Sounds Around Town with Dave Franklin (From Swindon Advertiser)

Sounds Around Town with Dave Franklin

11:57am Thursday 18th February 2010 in

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I thought a good way of putting this column to even further use promoting the local music community would be to shine a spotlight on some of the venues that I mention regularly. First up The Beehive.

Situated in the back streets of Old Town and possessing the charm of a quirky country pub, The ‘Hive has long been a Mecca for eclectic and original music.

Although limited in space from a performance point of view, it nevertheless draws everything from new, young, local bands, to national touring acts and even bands from as far away as the United States and Eastern Europe.

It also has a wonderful genre hopping attitude that means that you can expect everything from rock to bluegrass, folk to progressive and even electronica, latin and acoustic acts.

Being a pub first and foremost and a music venue second, in many ways it gives you the best of both worlds, find out more about this cultural oasis at www.bee-hive.co.uk Tonight is very much aimed at the rock element, beginning with Fury UK at the 12 Bar. This young and widely respected hard rock band have been heralded as being purveyors of “future classics”. They are joined by hard hitting classic rockers Nightvision and Swindon’s own sleaze outfit The Love Rockets.

To compete with this Bodyglass will be subjecting the Victoria to some raw, funk edged rock vibes. I remember seeing these guys a number of times in their previous incarnation and if their work back then is anything to go on this will be a great show. Support comes from Billyjon, this time expanded to a duo with the additional guitar skills of Ben Morris and opening the show is the rather wonderful sound of Zoe Mead. If her music was any more chilled the council would have to grit it at night.

The Rolleston gets in on the act too with Dead By Friday? (and not a day too soon, if the name has anything to go on) and Lydia Twenty. To counter all of these raucous shenanigans are Good Things Happen in Bad Towns, whose violin lit, folk-country goodness will be soothing and amazing The Beehive in equal measure.

There is even Showaddywaddy at the Arts Centre, but why would you?

When I first saw the Disco Pirates, I have to say they didn’t leave a great impression on me, but sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time. Having caught them a year or so later I found that their mix of funky grooves, street soul vibes and an eclectic indie, hit home as if they were a totally different band. Check them out at the Rolleston on Friday with support from the Melo-D’s.

Those looking for a touch of culture will find harpist Claire Jones presenting works by Bach, Tchaikovsky and de Falla as well as her own compositions at the Art Centre.

Riffs Bar stays with the hard and heavy theme with I-Defy dishing out technical and brutal yet melodic sounds, which coupled with a high octane live performance will appeal to any rock fan worth their salt (rock salt?) If classic punk is more to your tastes then Sex Pistols tribute, Pretty Vacant are at the Vic.

Saturday is normally the day when things settle down into safer territory and there is no exception to this at the 12 Bar when The one and only Chesney Hawkes (did you see what I did there?) will be playing a selection of his hit (the missing s is deliberate!). Gaz Brookfield is also on the bill.

Other options for the night’s entertainment are White Room, a tribute to Joe Bonamassa (don’t worry, I had to Google him as well!) at the Rolleston and club nights delivering reggae at the Victoria and 80s music at Riffs Bar.

The week bows out with the quite brilliant Mestizo Blues Collective playing Chicago style….well blues obviously, at the Beehive on Wednesday and Young Bands Night at Riffs Bar featuring The Fixed.

And that’s your lot.