AUGUST 2014 YOUR ONE STOP GUIDE TO THE BEST MUSIC IN EXETER, PLYMOUTH & THE DEVON AREA!
DEVON
MUSIC
THE SATURDAYS
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WELCOME IN EXETER, PLYMO
DEVON
ONE STOP GUIDE AUGUST 2014 YOUR
TO THE BEST MUSIC
MUSIC THE SATURDAYS
UTH & THE DEVON
AREA!
S OFFICIAL TICKET OUTLET
667080 Box Office - 01392
w w w. s e e t i c ke t s .
com
BELLOWHEAd alestorm
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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ROCK ‘N’ ROLL BAR & DINER
Your venue here? Email
w w w. d e
sales@ phmusicmedi
von-music.com
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a.co.uk or call us free
on 0808 147 1106
g /d e vo n m u s i c m aag @de von mus icm
Thanks for picking up the August 2014 issue of Devon Music Magazine and the last of our festival specials. This month we head to Cornwall for a look at Looe Festival. Also this month we catch up with pop superstars The Saturdays ahead of their UK tour, we chat to the 22 legged folk beast that is Bellowhead who are due to play Plymouth Pavilions later this year and we meet local heroes Cambion who we’re expecting very big things for in 2014. All this plus festival previews and event announcements for all of the best venues in the Devon area. Oh, and a chance to win tickets to Looe Festival or an Alestorm: Piratefest show of your choosing!
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For news submissions and editorial enquiries email info@devon-music.com If you are interested in advertising with us email sales@phmusicmedia.co.uk or call us free on 0808 147 1106
/devonmusicmag @DevonMusicMag
FEATURE
Looe Music Festival is set in a dramatic, magical location and promises to end the season with a bang. For three days in September the town of Looe in South East Cornwall gets hit with big music, manic entertainment and a smattering of culture for good measure. The festival pops up from nowhere to transform the beach and the streets, giving locals & visitors from all over the world a chance to enjoy the show. Almost every corner of the Cornish fishing port is the venue and everyone’s welcome to join the party! You won’t find lazy, Sunday summer grooves at Looe Music Festival. Expect an eclectic mix of high energy ‘keep you on the move’ music, delivered back-to-back from either end of the beach and around the harbour plus acts in every bar and restaurant. It’s a grown-up festival in a stunning location with the main stage right on the beach and music on every corner of the beautiful town’s quirky cobbled streets. Festival goers can expect the cultural smash of Glastonbury and the community feel of a village fayre. And you don’t even have to camp, unless you want to, with a range of quality local hotel and holiday cottage accommodation on offer, as well as a natural bounty of fresh Cornish food and drink to enjoy in Looe’s cafes and restaurants. Visit for the day or stay all weekend. When you’re done dancing holes in the sand, you can stroll back to your holiday cottage, hotel, B&B, caravan or grab a shuttle bus to the local campsites.
devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
LOOE FESTIVAL
FEATURE “Looe is about real music with real power – and musical credibility. It’s about having a damn good time, listening to inspiring music, in a magical location.” says Event Director Tanya Brittain. “From the main stage set right on the beach to the tiny acoustic gatherings within the town’s pubs and on the streets, the buzz is tremendous … music rings out from every pore of every corner. Our headline performers have often been seen roaming the streets with everyone else, enjoying the performances and soaking up the friendly Cornish atmosphere.” Some of the previous acts to have performed at this fab little festy include The Stranglers, The Darkness and the inimitable Chas n Dave. Here’s what they have to say about their time down on the beach….. “The fantastic location on the beach and the warmth of the organisers and huge crowd who stuck it out made it a very memorable occasion...God knows what it would’ve been like in more clement weather! I’d love to come back and find out...” - Baz, The Stranglers “Looe Music Festival - a beautiful place and beautiful people. The Darkness thank you all! Rock on” - The Darkness “What a great time we had at Looe! The Oompah Band with us at the finale was magic” - Chas & Dave And this year’s festival looks set to host their best line up to date. The weekend of 19th – 21st September 2014 sees 90 bands from all genres belting out from stages and set-ups all over the town. Acid jazz and funk pioneers the Brand New Heavies will be headlining on the Friday, with cool-for-cats Squeeze lined up for Saturday and hard core post punk troubadour Frank Turner closing the show on the Sunday (more from him in a moment!). They will be joined by rock-grass hillbillies Hayseed Dixie, Scottish bagpipe-rock band Red Hot Chilli Pipers, superbike champ turned power rocker Toseland, acoustic duo Winter Mountain, The Selecter, The Lambrettas and O’Hooley and Tidow as well as bands and collectives from all over Cornwall, the UK and the world.
devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
LOOE FESTIVAL
A LOOK AT THE HEADLINERS THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES - Pioneers of the London Acid Jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies translated their love for the funk grooves of the ‘70s into a sophisticated sound that carried the torch for classic soul in an era dominated by Hip-Hop. Formed in 1985 by drummer/keyboardist Jan Kincaid, guitarist Simon Bartholomew, and bassist/keyboardist Andrew Levy - longtime school friends from London - The Brand New Heavies were originally an instrumental unit inspired by the James Brown and Meters records its members heard while clubbing the rare groove scene in vogue at the time. The trio soon began recording their own music, gaining enormous exposure when their demo tracks were spun at the influential Cat in the Hat Club. Eventually adding a brass section, the Brand New Heavies built a cult following throughout the London club circuit. Hand-picked N’dea Davenport was brought into the band to add her inimitable vocals and the Heavies scored hits with “Dream Come True” and “Stay This Way” and the single “Never Stop” soon landed on the American R&B charts, with the Heavies the first British group to accomplish such a feat with a debut single since Soul II Soul several years earlier. A subsequent New York performance augmented by rappers Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) and MC Serch (3rd Bass) inspired the group to begin absorbing Hip-Hop, and that summer they cut “Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1”, an album including guest appearances by rappers including Main Source, Gang Starr, Grand Puba, and the Pharcyde. 1994’s Brother Sister, which went platinum in Britain and subsequent greatest hits albums have been joyously received over the past few years making them the go-to band for funky soul vibes. We know that the Heavies will have the whole of Looe grooving on down this summer and keep that party going throughout Friday night. FRANK TURNER - It is almost a decade since Frank Turner went solo following the demise of Million Dead, the hardcore quartet he fronted. In that time, he has been on a constant upward curve, its momentum propelled forward by a mixture of Turner’s force of will and his effortless craft of song. Each record now brings with it new landmarks for the 32-year-old from Hampshire. His fourth album, 2011’s England Keep My Bones, sold more than 100,000 copies and entered the UK Charts at number 12. Its success raised questions for the singer. “It made me think about where I’m starting and where I’m heading,” he says. “It made me wonder if I could continue as a musician with integrity influenced by punk rock whilst doing arena tours. The answer I concluded is yes, obviously.” Its follow-up, last year’s Tape Deck Heart, brought more questions, if only because it has ushered in a new level of success. Many of Tape Deck Heart’s songs were born out of a painful split “the album is about unexpected change and a big part of it is relationships ending,” says Frank, but conversely it has proved to be the most triumphant release of his career. So far, it has sold 200,000 copies. It entered the UK Charts at Number 2 and the iTunes Charts at Number 1. Five singles have been released from the record, each underlining Turner’s arrival as a crossover DIY star, marked by his ability to step neatly over genres and play all kinds of festival, from the likes of Sonisphere to Looe. “I’m very excited to be heading back to Cornwall, it’s important to me to hit every corner of the country! I’m sure Looe will be awesome” – and we’re sure you will be awesome too, Frank! SQUEEZE - It’s 1973 in South London. Teenage friends Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook form the band that will see them dubbed ‘The New Lennon and McCartney’. Over 35 years later, with their legacy intact and as vital as it has ever been, Squeeze are still touring and reminding fans worldwide just why they have left such an indelible impression on the UK’s music scene. It was second album ‘Cool For Cats’, released in 1979, which cemented their place as one of Britain’s most important young bands. Featuring the classic single ‘Up The Junction’ as well as the title track, it was many listeners’ first introduction to the witty kitchen-sink lyricism and new-wave guitar music that has become the band’s trademark. Squeeze’s contribution to music has been well and truly noted. In 2010 the site of their first ever gig was awarded a prestigious PRS For Music Heritage Plaque. It joins an ever-increasing list of Squeeze accolades alongside their recent Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and their Nordoff-Robbins Icon Award. Chris Difford’s lyrics and Glenn Tilbrook’s music have survived everything over the years, from the ever-changing musical landscape to their own internal reshuffles and acrimonious breakups - but Squeeze is here to stay, still going strong and still loving every moment. “I’m really looking forward to playing at the Looe Music Festival. It’s a wonderful line up and a great location. The West country is often left out of touring schedules so to see we are playing at the festival brightened up my day…..” says Chris.
