Chris Helme/Nigel Clarke

CHRIS HELME/NIGEL CLARKE

1MV 27TH March 2026

Another great show from Wakeup Wake up promotions at the International Music The International Music Venue last night... two artisists who were totally new to me, but clearly not to the large crowd!

Both original member of '90's indie bands, and currently playing solo acoustic shows.

First up was Nigel Clark, from the band Dodgy... he took the stage carefully unprepared and shuffled things around while building a rapport with the audience. Once he started he showed himself to be a fine guitar player and singer, playing predominantly his own songs, though he did include a couple of covers including a superb reading of Tom Waits "I Hope I Dont Fall in Love with You"... and anyone who does a great cover of a Tom Waits songs is fine by me!

His own songs were excellent, with some potently political pieces in there!.

Nigel comes over slightly disorganised, but has a warmth and style on stage that complements his great songs and performance... He has a strong clear voice and the lyrics were always foremost in his delivery... I didnt know any of his songs, but the audience clearly did, almost word for word!!... He ended on a real highlight, and it seems a great favourite, (which rang a few bells with me though i dont know the name!) and had the audience singing virtually the whole song with him... very accomplished performance and a quality set, thoroughly enjoyed it

After Nigel came Chris Helme, of Seahorses fame... tonight accompanied by Simon on guitar and some backing vocals... i could almost copy my thoughts on Nigel and apply them to Chris... he has a great strong voice and sings well, playing acoustic guitar. Simon supported him playing some really terrific guitar parts which added another dimension tot he performance

The songs, for me, were outstanding and again his strong clear delivery kept the lyrics to the forefront.

A great stage persona, engaging easily with the audience from the outset, delivering another outstanding set.

To close the evening Nigel came back and he, Chris and Simon played a couple more songs... one of Nigels and the great John Prine's "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness"... a great ending to what had been really great evenings music.

Nigel and Chris were both very open and positive in the performances, no flash, just fine songs delivered superbly with real character... a real breath of fresh air and a terrific evenings entertainment.

I totally missed out on hearing these two, and their bands, before... this was my introduction to them.. but i need to listen to more of their back catalogues... i think i've missed out!!!

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

Man/Awesome Dawson Band

MAN/AWESOME DAWSON BAND

IMV 25TH March 2026

Wednesday night at The International Music Venue was a pure joy... two terrific bands each playing superb sets.

First up was The Awesome Dawson Band... and great to see Dawson Smith back on stage, with his brand new band, featuring Steve (drums) Philip Koeberle (lead guitar) Sean Clutterham (harp) and Nick Plews (bass)

This was the first outing for the new line up, and it was terrific, great music played by 5 fine musicians combining into a terrific whole. I suspect as they play more gigs things will get tighter and take the band to new heights. The set featured Dawson's songs from across his career, stripped down and re-vamped into country/americana rockers...

There were a lot of smiles on stage, and in the audience, as the band continued to delight with the quality of their music. Dawson was playing acoustic and singing as well as i've ever heard him while the whole band was playing with assurance and quality.. .

The music was joyful and upbeat, almost front porch style...and when Dawson switched to electric for the last couple of songs, they rocked even more...

An absolute gem of a set, loved every minute and looking forward to seeing the band again...

One of the very best live bands in the late 60's and 70's, and indeed one of my very favourites, were the welsh rockers, MAN, and it was wonderful to see them back on stage headlining at the International Music Venue last night. The band reformed in the 80's and although they have gone through lineup changes the legendary MARTIN ACE is still there playing bass and singing, brilliantly supported by Josh Ace on giuitar/keyboards/vocals, James Beck on guitar and one of the best drummers i've seen... sadly I didn't catch his name.

I cant recall the pieces they played, but they started with a real classic (i think) "The Ride and the View"... it took barely a minute to see,... but the band were clearly on fire... the sound and feel was pure classic Man... and was wonderful.

Martin, Josh and John all took turns singing lead, and the three joined together to sing as a trio at times.

