Formed in 1977 to promote Ian Durys’ album ‘New Boots and Panties’ on the first Stiff Records tour of the U.K. Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, Charlie Charles, John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher became known as ‘The Blockheads’ (a reference to a song on Ian’s album). As ‘Ian Dury & The Blockheads’ they went back out on tour, this time without Chaz Jankel, and in 1978 released ‘What a Waste’ a single that reached number five in the U.K. charts. They were then joined by saxophonist Davey Payne and toured the U.S.A supporting Lou Reed across North America ending with their own dates in California (with backline roadie Pete Rush) In late 1978 Chaz returned to the fold and composed ‘Hit me with your Rhythm Stick’ with Ian. The band recorded it in The Workhouse Studios, Old Kent Road, London and in 1979 had a number one hit record with it in the U.K. Ian Dury & The Blockheads went on to record the ‘Do it Yourself’ album and toured Europe and the U.K. recording ‘Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3’ in Rome. Released as a single in late 1979 it reached number three in the U.K. charts. In 1980 Chaz, once again, left the band to pursue solo projects in California and Wilko Johnson joined Ian, Norman, Johnny, Charlie, Mickey and Davey to record and release a third album for Stiff Records called ‘Laughter’ and released ‘I Want to be Straight’ and ‘Supermans Big Sister’ as singles. They toured throughout 1981 in the U.K and Europe, sometimes augmented by Don Cherry on trumpet, ending the year with a tour of Australia. In 1982 Ian Dury & The Blockheads disbanded and were not to play together again until 1987 when they went out to Japan in June to play three shows in four days, disbanding again until 1990 when the death of Charlie Charles in September of that year re-united them to play two Benefit gigs in aid of Charlies’ family. Chaz returned from America and Steven Monti picked up the drumsticks for the hottest ticket in town. The band, now augmented by Merlin Rhys-Jones on guitar and Will Parnell on percussion, recorded a live album ‘Warts & Audience’ in December 1990. Chaz returned to California and the band toured Spain in January 1991. Once again the band stopped working until August 1994 when, with the return to England of Chaz, the band were invited to play the Madstock Festival in Finsbury Park in August which led to a series of hit and run gigs in Europe, Ireland, the U.K.and Japan throughout the rest of 1994 and 1995. In March 1996 Ian was diagnosed with cancer and, after recovering from an operation, was determined to write another album.

The Undertones emerged from Derry in 1976, the result of five friends learning how to play basic rock and roll. Practicing in their bedrooms eventually led to the band recording ‘Teenage Kicks’ in 1978 on Terri Hooley's Good Vibrations label in Belfast. The legendary DJ John Peel received a copy and liked it so much he played it twice in a row on his radio show.

Nominated for Musician of the Year and for Best Album with Vagrant Stanzas at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014, Martin's shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. There is no doubt that after 35 years as a professional musician Martin is better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. Martin has been nominated an astounding 31 times in the 15 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards -- more than any other performer -- with 12 nominations for Musician of The Year, which he has won twice. 2008 saw an incredible five nominations for 'Prodigal Son' and two wins, whilst in 2010 he had an unprecedented six nominations for his CD, True Stories and a win for Best Traditional Track, 'Sir Patrick Spens'. Whether playing American old-time music, blues, a Dylan song or his own material, Martin Simpson is unpredictable, individual and a guitarist of immense subtlety.

The Beat formed in 1979 and released their debut single, an infectious cover of the Smokey Robinson classic Tears of A Clown on 2-Tone Records which went straight into the UK national charts at #6. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, The Beat became an overnight sensation. Bow Wow Wow were created by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren in 1980 from members of the Adam and the Ants group along with vocalist Annabella Lwin. Between 1980-1983 Bow Wow Wow had acclaimed singles such as I Want Candy, C-30 C60 C-90 Go, Go Wild In The Country, Fools Rush In, Afrodisiac, Do You Wanna Hold Me, Sexy Eiffel Towers, Louis Quatorze and more.

The Selecter is led by their iconic frontwoman Pauline Black and co-fronted by original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. They are now re-united with original drummer Charley ‘Aitch’ Bainbridge who is back in the line-up. Pauline is one of very few women in the 2-Tone scene - often referred to as "the Queen of Ska" she was awarded an OBE in the in the 2022 New Year Honours. 2-Tone was a crucial multi-racial, multi-cultural explosion borne out of Coventry and the Midlands that remade British pop from 1979 onwards.

Get ready for a celebration of Alabama 3’s 1997 debut album, Exile On Coldharbour Lane and their sophomore album, La Peste, alongside a selection of greatest hits. It's the 25th anniversary of the hit song "Woke Up This Morning", which served as the iconic theme song for the acclaimed TV show The Sopranos, and the track which features on both records.

Born in Dungiven in 1975, surrounded and infused with the rich cultural heritage of her native County Derry, Cara has risen to become one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish song anywhere in the world. Together with her husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman, she has succesfully steered an eclectic musical path defying the typical pigeonholes that hinder most artists in her genre. Celebrated for entwining traditional and contemporary elements she has earned both commercial success and astonishing critical acclaim. Whether she's singing her native traditional songs of lost love and emigration, or original compositions, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer. Cara Dillon is at the very top of her field and one has the feeling she'll remain there for a very long time.

Fronted by Buster Bloodvessel (born Douglas Trendle), the band was formed in 1976 while the members were at school together, and among their early incarnations were known as Stoop Solo and the Sheet Starchers. None of the members had any formal musical training, not even the ability to play any instruments. They were popular during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period when lots of similar ska bands filled the charts. Some of their hits include 'My Girl Lollipop', 'Lip Up Fatty', 'Special Brew' and 'Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu'. One of the main reasons for their notoriety was because of their outlandish, larger-than-life, huge-tongued & shaven-headed front man. Buster´s exploits got them banned from the British TV chart show Top of the Pops (which included dressing as Henry VIII and singing to a blow-up doll for the song 'Lorraine', pouring a large can of baked beans over his head, and dressing in a can-can dancer´s dress to promote their single 'Can-Can').

Aynsley Lister is one of the UK's hottest contemporary blues guitarists. His unique brand of blues-based rock delivers contemporary song writing, fueled with heart and soul. With over 100,000 albums sold, lashings of critical acclaim and years of high profile touring, Lister's resumé speaks for itself and firmly secures his position as a leading light in the resurgence of British blues-infused music.

The Wedding Present, formed from the ashes of Lost Pandas, were founded in Leeds, England, in 1985. The only constant member throughout the group's history was singer/songwriter David Gedge. The initial line-up included guitarist Peter Solowka, bassist Keith Gregory, and drummer Shaun Charman.

Norwegian clown Viggo Venn moved to this country with one dream: to be a British comedian. The rest, you already know about. After blowing away the competition in an explosion of hi-vis jackets, balloons, and joyous idiocy, Viggo became the most talked-about new entertainer in the country by winning Britain's Got Talent in June 2023.

Stone Foundation are a British soul band known for their energetic fusion of classic soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues, woven with socially conscious lyrics.

With hits like ‘Digging Your Scene’ and ‘It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way’, The Blow Monkeys epitomised the glamour of mid-80s pop at its most graceful and sophisticated. In the band’s frontman Robert Howard (aka Dr. Robert), they possessed a tall, charismatic singer who was both camera-friendly and clever, who appeared to be just as much at ease on the catwalk that is pop’s conveyor belt as he was penning witty, incisive songs. While quite clearly Robert’s band, though, the Blow Monkeys were also gifted three immensely talented musicians in bassist Mick Anker (he of the trademark bowler hat), saxophonist Neville Henry and drummer Tony Kiley. Behind the band’s stylish veneer lay something else, which became increasingly apparent from Robert’s lyrics. While some of the Smash Hits generation avoided politics with a capital P, The Blow Monkeys openly criticised the policies of the Conservative government, railing against social injustices and adopting an openly left-of-centre stance on issues of the day. From openly endorsing the gay community “Digging Your Scene” to an outright attack on Margaret Thatcher ‘Celebrate (The Day After You)’ – a duet with the late, great Curtis Mayfield, The Blow Monkeys were always the thinking person’s pop group. As the 1980s progressed, so too did the band’s musical style, from a sound once dubbed “jazz punk” by Robert to a more soulful, jazzy style and an ever-increasing adoption of dance music. The Blow Monkeys of their rare, indie debut single ‘Live Today Love Tomorrow’ (recorded on a shoestring in 1981) would be barely recognisable to those who bought the Balearic remix of ‘La Passionara’ from 1990. And yet a soulful, spiritually uplifting strain has continued to run through their music – and, indeed, that of Robert’s solo recordings – to this day.

Dreadlocked, laidback surfer dude troubadour doing tricksy stuff with acoustic guitars.

Nik Kershaw exploded onto the UK pop scene in 1984. A string of global hit singles including Wouldn’t it Be Good, The Riddle and I Won’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me saw him languish for 62 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, making him the UK’s biggest-selling solo artist that year. In 1985, he performed at Live Aid. After stepping out of the limelight to concentrate on writing and producing, Nik wrote Chesney Hawkes’s The One and Only and collaborated with Elton John, Lulu, Petula Clark, The Hollies, Ronan Keating, Jason Donovan, Let Loose, Sia, Imogen Heap, Gary Barlow and Bonnie Tyler. In 1998, Nik returned to performing and has been crafting critically acclaimed albums ever since.

The MJR Group Presents: Sham 69 - The Original Line Up.

Award-winning indie-folk band from the Highlands of Scotland.

The original line-up of The Almighty, are back together for the first time in 32 years. Glasgow’s finest hard and heavy home boys are drummer Stumpy Monroe, bassist Floyd London, guitarist Andy “Tantrum” McCafferty together with lead vocalist and guitarist Ricky Warwick.

Now resident in Scotland, the respected Geordie songwriter performs with his band The Daintees. For Martin Stephenson, it’s not a career, it’s a lifetime calling, and his restless troubadour spirit has now amassed an extraordinary catalogue of 40 albums.