Words: Zan Lawther
Full price 3-day 2014 tickets are an incredibly priced £67.50 for adults, £18.50 for under 18’s and under 5’s go free. Day tickets are £35. For more information, see www.looemusic.co.uk fo llow @L o o e m u s i cf e s t or fin d t h e fe st iva l on w w w.facebook.com/l ooemusi c
devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
LOOE FESTIVAL
FEATURE
After their special sell-out 10th Anniversary shows at The Royal Albert Hall and Manchester Bridgewater Hall, award-winning big band Bellowhead are continuing the celebrations with a whole heap of festival shows this summer and their biggest ever UK tour in November. Since they got together in 2004, Bellowhead have occupied a unique place in Britain’s musical landscape: a blistering 11-piece band fusing folk, funk, rock, world, jazz, music hall and classical music, they have placed themselves at the cutting edge of the contemporary music scene while
harnessing all the power and mystery of English and European musical traditions. Their most recent album ‘Broadside’ careered into the album charts at number 16, spawned 3 play-listed singles on BBC Radio 2 and was voted ‘Best Album’ atthe 2013 Folk Awards. But while their recorded exploits have gone from strength to strength, it’s their explosive, spectacular and theatrical live shows that win the most acclaim. 5-times winner of ‘Best Live Band’ at the Radio 2 Awards, Bellowhead have transported folk music into hitherto unknown territory and spearheaded the new folk boom. They are “the greatest live act in Britain” says BBC Radio 2’s Simon Mayo and the hordes of fans that treat every gig as a party clearly agree.
Where did the band name come from? The bellow bit is from the bellows part of an odeon, a small accordion and lots of famous English bands have ‘head’ at the end of their name - Radiohead, Portishead etc, so we thought we’d do the same.
What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t in a band? I like writing...music books mostly, so probably more of that. Or just somehow becoming incredibly rich, sitting by a pool somewhere drinking gin for the rest of my life.
You have a rather unusually large number of band members, do you find this makes writing a more difficult process, or does it make it easier having so many creative minds and ideas? It’s not been a problem so far, there is no treading on toes. It’s been very beneficial to have 11 minds. We don’t all sit in a room and jam together though typically - usually one member has an idea, brings it to the rest of us and we tweak it, adding our own ideas till everyone is happy. We do get together and rehearse whenever we can but not that often as we are scattered all over the UK so we tend to do things electronically.
What is it do you think that has aided the longevity of the band? 10 years is a rare accomplishment in itself. Partly that there are so many of us, so there are so many creative ideas. If one person dries up there is someone else to take their place. We’ve got a momentum going - we’re still progressing as a band, playing bigger and bigger shows, and making a good enough living from it. The novelty and uniqueness of what we’re doing helps too I think - there’s a current thirst for non-manufactured music, and there’s an integrity and history to our music.
Your 10th anniversary album ‘Revival’ is out at the end of June, what can we expect? Well it’s a continuation of our work from the last 10 years - it’s traditional, English music. We’ve been chewing it up and spitting it out and seeing what happens. We’ve recorded this new album in a slightly different way - writing and working from home before sending ideas out to everyone else to work on, and we had Rupert Christie on board to produce, which is a new relationship for us. It’s traditionally Bellowhead but fresh sounding. Looking at your tour dates you have some great festival appearances coming up as well, what do you look forward to most about festivals? It gives us the chance to see other bands because when we’re touring we often don’t get to watch other bands. At festivals we can. You get to see some beautiful places too; at Wickerman Festival in Scotland for example you are surrounded by stunning scenery that just adds to the experience. Those are the benefits of playing festivals. Any you’re especially looking forward to? I’m looking forward to CarFest. It’s a return visit as we played last year as well. It’s a Radio 1 sponsored event run by Chris Evans for Children in Need. It’s really cool - great music and vintage vehicles, and Chris usually around jollying everyone on. Plus the southern location is practically on my doorstep in the hamlet next door to where I live [Laverstock, Hampshire for anyone who’s interested - Ed].
DEVON MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
What’s the ultimate band goal, or do you think you’ve already achieved it? I don’t think we could ever achieve it. I don’t think any band ever does really. I’d love a guest slot on The Muppets though, that’s one of my ultimate goals. I’m a massive Muppets fan and that would be truly next level. You know you’ve really made it if you’re on The Muppets. If another band were to cover one of your songs which one would you like it to be, and which band would cover it? Would like to hear a glam rock or prog band doing folk and covering some of the new material on the album, so Queen. Would love to hear Freddie doing one of our songs. Perhaps Bryan May could take the fiddle solo on electric guitar. Tell our readers why they should come to one of your upcoming shows. Because it’s great fun, a party. We have a party on stage every night and the audience always join in. And everyone leaves with a big smile on their face! WORDS ZAN LAWTHER
UPCOMING SHOWS
8th August – BoomTown Fair 16th August – Beautiful Days Festival 17th August – Wickham Festival 14th November – Yeovil Westlands 16th November – Plymouth Pavilions
BELLOWHEAD
COMPETITION
Brand New Heavies, Frank Turner and Squeeze headline this year’s Looe Festival; showcasing just what a diverse event it is, something for all tastes on the beautiful Cornish coast. You and a pal could bag some tickets by answering this simple question...
