Psychedelic pop king Anton Barbeau is back in the UK and set to play at his “local’’ the Beehive in Swindon.

He’s teaming up with fellow Californian band, The Laughing Corners, for the gig in Old Town on Friday, September 16.

The singer/songwriter with a penchant for XTC and Swindon is no stranger to the West Country, performing in Old Town regularly.

He has supported his musical hero Julian Cope and played with Stornoway, Weezer, Nick Saloman from The Bevis Frond and last year he was filmed working with XTC’s Colin Moulding in Swindon.

Anton, whose sister is the actress Adrienne Barbeau, wrote a song about Swindon.

He said: “The song, Swindon, is a catchy little thing, a bit of a kiss on the lips for one of my favourite micro-cosmic wifi hotspots. It is a love song (with vampires).’’

Anton wrote one of the songs on Corner Laughers’ fourth album, Matilda Effect. 

The band’s name came from the lead singer Karla Kane’s visit to Venice. 
“We were on a ferry, some people were standing in a corner laughing at some other people. We came up with the phrase The Corner Laughers - a kind of watching the world go by or sitting at the back of the class laughing behind your hands,’’ she said.

The Swindon gig at the bottom of Prospect Hill is free entry and starts at 8.30pm. Call 01793 523187.