Serious Moonlight

SERIOUS MOONLIGHTS

IMV 30TH August 2025

Lovely sunday evening at the International Music Venue with the Serious Moonlights doing a set of David Bowie Music.

A new band to me, led by Simon Gilroy, with Nick Murphy, Peter Tuerpenny, Jonno Martin along with guest vocalists Sally Hoosack, Alex James and Simon Barrow, they ran through. host of Bowie material, much of which was familiar, some of which was unknown to me.

Thoroughly enjoyed the whole show, musically excellent , especially the interplay between the guitars and Nicks alway spot on drumming, and vocally very strong

As ever, spot-on sound in the room... wish i could say that about the lighting... but it didnt spoil a cracking show

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Rollin Stoned

ROLLIN STONED
IMV 22ND August 2026

 On Saturday Night at the The International Music Venue, Wake up promotions brought us Rollin Stoned for a night of rocking nostalgia.

The Stones musical legacy is one of the greatest and most familiar in rock, so the songs were all classics, most of the audience about word perfect on them all!

The first half concentrated mainly on the singles and the period up to around '68 and the band rocked on beautifully. However they debuted one of my favourite songs, "Lady Jane" which was to my ears a mess and closed the half with a below par "Cant Always Get What You Want"

The second half was meant to feature the late '70's Stones, though most of the songs were from an earlier period... Starting the half with "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man"... other mid 70's material followed then a couple I didnt recognise, which i think were later period, and to be honest they dragged for me... before picking up again with a bunch of late 60's/Early 70's classics to round off the set...

Such such a vast repertoire to pick from i am sure everyone had a song they wanted to hear that wasnt included, but what could they have dropped?... thats the nature of the thing... i was delighted though to hear "Dead Flowers" in the set... though it wasn't the greatest version.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, but with a few caveats... the banter between songs featured mainly irritating references to Brian being dead and living in Heaven which for me were out of place and banal.... and in the second half there were comments of. "Where's Ronnie" ... the Ronnie Wood character finally appeared but to be honest added nothing of interest to the sound. The other issue for me personally was that the Jagger figure was nothing like up to the standard of the rest of the band...

Hugely enjoyable night, but for me because of the material rather than the band... would i go see them again?…. I think probably not.

Have to say though... the sound as ever in the venue was immaculate and it was a really enjoyable evening

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Chris Conway/Ann Duggan & Rob Hines/Twisted Widows/Kevin Hewick

CHRIS CONWAY/ANNIE DUGGAN & ROB HINES/

TWISTED WIDOWS/KEVIN HEWICK

Duffys 6th August 2026

Kevin excelled in putting the bill together for last nights "Botheration" at Duffy's Bar

Kevin Hewick opened up as ever with s great set, his usual shambolic lovable self around a batch of excellent songs performed with his usual power and commitment

Following this the TWISTED WIDOWS delighted with a set of great covers

Next up, a Botheration first for Annie Duggan & Rob Hines. Hadnt seen them for a while, but Annie was on top form singing as beautifully as ever and full of life and energy. Rob makes guitar playing look easy... accompanying perfectly through and delivering a simply mesmerizing performance of a Tommy Emmanuel piece, "Gdansk". Absolutely sparkling great set.

Closing was the wonderful Chris Conway, surely one of the most talented and nicest people on the circuit. His set was as ever fun, varied and massively enjoyable... playing mainly 12 string guitar, but also featuring the delightful african instrument the name of which i can never remember and pipes... Chris simply cruised through a superb set.

One of the best Botherations yet... loved it!!

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