Q: James Toseland is bringing his own brand of rock to Looe Festival but, until recently, what was he better known for? Email your answer to: competitions@devon-music.com or send us a direct message via Twitter or facebook. Competition closes 31/08/14 /devonmusicmag @D e v o n M u s i c M a g
devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
LOOE FESTIVAL
FEATURE
Undoubtedly one of the biggest girl bands in the UK, the multimillion selling pop group, are now set to continue their remarkable run of success since forming in 2008. Last year the girls signed a deal with Mercury / Island Def Jam in the US and spent six months travelling back and forth from London, L.A. and New York to film the E! reality TV series ‘Chasing The Saturdays’ which debuted on both sides of the Atlantic earlier this year and is now transmitting around the world from Europe to Asia. Mollie, Vanessa, Una, Rochelle and Frankie are currently completing their fifth album release on which they have worked with some stellar names from Rodney Jerkins [Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston] to Diane Warren [Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Jessie J, Aerosmith). The album will be released this autumn. But not happy to wait around until then they’ve bucked all trends by releasing their Greatest Hits album whilst arguably at the height of their career. And now they’re off on tour, hitting the UK with their very own slice of feel good pop party fun. We were lucky enough to grab a few minutes with the fabulous (and really rather lovely) Frankie to talk all things tour, babies and what’s in line for the Saturdays in the future… This is the first time you girls have been on tour since 2011, what can we expect? Well, we’ve been desperate to get on tour for ages so we’re really excited. We hope it’s going to be one big party for everyone, being that it’s our greatest hits, so it’ll be song after song that everyone knows with fantastic costumes and the whole lot. Hopefully it’ll be a great big celebration of seven years of The Saturdays. Speaking of costumes, have you got those all picked out yet? Not yet – but we’re dying to start working on them and see what’s gonna happen. Do you all have different tastes? Are there ever disagreements about what you should wear? Yeah we do but I think we’re really lucky to all be able to find things that suit our styles individually whilst coming together as a group. Like, I’m not much of a sparkly girl, I don’t want glitter and sequins but they look so great under the lights.
devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
I suppose it’s hard to look over-dressed on stage though isn’t it? You need to be attention grabbing… Oh I’d always rather be under-dressed but yeah, it’s fun to dress up and it looks great on stage. You have had so many singles. How did you choose which ones you wanted on the album? We were really lucky cos we managed to get them all on! It’s great because we had the perfect number for an album so we’re really happy. Do you hope the album release and tour might send one of the singles back into the charts? Ooooh….I don’t know! I haven’t thought about that! Well, we’ve got another album planned for later in the year and there are more singles scheduled for release too so we’re all looking forward to those, but yeah, it would be kinda nice if one of the old ones got back into the charts.
THE SATURDAYS
FEATURE You’ve said before that no one tells the band what to do and that all of you are very different but are always yourselves. Do you think the live shows give fans a better view of all your personalities? I hope so. I think although we do a lot of dance routines and it’s such a big production, we do get a say in it all and we get to talk to the audience in between the songs. We all have different personalities so hopefully that comes across. Do you have to script what you say on stage? We try not to script it too much although we do have to sit down and work out who speaks when and between which song, otherwise you end up with all five of us yabbering away at the crowd all at the same time! When you’re on tour do you have any really specific requirements or any diva demands? Oh we are SO boring! Sometimes we have cheese, that’s quite nice… and we always ask for lemon and honey backstage. We always ask for our catering to be healthy but the crew are always surrounding us with cakes, sweets and bad things so it’s hard to stay away from the doughnuts but other than that, we’re really boring and don’t make any ridiculous demands. We don’t even have any alcohol on our rider! So you don’t request a room full of fluffy white kittens at each venue? Oh no! Maybe we should! Maybe we should ask for something totally ridiculous and see if anyone actually did it! Some of you have kids now, are they coming with you on tour? We were talking about that the other day and we suddenly realised they’ll all be too tired to stay up late and watch the actual show, so they’re all coming to the big dress rehearsal we’ll have before we leave. And then they’ll be there for parts of the tour.
Devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
Is it difficult to balance your new home life with being a pop star? Yes and no. I mean, we’ve always worked hard to balance our home lives but we’re really lucky with the kids cos they can come to work with us. Haha, it used to be dogs and now it’s babies! We’ve just stepped it up a notch! Are we going to see any special guests on tour? I don’t know. It would be wicked to have Sean Paul come out and do his rap in ‘What About Us’ wouldn’t it? But nothing’s been decided yet so you’ll have to wait and see. Watch this space. There are rumours that this is the last outing for The Saturdays, is there any truth to that? I think those rumours come with the territory of a greatest hits album. Like I said earlier, we’ve got more singles and another album planned so there’s plenty more to come from us. You’re not getting rid of us that easy! We’re about to hit festival season good and proper. Do you girls like playing festivals? We love them. We’ve played loads, Oxygen in Ireland and last year we headlined V Festival, although I was far too fat and pregnant to do it but the girls had a great time. There’s always the worry that we’re too pop and no one will come to see us but the tent is always rammed and people just dance and sing along. I think it’s nice to have a break from it all really and to have different things to do. Are you sticking in the UK for this tour or are there plans to take it abroad? We’re staying in the UK this time. There’s nothing better than doing it here so we’re sticking with that. We can’t wait. Words: Zan Lawther
CATCH THE SATURDAYS AT plymouth pavilions on september 23
THE SATURDAYS
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Thirst
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1 The White Rabbit 2 The Hub 3 Club Envy 4 Pavillions
5 Plymouth Uni 6 Tiki Bar 7 Thirst 8 Last Shop Standing
Exeter
1 The Phoenix
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4 The Corn Exchange 5 Mama Stones 6 Exeter Cathedral 7 Exeter Great Hall
COMPETITION
Pioneers of Pirate Metal and scourge of the seven seas, ALESTORM are bringing their Piratefest and a motley crew of pirate/celtic/folkfueled metal bands to Devon this October, they will be in Plymouth on the 13th and Exeter on the 22nd. We have a pair of tickets for both up for grabs, simply send us your answer to the question below with your preferred city and ye could be in with a chance, yarrrrr!
Q: Alestorm band leader Chris Bowes has a fantasypowermetal side-project, what is this band called? Email your answer to: competitions@devon-music.com or send us a direct message via Twitter or facebook. Competition closes 31/08/14 /devonmusicmag @D e v o n M u s i c M a g
devon MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
alestorm
FESTIVAL ROUND UP
D E V O N
MUSIC
The rise of the festival scene has a lot to answer for: fashionable wellingtons, the ever increasing popularity of the onesie, flowery tents with flowery head-banded occupants and all manner of alcoholic beverages you can now buy in a bag! Summer may be winding down now but there are still a good few festies left for all tastes...
When is it? 28th – 30th August When is it? So where is it? 15th – 17th August Fernhill Farm, Bristol So where is it?
When is it? 22nd – 25th August So where is it? Wadebridge, Cornwall What’s it all about?
The 42nd Cornwall Folk Festival takes place over the August bank holiday Escot Park, Devon with lots of live artists, plus workshops From the makers of 2000trees and dance sets. The festival takes place at various venues in Wadebridge and What’s it all about? and GocStock, ArcTanGent is a offers street entertainment and friendly new independent festival coming atmosphere, real ales in the local bars Beautiful Days was born in 2003 and to a field near Bristol & Bath. and a variety of folk styles as well as an boasts a whopping six stages plus a Incorporating two nights camping, array of local bands and Cornish music. children’s area in the centre of the festival four stages and over 70 bands & DJs All that plus a full weekend of street for toddlers through to teens, walkabout it’s the UK’s only festival dedicated to entertainment, workshops, children’s events, concerts, folk clubs, ceilidhs, theatre, site art installations, comedy, the very best music from