Original punk hero's 999 are back at the VICc need I say more...

After a number of successful top-twenty singles in the UK, the band went on to score unprecedented international success with the release of the classic ‘Nightbirds” recording and the title track has now become a standard in the popular music repertoire. This success was repeated with the top-ten hit “Down on the Street and the award-winning video established the band’s personnel of Jill Saward(lead vocs), Bill Sharpe(keys),Keith Winter(gtr), George Anderson(bass) and Roger Odell(drums). With the magic Al Jarreau/Shakatak combination,the group went on to record the track ‘Day by Day’ to further international acclaim. Along with this successful recording career, Shakatak had firmly established themselves as a vibrant live act, combining astute musicianship with a sense of fun that communicated strongly with world-wide audiences. Their performance in Japan’s Budoken Hall won them a Silver Award at the Tokyo International Song Festival-other awards include the “Best Instrumental Album’ for 6 consecutive years-and other live concerts of note have been the East meets the West Border Concert at the time of German re-unificationin 1989 and the open air concert in Cape Town for the Millennium Celebrations 2000 where they played in front of 250,000 people.Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music – but then Shakatak is a particularly unusual group. Because of the nature of their music, their fan base is one that is far reaching while always retaining an ‘underground element’. This paradox sees the band, who are known primarily as serious jazz/funk musicians, enjoying both high ‘cult’ status and instant recognition as a household name.

A nomad, both geographically and musically, songwriter Ross Wilson aka Blue Rose Code writes straight from – and to – the heart. His songs address universal themes of love, loss, travel, home, accepting the past and embracing the future in a deeply personal way. They are variously painted with the vibrant colours of folk, Americana, jazz, country, soul, pop and, increasingly, celtic traditions; an eclecticism that has seen him compared to John Martyn, Van Morrison and Tom Waits amongst

Since launching in 2017, Ultimate Coldplay have been widely recognised as being the world's most accurate and well rounded tribute to Coldplay. This almost-identical tribute act are consistently described as the 'next best thing' to one the UK's most popular bands.

Hejira is a 7-piece band set up to celebrate and honour the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, mostly from the late ‘70s. Having released the albums The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter and Mingus (regarded as her ‘jazz period’), Joni then toured briefly with a band formed from the crème de la crème of contemporaneous jazz musicians (Metheny, Mays, Brecker, Pastorius and Alias). The tour was recorded, producing the outstanding live album, ‘Shadows And Light’; it is from this album that the band Hejira is drawing the body of its repertoire. Comprising highly experienced jazz musicians, this band is fronted by the brilliant Hattie Whitehead who not only has - in her own way - assimilated the poise, power and beauty of Joni’s vocals, but also plays guitar with Joni’s stylistic mannerisms. Expect an evening of the ‘great’ songs from Mitchell’s back catalogue, such as Amelia, Woodstock, A Case Of You, Song For Sharon, Edith And The Kingpin etc.!

A very special acoustic show with Mark Morriss & Adam Devlin of Britpop legends The Bluetones. The band, formed in 1993, had an impressive run of hit singles throughout the late 90's/early 00's, including ’Bluetonic’, ‘Slight Return’, ‘Marblehead Johnson’, ‘Solomon Bites The Worm’, ‘If’ and ‘Keep the Fires Burning’. They scored thirteen Top 40 singles and three Top 10 albums in the UK charts before splitting up in 2011. Join frontman Mark Morriss alongside band mate Adam Devlin as they "Cut Some Rug" on stage together at this very intimate show.

In celebration of the release of her hilarious memoir of the same name, comedian, novelist and professional show-off Jenny Eclair comes to venues nationwide with a brand-new autobiographical show. From drama school (mostly drinking cider and eating sausage rolls), sleeping with men who looked like they lived under a carpet, punk poetry, anorexia, bedsit misery, waitressing and not really having a clue about anything, to being the first woman to win the Perrier Award, becoming a mother, author, grumpy old woman, podcaster and nana! Still gigging to sell-out crowds forty years later, Jenny invites you to look back at what she can remember before she forgets everything. Warning: punk poetry, animal impressions and baritone nursery rhyme singing may feature.

Kenny Thomas was one of the most popular UK soul dance vocalists of the early 1990s. His biggest UK hit came in 1991 with ‘Thinking About Your Love’ (number 4), while his debut album sold more than 600, 000 copies in the UK alone. Other hit singles spawned by that debut included ‘Outstanding’, ‘The Best Of You’ and ‘Tender Love’, and also resulted in a Brit Award nomination for Best British Male Vocalist and Best British Newcomer. The warm, relaxed dance grooves of that debut were replicated on a second album that continued Thomas’ massive commercial success. Guest musicians this time round included the Young Disciples, Nu Colours and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. This time some of the bonhomie of the original set was more restrained, with a slightly more mature lyrical vision reflecting more real-life experiences.

Desi Central is brought to you by LuvEntertainment, a Multiple Award Winning provider of comedy events since 2009. Desi Central comedy tour hosts memorable, quality shows all over the UK and feature the very best of established and new comedy talent – both homegrown and international. We also pride ourselves on presenting and championing comedians who appeal to comedy lovers of all ages and backgrounds. Our events are the perfect place to come to for a guaranteed fun night out where you can unwind, relax and have a laugh with friends, family or work colleagues. Get your tickets to Desi Central Comedy Show today & join us for an evening of fun & laughter. Tommy Sandhu, Aatif Nawaz, Eshaan Akbar & Kane Brown

The Blues came calling first, but rock was always waiting around the corner. Well it would be, wouldn’t it? Coming from the deep south, it was inevitable, but living in the deep south of a major Yorkshire City, there’s a gritty hard edge to life! ​ A female guitar prodigy, Chantel was told by a major label that she had a "great voice, but girls don't play guitar like that!" Wisely ignoring their comments, she enrolled at the Leeds College of Music and became the first student in the college’s history, to achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 distinctions. Chantel then pursued further education and left with a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music and a coveted prize, the college’s musician of the year award. ​ Chantel released her highly anticipated second album, Lose Control, in October 2015 on her independent boutique label Tis Rock Music, this being the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2011 debut album, Like No Other.

To an artist without the creative energy and laser-focused determination of Elles Bailey, it could all have been very different. But when you're the hardest-working woman in blues, rock and roots music, not even the tumultuous world events of the past two years were going to stop you from writing several new chapters in a remarkable story.

With nearly 40 years’ experience in the business and as the premier name in comedy, The Comedy Store is renowned as a breeding ground for new comedy talent, and remains the place to see tomorrow’s stars today. The likes of Eddie Izzard, John Bishop, Jimmy Carr, Rhod Gilbert and Sarah Millican, have all cut their comedy teeth with us. We bring you “The Best In Stand Up” from around the globe, showcasing the brightest names in comedy today. Simply the funniest show you’ll see all year!

Catherine Bohart loves control, hates change and is a serial planner. It’s been an interesting couple of years… A blisteringly funny new stand-up show filled with horrendous life advice, cheery nihilism and reluctant self-discovery from one of the UK and Ireland’s most exciting comics.

One of the most influential bands to emerge from the UK’s festival scene, Ozric Tentacles formed during the solstice at Stonehenge Free Festival 1983 going on to become psychedelic staples at Glastonbury and other festivals. The creative vision of multi-instrumentalist Ed Wynne, the Ozrics’ uniquely trippy soundscapes connect fans of progressive rock, psychedelia and dance music culture.

Mercury Rev celebrates with a very special acoustic and intimate performance. An intimate, acoustic evening featuring many of the stories and songs surrounding the Mercury Rev's heart-breaking 1998 classic 'Deserter's Songs'. Performed in the fragile 'whisper and strum' way they were originally written, this promises to be an extraordinary glimpse into the forces that nearly destroyed a band and the strange events leading toward a most unexpected return.

A Country Night In Nashville recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music. Prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the history of Country, featuring songs from its biggest stars both past and present. Hits from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly to the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson to Little Big Town, are showcased by the amazing Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes. With songs including Ring Of Fire, Crazy, Follow Your Arrow, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Need You Now, 9-5, and The Gambler to name just a few, this incredible celebration of country music is a night not to be missed.

The BAFTA-winning comedian, ‘national sensation’ (Evening Standard) and ‘extremely funny’ (Daily Telegraph) Iain Stirling, is bringing his intuitive razor-sharp humour back on tour with a brand new stand-up show for 2024. As the iconic voice of Love Island, star and writer of sitcom Buffering on ITV, and with his own stand-up special, Failing Upwards, on Prime Video, Iain hits the road once more with a brand new hour (of jokes) in his biggest tour to date! (It’s called RELEVANT if you’re interested). Touring the UK and Ireland in 2024. (May contain strong language and adult material; suitable for 16+.)

Pama International is an eight-piece reggae band from the United Kingdom. They describe themselves as 'Dub Fuelled Ska Rocksteady & Reggae'. They often play with other ska, dub and reggae artists. The band takes elements from many sources to produce their sound whilst broadly staying within the reggae format.

Fairport Convention has been entertaining music lovers for over half a century. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes. But one thing has remained the same - Fairport's passion for performance. The band skilfully interprets traditional ballads and the repertoire also includes plenty of contemporary compositions.

With over 20 million views online, MC Hammersmith is a multi-award-winning freestyle rap comedian. He is the world’s leading gangsta rapper to ever emerge from the ghetto of middle class west London. He presents an evening of improvised comedy raps based entirely on your suggestions. You’ll leave astounded at the speed of his brain, the spontaneity of his punchlines, and the stability of his upbringing.

brave rival are a rock band on a mission. No gimmicks, no frills - just raw, high-energy, riff-driven rock that demands to be heard Since forming in 2019, the Portsmouth-based quartet-vocalist Lindsey Bonnick, guitarist Ed ‘the Shred’ Clarke, bassist Billy Dedman and drummer Donna Peters have built a reputation as one of the UK’s most electrifying live acts. Their debut album Life’s Machine (2022) put them on the map, catching the attention of critics, fans, and even Joe Bonamassa, who called them one of his “favourite discoveries.” Their 2024 follow-up, Fight or Flight, upped the stakes, earning a 9/10 review from Classic Rock Magazine, who hailed it as “an album packed with ambition, fire, and killer songs.” With massive hooks, blistering guitar work, and unstoppable energy, the album set the stage for their biggest year yet-festivals, headline tours, and sharing stages with rock legends like FM. Brave Rival are only getting started. Get on board or get out of the way.

