Moody Fairy/Steve Cartwright/Rosa Fernandez/Kevin Hewick

 MOODY FAIRY/STEVE CARTWRIGHT/

ROSA FERNANDEZ/KEVIN HEWICK

Duffys 10th July 2025

Thursday night at Duffy's... Botheration 3 hosted as ever by Kevin Hewick

Kevin opened the evening in typical Kevin style... rambling and telling his tales and singing his songs... it never fails to amaze me that Kevin can sound so frail and vulnerable when chatting and sing so strongly with so much real assertiveness and passion. i'm sure everyone knows Kevin and knows how good his songs are... his patter can be somewhat inconsequential at times but is always interesting and entertaining... i could listen to it all night!!... and his songs and singing are strong, passionate and real quality... could also listen to them all night!!

After Kevin, a new name to me, Rosa Fernandez... difficult artist to review, but bottom line is I really enjoyed her entertaining set. She says she is not a serious musician, and clearly sets out to enjoy herself and entertain... she walks a fine line and while staying on the right side she is a fine singer, accompanying herself on ukelele, with an intriguing mix of covers and original poetry... however when she crosses the line it becomes, to my taste, a tad uncomfortable... but with this kind of fun performance, stepping the wron g side for mements is no problem, and inevitable

Highlight for me was her acapella "My love is like a red red rose" which was superb. The whole performance was full of fun and she and the audience loved it... The mix of song and poetry really appealed, though at times the poetry for me didnt quite match the standards of the rest of the set, but i really loved the closing line about a famous singer, which which was something along the lines of "Gary set the Bar low"

We then had one of the elder statesmen and local legend Steve Cartwright & The Last Days, Steve playing electric guitar and singing with Jim Tetlow on cajon...

Steves songs are always high class, often touched with legend and mythology and beautifully constructed... the guitar playing perfectly reflects the nature of the lyrics... and along with Jim's cajon creates a hypnotic and delightful whole.

The Last Days are always terrific and this set was a real cracker...

MOODY FAIRY was next up, she started the set with some album tracks and ended with new material.... and played some solo and others with her partner "Lairy Bear"...

The songs are high quality and delivery both captivating and a delight... the guitar playing perfectly in sync with the delivery. "Lairy Bear" also contributed some high class guitar work to accompany her.. There was a moment when they couldn't get an intro right, but it turned out she was playing the wrong intro!... they made the most of it and eventually played the song superbly...

No two ways about it.. this was a super set by someone whose reputation i knew well but hadn't got to see before... hope to see Moody Fairy more as the weeks go by... really loved the performance... and I agree with Kevin's comment... the last song performed was absolutely magnificent, beautiful

My apologies to Velvet Crisis , i wasn't able to stay for their set, but judging by the sound check i am sure they would have been as ebullient and good as ever

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

Dark Side of the Wall

DARK SIDE OF THE WALL

IAC 5TH July 2025

Back to the International Arts Centre last night for this years gig by Dark Side of the Wall.

There are only a handful of tribute bands i would follow and DSOTW are probably top of that list... a superb band who deliver high quality sets every time!

Last nights set was as always perfectly chosen... Pink Floyd have a huge back catalogue and whatever songs DSOTW include, there will be some songs that you would like to have seen included... but none that could be dropped!! (I'd have loved "Mother" from the Wall!!)

Last night started with "Breathe/Time" from Dark Side, then delved into "Division Bell", "Animals", "Final Cut" and "Momentary Relapse" as well as a wonderful atmospheric spacey "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" from way back on "Saucerful of Secrets"

The second half opened with a superb "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" then concentrated on medleys from "Dark Side" and "The Wall" separated by "Fat Old Sun (Atom Heart Mother)

After the "Wall Medley" the band changed mood for a wonderful always emotional "Wish You Were Here" before the magnificent climactic "Comfortably Numb"... which of course didnt end the show... as, as ever, "Run Like Hell" followed as the encore!!.

This band are hugely authentic and sound as close to PF as you can get... at the back of the stage Tony Norris is a superb drummer and Jon Murdock and Peter Riley deliver the wonderful keyboards.... Pete also delivers the manic laughter and Jon also contributes first class guitar.