the worlds Cajun dances and free sessions are on theatre, family camping, food & craft stalls, of math-rock, post-rock and noise offer. healing area, play areas and real ale bars rock. So who’s playing? run by Otter Brewery. What more could you ask for? So who’s playing? Patron Wizz Jones, with Flossie Malavialle, Jez Lowe, Wizz Jones, Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, Mike Silver, So who’s playing? Mono, Russian Circles, This Will Geoff Lakeman, The Roving Crows, Destroy You, Jamie Lenman, Andy Clarke & Steve Tyler, Steve Hunt Steve Earle & The Dukes, Seasick Steve, Maybeshewill, Tall Ships, Lite, I Like & Neil Davey, Buffalo Bill’s Bluesband, Levellers, Jimmy Cliff, Dead Kennedys, Trains, Crippled Black Phoenix, God Lucy Smith, Jess Handley, Jonah’s Lift, Exmoor Do Dah Band, Tori Reed, Diana Tinariwen, Bellowhead, Carolina is an Astronaut, 100 Onces, Hark, Johnstone, The Stowes, Dave Bradders Chocolate Drops, The Bad Shepherds, Karhide, Luo, Human Pyramid, Bluesinger, Liz Crow, Doxies, Figurehead, Steeleye Span, Courtney Pine, La Chiva Astrohenge, Fen and returning to the Lorraine Rooke, Malcolm Pinch, Tin Taxi, Gantiva, Seth Lakeman, Stanton Warriors, festival from last year, get there on Andrew Bellamy, Riverstone, Skylark, Matrix & Futurebound, Adrian Sherwood, Thursday to see Baby Godzilla, TTNG, Moxx Music, Sam Fearon, The Rocking Drumsound & Bassline Smith, Mad Three Trapped Tigers, Nordic Giants, Horses, Castletown, Lee Rahn, Taking the Piskies, Kevin Taylor, Steam Rocket, Professor, Bronzehead, Moody Boyz, The Physics House Band, And So I John Thorpe, Terry Gosden Emily Simian Frenzy, Mr Nice, Elle & The Pocket Watch You From Afar and others Howard, The Shipwrecks, Rob Bolsolver, Saffron Maids, Border Morris Ros Keltek, Belles and loads more and Cat’s Eye Morris, and more yet to be How much? announced. How much? £70 for the weekend with an How much? Adult weekend with camping £130, 5 – extra £16.50 to include Thursday’s A weekend ticket will set you back £75 10’s £30 and under 5’s for only £5 festivities – under 10’s go free and includes camping What’s it all about?
www.beautifuldays.org
DEVON MUSIC |august 2014
www.arctangent.co.uk
www.cornwallfolkfestival.com
festival round up
When is it? 4th – 7th September When is it? 29th to 31st August So where is it? Bicton College, Budleigh Salterton What’s it all about? The 2nd annual Bicton Fest is back in the stunning grounds of Bicton College in East Devon and this year there’s an extra day! The intimate, one day event will showcase not only the best of Devon’s musical talent but also some of the hottest up and coming unsigned acts across the UK. So who’s playing? Luke Friend, Mad Dog Mcrea, Adam Isaac Band, Wille & The Bandits, N.U.M.B, The Simmertones, Tourists, Sound of The Sirens, Hysteria, Vince Freeman, Chris Woods Groove, Jay Tamkin, Richard James, Celine Dos Santos, Charlotte Ward, Josh Sargeant, Harry Vinnicombe, To The Sun, Hot Dub Bikini Party, Jonah Hitchins Band, Matthew & Me, Carnivala, Roger Styles, Jess McAllister, Clara Bond, Polly Money Music, Alex Gregory, and more to be confirmed. How much? A weekend ticket will set you back £55 and day tickets are also available www.bictonfest.info
So where is it?
When is it? 13th to 27th September So where is it?
Robin Hill, Isle of Wight
Various venues around St Ives
What’s it all about?
What’s it all about?
Like a million amazing Saturday nights packed into four mind blowing days, Bestival is the award winning boutique music festival born out of ten fun years of pioneering music events and record releases from Rob da Bank’s Sunday Best empire. Including all kinds of music, performance, art, crafts, films and entertainment as well as a boutique campsite experience, Bollywood Cocktail Bar, Wishing Tree Stage, fancy dress en mass and even a Swamp Shack
This multi-cultural arts extravaganza features not only some brilliant live bands but also arts workshops and classes, arts exhibitions, talks, walks, theatre, comedy, films, cabaret, street entertainment, poetry, and many other events. As well as Open Studios, where local artists open their workspaces to the public in order to feature their work in art, ceramics, textiles and glass; there will also be an art exhibition in the St Ives School of Painting and ceramic pit firing on Porthmeor Beach.