From one of the most exciting emerging new stars in the UK’s live stand-up scene,1994 is Edinburgh native’s Connor Burns third solo hour. A prolific joke writer, his Scottish-level cynicism and self-deprecation punctuates a disarmingly relaxed persona and an intelligent, razor-sharp wit. Connor’s burgeoning reputation as “one to watch” was cemented at the 2023 Fringe when he sold out his entire run two months before the festival started.

After an incredible sold-out debut run, the man who asked us “do you ski?” is leaving his home in the Tower of London (for good). Catch him as he departs on a second triumphant tour across our nation armed with even more outrageous takes, unbelievable tales, and biblical chat to leave you bowled over with laughter. Having amassed a loyal fan base of over a quarter of a million followers the multi-viral, social media sensation is delving even deeper into his ludicrous life as he tries to smarten up the not so honourable aspects of himself. Take a look at the pitfalls of online celebrity, the perils of post-palace living and find out that, in an age where everyone is so obsessed with the veneer of virtual contentment, maybe it takes crashing back down to reality to discover where happiness truly lies. As seen on Comedy Central and tour support for Milton Jones.

After having way too much fun at the first Shiny New Model we wanted to build on it and bring you another line up of the sharpest cuts we can find. ANTONY SZMIEREK Manchester based hip hop artist and former teacher Antony Szmierek mixes the vibe of The Streets with a more laid back attitude, and uplifting beats. The perfect way to finish the night. BLUE CINEMA Shoegaze revival at it's best from Cambridge's Blue Cinema. Sweeping walls of guitars and vocals echo for days. For fans of Cocteau Twins, Ringo Deathstarr, Slowdive. EBBB Probably one of the best and most insane live propositions we've seen in the last few years. Drawing in MDMA laced techno beats, the lunacy and musical exploration of Animal Collective and all with just three people on stage. You'll leave their set changed. GROVE Fiercely political and angry, Grove mixes up furious grime and garage beats with punk. Their timely appearance with Bob Vylan a few years back coincided with the Queen's Jubilee and no-one doubted their views on the matter. HOME COUNTIES Genre-blurring Home Counties are known for their energetic mix of post-punk, synth-pop, and danceable indie. Home Counties manage to balance the duality of lyrical frankness and musical buoyancy with gusto. With an eye for the day-to-day, all-too-relatable details of crap modern living, coupled with an ear for hook-filled, grin-inducing melodies; the pay-off is one riddled in joy rather than despair. HONEYGLAZE South London's Honeyglaze blend Black Country, New Road-esque post rock with torch songs and Motown influences to inject classic song-writing into the realm. LIME GARDEN Guitar lines twist and turn around some gloriously wonky indie pop. Theyve been bubbling under for a while now and look set to explode in 2025. THE MOTOR SHOW Spaghetti Western soundtracks collide with wonky post-punk in The Motor Show. One for fans of The Fall, Warmduscher, and Shame. PANIC SHACK Panic Shack's music the same effect as popping a bottle of Prosecco: explosive, intoxicating, and delightfully chaotic. They've toured with the likes of Bob Vylan and Soft Play, had festival appearances at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Green Man, End of the Road, SXSW and more, and their acclaimed "Baby Shack EP" bottled the lightning they have on stage, cementing their ability to blend killer hooks with a contagious sense of humour. SHE'S IN PARTIES Pop laced nu-gaze upstarts, drawing influence from 80s pioneers like The Cocteau Twins and The Cure and throwing it all in with some Tears For Fears pop sheen. TINY VESSELS Tiny Vessels recall the frenetic, optimistic energy of 00s indie rock and bring it screeching into 2025. One for fans of The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Maximo Park et al. THE U CLUB Classic indie rock vibes abound in the joyous pop of The U Club. Soaring vocals roll along top of choppy guitars and synth washes. For fans of Mac DeMarco and Alex G.

After a significant self-discovery, Green realises his life is a whirlwind full of tangents of his own making, navigating through the impulsive, random and stupid.

Heaven 17 are a British synthpop band originating in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England that was formed in 1980, having much 80s success with their electronic sound. Taking their name from a fictional group mentioned in Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange (where 'The Heaven Seventeen' are at number 4 in the charts with 'Inside'), Heaven 17 formed when Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware split from their earlier group, The Human League, and devised the production company British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.).

The highly anticipated nationwide debut tour from one of comedy’s fastest-rising stars. A son, brother, dad and friend. From one culture to another. Join stand-up sensation Eddie Kadi as he tells us how he got there. Star of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC) and Team Captain of ITV’s Sorry I Didn’t Know. Host of The Official AfroBeats Chart Show on BBC1XTRA. As seen on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Comedy Central. Best Breakthrough Award Nominee at Royal Television Society Awards and Edinburgh TV Awards.

The late great Frankie Knuckles once called house music: "church for people that have fallen from grace." Anyone who has been caught up in the rapture of a true house classic can testify to its power to unify and uplift. HGC is an electrifying House meets Gospel experience that never fails to get audiences clapping, dancing and singing along.

Three times nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and double winners of the Spiral Earth Awards Megson draw heavily on their Teesside heritage to create a truly unique brand of folk music. The husband & wife duo bring an infectious mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies and driving rhythmic guitars. Comprising Debs Hanna (Vocals, Whistle, Piano Accordion) and Stu Hanna (Guitar, Mandola, Banjo) Megson have gained fame on the British folk scene, not only for their arresting & intelligent songwriting, but for their exquisite musicianship and northern humour. As fRoots Magazine puts it ‘if you don’t like the music here then you have a problem’ .

A spirited fusion of friendship and musicianship, the Phil Beer Band delve into the back catalogues of Phil’s beloved country, rock, folk and blues influences throughout the years to create their infectious and unique ‘folk n roll’ sound

Getting this star band to South Devon is a real coup for us. This is being put on at the Pavilions, Teignmouth. Tickets are available through their site but we thought we would bring this very important gig to your attention. The Cinelli Brothers have a passion for the music of the 1960’s, an amalgam of blues, rock and soul, and add a twist of contemporary style, making them a rising force on the music scene. Their appeal crosses all manner of boundaries, attracting a significantly younger crowd to their shows as well as pleasing the ears of older fans. Brothers Marco (guitar, keys, vocals) and Alessandro (drums, B/V’s) are joined by Tom Julian-Jones (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Stephen Giry (bass, guitar, B/V’s). Winners of the 2022 UK Blues Challenge. UK Blues awards nomination best blues band for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Recently described by the Evening Standard as "Live Comedy's best kept secret" Scott Bennett has been blazing a trail through the stand-up circuit for the best part of a decade. He's written for many high profile acts such as Chris Ramsey and Jason Manford, and recently recorded his debut on BBC Two's Live at the Apollo. In massive demand as a comedy writer and with regular appearances on BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz and The Now Show, Scott is an act on the verge of breaking through into the big time.

For 3 decades The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the British rock scene. From their classic debut album ‘Earth Vs’ (voted number one album of the year in Kerrang! back in 1993, and number 20 in the best rock albums of all time in a Kerrang! Special in 2006), through to now with the release of ‘Renaissance Men’, their first full-length studio album in 10 years, their creative output and legendary live shows have been second to none. Although the 90’s saw the band covered like a living soap opera in the press with tales of sex, drugs, bust ups, fights (both with labels and themselves), splits, more drugs and a lot more controversy (one such incident including entering and then proceeding to trash the Kerrang! Offices!), the recent years have seen the band more focused than ever before and firing on all cylinders. The Wildhearts and their incendiary shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands the UK has ever produced. Welcoming back their long-time bandmate and brother Danny McCormack on bass; Ginger and CJ on guitars and vocals, with Ritch Battersby on drums released their new album ‘Renaissance Men’ on May 3rd to critical acclaim. “It’s The Wildhearts remembering what they do best” - 9 out 10, hailed Classic Rock, with Metal Hammer saying Renaissance Men is “the best thing they’ve made since their genius / batshit crazy debut, Earth Vs The Wildhearts, back in 1993. Actually, thats not true. It might be better.” While Kerrang! gave the album 4Ks, Planet Rock 5 stars and Vive Le Rock 10 out 10!

Singer-songwriter Will Varley has come a long way since his early days haunting the open mics of South London and busking around on The Underground. Over the past few years, Will has toured relentlessly across Europe and America as a support act for Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Valerie June, and The Proclaimers and he's sold out his own headline shows in cities as far afield as Berlin, Zurich, Amsterdam and Vienna. High praise from the likes of Tim Minchin and Simon Nicol of Fairport Convention have helped fan the flames, as his audience continues to grow both on the road and online.

Aye aye! Ahoy hoy! The unstoppable talking panjandrum is back in town! Celebrating 50 years afloat on the showbiz seas! Dead men tell no tales – so might as well get ’em all told now! Avast! Two thundering hours guaranteed!

New Orleans meets 90s club classics…a rave funeral without the body. In New Orleans, funerals are celebrated in style, with noisy brass bands processing through the streets. The main section of the parade is known as First Line, but the real fun starts with the Second Line, those who follow the band to enjoy the music, marching with the musicians and twirling parasols or waving handkerchiefs. Welcome to Second Lining. A rabble of mischievous northerners, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners form a traditional New Orleans Second Line. However, this is no sombre occasion: Mr Wilson’s expend their collective musical talent paying homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and its greatest hero, Mr Tony Wilson. These revolutionary genre bashers knock the First Line sideways, opting for upbeat dance tracks over traditional slow hymns. Proudly stepping out in uniformed style, they channel the spirit of the 24 hour party people and get audiences dancing wherever they play. The vision is an anarchic, street extravaganza, bursting with colour and sound, rallying impromptu raves on street corners and rousing audiences young and old into a joyful frenzy. Presented by Ouroboros. This is an 16+ event

Ferocious Dog takes the traditional instruments; fiddles, whistles, mandolins and mixes them up with a bit of, raw, buzz saw rock'n'roll attitude. With their unique, aggressive yet feel-good music they tear up venues across the country often bringing their faithful Hell Hounds along for the ride.

