Reviews, thoughts and ideas on music, movies and more
When it was announced that St James was staging a pirate themed ska party featuring well known Guernsey based band The Honest Crooks and visiting octet Slim Pickings, 'complete with pirate ship,' I expected maybe a few Jolly Rogers and some inventive fancy dress. Upon arriving at the venue on Saturday night though, less than... Continue Reading →
With festival season fast approaching three bands, BlackTopTales, Blue Mountains and JD & Folk, took over The Lion's Den upstairs room at The Golden Lion for a bit of an unofficial warm up for this year's Sark Folk Festival that happens at the beginning of July. Country influenced duo JD & Folk started the night... Continue Reading →
The last time The Fermain Tavern changed hands it was marked with a full refit for Guernsey longest running live music venue and a launch show featuring 70s British R'n'B legend Wilko Johnson. This time things have been less obvious, externally, but nonetheless, following a a few big name dance events this line up, featuring... Continue Reading →
After seeing punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls at Troxy in London last October I have now finally completed my collection of their records (at least as far as I'm likely to given the rarity of their self titled debut EP) with A Is For Accident. For clarity this is the version currently available from... Continue Reading →
The last year and half has seen the The Cor Damme Lars build a solid reputation for themselves on Guernsey's music scene, first as a trio and then really hitting their stride as a five piece with bass (Tom Bradshaw) and drums (Andy Nicholson) added to their mandolin (Gemma Honey), violin (Sarah Van Vlymen), accordion... Continue Reading →
For the fifth year in a row BBC Music Introducing was represented with a stage at Guernsey Arts Commission's Arts Sunday event. Matching the growing scope of BBC Music Introducing in the Channel Islands the stage featured five acts including performers from Guernsey, Jersey and Sark across the day. The day began in relaxed form... Continue Reading →
Barely a year and a half since their first show, at the 2018 Vale Earth Fair Unplugged event, The Cor Damme Lars launched their debut album, Tangled Lies, with a show at The Mariners Inn on The Bridge. Before they hit the stage though Dave 'Duke' Etherington (aka Ten Toe Hobo) kicked off proceedings with a... Continue Reading →
This throwback to January 2009 looks at another of the Free Range Music series of shows including a selection of acoustic artists and an early outing for The Coalbox Generals... Over the past few months the Free Range Music brand, spear-headed by tonight’s headliner Jamie-Lee, has welcomed styles of music crossing all genres to its... Continue Reading →
May 2019 has been a varied one musically for me but has been highlighted by a trio of what could be called comeback albums. First came The Wildhearts' Renaissance Men that saw the unlikeliest band of 90s Britrock survivors unleash possibly their best album in two decades. Then German rockers Rammstein emerged from a decade... Continue Reading →
