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CAMBRIDGE
Simon Baker
Gig of the Month: SPARKLEHORSE (The Junction – 10th)
Mark and his merry troupe bring their luscious take on indie and alt country to the Junction for the first time.
Also recommended #1: The Fever + Support (The Portland Arms - 16th)
Playing the Portland as part of their first UK tour, New York's The Fever play a venue that they will surely outgrow in the next couple of months. "Their set gives new meaning to being painfully in awe, but it's okay. It's soul, it's garage, it's loud and it's rock n'roll. It's high-energy, it's fun, and it's damn near brilliant!"
Also recommended #2: Torqamada + My Hi-Fi Sister (The Boat Race - June 12th)
Scottish rock pigs play with support from ex-members of Miss Black America (Neil and Mickey).
Other gigs: Big D and the Kids Table - Junction (25th), Mu-Ziq - Boat race (19th), Tribute to Nothing - Boat Race (10th), Cerys Matthews - Junction(24th), Kid606 - Boat Race (24th), Ulrich Schnauss - Portland Arms (4th).
DERBY
Kate Price
Gig of The Month: DEAD BY DAWN + THE REMOVALS + THE NEXT AUTUMN SOUNDTRACK (Raffles - 28th)
Yet another infamous alldayer showcase with some of the best new bands in Derby, headlined by city favourite metallers Dead By Dawn and hardcore kidz The Removals.
Also Recommended #1: Adom + Komakino + Pressure (Vic Inn - 17th)
New rock kids on the scene, Adom are causing a bit of a buzz at the moment and teamed with the citys favourite pretty indie boys, Komakino, could well be worth checking out.
Also Recommended #2: Twinkie (Vic Inn - 5th)
Unhinged and ever-so-slightly psychadelic music craziness from the daddy of cool music in Derby.
Other Gigs: Battleska +Fallout40 - Vic Inn (20th), Longview - Vic Inn (25th), Jesse James (Vic Inn - 25th).
ESSEX
Colin Weston
Gig of The Month: KINESIS, WINNEBAGO DEAL & SMOTHER (COLCHESTER SOUNDHOUSE - 9th)
The boys from Bolton are back and with superb backing. A real 'don't miss this' moment.
Also Recommended #1: Nerf Herder + No Comply (Colchester Soundhouse - 19th)
US punkers famed for their Buffy title music but have so much more. Check this out!
Also Recommended #2: Biffy Clyro (Colchester Arts Centre - 11th)
The Scots rockers raid Colchester and we will be waiting!
Other Gigs: Tuuli - Colchester Soundhouse (5th), Blueprint - Harlow Square (6th), Skindred - Colchester Soundhouse (11th), Capdown - Harlow Square (19th), Kournakova + The Vaults - Colchester Soundhouse (24th), Lightyear - Harlow Square (27th)
ISLE OF WIGHT
Steve Gray
Gigs of The Month: FUCK THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL – Thoria + Kody + Tuesday (Royal Squadron – 13th), Gutworm + I-def-I – (Royal Squadron – 14th), Midnight Creeps (Royal Squadron – 19th), The Relatives (Royal Squadron – 20th), SK8 punk gig, acts TBC (Royal Squadron – 21st)
Series of gigs put together by the main venue on the IOW, a kind of middle finger to the ‘big’ festival that appears to ignore any local talent in favour of Bryan Adams. I know which festival I would rather attend!
Also Recommended #1: Monkey Boy (Royal Squadron – 27th)
Those all singing, all bass playing boys return with new tracks and a new member.
Also Recommended #2: Jets vs. Sharks + Day of The Fight + Neglected Youth + Last Kiss + Chillerton + Awkward Silence + Ones and Zeros (All Dayer, Royal Squadron – 7th).
All day action with a feast of local talent.
Other Gigs: Paul Weller + Starsailor + Iggy Pop + John Squire + The Cooper Temple Clause + The Thrills – Seaclose Park, Newport (The Isle of Wight Festival – 14th), Bryan Adams + Counting Crows + Hell Is For Heroes + The Darkness + The Raveonettes + The Basement – Seaclose Park, Newport (The Isle of Wight Festival – 15th).