Jolly 90s Britrockers who bouncing around to the strains of their biggest hit, 'Tequila'.

Bow Wow Wow C-30, C-60, C-90 Go! 45th Anniversary Tour. Annabellas Bow Wow Wow features the original lead vocalist of Bow Wow Wow. Following on from the 2023 sold out tour supporting The Beat, Annabellas Bow Wow Wow are back for the first UK headline tour in a decade. Bow Wow Wow were formed by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm Mclaren in 1980 who recruited members of Adam & The Ants and new vocalist Annabella Lwin (also originally including Boy George as second vocalist before he left to form Culture Club). The debut Bow Wow Wow Single was C-30,C-60,C-90 go! Which was released on cassette only initially reaching #34 in the UK singles chart in 1980. The bands debut Lp See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah! City All Over, Go Ape Crazy was released which contained the bands first top 10 hit Go Wild In The Country. Bow Wow Wow toured at the time with The Pretenders, Madness, Queen & The Police. In 1982, a cover of I Want Candy, originally released In the 1960S by The Strangeloves, became the first transatlantic Bow Wow Wow hit single. After splitting in 1983, Annabella formed The Naked Experience working with Guy Chambers, Jason Nevins and Utah Saints amongst others. An Agmp Concerts Presentation.

Cut up hip hop, beats, 80s and movies from cut-and-paste mixmaster Yoda.

20 years in stand-up for the Taskmaster cheeky texts icon, multi-award winner, YouTube cult figure, Radio 4 favourite and recently ‘Baby Reindeer’ actor: Watson returns after seasons at the Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Edinburgh comedy festivals. A recent encounter with a stranger caused Mark to spend some time pondering the uncertain future facing humanity. He explores this – along with equally pressing matters like the worst word he has ever said in public, the current state of the UK sausage industry, and much more – in a typically frantic and fun-packed new show.

With over 4.5 million social media followers and countless TV appearances under his belt, Pete Firman is the UK's top comic magician. Join him for an evening of Tricks & Giggles , as Pete brings his trademark blend of magic and comedy from the small screen to stages around the UK with this brand-new show. Expect impossible feats, sleight of hand and big laughs from one of magic's most exciting performers! As seen on Amazon's Good Omens , ITV1's Tonight at the London Palladium and The Next Great Magician , BBC1's The John Bishop Show and The Sarah Millican Television Programme . He's probably also popped up on your social media feeds with his mind-boggling and regularly viral magic videos. Please note: Children under 11 years of age cannot be admitted. Please note that there is a theatre restoration levy of £1.50 per ticket. This levy applies to all transactions, whether made in person at our Box Office, by post or by phone, for all payment types. The Rondo opens half an hour before the start of each show. Please ensure that you arrive before the advertised start time, as it may not be possible to admit late-comers.

After bursting on to the comedy scene with his razor-sharp wit and a string of viral videos, Josh Baulf embarks on tour! With his trademark charm and killer punchlines, Josh delves into the hilarities of millennial life, navigating modern relationships and the quirks of British culture.

Alan Sparhawk (of the band Low)

Throughout the music industry King King is a name synonymous with, not only great music and outstanding musicianship, but with, and perhaps even more importantly, having a damn good time every time. King King’s music is the kind of music that makes people happy. And let’s face it, especially in these all too dark and difficult times, who doesn’t want to be happy? Not convinced? It’s simple. Come along to a show and find out for yourself.

Two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Lauren Pattison is back with a brand-new show. She's decided she wants to come back bigger, braver and maybe blonder... either way it's time to put her big girl pants on. As seen on Roast Battle (Comedy Central), Stand Up For Live Comedy (BBC One), Comedy Up Late (ABC) and as heard on the smash-hit Have A Word podcast.

DHP Presents: Butler, Blake And Grant \+ support Presented by DHP FAMILY. This is a 16+ event (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)

Taking inspiration from their roots in the Irish and English traditions, Flook have an enviable trademark sound, weaving and spinning traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves, with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination. There is certainly no shortage of virtuosity amongst the members of Flook, but the unique impact of this band stems from the wholly intuitive, almost symbiotic, exchange between the various flutes, frets and skins.

Tom McGuire & The Brassholes are an eclectic, modern-soul-funk, 8 piece band from Glasgow, headed by keen skater, lumberjack-attired soul bearer, Tom McGuire. The funky collective of “killer animals from hell”, consists of a colourful, hilarious bunch of wonderfully talented, animated young men. The band deliver great variety and include everything from a humble Polish saxophonist, a reserved introvert piano pounder, someone who claims to be the self confessed “sex appeal of the band” and two English horn blowing northerners amongst others! The band earned their stripes on Sauchiehall and Buchanan Street as buskers during Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games, and have slowly been working their way up the staircase of success, becoming one of Scotland’s most vibrant live acts.

Australian singer/songwriter.

Kareem Dennis, better known by his stage name Lowkey, is a British rapper and activist from London. He first became known through a series of mixtapes he released before he was 18.

Hailing from the Black Country, Jonny has become a beloved figure in the Midlands comedy scene, bringing a local flavour to his performances that is both relatable and hilarious. Jonny Cole's rise in the comedy world is marked by his ability to blend music and humour seamlessly.

Ground-breaking, chart-topping, genre-bending, globetrotting, instantly enthralling… it’s little wonder that Talisk rank highly amongst the most in-demand folk-based groups to emerge from Scotland in the last decade and more.

Skipinnish are without a doubt one of Scotland’s most exciting exports. Riding an ever-growing wave of popularity, the band has gone from strength to strength since the launch of their album, The Seventh Wave, in 2017. With hit after hit of self penned songs and a strong mix of powerful bagpipe, fiddle and accordion led tune sets, they encompass the very best of traditional and contemporary Celtic music and their energetic live shows continue to captivate audiences all over the UK and Europe.

Guitarist and composer Richard Durrant returns with a musical celebration of midsummer and another classic series of gigs on the folk/classical cusp. As the solstice approaches Durrant reveals a collection of brand new pieces, old favourites, tales from the road and the occasional song inspired by the summer solstice. My new favourite guitaristRichard Durrant sits completely outside the accepted genres. He has a peculiar and wonderful mind. Tom Robinson BBC6 Music One is left with the impression of a man who loves music and life in equal measure. Gramophone Magazine

Where does he get it all from? A common phrase heard outside Jason Byrne’s show as the crowd leave with utter joy in their hearts. Jason literally has his Head In the Clouds most of the time, but thankfully, mainly when he’s on stage! It’s laughter at its highest, as we watch Jason pull magic from his cloudy head down onto the stage. Be it, stormy stand up, calm fun or audience members with clouds literally on their heads. Come join Jason in the clouds, for a night of beautiful unpredictable, fluffy, mayhem.

Geoffrey Frank Norcott is an English comedian, writer and political commentator. He first performed in 2001 and has appeared on Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and Question Time, and written for The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and Spiked.

They say that good things come to those who wait. A little over two years after their launch, you could say that Cardinal Black are testament to the power of patience, thought and persistence. A debut iTunes #1 single and E.P.; a first gig to a hometown capacity crowd at Cardiff Castle; back-to-back sold out Academy tours with Myles Kennedy, then The Struts; a standing ovation at a Sold Out Royal Albert Hall supporting Peter Frampton; a live set recording in the Beatles’ legendary Studio Two at Abbey Road in London and a debut album that, within 24 hours of its release, had toppled both Taylor Swift and the Beatles from the top of Amazon UK’s album chart. An eventful first 2 years for any band. It takes years, so the saying goes, to become an overnight success... Rewind to 2010 and the Welsh-born trio of Tom Hollister, Chris Buck and Adam Roberts were riding a wave of hype, hotly-tipped by some of the biggest names in rock - most notably Steve Winwood who invited the band to record at his storied Wincraft Studios. A triumphant live set at Sonisphere was followed by a flight across the Atlantic to begin work on their first record, with veteran manager Alan Niven (Guns N’ Roses) at the helm. The lure of the U.S. proved irresistible to the nascent trio but, as is often the case, expectation rarely mirrors reality and the band struggled to adapt to the new country, culminating in singer Tom Hollister unexpectedly calling time on the band before returning to the U.K. “We tried to do the acrimonious split; creative differences and all that. We then quickly realised we were fairly reliant on one another,” says Buck. In the decade that followed, the lifelong friends cut their own individual paths whilst remaining close. Most notable has been the well-earned rise of guitarist Chris Buck, named in 2019 as ‘Best New Guitarist in the World’, who has forged a reputation as one of the most inventive and recognisable guitar players in music; winning plaudits from peers and the industry’s most iconic players alike. Drummer Adam Roberts found work as a first-call session player, whilst vocalist Tom Hollister moved into tour management - the three maintaining their musical connection by sporadically meeting up to perform together. It was just a matter of time then, before they were ready to make new music again. The writing and recording of new material began in 2020, under the name Cardinal Black, bolstered by the arrival of bassist Sam Williams. Fast forward to 2023 and the band embarked on an extensive European headline tour, culminating in an Americana Music Awards (UK) nomination for Artist of the Year. They may have taken the scenic route but Cardinal Black are finally here, and they've got plenty of stories to tell...