So who’s playing? This year’s immense line up includes Outkast, Foals, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Beck, Disclosure, Paloma Faith, Busta Rhymes, Basement Jaxx, The Cuban Brothers, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Wild Beasts, Catfish & the Bottlemen with DJ sets from Rob da Bank, Chase n Status, Annie Mac, Andy C, Wilkinson, Zane Lowe and loads more there’s something for everyone at Bestival How much? A weekend ticket will set you back £195 for an adult (Thursday entry) or £127 for a teen ticket (13 - 17). Kids under 12 go FREE! www.bestival.net
So who’s playing? Steve Knightley - Tue 16 September St Ives Theatre Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders - Fri 19 September - Guildhall The Producers Blues Band and Kent Duchaine - Sat 20 September Guildhall Fisherman’s Friends - Wed 24 September - Guildhall Kernow King - Thu 25 September Guildhall The South - Fri 26 September Guildhall Hawkwind - Sat 27 September Guildhall How much? Ticket prices vary depending upon event, from £20 to £22.50. www.stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk
DEVON MUSIC |august 2014
festival round up
AUGUST
17 - William Control + Ashestoangels + Bad Pollyanna 25 - KARMA TO BURN (USA) + DESERT STORM (UK) + SUPPORT 30 - RESTLESS (neo-rockabilly legends) + BLACK DIAMONDS
SEPTEMBER 19 - STARS IN THEIR EYES: PLYMOUTH - Featuring: 30 -
The Lounge Kittens, Violent Virtues as Whitechapel & many more! Blitz kids
OCTOBER 24513 29 31 -
DRAGONFORCE ASTPAI + DESPITE EVERYTHING KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES ALESTORM + LAGERstein + RED RUM + RAINBOWDRAGONEYES ANAAL NATHRAKH plus special guests Sikth + heart of a coward + idiom
NOVEMBER
7 - MAD SIN (GERMAN PSYCHOBILLY HEROES) + THE EYELIDS & BREAKOUT 28 - HACktivist + DEAD harts + the one hundred www.facebook.com/rabbitgigs
WHITE RABBIT | BRETONSIDE BUS STATION | PLYMOUTH | PL4 0BG
previews UK alt-rockers with a twist
Deadly hooks, dirty riffs and great big singalong choruses abound when UK rockers LostAlone roll into town. One of the best rock and roll outfits on the live circuit today their Queen style harmonies fuse together with the ferocious bite of metal to bring you an all out rock show that’ll leave you begging for more. FOR FANS OF: GERARD WAY / FVK / MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
FIONA BEVAN
AUG 19 | STARZ BAR, EXETER
AUG 18 | TIKI BAR, PLYMOUTH Bewitching singer songwriter
Bevan plays guitar, violin, double bass, accordion, and harp, and even adds the occasional whistle of birdsong. Holding everything together is her extraordinary, sweet voice, as unique and distinctive as her mop of peroxide curls. Having worked with Ed Sheeran and co-written a Number 1 single of One Direction, she knows her way around a good and catchy song. FOR FANS OF: KATE BUSH / ERYKAH BADU / LIANNE LA HAVAS
Piratefest - need we say more?
It’s heavy metal mixed with pirates. Sounds great right? RIGHT! Grab your bottle of rum, raise that fist in the air and rejoice with Alestorm and their fiddle-infused Scottish power metal. Blending cheery folk music with the relentless pounding of drums and wailing guitars sounds like it shouldn’t work but if you like jumping around and shouting, then this is definitely the pit for you to be in. FOR FANS OF: TURISAS / SABATON / AMON AMARTH
THE TREATMENT
LOSTALONE
ALESTORM
OCT 13 | WHITE RABBIT OCT 22 | LEMON GROVE
Sleazy rock n rollers
All aboard the dirty, sleazy rock n roll train! Not so new kids on the rock-block, The Treatment are back, bringing you their own brand of filthy riffs and churning rhythms. Formed in 2008 when most of the band weren’t even old enough to legally drink in pubs, they’ve matured over the past 6 years into the behemoth of RAWK you now see before you.
FOR FANS OF: BLACK SPIDERS / THE ANSWER / AC/DC OCT 21 | THE CAVERN Mellow and heartfelt acoustic folk BILLY LOCKETT
Despite his crazy hair and young looks, Lockett is a polished and slick performer, ready to use his powerfully profound lyrics and enchanting vocals to keep you mesmorised. The stunning piano and guitar player is winning over fans such as Fearne Cotton and Greg James, in addition to being uploaded twice to the BBC Introducing playlist. A true charmer with a uniquely hypnotising voice. FOR FANS OF: BEN HOWARD / DAMIEN RICE / JOHN LEGEND
DEVON MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
NOV 04 | THE CAVERN
previews
previews THE RIFLES
Indie rock n rollers
With heavy brit pop influences and a Jam-like swagger, The Rifles burst onto the scene in 2003. There’s a boyish playfulness to their tunes guaranteed to get your toe tapping and your shoulders swaying. Now firm favourites in the indie scene we defy you not to enjoy their easy rhythms and catchy melodies.
