Wednesday 31 July 2013

The Hideaway Festival - 3rd August 2013


The Silver Rays @ The Hideaway Festival - Henley-On-Thames, United KingdomThe Hideaway Music Festival on August 3rd is set within the private grounds of Fawley Hill an estate owned by Sir William McAlpine since 1960.  

Iron-Henge-Edit-1Fawley Hill is the unique vision of someone who is passionate about his hobbies.  A full scale steam railway sweeps past the main house and around the beautiful grounds that are also an impressive animal sanctuary with over 20 different exotic species living happily side by side.


Carrying on in that tradition The Hidden Music Festival is now bringing a hint of the exotic with their eclectic line-up.  It's an outstanding opportunity to catch acts that you wouldn't normally see anywhere other than a festival with such a unique ethos.

OtwayBarrett1They are striving to present an exclusive experience with music ranging from the sublimely surreal John Otway to the explosive groove of The Blockheads accompanied by many other first class acts of varying genres.
There will be several excellent food outlets covering the healthy options as well as a curry house and BBQ’s all washed down by great real ales and a full bar.
Kids are welcome and under 12’s are free so there will be attractions and activities to keep them happy all day.  There will also be several shopping opportunities with different stalls selling their wares.

This is the first year for Hideaway and therefore a great opportunity to be part of the experience from the very beginning.  From little acorns mighty Oaks grow they say, so get along there and be part of something new and special with The Hideaway Festival!



Tickets for this year’s Hideaway festival on August 3rd are on sale now through our secure ticketing system.

£35.00 per ticket plus booking fee. £40 per ticket on the gate.
Under 12′s admission free
Camping will be £5.00 per person payable on the day.
Free parking.
By clicking on the button you’ll be connected to Ticketline’s secure booking system.
BUY TICKETS NOW


THE BLOCKHEADS

blockheadsThere’s no doubting that the most lovable, eccentric, cocky, funny, schoolboy-rude and artful characters from the punk generation are The Blockheads. Together with Ian Dury they created songs that were clever, insightful, subversive and more often than not, just plain fun. 


Clever Trevor(sic), Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3, What A Waste and, the anthem for their generation, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, all carried the same trademark mark mix of humour, indignation, wonderfully witty wordplay and extreme musicianship.
They created their own genre from a previously untried potpourri of funk, punk and English music hall.
Dury may no longer be with us but The Blockheads – celebrating their 35thAnniversary last year – remain one of the hardest working groups to have emerged from the decade that gave us some of the most exciting and original music since the birth of rock and roll.
The Blockheads have proved that there is life after Ian.


LAID BLAK

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Created through the partnership of Bristol producer DJ Bunjy and MC Joe Peng, these two veterans of the jungle scene earned their stripes rocking the biggest sessions through the 90′s rave scene. As they’ve grown, their musical direction took a course that led them to seek out some of Bristol’s finest musicians.
MC Joe Peng shares front of stage with the vocal rocket launcher that is Flex. He has the voice and stage presence to grab any audience and devour them. The live set is centred in urban reggae, but touches on jazz, funk, soul and hip -hop. No one ever forgets a Laid Blak performance; the charisma of the vocalists and the musical dexterity of the band leave a lasting impression. This is dance music aimed at getting you moving. The ‘good vibes’ shine through all the songs and they always steal the show at festivals, one review noting them as ‘the essential festival band’.


THE SILVER RAYS

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The Silver Rays slice through the swampy roots of blues and soul, and dance with the raunch ridden shores of rock and roll.


JOHN OTWAY  & WILD WILLY BARRET

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The British Isles has a reputation for producing eccentrics and the musical world has its fair share. Among such a crew, John Otway must surely stand out as one of the best.
First coming to the attention of the public with the song Really Free in 1977, this proved his only bona fide chart hit until Bunsen Burner was released in 2002. A fan-based campaign boosted the single into the charts, enabling Otway to, legitimately, release Greatest Hits compilation. He has, over the course of his career, played on the underdog persona and even called his autobiography Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure. 


However, to his fans, he is anything but and Otway’s live appearances not only reveal the depth of his comedic talent but also a musical one. Among his stage props is a double guitar, which is hinged in the middle, making it two individual instruments. Otway plays each side, both right and left-handed, a very clever achievement. It is on stage that Otway really shines, whether alone, backed by his guitarist of many years, Wild Willy Barrett or with a full band. He regularly injures himself, particularly when performing the song Headbutts which involves clouting himself with the microphone, often drawing blood. Never one to be predictable, Otway continues to tour and his solid fanbase belies this self-confessed failure persona.