Horace Andy is one of the most distinctive vocalists in Reggae. Since debuting on the Studio One label in 1970, through to appearing on all five Massive Attack albums, Horace Andy has become one of the world’s most well known singers. 1972 saw him release the Skylarking album on Studio One. The title track of the album has become one of his most enduring and well loved songs. Further singles, followed such as ´´Natty Dread a Weh She Want”, ´´Ain’t No Sunshine”, ´´Spying Glass”, ´´Jusy Sayt Who” and ´´You are my Angel” – cementing his reputation. His 1978 album Pure Ranking anticipated the rise of Dancehall and he was a key figure in the development of the genre confirmed by 1982’s Dancehall Style album. In 1990, Horace Andy contributed to the debut album of Massive Attack. He has become the only person to guest on all five of their albums and regularly tours the world with the band. This is your chance to see this world famous Roots Reggae Legend up close, in the intimate environment of the award-winning Under the Bridge.

Hailed as having a voice that will stop you in your tracks, contemporary folk singer Emily Mae Winters’ is quickly permeating the folk scene.

Acclaimed Brooklyn songwriter Joan As Police Woman announces rescheduled tour dates for 2022 with her trio featuring drummer Parker Kindred (Antony & The Johnsons, Jeff Buckley) and bassist Jacob Silver (Lee Fields). Joan has spent lockdown making and releasing new music including her second album of covers and her first live album. Joan also appeared on the Afel Bocoum album "Lindé" (World Circuit) and wrote and recorded "Simplicity" with Damon Albarn for the recent Gorillaz "Song Machine" album. A new Joan As Police Woman studio album is expected Autumn 2021 via PIAS. Sessions for the new record began in Paris in November 2019 with Dave Okumu and Afrobeat legend Tony Allen, who we lost 5 months later. For the 2022 tour, Joan and her trio will perform music spanning her career, including songs off the new albums and reworked classics. £25 + booking fee

The musical group Idlewild performs mainly Celtic music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, and the Isle of Man. You can hear them play early and traditional music from various cultures mixed into their program, such as English, European, and French music. We also have a great back ground in Old Time American music. David and Carol Sharp formed Idlewild nearly twenty years ago.

Following his debut sell-out national tour, online comedy star Matt returns with brand new jokes about the state of politics, the world and himself. As seen and heard in his viral clips on social media, James O'Brien's show on LBC, Radio 4’s POV & Oh God What Now?

John William Grant is an American and Icelandic singer, musician, and songwriter. He first became known as the co-founder, lead singer, pianist, and primary songwriter for the alternative rock band the Czars.

A vital component of the infamous ‘Madchester’ movement, Inspiral Carpets formed in Oldham in 1980. Known for hit singles such as ‘This Is How It Feels’, ‘Saturn 5’ and ‘She Comes in the Fall’, they remain much-loved not only in Manchester but across the UK.

Brìghde Chaimbeul (pronounced Bree-chu Chaym-bul)) is one of the most exciting musical minds in the world of Celtic folk today. She’s a master of the Scottish smallpipes - the bellows-blown, mellower and more emotive cousin to the famous Great Highland bagpipes - and she’s taken them to the global stage. A native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Skye, Brìghde roots her music in her language and culture. She rose to prominence as a prodigy of traditional music, but has since begun a journey to take the smallpipes into uncharted territory.

Ricky Warwick and The Fighting Hearts plus Special guests The Virginmarys + Anchor Lane

A brand new show from award-winning comedian, star of Live at the Apollo, and co-host of award-winning podcast Trusty Hogs - Helen is back and is struggling. She has spent the last year being forced to hang out with someone she doesn’t like and who honestly does not like her. It’s tense, it’s uncomfortable, they won’t leave.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners, Irish/Manx/Scottish quintet mar are amongst Glasgows hottest folk property. Their most recent release, Awakening (2023) delivers a critically acclaimed third round of the high octane fuel that has energised audiences worldwide, making mar one of the most sought-after folk festival bands (Folk Radio). With a line-up boasting a heavyweight collective haul of top solo prizes including nine All-Ireland and eight All-Britain titles audiences are unfailingly transfixed by mars formidable technical prowess, underpinned by an electric live energy and out-and-out joy of playing together. With a wide-reaching fanbase throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, the quintet fast became one of the trad scenes most talked about groups thanks in no small part to their debut video, LAir Mignonne catapulting the group to the attention of audiences and media worldwide. Adam Brown (bodhrn), Adam Rhodes (bouzouki), Mohsen Amini (concertina), Ryan Murphy (uilleann pipes) and Toms Callister (fiddle) share a strong background in Irish music; a grounding that underpins many of mars distinctive qualities, in both instrumentation and material. Indeed, the groups very being embodies a personal reconnection with its members formative years, dating back long before their recent camaraderie around Glasgows celebrated session scene. The shared cultural heritages between Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man are well documented: all three once shared the same Gaelic language, and a similar, clearly potent, kinship endures between their musical traditions. striking musicianship, artful arrangements and sheer absolute delight | Songlines

Horror author Nick Steen is having visions… A sinister Black Steeple; eerie lights in the sky that look like a Catherine wheel but are not remotely a Catherine wheel… Plus a giant skeleton with a moustache. Are they omens? Auguries? Portenderings of things to come? (Spoiler – yes, they are). For Nick Steen’s imagination is bursting out of his brain and threatening to burst in turn the entirety of Stalkford. Can Nick stop the aforesaid bursting? Or have things already slightly burst regardless? And will there ultimately be a grand finale to this three-book series (aka a trilogy) or a more open-ended conclusion in order to leave potential room for further sequels? (That, btw, will ultimately be Garth’s decision.) From the fevered imaginata of Horror Fiction’s Grand Frightener Garth Marenghi, author of Sunday Times Bestselling Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome and Garth Marenghi’s Incarcerat, come three freshly rancid tales of… …This Bursted Earth…

Stevie Martin has built a significant following and acclaim for her prolific online output which includes a series of regular viral sketches with Lola-Rose Maxwell which have amassed over 20 million views (3 million of which on Tiktok) two hit podcasts (Nobody Panic with Tessa Coates and Might Delete Later with Gina Martin) which collectively receive over 100,000 downloads a month, and a regular long-form improvised comedy book club on Twitch. A writer published everywhere from Vice to the Guardian, Stevie’s first book, Nobody Panic, was published by Hodder Studios and adapts her hit podcast.

Gearing up for his greatest tour yet later this year, join your all-time favourite comedian Nick Helm as he glides through an hour of new stuff and changes the very fabric of your being. He. Is. Your. New. God.

As a long-serving troubadour of the folk and acoustic music scene, master songwriter and storyteller Steve Knightley has spent much of his life on the road, collecting songs, stories, anecdotes and observations with the odd disaster along the way. Best known for his work with the award-winning acoustic roots group Show of Hands, Steve has performed in venues from the Albert Hole in Bristol to the Albert Hall in London. His impressive back catalogue of songs are modern classics, still filling the folk clubs and festival fields, and forever influencing the next generation of folk artists. Steve says, 'A life on the road certainly has its challenges, but I can't say I'd do it differently if I had to start all over again. The format of 'Songs and Stories', and now 'Roadworks' allows me to share the stories I've collected over the years, along with plenty of observations along the way. It's just me, a radio mic and a couple of guitars which is daunting and liberating in equal measures, and it's enabled me to build elements into my shows which I've never been able to before.'

Arctic Monkeys' album, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', hit the shelves in January 2006. Tracks like 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor' and 'When the Sun Goes Down' became anthems, showcasing Alex Turner's sharp lyrics and observational storytelling. Tom Rosenthal's show, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am', tours the UK and Ireland. Jokes like 'Wimbledon', 'Daniel Radcliffe' and 'Some Weather We're Having' have the potential to become classics, showcasing Rosenthal's sharp nose and observational squawking. Star of 'Friday Night Dinner' (C4) and 'Plebs' (ITV), this is Tom’s much awaited return to stand-up following his critically-acclaimed 2019 show, 'Manhood'.

All of a sudden, comedian Micky Overman finds her life going the direction she’s always wanted. The path has been set, she just has to follow it. So why is she finding that so hard? A show about change, commitment and letting go of your old self. Join Micky as she desperately fights against her old coping mechanisms, whilst contemplating love, the art of gift giving and Ozzy Osbourne.

Pioneers of Dance, Funk, Soul, Rap and R’n’B The Fatback Band are the originators of the New York sound that has influenced so many. A career loaded with 35 albums worth of anthems including “King Tim III (Personality Jock)”, “Spanish Hustle”, “(Are you ready) do the bus stop”, “Yum Yum (Gimme Some)”, “Backstrokin’“, “Keep on Steppin’“, “Wicki Wacky” and probably the biggest soul hit of the 1980’s “I Found Lovin’“. Fatback is the last of the great dance and entertaining bands celebrating the fact that before DJ’s existed, it was them who were making people dance.

Peter Hook first revisited the seminal Joy Division album Unknown Pleasures back in May 2010 for a commemorative charity concert and has followed it each year by performing subsequent albums from the repertoire of his bands, Joy Division and New Order. Peter Hook & The Light have since moved through each of those albums, culminating in the Factory Records Substance compilations, and recently celebrated over four decades of the continuing influence of Joy Division and Ian Curtis with the Joy Division: A Celebration concerts where both of the band’s albums were played in full.

The band, formed in Birmingham in 1972, had notable successes in their early years, including 1982 album ‘Chasing the Dragon’ which spawned live favorites ‘ Soldier of The Line’, ‘Sacred Hour’ and ‘The Spirit’. Magnum split in 1995, however reformed with founding members and chief-songwriters Guitarist Tony Clarkin and Vocalist Bob Catley going on to release 7 albums since, including 2014’s ‘Escape from the Shadow Garden’ which reached number 2 in the UK Rock & Metal Chart, as well as number 4 in the UK Indie Charts. The band have particularly built a following in Europe, having had commercial success in Germany & Sweden, and regularly play sold out shows touring across the continent. With the current line-up a five piece, incorporating Mark Stanway on Keyboards, Bassist Al Barrow and Drummer Harry James, the band are now set to bring their own brand of Hard-Rock to the UK.

