Feel good at festival

THE rock star roar of Howling Wolf led a trio of Canvey Island skiffle musicians to change direction and form rhythm and blues giants Dr Feelgood.

They became the pub rock stars of the 1970s whose hits Roxette, Back In The Night, Milk and Alcohol and See You Later Alligator all made it into the UK charts and this weekend they are back in action headlining the Lechlade Music Festival.

Today’s line-up is Kevin Morris on drums and Phil Mitchell on bass, Steve Walwyn took up guitar duties 26 years ago and Robert Kane, formerly of The Animals, joined in 1999.

They will be rocking out at the family-friendly festival kicking off today and running until Sunday at the Riverside Park, next to the River Thames.

The festival kicks off tonight with Tribute Night organised by Lechlade’s own David Seaton Music Associates, which features Modraphenia, Abba Arrival and Not The Rolling Stones.

The young ones are not forgotten at the festival with a disco and party games along with a babysitting service until midnight.

There is a new dance zone this year hosted by Helsinki-V and the London Sound Academy featuring Nasinook, and Kasey Riot aka Cellar Door.

The mod band The Lambrettas take centre stage on Saturday and the other headliners at the festival are The Hoosiers, who are Alphonso Raymond Sharland on drums and Irwin Nathaniel Sparkes, lead singer and guitarist.

The guys name Swindon’s own rock stars XTC as one of their inspirations, and the Brit award winners went on to notch up hits with Goodbye Mr A, Worried About Ray and Choices.

Alongside the music the festival has workshops, storytelling, circus skills, stalls, food outlets, stands such as the Wildlife Trust, rides and games for the young ones.

Students from St Lawrence School in Lechlade open the festival and coming all the way from Brooklyn in New York are Gentleman Brawlers playing alongside local bands and acts from all over the UK.

For tickets or more more details visit http://www.lechladefestival.co.uk — FLICKY HARRISON

Clowning around with the Bard

SUPER Hamlet 64: Parody DLC will be at Swindon’s Shoebox Theatre tomorrow.

Armed with an ocarina, a ukulele and a thirst for revenge, Lecoq trained Edward Day battles four decades of videogame nostalgia, in an explosion of Shakespeare, live music, and projection mapped, 16 bit ridiculousness.

Exploring our workaholic culture and addiction to technology, Hamlet drives himself to the brink of sanity in an unending quest to kill his uncle and win at life.

Edward will also be running workshops in Clowning with Shakespeare.

Mixing techniques from Paris’s Ecole Jacques Lecoq with traditional approaches to Shakespeare he’ll play with spontaneity, idiocy, ignorance, arrogance, and taking things to extremes.

There are two performances tomorrow at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £10.

To book, visit shoeboxtheatre.org.uk.

Ony here for the beer

FANCY a run? Fancy a beer? Why not combine the two at this year’s Wanborough Beer Race?

The race starts at 12.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday and will take you round the village’s finest hostelries.

Runners need to go to The Plough at noon to register. Entry is £6 per person. Fancy dress is optional. Cheers!