THE DROP

The_DropThe Drop are a nine-piece band that formed in London at the start of 2009. They play reggae of their own kind; heavy and melodic, with recognizable songs and hooks. In the first year they formed they were welcomed onto the UK festival circuit and have been playing regular gigs around the country since then. 



They wake up any crowd with their sound, pricking the ears with infectious melodies, and moving the body with deep bass-lines and grooves. Added to this are the unmistakable voice and lyrics of their singer Dandelion.
With their first album in the pipeline they have already received radio play by David Rodigan MBE on Kiss fm, and on BBC Radio 1. They have supported acts such as Toots and the Maytals, Lee Perry, Zion Train, Don Letts, The Dub Pistols, and were main support for The Skints on their sell- out full UK tour, 2012. Their festival appearances include Glastonbury, Soundwave (Croatia), Secret Garden Party and Boomtown Fair to name a few.


MEGAN HENWOOD

MEGAN_HENWOODMegan has become a regular on the festival circuit; Glastonbury, Cropredy, The Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party to name a few. She has also played support slots around the UK with Ray Davies, Cara Dillon, Julie Fowlis and Eilen Jewell. plus a UK theatre tour supporting Eric Bibb. More recently she played a string of shows with her band in London which were reviewed enthusiastically by many, including the Guardian. She is also a regular at her local Nettlebed Folk Club.

Megan is clearly rooted in the folk tradition but is by no means bound by it. Her songs have a timeless and universal radio-friendly appeal. Her powerful, poignant and often witty lyrics are woven around wonderful timeless pop melodies and demonstrate a depth and maturity far beyond her years. Here is a truly talented British singer-songwriter with a long and fruitful career ahead of her.


VOODOO FUNK COLLECTIVE

HIDEAWAY STAGE

HIP BONE SLIM

Hipbone Slim and the Knee Tremblers play proper rock n roll! Their set features a mixture of rock n roll, rockabilly, surf, rhythm n blues, beat and garage. They have released 5 albums, and never short of new ideas, the band haS three more albums on the way, and play a set of nearly entirely original compositions. Their music has been described as ‘scarily authentic’ and live shows ‘totally bonkers’!

NUBIYAN TWIST

NUBIYAN_TWISTNubiyan Twist play an upbeat blend of groove driven music with a powerful horn section, soulful female vocals/mc’ing, live dubs/ electronics, turntablism and an explosive rhythm section stretching from Brazil to the UK.


DOLLY AND THE CLOTHESPEGS


VIENNA DITTO

VIENNA_DITTOVienna Ditto got together at the beginning of 2009, bonded by a love of dirty Chicago blues, dark psychedelia and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. A hastily-recorded demo from their second rehearsal was picked by Linda Serck on BBC Berks and ended up being played on Huw Stephen’s Radio One show.


MELLOR

Mellor22011 saw the birth of ‘Mellor,’ the Reading four-piece quickly bringing their dynamic mix of anthem-worthy Pop Smack and nostalgic jive appeal to their ever growing fan base. Catching the eye of BBC Introducing after just one gig, shared stages with  The Kooks, Pete Doherty, KT Tunstall & The Milk. In June 2012, Mellor released their debut single ‘Catch Me Girl’ to 5 Star online reviews.


OFF THE RADAR

OFF THE RADAR
Melodic UK three-piece rock band based around Reading, Watlington, and Henley. Third album, 12 Shots From the Coffee Shop, has just been released.

TOM MICHELL TRIO

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A rockin’ Rhythm & Blues, 3 piece band. With awesome bass thunder provided by Pete Thomas and infectious grooves from Tom Sibly.

ACOUSTIC STAGE

NO DIRECTION

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The World’s Worst Boy Band (average age 53).
Providing a scintillating and eclectic (as well as acloustic) selection of tunes and melodies unlike any other band! An off shoot from Sam Browns ‘Fabulous Ukulele Club’, the ‘boys’ have gone from strength to strength where their sense of humour, which is definitely required at this musical level, entertains as much as the well known songs they murder.
From Motorhead to Boney-M, if you’re looking for something different … you’ve found it.

SEB PIPER

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Seb is probably the best blues piano player in the country. He is a local musician with a wide appeal. Come and enjoy his unique style…if we can get his piano on stage!