MANCHESTER
Raziq Rauf
Gigs of The Month: DEFTONES (4th) & QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (20th) (both Apollo)
My 2 favourite bands in the world still knocking about bring the metal and the desert rock respectively to Manchester Village.
Also Recommended #1: AIM (Ritz - 15th)
10man lofi hiphop combo come back to do their only Northern date of this tour in their home
Also Recommended #2: Fu Manchu (Uni A2 - 6th)
More superheavy desert rock in the heavier than QotSA mould.
Other Gigs: AFI - Uni A1 (7th), Biffy Clyro - Uni A3 (8th), Jason Mraz [check out the cool name!!] - Uni A3 (8th), Span/Crackout - Roadhouse (15th), Bon Jovi - Old Trafford (26th).
NOTTINGHAM
Dom Gourlay
Gig of The Month: MCLUSKY + CORRIGAN (The Rescue Rooms -
1st June)
Fresh from releasing their tribute to the most miserable Scot in Manchester, Mclusky bring their unmistakeable brand of quirky noise pop to Nottingham's newest venue.
Also Recommended #1: Fosca + The Liberty Ship + The Hellfire Sermons (Junktion 7 - 21st June)
Do Something Pretty fanzine sponsored night, featuring a host of bands plus a rare DJ-ing appearance by Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch. Any bets on which Field Mice songs he'll play?
Also Recommended #2: The Androids + The Koreans
(Rock City - 23rd June)
Having done it with Madonna for the past month, The Androids are now doing it with The Koreans - should make interesting viewing, me thinks...
Other Gigs:IKON - Junktion 7 (3rd), OK GO + MEW - The Rescue Rooms (7th), THE RELATIVES - The Mill, Mansfield (7th), BUGEYE + CLOSER - Junktion 7 (7th), ERASE ERRATA + EX-MODELS - The Rescue Rooms (13th), SALOON - The Rescue Rooms (15th), FOUR DAY HOMBRE - Junktion 7 (19th), THE CLIENT + VIC TWENTY - The Rescue Rooms (23rd), BURNING BRIDES + CAT ON FORM - The Rescue Rooms (24th), LONGVIEW - The Mill, Mansfield (26th),
PLYMOUTH
Ollie Appleby
Gig of The Month: RECTAL HEAMORRHAGE + OUR GLORIOUS DEAD + GRINDALVALD + GRENOFEN/TOURIST (The Phoenix - 12th)
Following The Phoenix rising from the ashes and reopening just in time for June, Plymouth's heavest come out to play to bring a little darkness to the summer nights. think Devon's all about crappy surf-rock and poor Hundred Reasons rip offs? try telling it to these harsh fellows, it'll only cost you £1 anyway.
Also Recommended: The Alaska Tour Transgression + Days In December with local supports Orca + Mockin Grin (The Phoenix - 28th)
The 2nd UK tour date from New Jersey's Transgression drops into Plymouth at the end of the month with local support, hold on to your emo asses, emo ass holders.
Other Gigs: Brat + Twinfast + Murdock - The Phoenix (4th), Bedroom Project + The Headplug + Mockin Grin + Twinfast C103/The Street (5th), Berkeley + Closer + Heads on Stix - The Phoenix (13th), Twinfast - The Cooperage (19th), Orca - Plympton Megabowl (20th), Uncle Brian + Mr Zippy - The Phoenix (23rd), Bint + Rectal Heamorrhage + Blast Furnace + Few Against Many - The Phoenix (27th).
PORTSMOUTH
Steve Gray
Gig of The Month: LAPUS LINGUAE + BECOMES THE DEATH OF WATER (The Horseshoe – 3rd)
Lapsus Linguae bring their moody atmospherics combined with harmonic discord laced with post punk aggression to a very intimate venue. This is going to be in your face…literally!
Also Recommended #1: The Kills (Wedgewood Rooms – 12th)
Stripped down guitar and vocal action from this raw duo.
Also Recommended #2: Reuben + Thirst (Bandstand – 21st)
FREE gig on the seafront, the mighty Reuben supported by local heroes Thirst.