1 in 6 adults in the UK will lose their hearing in their lifetime; two of those are Ray Bradshaw’s parents. The multi award winning comedian is back on tour with a brand-new show all about growing up as a CODA; A Child of Deaf Adults. His upbringing was nothing like the Oscar winning film and he’s here to tell you why. CODA is a funny, heartwarming show all about the brilliant things that happen when you grow up in a house where sign language is the first language used; whether it’s watching his dad shut his eyes to win any argument or beating his in-laws easily when they suggested playing charades against a deaf family on Christmas Day. Ray’s previous shows Deaf Com One and Doppelginger were huge successes and sold-out theatres across the world. As this show is all about growing up with deaf parents every show of CODA will have a BSL interpreter. Ray has previously supported John Bishop on his UK arena tour after John described him as ‘one of the best comedians in the country’.

4am Kru bring their immersive take on Jungle across the UK

Born in Salford and raised on romance, The Lottery Winners combine momentous 90s inspired guitar pop melodies with a Morrissey-esque, humorous yet wistful lyricism.

Ranagri produce an electrifying mix of virtuosic instrumentals, haunting melodies, vivid storytelling and their unique take on old and new folk songs. The London based band are a combination of Irish and English musicians; Dónal Rogers (Vocals/Guitar), Eliza Marshall (Flutes/Whistles), Ellie Turner (Electric Harp) and Joe Danks (Bodhrán/Guitar). Ranagri were delighted to secure a record contract with Grammy Award Winning Record Label 'Stockfisch' in 2014 where they recorded the highly acclaimed SACD hybrid album 'Fort of the Hare'. They also published a book 'Song Folk Art' through Robinswood Press with an accompanying album 'Tradition' recorded throughout 2014. In 2015 Ranagri collaborated with legend crooner Tony Christie of 'Amarillo' fame, recording an album entitled The Great Irish Songbook, taking Tony back to his Irish Roots, and bringing their own style to many of the golden old Irish tunes that they grew up on. This was signed with both Stockfisch and Wrasse Records, and was followed by a large tour of the UK and Germany as part of Tony's Golden Anniversary Tour. Festival performances include Cambridge, Gate to Southwell, Wath, Stourbridge, Trinity, Bloom and Purbeck Folk Festivals. No strangers to large venues, Ranagri have performed at Birmingham Symphony Hall, Fairfield Halls, The Union Chapel, Buxton Opera House to name a few. Combining their love for world music, they collaborated with top Indian Musicians Kuljit Bhamra OBE, Sanjay Guha, M Balachander and members of Britten Sinfonia at The Bhavan Centre, London. In 2016 Ranagri worked with Grammy-nominated producer Graeme Pleeth on their latest album VOICES (recorded at Real World Studios) which combines their own songs and instrumentals with traditional folk Songs such as High Germany and The Snow It Melts The Soonest all performed and arranged in Ranagri's inimitable style. 2017 has seen Ranagri on tour with Justin Currie (of Del Amitri) at Islington Assembley Halls, Perth Concert Hall, Holmfirth Picturedrome and Cambridge Junction. They are currently finishing off writing their new album which will be recorded at Stockfisch early in 2018. Quotes and Reviews There's little to use as a point of reference when you discuss the sound created by Ranagri ... stunning, dazzling, remarkable...any of those will do, however the overriding word is different; and you could throw exciting in there too. Tim Carroll, FolkWords You're unlikely to hear anything more irresistible and more folky this year. Mike Ainscoe, Louder Than War Ranagri - both on the new album 'Voices' and on the stage - are a band that deliver a great sound. If they're not playing near you, buy the album, if they are - buy the album and go see. Also 'album of the week' Fatea Magazine Neil King, Fatea Magazine Creating a trademark sound that's becoming ever more familiar as they continue to make waves on the UK and European folk scene. Folk Radio UK "How often do you hear a sound that's completely new and immediately makes you want to dance? I'll be following Ranagri around, I hope they don't mind..." Katie Derham - BBC Ranagri's flute and harp infused set who wasn't conjuring up visions of the airier moments of sublime Jethro Tull was pitifully short, yet gave enough of a flavour to mark them on the list for the next possible wallet lightning raid on the CD stall. Mike Ainscoe - Louder Than War (review of Cambridge Folk Festival 2015). The standard of musicianship tonight was second to none as the band delivered two excellent sets. The band's musical magic was evident in some of the most flawless playing the Wheelhouse has been witness to over the last 77 shows the venue has staged. Allan Wilkinson - Northern Sky Magazine Quality contemporary songwriting enhanced by beautiful neo-Celtic sounds. Carl Corcoran - Presenter RTE Lyric FM's Blue of the Night Quite possibly one of the best bands we have seen in 2014. Their music is in the main self penned and lyrically has a folk feel to it, but the sound they produce is a mixture of music and rhythms from everywhere in the world. It is so very hard to find a genre to fit them into. Les Jones - Woodman Folk Club http://www.ranagri.com/

After 15 years of performing together, eight studio albums, four BBC Folk Award nominations, composing Gentleman Jack as the BBC/HBO drama theme tune and hundreds of venues and festivals across the UK and Europe, the much loved Yorkshire folk duo of Belinda OHooley & Heidi Tidow have made the momentous decision to say farewell for now in order to explore other adventures that are beckoning to them. To help their incredibly loving and loyal audiences process this news, they are embarking upon one last tour of all their favourite venues from over the years. Belinda and Heidi's boundless songwriting has been described by The Guardian as exceptional and The Independent as defiant, robust, northern, poetical, political folk music for the times we live in. Moving, melodic, dramatic and tender, from stories of parenthood, the call of a song thrush, to a portrait of the last days of a touching relationship between their neighbour Matthew and his beloved Alsatian, Ted, and even a collaboration with Gentleman Jack herself, Suranne Jones on The Ballad of Anne and Ann, they explore, consider and connect subjects and stories in a distinctive, inventive and memorable way. Having the originality and skill to invite comparison with the most celebrated harmony duos, 6 Music's Tom Robinson says They sing together in the way families do. Normally, you only get that closeness in the voices with family bands like The Coppers or The Watersons.

The Dodge Brothers are a skiffle-and-blues band producing ‘tunes of proven merit’ – new songs written and performed in the old style, harking back to the days of jug-band blues and early rock’n’roll. The band are: Mike Hammond (guitars, lead vocals, banjo); Aly Hirji (guitars, mandolin, vocals); Mark Kermode (bass, harmonica, vocals), and Alex Hammond (washboard, snare drum, percussion). The Dodge Brothers’ music has an authentically American tang – lead guitarist/vocalist Mike Hammond was raised in Alabama and his youthful musical travels took him all over the southern and western USA – but with a strong British perspective.

Edinburgh Comedy Award "Best Show" nominee Glenn Moore is one of the best joke writers of his generation and is back on tour.

Remember Monday is a British country pop trio composed of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele.

Journeying from leftfield contemporary pop to soft acoustics, Kathryn Williams' brand new album Night Drives explores a variety of fresh ideas. Her first official album since Hypoxia in 2015, Night Drives opens with some of Kathryn’s most immediately electronic tracks to date. Elsewhere on the album, a more cinematic sound is explored; slowly unravelling stories backed by delicate acoustics and elated, emotive string pieces; before relaxing into the more traditional world of folk inspired melancholia. Kathryn’s inimitable charm colours the whole album with emotion and affection. The classic references that Kathryn draws from, particularly that of fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles, are clear throughout the new record, which plays like a road-trip through her styles and influences. It recalls visions of a British countryside lightly illuminated by the flicker of passing lampposts and the endless, rolling landscapes beyond them. These are intelligent, self-aware tracks, with Kathryn’s unmistakable writing backed with beautifully arranged, natural compositions. Kathryn Williams is often described as 'a songwriter’s songwriter', her timeless and searching work has earned her accolades, critical acclaim, and a loyal fan-base. While her best-known work is characterised by rich and honest songwriting inspired by the greats, Williams has continually been able to evolve as an artist because she’s always looked outside of such boundaries - she continues to listen and learn while, at the same time, writing with a fiery spirit and a sense of adventure that has never once wilted.

Henge and Gong will be performing as joint headliners on the Sounds of the Cosmos Tour, sharing equal billing across all dates. To keep things exciting, the order of performance will alternate from show to show. As such, we wont be revealing in advance who will be opening or closing on any given night. Please arrive in time for the advertised start, and plan to stay until the end to enjoy the full experience. The universe of Gong began in 1969 when Daevid Allen was inspired by a profound psychedelic vision. A founder member of Soft Machine, Allen incorporated his spiritual and metaphysical leanings into an evolving collective. More a mythology than a band in the conventional sense, Gong established itself as one of the most unique, innovative and experimental rock groups of the seventies, through an exploratory mix of rock, jazz and psychedelia with elements of mysticism and surrealism, unafraid to deliver its messages directly, obliquely or whimsically. The collective of Kavus Torabi, Dave Sturt, Fabio Golfetti, Ian East and Cheb Nettles is the most stable in Gong/s illustrious history, having written, recorded and toured together for eight years since Allen/s passing. A dynamic, powerful and explosive live band, their music draws from the credo of the original Gong while remaining committed to pushing the composition, performances and message into new realms, paying no mind to nostalgia. Gong in 2023 continue the ethics, attitude and lifestyle that was always woven into the fabric of the band. Extra-terrestrial joymongers - Henge - have been delighting audiences in the UK and Europe since they landed on Planet Earth ten years ago. Their scintillating live performances earned them Best Live Act at the Independent Festival Awards and they have since cemented their reputation with four acclaimed albums, numerous tours and regular main-stage festival appearances. Their music escapes definition, but occupies a space between rave and prog rock that nobody knew existed. It is energetic, subversive and invigoratingly playful, jovially going where no one has gone before. Ultimately, HENGE are spreading a message of hope which leaves audiences feeling amused and uplifted in equal measures.

The new Comfy & Acoustic 3 fantastic acts, 1 bookshop with wine. Artist details soon. Doors at 7pm. Stage times: Jade Bird 8.00-8.35 Kitty McFarlane 8.50-9.30 Hannah Sanderd 9.45-10.35 Bookshop bar open with hot and cold drinks, beer and wine plus cake. Www.thebigcomfybookshop.co.uk Tickets £5 adv/£7 otd

Alt.rock with indie and punk vibes from the multi-million selling trio and Brit rock favourites. Ash are a Northern Irish band formed in Downpatrick and featuring Tim Wheeler (vocals/guitar), Mark Hamilton (bass) and Rick McMurray (drums).

