Bands play in tribute day to John Peel

8:10pm Sunday 12th October 2008

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By James Wallin »

A SHOWCASE of Swindon’s musical talent was held in the town centre in memory of the late BBC Radio One DJ, John Peel.

The fourth John Peel Day to be held in the town was also the biggest, with seven of Swindon’s brightest bands taking to the stage in Wharf Green to entertain fans, onlookers and curious shoppers.

Saturday’s event, which in previous years has been held at the Victoria pub in Old Town, was organised by Play Dead Events, in collaboration with Frequency and inSwindon.

Organisers estimated that more than 2,000 people stopped to watch the bands throughout the day. The line up was The Alfonz, The Divebomb Revolution, The Kulucci March, Jeff Like Usual, Strange Little Girl, 2 Sick Monkeys and The Minnesota Twins.

Steve Causer, from Frequency, said the event was a great way to use Wharf Green.

He said: “It allows for a really mixed bag of people watching and a very different audience from the ones many of these bands are used to playing to.

“We’ve had a lot of people pass by on their way to the shops having a look at what’s going on, who then came back later to watch some of the show.

“It’s a great opportunity to give a platform to some really talented local acts.”

Rich Craven, who started the John Peel Days in Swindon and who compered Saturday’s event, said he was very confident about the music scene in Swindon.

He said: “I think the line up today shows what a lot of talent we have got here. It’s been a while since a band from Swindon really broke into the mainstream – XTC were probably the last one – and you get the feeling that the time is right.

“I think in the next year or two one of the acts from Swindon is really going to break through. I’m not sure who it will be, so it will be very interesting to watch what happens.”

Watching the show with a group of friends was 19-year-old Eli Kilford, from Stratton.

He said: “There’s a good atmosphere and I’m really impressed by the standard of the bands.

“Most of it’s not really my kind of music, but if it’s free you can’t really complain, can you?

“I think it’s good to promote local bands like this because if they were playing in a pub you might not choose to see them but if you’re walking past and you like what you hear you’ll remember the name and look out for them.”

Theresa Williams, 49, from Walcot, was one of those passing by.

She said: “It’s nice to have some entertainment in the town centre. My daughter has been here today and she’s really keen on it because she’s not old enough to go to gigs yet.

“There’s a lot of young people here and I think it’s good for them to have something like this to look forward to.”