The musicianship in the band is outstanding, both guitar players were superb, and Josh also weighed in with some brilliant keyboard work. At the back the drummer was far more than just a drummer, he showed he could hammer the kit as well as playing with subtlety and style ... up front Martin's bass playing remains superb.. he seemed to touch the strings so lightly, but the bass was strong and clear throughout.

The first half ended with the old classic, "Spunk Rock" which took the music to even greater heights as it always did...

After the break the band continued in the same vein, superb music ending with the other early days classic "Romaine"

This was a masterclass of how to play brilliant rock music... no tricks, gimmicks or flash.. just brilliant musicianship delivered with assurance and total commitment... the music just flows beautifully...creating images, at times mesmerizing, at all times rocking and uplifting... an absolutely superb set by a superb band... as good as it gets... brilliant, loved every second

Two really great bands... one making its debut, the other in the legendary status... but both outstanding... and a word for the sound quality... crystal clear and superb!

keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

Bob Fox

BOB FOX

Grand Union Folk Club, Sileby 23rd March 2026

It's been a while since i last went to a real folk club, so it was a treat last night to go to the Grand Union Folk Club in Sileby to see Bob Fox in a traditional folk club, with some floor singer followed by a set by Bob, an interval then the same again, a beautiful relaxed and enjoyable evenings entertainment.

Bob has a superb heritage in folk music, playing solo and with various other musicians as well as a stint as "Songman" in "Warhorse", for which he had to learn to play the melodeon.

He plays a lot of songs from his native North-East, using the local dialect in some cases. As ever Bob sang and played superbly despite feeling below par... and covered a wide range of material from various stages of his illustrious career.

Stand-outs for me were the beautiful "Snow Falls" and one of my favourite John Tams song, "Rolling Home"... both from "Warhorse", as well as "When the Boat comes in", the lovely "Dreams never leave you" and the glorious Silly Wizard song "Rambling Rover".

As always, Bobs performance was warm and friendly, telling his tales and singing so well. He is a totally accomplished and outstanding performer, and as always i really loved his performance...

Such a joy to see one of the very best at close quarters in this setting... superb!!

keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

St Catherines Child

ST CATHERINES CHILD

IMV 22nd March 2026 

Absolutely lovely evening at the The International Music Venue last night, to see St. Catherine’s Child, ably assisted by Joe, on guitar.

A new name to me, i didnt know what to expect, and these can often be the best gigs!... as was this one.

St Catherine Child was simply superb... totally relaxed, at ease chatting with the audience and and singing beautifully... her lovely voice soft and warm, but able to turn on the power where required.

She played a couple of pieces on the keyboard, but her guitar work was outstanding, totally finger-picked, crisp clear and gentle in total empathy with the material. beside her Joe played some really beautiful guitar.

The songs were absolutely superb... the set fell into two parts, the first part was potentially upsetting dealing with her response to the death of her father... i think we have all been through similar experiences... but the songs were simply beautiful, very sensitive and thought provoking. Most of the feelings expressed were very familiar, and really struck a chord.. .the second part of the set featured older material, less sombre in mood but equally beautiful.

This was a beautiful evening, a selection of outstanding songs delivered by a warm, relaxed and superbly talented singer songwriter, who is also blessed with a beautiful voice

Loved every second of this performance... outstanding

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

Band from County Hell/Brandy Thieves

BAND FROM COUNTY HELL/BRANDY THIEVES

Duffys 21st March 2026

So pleased to have been back here on Saturday night… I love Duffy's Bar and all it does and stands for… a superb venue. The bill on Saturday night looked like something really special, and in the event it was even more. I have enjoyed many outstanding nights here but surely never a better one than this… two absolutely magnificent bands, The Brandy Thieves and The Band From County Hell both brought their A games and delivered absolutely mind bogglingly great sets… both full of energy, passion and musical prowess… and the audience dancing and singing gleefully right through… it really was a phenomenal night!!