Award-winning British songwriters, composers and multi-instrumentalists Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington are The Blackheart Orchestra. One of the must-see bands pioneering folktronica duo blend musical styles seamlessly sidestepping boundaries to create music huge enough to fill a cathedral. Always producing something beyond all easily marketed genres, their multi-instrumental sonic landscapes have always been too unpredictable and adventurous for the mainstream. Fusing acoustic fragility and pulsing electronica, The Blackheart Orchestra bring together stringed instrument dexterity with 80's synthesisers and clear classical influences. Often mistaken for an eight-piece band on first listen, they are found on stage continuously changing from electric and acoustic guitars, bowed guitar, piano, organ, bass and electronic percussion to vintage synthesisers, omnichord and melodica in a complex choreographed weave of musical moods and textures. One moment their sound is minimal and molecular, the next a mountain-like wall of sound with vast symphonic climaxes. Their four critically acclaimed albums and mesmerising live shows have won them obsessive worldwide fans, plaudits from musical giants and placements on TV commercials and films. Chrissy Mostyn's haunting vocals, the Mike Oldfield-like multi-instrumental playing of Rick Pilkington plus their fearless combination of conventional and unconventional all reflect their self-created universe where art meets sound and words paint pictures that take you with them on their deep musical journey into the human psyche.

Formed in 1986 in Stourbridge in the West Midlands of England with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country & Initially known as a Grebo Act, they changed style to incorporate sample-driven indie and industrial rock. The band describes their sound as "electronic, punk, alternative hip-hop, hybrid music for fighting & smoking cigars". Their highest-charting single was the 1993 top-ten hit "Get the Girl! Kill the Baddies!". After initially disbanding in 1996, and having a brief reformation in 2005, they issued their first release in more than five years in 2010

Schalk Bezuidenhout is a comedian from South Africa who is a household name in all households that know his name. More specifically, he grew up in Kempton Park in the East Rand. If you don’t know Kempton… it’s the type of place you thank one day in your Oscar speech as your “humble beginnings”. In Kempton Park the traditional Afrikaans way of living was a good life. You would ride your bicycle to school and English was only used in self defence. Schalk finished school with a distinction for every subject. That has nothing to do with his comedic abilities, he just wanted you to know that. Schalk’s family and friends stood back as they watched Schalk evolve from an Afrikaans conservative caterpillar into a beautifully dramatic butterfly, complete with a moustache and furry afro. It was obvious to Schalk’s parents that he would study drama, and to help numb the pain they sent him away to study at the University of Cape Town. While studying in Cape Town Schalk quickly grew dissatisfied with watching Suits on repeat in his single bed (look where Meghan is now, hey?!) His drama degree was still 4 years away, but he needed a creative outlet NOW! So he started doing stand-up comedy in April 2011. On stage Schalk is fun and energetic and appeals to all. Schalk has come a far way since his first paid gig in a strip club in Kempton Park (true story). He has had the privilege to perform all over the world in some great venues, alongside some even greater comedians. On stage Schalk is fun and energetic and appeals to people of all kinds and colours.

As a white, middle-class, straight male with an ok career Jamie fits the current stereotype of a loathsome, over-privileged, toxic bastard. However, purely because he’s blind, he’s constantly told he’s a role model. FYI, he isn’t toxic. But surely he should have the choice to be without people continually telling him he’s a hero?

A monster’s guide to tolerance and temperance. Jess can feel herself becoming an emotional wildebeest right when her world (and the whole world, thanks) demands cool, collected ultra detached saint-like kindness and understanding. St. She goes digging around in her DNA for answers and finds so many beautiful horrors. Witness her effort to become a brand new, mythical, mystical ‘coper.’ OR NOT. She gets cancelled, she gets touched and she gets a dolphin-based epiphany all in one show. The silliest of comedy for the scariest of days from Edinburgh Best Show Award Nominee. You’ve seen Jess on BBC’s QI, Live at the Apollo, Celebrity University Challenge and Richard Osman’s House of Games. From Travel Man on C4 and World’s Most Dangerous Roads on Dave. You know her from her two BBC R4 series of Sturdy Girl Club plus podcasts The Guilty Feminist and Hoovering. And, of course, from new mighty smash hit Gladiator’s fan-podcast Contender Ready which Jess co-hosts with Olympic weightlifting superstar, Emily Campbell.

Booker T Jones is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and arguably the most famous Hammond B3 player in history. “Booker T. Jones is one of the legends of soul music.” – The New Yorker As leader of the legendary Booker T and the MGs, this pillar of soul music collaborated with Otis Redding, Albert King, and more during his tenure at Stax Records. Since then, Booker has lent his trademark keyboard chops to and produced classic albums such as Willie Nelson's multi-platinum hit Stardust and Bill Withers' Just As I Am featuring the hit song “Ain't No Sunshine”. “Jones’ name is synonymous with the Hammond B3 organ. At 17, he recorded the instrument's anthem, “Green Onions” – NPR Both Booker's 2009 solo release Potato Hole and his 2011 solo release The Road From Memphis won GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Album. In 2013 Booker released Sound The Alarm, marking a return to Stax Records after 40 years. In 2016, Booker debuted his live show “Booker T Presents: A Stax Revue”, working with new talent to create a show that reflects the heart and soul of Stax Records. Booker is currently working on a new recording project, writing his memoir, and touring worldwide with his solo band.

Following his sell-out debut show, viral sensation Horatio Gould brings his much-anticipated sophomore show, Return of the Space Cowboy, on the road. At the age of 27, Horatio is tribal elder of Gen Z. Existing on the cusp of two age groups and desperate for something meaningful to believe in, Horatio explores the crisis facing young people seeking purpose in life that isn't fat jeans or rock-climbing. As seen on Comedy Central LIVE (Comedy Central). Tour support for Frankie Boyle, co-creator ‘Fin vs The Internet’ (70 million views on Instagram 2 million on YouTube).

A simple scroll through Instagram or TikTok and you’ll be left questioning: do I have ADHD? The rise in ADHD in adults is undeniable. But only over the last decade has ADHD been formally recognised in the UK. It has been suggested that about 1.5 million adults in the UK have ADHD but only 120,000 have been diagnosed. Waiting times to access an adult ADHD specialist clinic in the NHS can be up to 2 years or more. It’s hard to find support and help. From dopamine dips, hits and myths, how ADHD can present differently in women than men, and the neuroscience of neurodiversity; this talk is designed to give you an increased awareness and understanding of an ADHD brain. It will include advice and tips on how to navigate a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent person. This talk will also highlight how society is demanding change. People are increasingly recognising and accepting neurodiversity and self-defining as neurodivergent. Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm Professor James Brown is an academic researcher and science communicator. James was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021. Subsequently, James co-founded and is Chair for the registered UK charity ADHDadultUK, set up the evidence-based online ADHD magazine focusmag.uk and is a co-founder and co-host of The ADHD Adults Podcast. James is also an ADHD Coach and Mentor and provides training, guidance and assistance to organisations around adult ADHD for his company JBHD Ltd. Presented by Seed Talks This is an 18+ event

Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle, three members of the BBC acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions, are touring in early 2017 to celebrate the release of their latest album. This is a rare chance to see three of the world’s finest musicians share a stage together. Master of flutes, whistles and Uillean pipes Mike is a founding member of Flook , and Lunasa and is a current member of Capercaillie. Regarded as one of the greatest flute players of all time, Mike has toured Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler, as well as with The Afro Celts, RTE Orchestra and Kate Rusby . He has collaborated with the likes of Jim Kerr, Youssou N’Dour, John Cale and Zakir Hussian amongst many others. BBC Radio 2 folk Musican of the year 2006, he was again nominated this year and has just completed his first soundtrack for TG4 and the Smithsonian channel. John McCusker’s unique fiddle playing has earned him a worldwide reputation as one of the most gifted and versatile musicians of any genre. John was also part of the legendary band that toured with both Bob Dylan and mark Knopfler. Joining the Battlefield band at just 17 John spent 11 years touring the world with the now legendary folk outfit. Renowned for his skill at transcending musical boundaries he has worked with artists ranging from Paulo Nutini and Jools Holland to Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash and has recorded with Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene to name but a few. John Doyle’s gifts as guitarist, songwriter and vocalist have played an essential role in the ongoing renaissance of Irish traditional music. Now living in the states, John was the recent musical director for Joan Baez and toured with her for 2 year. One half of the stellar duo Liz Carroll and John Doyle, he is also a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Irish group Solas. Support: Megan Wisdom A solo performer who sings traditional songs and her own compositions. In 2015 she won the Percy Webb cup in a Suffolk singers’ competition.

CLUBLAND are coming to CAMBRIDGE! Saturday 13th September across 2 rooms

From the Jam features Bruce Foxton from the original Jam line up. He also spent 15 years playing bass with Stiff Little Fingers. Bruce is joined by Russell Hastings on lead vocal and guitar. From The Jam have gained a reputation for the kind of incendiary ‘live’ performances that sealed the reputation of The Jam all those years ago. Audiences can expect to hear classic The Jam hits such as Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, Going Underground, Town Called Malice and The Modern World as well as some live favourites and songs from Bruce’s solo career.