MO EVANS

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The latest in a local musical dynasty, Joe Brown’s grandson Mo Evans is a young talented singer song-writer guitarist, who if his clips on You Tube are typical, is constantly surrounded by pretty blondes. He spontaneously came up to the mic at the Hideaway busking session/ticket booth in Henley a couple of weeks ago and sang to the crowd. We had no hesitation in signing him up for Hideaway immediately. Come and see why.

ANTIX

antix 3
Rumbold for Antix are a 5 piece melodic rap band with an urban attitude, fronted by the charismatic Rumbold. His motto (and the title of his album) is Question Everything. Born in Britain to Jordanian and Australian parents, Rumbold has a unique perspective on life which is reflected in the band’s music. He is not afraid to address the important issues, but from a humane perspective. Come, listen and open your mind.

THE HERBERTS

the herberts
Fresh from Caversham Festival, The Herberts are William Trevelyan (Vocals, guitar), Leo Magill (Harmonica, percussion, sound bowl, guitar) and Anna Winslet (vocals), playing a unique blend of ‘folk-soul’. Lovely chill out tunes.

CHARLIE DORE WITH JULIAN LITTMAN AND SPECIAL GUEST SAM BROWN

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We are pleased to welcome Charlie and John Littman with special guest Sam Brown to Hideaway!
Best known as one of the UK’s most respected singer-songwriters, Charlie’s 2011 album,’Cheapskate Lullabyes’, won the Indie Acoustic Project’s awards for Best Lyrics. It’s an eclectic collection of genre-defying musical styles she describes as ‘borrowed from folk, country, Django Reinhardt and the Beatles’.
She has made six albums of her own songs, including ‘Sleep All Day’ and ‘Cuckoo Hill’, which saw a return to her acoustic folk-country roots and won the International Acoustic Music Awards Grand Prize and the Folk 1st prize for “Looking For My Own Lone Ranger”.
Her enduring radio classic, ‘Pilot of the Airwaves’ and US hit was the first of many successful songs that lead the way for an impressively diverse list of artists to record her material, including Tina Turner, George Harrison, Lisa Stansfield, Paul Carrack, Ricky Ross, Sheena Easton, Celine Dion, UB40 and Jimmy Nail, for whom she wrote “Ain’t No Doubt”, a UK No 1.

ANDY MALLEN

Uncategorisable. Irreverant. Witty. Andy is well-recognised around the Henley area but less known perhaps as the writer and musical talent behind the show (yet to reach the west end, Jews in Space). Singer, songwriter, comedian with something perceptive to say. Enjoy!

ADRIAN LOVE

Singer-songwriter guitarist Adrian Love has possibly the most velvety toned voice at the festival and will probably be crowned the best singer of the night. Come to the acoustic tent and make up your own mind.

FRANKIE JACK

Frankie is known as a guitarist and singer who performs the most outrageous and theatrical covers around. Combined with lots of banter, this will be a sure-fire crowd pleaser!

R.A.N

rans
R.A.N is a modern day storyteller rising up out of the South of England. His versatility as singer and songwriter has allowed him to fuse lyrics to musical projects that span across several different genres. Years have passed since his burgeoning love of rhythm and sound first collided with his strength of writing, but this union still fuels the depth and unique style that stand behind his work today.

Sunday 28 July 2013


OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans, the higher you go.....

So tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....






Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....











Snippet aka Johnno Casson is the quintessential English musician.  Prolific, diverse, entertaining, clever, wistful and whimsical (no more so on his recently released mini-album 'DIY' and the track 'Let's Talk About Us' on which he comments on his winkle - and he isn't introducing us to his pet mollusc Brian).  




No 2..... Lost Podenco 


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When Ralph heard his man in Scotland Malcolm Parry was heading to Ibiza for a holiday he couldn't resist getting him to interview Liverpool born singer/songwriter Phil Dobie aka Lost Podenco who's been kenneled on 'The White Island' these last six years. 








No 3..... The Bedroom Hour



Ralph's sent his intrepid reporter Malcolm Parry out into the wilds - yes Bathgate no less - to bring you a live review of The Bedroom Hour, and this time he's come back with a corker.  The night was originally advertised as three bands, unfortunately the opening act from Fife - Calm As The Colour had to cancel, but never mind they still had Somerset's indie rockers The Darlingtons 







No 4..... Clockwork Noise


Ralph's nipped over the Irish Sea to check out Clockwork Noise as they've recently released an album 'Whethermachines' and it ticks all the boxes. Clockwork Noise are Blathnaid Healy on violins, cellos and vocals - Dylan Nolan on Bass and Vocals - Michael Fenton- Drums and Vocals - Robert Maguire on Lead Vocals and Guitars - Chris O' Connor- Vocals and Guitars.