Other Gigs: Thirst – Wedgewood Rooms (acoustic show – 1st), The Rimshots – Bandstand (Free – 1st), The Starting Line + From Autumn To Ashes + The Reunion Show – Wedgewood Rooms (3rd), Murderdolls – Wedgewood Rooms (4th), Sink To Sleep + Silent Demise + Waiting For Rain + Outoutout – Horseshoe (4th), Sikth + Hopesfall + Murder One – Wedgewood Rooms (5th), Terry Shulman – The Barn, Milton (5th), Gemstone Matrix + Conspiracy Theory + Birthstone – Portchester Community Centre (6th), Day Of The Fight + Jets vs. Sharks + Chillerton + Rydell + Odd-Man-Out – Wedgewood Rooms (8th), Kelly Joe Phelps + Reconsider – Bandstand (8th), Aubrey Lemmon + Tom Kelsall – Edge of The Wedge (10th), Serena Jane Moore – The Barn, Milton (12th), Neglected Youth – Horseshoe (14th), Kathryn Tickell + Mary Jane – Bandstand (Free – 15th), Morgan Heritage + The Wisdon Band – Wedgewood Rooms (18th), Aynsley Lister – South Parade Pier (19th), Sean Virdine and Swampfyre – Bandstand (Free – 22nd), Sparta – Wedgewood Rooms (26th), The Hideaways – The Barn, Milton (26th), 2 Tonic + The Mighty Snortin Powder Rangers – Wedgewood Rooms (27th), Binary Nation 8 featuring Halucagen + Blue Tuesday + They Wait – Wedgewood Rooms (28th), 3 Men Black (Pauline Black, Nick welsh, JJ Burnel, Jake Burns) – Bandstand (Free – 29th), Sugarcult + Motion City Soundtrack – Wedgewood Rooms (30th).
SHEFFIELD
Kate Price
Gig of The Month: THE ANDROIDS + THE KOREANS (Leadmill - 25th)
Ok, ok, you all know about the Androids yadda yadda do it with Madonna blah blah and y'know they're gonna be fun and it's all gonna be lighthearted and smiley. What you might not know is that the support band, The Koreans are fucking excellent. We love them, we're even putting out their single and we think you should definately see them on their first major tour - even if just so you can be smug about it when they get huge.
Also Recommended #1: Jet (Leadmill - 7nd)
Jet seem to be on the tip of every tongue "in-the-know" right now. Rivals for the Datsuns and every other Stooges/Ramones inspired band causing a stir of late, what have Jet got that's unique?
Also Recommended #2: Cursive + Fosca (Casbah - 16rd)
The Casbah is the best ROCK venue in Sheffield; FACT, and Cursive ROCK. Perfection!
Other Gigs: Tommy Binks - Grapes (4th), Bhuna + The Sound - Deep End (5th), Elviss - Fuzz Club (5th), OK:GO - Leadmill (8th), The Kills - Leadmill (14th), The Coral - Leadmill (18th), Felony 7 + FiLo Radio - Casbah (19th), 3 Stages of Pain - Corperation (20th), Cosmic Rough Riders - Leadmill (21st), Monkey Bou - Casbah (23rd), Anthrax - Leadmill (30th).
SOUTHAMPTON
Steve Gray
Gig of The Month: Evolution 2003 Featuring SKINDREAD + THROUGH SILENCE + SHELLSHOCK + PROJECT ABNER (Joiners Arms – 15th)
New breed of metal tour featuring over 20 bands, The Joiners gets the infectious ragga metal of Skindred ably assisted by some upcoming heavy talent. Great way to get to see some new bands.
Also Recommended #1: Da Skywalkers (Joiners Arms – 19th)
Household Name types with some sing along street punk and hardcore.
Also Recommended #2: Mark Gardener + Goldrush (Joiners Arms – 9th)
Ex – Ride man teams up with those gentle Goldrush folks.
Other Gigs: Hope Of The States – Joiners Arms (1st), Aura Sun – Joiners Arms (4th), Blue Oyster Cult – The Brook (5th), Acid Mothers & Temple Soul Collective – Joiners Arms (6th), Aynsley Lister – The Brook (7th), Clean – Joiners Arms (8th), Simple Plan – Power Road show (8th), Tony Hadley – Guildhall (9th), Sonic Underground + Engine – Joiners Arms (18th), NRA + Oil – King Alfred’s (18th), Thirst – Joiners Arms (26th), Landmarq – The Brook (26th).
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