So, first up were the Brandy Thieves… up front Andrea must be one of the most outstanding songwriters and performers around.. .always displaying boundless energy and passion, clearly loving what she does and engaging totally with the audience. Accompanied by the superb band, comprising of drums, bass, banjo and trumpet, matching Andrea all the way with their energy and passion, delivering an exhilarating blend of musical styles, gypsy punk and touching on rock, punk, mariachi, reggae among others. They are totally unique, unforgettable and so exciting to see.

They kicked off acapella with a fine version of “The Auld Triangle” before turning up the intensity and tempo, to say nothing of the excitement and dancing, with a few more songs before the wonderful “The Blackbird” which was greeted with whoops and even more exuberant dancing and singing from the floor… a couple more slices of the trademark gypsy punk and we come to the encore of the classic “Hit the Road Jack” which had the audience roaring out the chorus… and that was it… a glorious raucous up tempo rocking joy of a set by a band who love to have fun and make sure the audience do to… absolutely glorious performance

So, who can follow something like that… the headliners, The Band Form County Hell can!!! They kicked off at full power with a boisterous instrumental piece followed by what Jock described as the only love song he’d written for his wife Joolz, ’Highway to Hell”. The band were rocking and the audience were dancing but with “Streams of Whiskey” the band, and audience, went into overdrive…the tempo, intensity and excitement were turned up even higher, and never dropped throughout the entire show…�As the set continued, the Pogues links continued with “Dirty Old Town”, which Joolz had once sung live with Shane. Jock played the tune several times on the harp as the audience sang quietly.. but that turned to a roar as Jock started to sing… and “If I should Fall From Grace with God” somehow upped the atmosphere another notch

As the second half started Dodger was conspicuous by his absence as the band played an Elvis classic… but reappeared guitar in hand as a flambouyant Elvis in a yellow suit for “Elvis”… The band continued to rock until a glorious “Whiskey in the Jar” got the audience singing at full tilt again…. Followed by a brisk “Fields of Athenry”… that could have been a closer, but a ferocious “Sick Beds of Cuchulainn” followed.

Hammer and Vicious were working like demons on drums and bass respectively driving the powerful beat beautifully while Hill Billy Angus and Deep South Dave were playing like demons on banjo and bouzouki respectively…

Jock threw Hill Billy Angus’s waistcoat into the crowd as a gift…By now the Boot Stick was in evidence with the audience members in turn having a chance to do a routine or dance with it while the rest of the crowd reeled and rocked around the room, I have totally lost any concept of the order from here on… the audience were reeling around with the totally iresistable dance music that was rocking the room… The band did theoretically end the set, but the cries for more kept them rocking, so they delivered a a couple of Irish songs, “Cockles and Muscles” song by Joolz replacing Molly Malone with Seamus… followed by a blistering version of “The Irish Rover”. Jock then felt a rebel song appropriate and to everyones delight gave us hugely rousing rebel song (the name of which I don’t recall).. Somewhere around here the band played the beautiful good night song “The Parting Glass” which saw most of the audience linked together bouncing before breaking into more frantic reeling as the piece moved into another high tempo instrumental section…

Eventually it had to end.. .Jock called the Brandy Thieves onto the stage and called for Joolz to return for a final piece…She then led an acapella “Wild Rover”, rushing through the verses so the bands and audience could sing another rousing chorus…. So, at around 20 minutes after midnight the party came to an end with the bands triumphant and the audience reeling

This was a magical night… two bloody brilliant bands playing with massive energy snd passion…and huge musical ability, rocking the room with their unique brands of Celtic and gypsy punk folk music… two of the best bands I’ve seen.. certainly two of the most exciting bands… and as good a night as I’ve seen, and not only at Duffy’s…

Huge thanks to The Band from County Hell and Brandy Thieves for giving us such a wonderful evening of exhilarating music… and a huge “up” for Russ who as ever managed to deliver superb sound from both bands whatever was happening on stage!!

Lets hope there back for more soon…

Keep music live.. .keep music reel… support your local venues