lit with Mai Gai + Zyklon Sound + Beanhead + Effi Brooks + Effi + special guests 11pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford free Thursday April 13 Mike Barham 8pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

Greensleeves 40th Anniversary + Capital Letters + The Big Ship Band 9pm - O2 Academy, Oxford Kylie 9pm - The Mermaid, Burford Manhattan Nights 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

The Walker-Broad Band 8.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon

Frau DJ’s Good Friday Takeover 10.30pm - The Cellar, Oxford

Jamie R Hawkins 9pm - The Tuppenny, Swindon

P.Y.T 11pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

VicFest 2017 - Opening Night 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon Live Lounge - Anne-Marie Sanderson + Al Jenkins 9pm - The Cape of Good Hope, Oxford King Terrible Presents...THE LORDS OF DISCO WONDER 11pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford free Friday April 14 The Balkan Wanderers + The Shapes + Genevieve Miles 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Regime + Support 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Harry and The Gondolas 7.30pm - The Jericho Tavern, Oxford Pip Blom + The Harlers + Misfires 8pm - Level 3, Swindon SexJazz - ‘Sensible Songs for a Stupid World’ 8.30pm - The Beehive, Prospect Plc, Swindon

The MESS Session - folky jam sessioni 9pm - The Beehive, Prospect Plc, Swindon Tuesday April 11 (hed)p.e.

7pm - O2 Academy 2, Oxford

Frau DJs Good Friday Takeover!

10.30pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £4adv £6dr

Intrusion - Goth/ERM/Industrial 8.30pm to 2am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £4

TBA 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury

Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

The 7 Crowns + PizzaTramp + The Blunders + Hacksaw 8pm - The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

Wednesday April 12 PINS 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

Dylegans 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon

Open Mic + Odin’s Road + DJs 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury

Future Perfect presents Happyness + Guests 7.30pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford £9

Ooh Beehive 7.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon

Angel Up Front 9pm - The Queens Tap, Swindon

VicFest ‘17 - Plummie Racket and The Dicemen + A Way With Words + Raze*Rebuild 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon

Saturday April 15 Future Perfect presents - Trudy and the Romance 7pm - The Cellar, Oxford Alkahest 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon The Tribe + support 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury VicFest ‘17 - Crazy Town + SN Dubstation + The Nomarks 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon DJ Prodigy + DJ Rainbow + Si Paxton 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Locarno Beat 8.30pm - The Lamb Inn, Marlborough The Strays 8.30pm - The Castle Inn, Swindon Bandantree 9pm - Woodlands Edge, Swindon Tamsin Quin 9pm - The Moonrakers, Devizes The Britpop Boys 10pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Old Skool Oxford - 2 Bad Mice 11pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Port 12 9pm - The Locomotive, Swindon Future Perfect presents Tudy And The Romance + Guests 7pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford £6 Fluid - Bassline/Garage/Grime with Nadine (Murky Records) _ Masp & Friends 11pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £6dr Sunday April 16 The Mike Hoddinott Blues All-Stars 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

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Gig list VicFest ‘17 - Day 4 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon The Conas 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon The Hepcats 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Splat The Rat 8.30pm - The Beehive, Swindon The Wirebirds 9pm - The Queens Tap, Swindon Sound Barriers Charity Event in aid of Combat Stress feat Al Storm + Shimon 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury DBA x Livity Sound (techno and experimental) with Pev & Kowton + Karen Gwyer (Live) + Hodge + Semtek + Amii Little 11pm to 4am - Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £8adv £10dr Tuesday April 18 Billy Ocean 7pm - New Theatre, Oxford Laurence Jones 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Oxford Improvisers 7.45pm - Old Fire Station, Oxford Wednesday April 19 Josh Doyle 7pm - O2 Academy 2 Oxford

9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury

9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury

Future Perfect presents Dan Owen + guests 7pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford £8adv

Rusty Shackle 7.30pm - The Cellar, Oxford

King Terrible Presents...The Lords of Disco Wonder 11pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford free Friday April 21 Echo 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

The Perfect Fools 8pm - The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

AGMP Presents - New Street Adventure 7pm - The Cellar, Oxford

The Toasters (USA) + The Intercepteurs 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury

Coast To Coast + Better Than Never + One State Drive 7pm - O2 Academy 2, Oxford

ACT TBC 9pm - The Locomotive, Swindon

Palace 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Beverley Craven 7.30pm - Neeld Community and Arts Centre, Chippenham Brightlight City + support 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury Deaf Horse 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon Open Mic @ The Village Pump 8pm - The Village Pump, Trowbridge Pyrates 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon

Zahed Sultan + Guest 8pm to 10.30pm - Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £10adv

Marc Hopkins as Robbie 9pm - The Mermaid, Burford

The Lounge Kittens 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

System-D 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon The Beatholes 9pm - The Queens Tap, Swindon

Someone Like You 7.45pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury

New Street Adventure ‘Stubborn Sons’ Tour + Support 7pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £10adv

Dylegans 8pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

Soul Sessions 11pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £5

Las Suso (Mexico) + Vatican Romp 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury

Saturday April 22 Are You Listening? Festival 12pm - Multiple Venues, Reading

Sam Kelly and Jamie Francis 8pm - New Greenham Arts, Thatcham Singers Night 8pm - The Royal Oak, Corsham The Beat Holes 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon Open Mic + Jam Session

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Sheer Music Present - Sean McGowan + Mike Barham + George Wilding + Hound on the Mountain 8pm - The Lamb Inn, Devizes

One Rave 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury

The Moonlandingz 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

Thursday April 20 Future Perfect presents - Dan Owen 7pm - The Cellar, Oxford

Paul Lamb and The King Snakes 8pm - Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury

Electric Six + Nightmares from the Discotheque 7pm - O2 Academy, Oxford Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection 7.15pm - Old Fire Station, Oxford DJ Prodigy, DJ ELY + The Orbitones (live) + Parka Hickman

Stop Stop!

10pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon Pitch Black presents Jay Clarke (Klockworks/Blackaxon) + Katiusha 11pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £5adv £7dr Sunday April 23 Elvis 6.30pm - The Castle Inn, Swindon Bloodstock: Metal to the Masses 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Daniel O’Donnell In Concert 7.30pm - New Theatre, Oxford Duenna 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon Monday April 24 Ben Poole 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford Tuesday April 25 Frankie Ballard 7pm - O2 Academy 2, Oxford Yamato Drummers 7.30pm - New Theatre, Oxford Future Perfect presents Hannah Lou Clark + guests 7.30pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford £7 Staircase 11 present Discography with Keep On + Iskander + Monotreme/ Real Vita 11pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £4 Wednesday April 26 Jake Isaac 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford JAWS 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford While She Sleeps + In Hearts Wake + Fizzy Blood

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Gig List 7pm - O2 Academy 2, Oxford

8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

Jordan Herbert + Wednesday’s Wolves + Martha Bailey 7.30pm - The Jericho Tavern, Oxford

Jamie R Hawkins 9pm - The Bug and Spider, Calne

Crohns and Colitis Charity Gig Trampolene + Sisteray + Frank Fraize + Macca McCarthy 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon

Rockabilly Rumble 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon The Ultimate Band 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

Leigh Chambers 8pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

Tropicle Popsicle 11pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

Open Mic + Special Guest 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury

Dutty Moonshine + Catjam + Rob Why? 10pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Frewin Court, Oxford £6adv £8dr

Future Perfect presents Spectres + guests 7pm to 10pm - Cellar Bar, Oxford £6 Thursday April 27 Retrograde - house/techno/dub/disco 10.30pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £5 Friday April 28 Lowws EP Launch 7pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford One Vibe presents Nicky Blackmarket + Local Soul 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Tinariwen + Art Theefe 7pm - O2 Academy, Oxford

Paxton 9pm - The Music Box, Salisbury Sabbotage 8pm - The Victoria, Swindon Ulysses + B-Side The A-Side 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon 70s Night 9pm - The Locomotive, Swindon Killertones 8.30pm - The Lamb Inn, Marlborough Kok Rok 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon

Saturday April 29 Devizes Guitar Fest & Luthier Fair 2017 10am - R&B Bar @ Devizes Sports Club

RAWDIO presents Natty Dub Takeover Saxxon + T>I + Cabin Fever + JAXX 11pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford

Chasing Daylight + Earinade + Ben Champion + Cora Pearl 6.30pm - O2 Academy 2, Oxford

Sunday April 30 Big Beat Little Feet: Kid Carpet’s Super Mega Rockin’ Rock Show 3pm - Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury

Jamie R Hawkins + Phil Cooper 9pm - The Rose And Crown, Warminster Punkolympia present The Corsairs + Ghoul + Violent Chimes + Compulsory Primal Response 10.30pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £7

One Of Us (ABBA Tribute) 6.30pm - The Castle Inn, Swindon Harry Pane + James Foley + Mark Sullivan 7.30pm - The Mad Hatter, Oxford

Move - UK Bass 11pm to 3am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £6

Troy Ellis 8pm -Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

Rat Boy 6.30pm - O2 Academy, Oxford

Haxan 9pm - Groves Company Inn, Swindon

Real Ale and Music Festival 8pm - The Winchester Gate, Salisbury

You’ve Got a Friend - The Music of James Taylor and Carole King 7.45pm - Corn Exchange, Newbury

Last Call 9pm - The Rolleston, Swindon

Sheer Music Presents - Chris T-T 20th Anniversary Best Of Tour 8pm - Trowbridge Town Hall, Trowbridge

Gappy Tooth Presents - Rats Eat Rats + Manu Louis + Death of the Maiden 8pm - The Wheatsheaf, Oxford

The Soul Strutters

DJ Prodigy + DJ Rainbow + Simon

Kadia - Bar Gig 7.30pm - Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot Chris Jagger & Kronies 8pm - ACE Space, Newbury

Simple feat. Call Super 9pm - The Bullingdon, Oxford May Day Rave Night - LUV*JAM+ Ed Steele+ Super Sharp Suiter Special Guest 11pm to 5am - Cellar Bar, Oxford £6

CalneFest announce Space as headliners for 2017 One of Wiltshire’s most popular small town festivals, CalneFest, have announced 90’s Britpop sensations Space as their main stage headliner for this year’s event.

Space rose to prominence in the mid-90s following the release of their seminal album Spiders, which peaked at number five in the UK album charts and featured the huge hits, Female of the Species, Neighbourhood and Me and You Versus the World.

CalneFest organisers are rightly thrilled Space will be joining the party on June 3, with more yet to be announced. There is still the ever popular dance tent acts to be announced as well as a slew of top local acts. Super advance tickets are still available via the CalneFest social media channels or by heading to SeeTickets. Or you could just head to the event website: www.calnefest.co.uk

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Agony Girl Nine year old Annabel is looking forward to the Easter Holidays. But she’s still had time to answer your problems. We ask her the questions and these are her answers.... honest!

Dear Annabel, I stupidly just put all my life savings on a horse and lost it all. How do I explain this to my wife?

Greg, Swindon I thought it would win the race and it was a nice horse and I thought it was really fast but it wasn’t actually.

Dear Annabel, What do you get if you cross a sheep with a kangaroo?

Bucko, Oxford A kanga sheep. I just found a marshmallow!

Dear Annabel, If I catch the 3.45pm train from Oxford but it has to make five stops and then gets delayed coming into London by an hour and I paid almost £80 for my ticket, why on earth didn’t I drive in the first place?

Steve, Witney Because you wanted to take a train and it would be quicker.

Dear Annabel, I think wolves get a bad rap. They’re just big fluffy dogs who like to hunt in packs to kill their prey in one of the most violent scenes that nature has to offer.

What do you think?

Shaz, Chippenham

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I think they’re adorable. Well they don’t bite your face off unless you mess with one of their pack or the leader of the pack. So you shouldn’t stroke it. I’d like one as a pet if we raised it from a cub but I would prefer a tiger which I would call Tess.

Dear Annabel, Can I borrow a Phillips screwdriver off you?

Gilbert, Wootton Bassett Not even sure if we have one. Second of all I’m not giving stuff away. Third of all I’m nine!

Dear Annabel, What’s your favourite type of fruit?

Sarah, Marlborough That would be an apple and a pineapple. Apples live in trees so pineapples must come from pinetrees and they’ve these little leaves on and are yummy, yummy, yummy.

Write into Annabel at editorial@theocelot.co.uk

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