Part country, part rock, with sprinklings of folk and something else entirely, it's not easy categorising the band's unconventional sound. 2022 is set to be an exciting new chapter in the life of Morganway.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be hosting none other than THE CONGOS for a pre-carnival warm-up event! The Jamaican vocal group is one of the last remaining in their original formation since the 1970s. Cedric Myton, Ashanti Roy, Watty Burnett, and Talash, the newest member, embody authentic Rastafarians who steadfastly adhere to their principles and roots, living in accordance with the image they project. Their initial acclaim stemmed from the iconic album “Heart of the Congos,” recorded at Lee “Scratch” Perry’s renowned Black Ark studio. This album features timeless treasures of roots reggae, showcasing their vocal prowess on tracks like “La La Bam Bam,” “Open The Gate,” and “Congo Man.” Notably, the beloved “Fisherman” is hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top ten reggae songs of all time. This is an 18+ event

The South are an impressive 9-piece band that features former members of The Beautiful South, including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles. They play the songs made famous by The Beautiful South and bring back the full flavour and arrangements with this exciting live band. The South are keeping alive all those timeless songs such as A Little Time, Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Old Red Eyes is Back, Good as Gold, Don’t Marry Her, plus many more singles and album track; these songs span an impressive 20-year career starting way back in 1989!

Ryan Young brings new and exciting ideas to traditional Scottish music, receiving international praise for his spell-binding interpretations on the fiddle. His debut album was recorded with four time GRAMMY winner Jesse Lewis (who has worked with the likes of Bela Fleck and Yo Yo Ma) and launched at Feakle Traditional Music Festival in County Clare, accompanied by renowned guitarist, Dennis Cahill (Martin Hayes; The Gloaming). Ryan was nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2024 MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards; Live Act Of The Year at the 2023 Awards, and Musician Of The Year at the 2022 Awards. Ryan brings new life to very old, often forgotten tunes by playing them in his own unique way. He sings through the fiddle and his playing is often described as poetry without words. Ryan’s music is brimming with fresh melodic ideas, an uplifting rhythmic drive and a great depth of dynamics and precision. His sound is very distinctive and takes the listener on an emotional and adventurous journey in any performance. He holds both a first class honours and a Masters degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, was twice a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, and twice a finalist in the prestigious BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of The Year. He was awarded ‘Up And Coming Artist Of The Year’ at the Scots Trad Awards in, nominated for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and awarded Folking.com‘s Musician Of The Year title. Ryan Young was also the only UK artist selected to perform at the prestigious World Music conference, WOMEX, in 2019.

Ever wondered why music can be so powerful, causing deep emotional responses? Or why you can’t seem to get that song out of your head? In this talk, we will delve deep into the neuroscience of music, discovering how elements such as rhythm, pitch and timbre interact with our brains. A fascinating, yet often understated area of research, the neuroscience of music broadens our understanding of what music actually is, questioning why we respond to sounds in certain ways, and for what reason music is found in every society, across all corners of the globe. We will look at the many parts of the brain involved with music, from our memory to our speech processing and to our emotion and reward systems. We will explore the role of music in evolution, considering questions such as why we make and listen to music. Dr Marcus Pearce is Reader in Cognitive Science at Queen Mary University of London, where he leads the Music Cognition Laboratory, and honorary Professor of Neuroscience at Aarhus University, Denmark, where he is part of the Centre for Music in the Brain. His research aims to understand the cognitive and brain mechanisms that underlie perception and appreciation of complex auditory phenomena such as music. He has given presentations at the Wellcome Collection and Royal Institution, run a Live Science residency at the Science Museum, and collaborated with the London Sinfonietta to produce a free iOS app for developing rhythm skills. Presented by Seed Talks This is an 18+ event

Europe’s leading Blues & Rock publication, Classic Rock Blues, recently called Danny a “National Blues Treasure“, a title that he has worked tirelessly and passionately to earn. Riding high on the European blues scene for over a decade, yet still only 34, Danny has carved a name for himself the old-fashioned way having played over 2000 club and festival shows to his many fans around the world. February 2016 will see the release of Danny's brand new studio album.

Local ska favourites Big 10 headline a ska and reggae night with support from The Dekkertones, The Becconians and DJ Jesse James. Renowned for a huge Ska sound, entertaining stage antics and a loyal following, Big 10 are one of the most popular ska / 2 tone acts in the south east. With 8-10 musicians on stage at gigs ( a 2-3 brass section and 2-3 singers) a Big 10 performance is a real treat for the senses! Big 10 are lucky to have a group of seasoned performers Jason and Gary have fronted and managed numerous bands. Chris, Liz and Dan have played for Bad Manners and Chris and Dan have also played for Neville Staple of The Specials. Davey has recorded/toured with chart acts such as Seal and Sophie Ellis-Bexter. Former guitarist Andy went on to be guitarist for Neville Staple. Keep on skanking!!! Junction 1 standing gig Doors at 7pm - Curfew 11pm

Comedian, actress, singer and writer, Rachel Galvo invites you to join her raunchy one woman show, 'The Shite Feminist'.  Reflecting on the forces that have shaped her – from an Irish Catholic upbringing (Private, of course) to awkward sexual encounters – Rachel considers the choices that threw her South Dublin life drastically off-course. In the wake of the pandemic, Rachel ditched her business degree to pursue her creative dreams at a performing arts college in London. Written during her master’s year, The Shite Feminist is a form of radical self-love - a naughty, raucous, thought provoking and life affirming one woman show from one of Ireland’s most exciting new creative talents.

The Feeling are five twentysomethings from Sussex and London who love pop music. Great big no-nonsense, hook-filled, giant-chorused pop music music for the masses, only intelligent, with sunshine hooks and killer choruses that everyone can hum, from plumbers to professors. The Feeling, who are all between 25 and 27, are overnight sensations with a bit of a past, cutting their teeth as session musicians on a variety of mainstream and marginal recordings. They're all from Sussex, except Dan, who's from London. Paul, Kevin and Ciaran even went to the same school: Paul and Ciaran were in the same year. The Sussex axis of the band have been friends for 13 years. They met Dan and Richard at music college in Croydon 10 years ago, and they've been working together in various forms ever since. Five years ago they went through their "Hamburg era" when they appeared for several seasons in the Alps as a covers band who specialised in versions of Rolling Stones, Kinks, Stevie Wonder and Beatles songs as well as rocked-up versions of '80s hits like "Take On Me" by A-ha, "Walk Like An Egyptian" by The Bangles and "Jump" by Van Halen: "Whatever got the crowd going."

The Skids formed in 1977 in their home town of Dunfermline, Scotland by Richard Jobson, Stuart Adamson, Bill Simpson & Tom Kellichan. After releasing an independent single the band were played by John Peel, supported The Clash in concert and then were signed to Virgin Records in 1978. Their first singles were ‘Sweet Surburbia’, ‘The Saints are Coming’ and ‘Into the Valley’ - the latter reaching the UK Top Ten in early 1979. Their seminal debut album ‘Scared to Dance’; came out in 1979 and was quickly followed by two chart singles – ‘Masquerade’ and ‘Working for the Yankee Dollar’. Both singles were taken from the Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) produced second album ‘Days in Europa’. The album also featured new member Rusty Egan of Rich Kids & Visage fame after the departure of Tom Kellichan. The band released two more albums ‘The Absolute Game’ (1980) and ‘Joy’ (1981) before splitting. Stuart Adamson went on to have worldwide success with his new band Big Country. The Skids were at the heart of the punk scene in Scotland and took their music to London where they were signed by Virgin records. They made 4 albums and had numerous hit singles including Into the Valley, The Saints are Coming, Masquerade and Working for the Yankee Dollar.

Formed in 1990 Ezio are Singer/songwriter Ezio Lunedei and guitarist and best friend Booga (Mark Fowell). Since forming theyve released many studio and live albums from the critically acclaimed Black Boots on Latin Feet( Arista/Ariola produced by the late Rupert Hine), Diesel Vanilla (MCA Universal produced Peter Van Hooke and Rod Argent) to the most recent release Daylight Moon. In this time Ezio have toured and performed around the globe gaining a reputation for dynamic and exciting performances delivered with energy, humour and emotional beauty. Because of this they have sustained a large and loyal international long term following that was built mainly through word of mouth.

Following three sell-out shows, Chloe Petts (Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You) returns with a brand-new tour, and she’s delving where she’s never delved before: this is a show about sex. The problem is that she blushes every time she says that word. Expect routines about Page 3, lad culture, and most importantly, big, fat naturals.

Like an undescended testicle en route to its final destination, Christmas is a-coming! And nothing yells Yule louder than Sean Bean in full on medieval mode, challenging you all to a sackful of seasonal games, hellbent on getting you all giddy. So come join Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Adam Riches, (Cats Does Countdown), as he hits the road once more with his (k)night of chaotic buffoonery, to give you bastards a Christmas present you’ll never forget.

Innovator, award winning, multi-instrumentalist Malin Lewis marries West coast groove with a newly invented, self-made bagpipe alongside stars Sally Simpson (Fiddle) and Ali Hutton (Guitar). Malin will perform tracks from their SAY Award nominated album Halocline as well as several brand new pieces inspired by the flora and fauna of the Highlands. Malin's unique timbre is born from the deep connection that comes from making and composing for their own instrument. Their one of a kind two-octave Smallpipe creates a whole new world of sound, captivating audiences at every opportunity.

Sananda and his band, The Sugar Plum Pharaohs. The artist, composer, arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur and Post Millennium Rocker rose to fame in 1987 with his debut album, the GRAMMY Award-winning Introducing The Hardline, which debuted at number 1 in the UK charts and featured the international smash hit singles ‘Sign Your Name’, ‘Wishing Well’ and ‘If You Let Me Stay’.

The Furrow Collective is an award-winning and critically acclaimed English/Scottish band consisting of four distinctive and talented performers: Lucy Farrell (viola, voice & saw), Rachel Newton (harp, fiddle, voice), Emily Portman (banjo, concertina, voice) and Alasdair Roberts (guitars, voice). Formed in 2013, drawn together by a shared love of traditional song and balladry of England, Scotland and beyond and an open, intuitive approach to collaboration, the Furrow Collective were awarded the accolade of 'Best Band' at the 2017 BBC Radio Two Folk Awards, hot on the heels of the release of their second album, Wild Hog (Hudson Records). Each band member leads a song, moving with ease from jaunty stories of ailing horses, to poignant laments and sparsely adorned supernatural ballads. Touring extensively throughout the UK and Europe the Collective consistently delight audiences with their unique, beguiling approach to traditional song.