No 5 ..... The Holy Orders



Now if a band releases a debut album with the word dog in it then it's only to be expected that Ralph will sit up and pay attention.  That's exactly the case with the recent release by Hull Alt/Punk rockers The Holy Orders who've recently released 'For The Ears Of Dogs To Come' on Coal Shed Records.  






No 6..... Burning Condors 





Looking for some down and dirty, bluesy and gritty, edgy rock 'n' roll?  The look no further than Burning Condors as they're producing just that in spades!








No 7..... Black Swans


What do you get when you put in five years hard graft to learn your craft and believe in what you're doing - the debut album 'The Life We Chose' by Liverpool band Black Swans of course.  It's recently been released along with the latest single 'Be There' to critical acclaim and looks like becoming one of the best 'breakthrough' albums of 2013.





No 8..... Jess Harwood




With a new EP out in May and some great gigs in the offing Jess Harwood is starting to make a real impact on the music scene.  Jess is a 20 year old singer-songwriter from Blackpool and has been writing and singing her own songs since her early teens. 







No 9..... Wullae Wright



Everybody likes to make a comparison about artistes and Ralph's old man is no exception. He heard Wullae Wright's 'Halo Effect' playing on my laptop and next thing he was wiping the dust of his collection of vinyl, dug out Led Zeppelin I and stuck it under my nose 








No 10..... Pumajaw




Ralph's man in Scotland has ventured over to the West Coast and on arriving at the venue, The Berkeley Suite in Glasgow, leaves the Scottish sunshine for a night of darkness.  A slick hideaway situated in between a few bars and restaurant's, the former 1940's ballroom was re-discovered and restored.  




Wednesday 24 July 2013

The Holy Orders


for the ears of dogs to comeNow if a band releases a debut album with the word dog in it then it's only to be expected that Ralph will sit up and pay attention.  That's exactly the case with the recent release by Hull Alt/Punk rockers The Holy Orders who've recently released 'For The Ears Of Dogs To Come' on Coal Shed Records.  Ralph's already played the debut single from the album 'Paper/Scissors/Stone' on his Radio KC Indie Mix show with some excellent feedback on Twitter.  Its blend of thrashing guitar and in your face vocal make it a dead cert crowd pleaser for their loud 'n' proud live gigs.




It's preceded on the album by the edgy almost prog rock Walk/Don't Walk.  The jangling guitar mixed with plaintive vocal brings an almost disturbing listen.  It's mean and moody and not for the faint-hearted listener.



 

The Holy Orders are made up of Matt Edible - vocals/guitar, Chris Marsay - guitar, Dave Coates - Bass and James Cooper on Drums.  Their influences are myriad but current listening pleasure includes Death Grips, The Flaming Lips, Panda Riot and The Posies.  They're a hard grafting band having supported the likes of Wild Beasts, The Thermals, Frank Turner and more.





Such has been the critical acclaim of the album that Tom Robinson featured a live set from The Holy Orders to coincide with its release.  Tom's been a long time fan of the band  since hearing the track 'Deviants' back in 2010 saying - "Just when you've had it with Strokes/Interpol/Editors soundalikes along come The Holy Orders and restore your faith in indie guitar music"






The majority of the album sees The Holy Orders stay close to their Alt/Punk roots and avoid the temptation to cleave to the commercial in order to obtain popularity.  Their fans will love the album and with the airplay and press it's been receiving they'll develop a wider fanbase in the coming months.  Tracks like 'Somewhere In This World' hark back to the likes of 'Faith Healer' by the real godfather of punk Alex Harvey, with its almost forced, spoken vocal and punchy Zal Cleminson-esque guitar, no bad thing!









August 2013
SAT03AUGThe Holy OrdersLife, Fonda 500, The TalksHUMBER STREET SESH FESTIVAL Fruit1 2013Kingston upon Hull, UKFind tickets
FRI23AUGThe Holy OrdersMaxïmo Park, The Stranglers, The UndertonesGaltres Festival 2013York, UKFind tickets