NOV 11| LEMON GROVE
FOR FANS OF: THE COURTENEERS / THE PIGEON DETECTIVES
Feisty blues rockers
2014 looks set to be another stellar year in the meteoric rise of Band of Skulls. With Sonisphere and Glastonbury performances under their belts and Reading still to come, we’re sure we’re not alone in our excitement for their sexy, bluesy alt-rock sounds. Layered chugging guitar riffs join simple yet searing vocals to give the whole combination a slightly grubby tone, just on the right side of filthy. FOR FANS OF: BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB / THE RACONTEURS
PASSENGER
NOV 12 | LEMON GROVE
Redifining the troubadour for the 21st century
Formerly a five-piece band, Passenger has now pared back to basics, quite literally bringing music to the streets on a series of lengthy busking journeys across Australia, America and the United Kingdom. A classic journeyman musician, cut from the same mould as Van Morrison, Neil Young and John Prine, Passenger has the unique ability to move from the humorous to heartbreaking with every song.
NOV 13 | PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS A melee of British folk
FOR FANS OF: LUMINEERS / MUMFORD & SONS / ED SHEERAN
With a massive 11 band members, Bellowhead founders John Spiers and Jon Boden sure have succeeded in their mission to find a bigger sound for English folk music. With an unprecedented mix of brass and strings they’re breaking the boundaries of tradition and the result is a collective sound which you can’t help but dance around to. Uplifting and smile inducing, don’t hold back! FOR FANS OF: FAIRPORT CONVENTION / SHOW OF HANDS
THE BLOCKHEADS
BAND OF SKULLS
BELLOWHEAD
NOV 16 | PLYMOUTH PAVILIONSHitting us with their rhythm sticks!
Rarely seen since the demise of Ian Drury in 2000, the band which brought the nation the hits ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ and ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll’ will be touring again with frontman Derek Hussey. Relentless pop and funk that you won’t be able to resist dancing to will undoubtedly fill the setlist and singing along is nothing other than mandatory!
NOV 23 | CORN EXCHANGE
DEVON MUSIC | AUGUST 2014
FOR FANS OF: THE BAD SHEPHERDS / EDDIE & THE HOTRODS
previews
ones to watch
Cambion have been making a name for themselves in the metal world since forming in Exeter in 2009. So far they’ve been lucky enough to play up and down the UK and across Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Scar Symmetry, Circle of Contempt, Evile, Sacred Mother tongue, Breed 77, and touring with Chris Jericho’s band, Fozzy. Metal Hammer described them as sounding like ”Meshuggah and Fear Factory at war in space” after featuring two tracks on a covermount cd, and we’d be inclined to agree. They’ve graced the stages of Bloodstock and Tech fest and won best breakthrough act at The Southwest music awards and they’re not done yet. With a whole heap of festival appearances this summer and new recordings about to drop we caught up with the guys to find out a little bit more about Devon’s metal heroes….. So, who are you and what do you all do in the band? We are Cambion, Elliott, on guitar/vocals// Marc on guitars// Jonny Walker on bass// Frank Dennis on drums. How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before? It’s definitely metal, and it’s definitely technical. With a driving beat that holds up unique riffs, solos and melodies. Who are your biggest influences? All together we take influence from bands such as Meshuggah, Sikth, Tesseract, Monuments, Gojira, that kinda thing!
How did you all get together as a band? Elliott formed the band when he was 14, under a different name. We have been Cambion since about 2009, with a line up change here and there, Marc joining over a year ago, and Jonny about 6 months ago. We advertised online for a new guitarist and Marc applied, nearly didn’t as he thought a reply email from us was from someone dodgy! Jonny has known Marc for a few years, as they were in another band together before. Frank just appeared! What have you got lined up for 2014? We have some exciting festivals still to do this year. Such as Bloodstock on the Sophie Lancaster stage, Mammoth Fest, and the Rock and Metal Circus. We are also re-releasing the Virus EP with 2 brand new tracks on, along with a video. Talks of a tour towards the end of the year, currently we’re finishing up writing for our album to be released in 2015. What are you guys doing when you’re not being Cambion? There’s not a lot of time off from being Cambion! Elliott is always coming up with new riffs etc! In our other lives we all have jobs! Elliott- I’m a freelance sound engineer, Marc- I like to surf, watch documentaries when not working away making Dentures! Jonny– I’m a Carpenter, also like to Surf. Frank – I’m a self-employed builder (who likes burgers!) If you could go on tour with anyone, who would it be? A tour with Tesseract would be superlative! Also Monuments and Sikth! Where do you see Cambion in five years’ time? A few albums out by then, a lot more of what we love which is touring, especially more of Europe, and hopefully much more! Finally, why should we come check out your live shows? Because we can guarantee you an intriguing show that we work so hard to perfect and keep your heads banging and your minds on edge. Words: Zan Lawther
Catch them live at Bloodstock 2014 – 08 August Zombie Halloween Ball, Exeter Lemon Grove – 31 October www.facebook.com/CAMBIONOFFICIAL
Devon MUSIC | august 2014
cambion