At the front, mostly, Adrian Stokes is a superb musician playing guitar and pedal steel, Mick Freeman is a superb and charismatic singer, and cowbell maestro. while Steve Chilton plays superb bass. To his left welcome back to the band Louise Wilson with her superb backing vocals and at times guitar work. Finally, Pete Taz Morgan pops on and off to play some superb sax as well as delivering (I seem to think more than before?) vocals to the mix

Floyds music is generally serious, but DSOTW not only play brilliantly throughout, but also clearly have a ball playing... finding a lot of space for humour and generate a truly warm and vibrant rapport amongst themselves and with the audience... the whole performance is delivered with brilliance, integrity and a real sense of joy...

An absolute joy to see and hear every time... if you like PF music, get down to see this band... they are consistently outstanding and last nights gig was an absolute beauty...

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

Dayflower/Virginia's Wolves/SJ Dayflower

DAYFLOWER/VIGINIAS WOLVES/SJ THOMAS

Duffys 4th July 2025

Once again Duffy's Bar provided us a great evenings entertainment... First up last night was a new name to me.. SJ Thomas. SJ showed she had a fine voice, at times sounding quite vulnerable, and other times strong and assertive, and she sing well, performing her own original songs... and the songs are rather good and well written. However early on she did say that she specialises in sad songs around divorces and broken relationships, and all the songs seemed to follow that theme... for me more variation would improve the set as to my ears sadly it became rather monotonous by the end.

Next up were a total contrast... Virginia's Wolves who delivered a cracking set of high powered pop and rock. One of the earlier bands to emerge from the wonderful Unglamorous/Riotous Collective project they play with power, energy and great spirit, the set building up beautifully getting more and more rocky as it went on... They feature three quality vocalists and have a foundation of a cracking thunderous bass and crisp quality drums, topped with some excellent guitar playing as well as the great vocals... a great performance

Headlining were Dayflower, another new name to me and I believe an occasional vehicle for the musicians... and based on this show i would love to see them playing more often.

They are a group of quality musicians playing together and clearly loving the experience.

Great crisp drumming and solid rhythmic base provide the backdrop for the guitars which give a wonderful jangly sound, reminiscent of a hybrid of 90's indie rock and, with the Rickenbacker, a jangly Byrds feel... this is jangly power pop at it's very best... all topped off by a great vocal performance, full of energy and spirit... terrific set, the band appeared to really enjoy it and the audience definitely did... could have done with some more material!!

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

Mike Sanchez

MIKE SANCHEZ

Guildhall 26th June 2025

Thursday night Leicester historical Leicester Guildhall hosted one of the great gigs when Mike Sanchez and his band delivered a fabulous set of old time boogie woogie rock'n'roll with his superb band. This gig was a memory of old times.. the very good ones... and was a total breath of fresh air... no nonsense, just high class playing and singing on a host of familiar and less familiar numbers.

From the moment the band hit the stage, Mike looked into the audience and greeted us and in that instant had everyone in the palm of his handafter an introductory little speech Mike hit the keyboard and the rocking boogie woogie rhythms filled the room... backed by Nick on upright slap bass, Tom on guitar and Mark on drums the band rocked from start to finish....song followed hard on the heels of song, leaving little time to applaud beforethe next one started... when the band did pause between songs Mike's banter was always fun and upbeat...

Early on Mike said he didn't have a set list and they freewheeled through the set including a number of pieces that had apparently not been rehearsed or seen the light of day for a while... yet they all flowed with power and great energy and joy... though ending the pieces was often a voyage of discovery for the band, and I suspect Mike himself

The band were superb... Marks drums and Nicks bass pounding out the rhythm while Tom played superb guitar, at times through some guitar wizardry making it sound like a wailing sax...

The focus of the gig was on good time rocvking boogie woogie... delivered with brilliant musicianship... humour a great joy as the band appeared to be having a ball on stage and the audience to an audience memeber loving every moment...

An absolute joy of a good time gig... simply wonderful from start to finish

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

Kick in the Bits/Dada Women/Rai Waddingham/Chris Cottis Allan

KICK IN THE BITS/DADA WOMEN/RAI WADDINGHAM/CHRIS COTTIS-ALLAN

Duffys 22nd June 2025

Another Sunday, and another "Up the Duffy's" and as always Chris put together a terrific bill to give us a terrific evening of music...

First up was Chris Cottis-Allan who kicked off as the audience was coming in, and eventually was playing to a large crowd who were thoroughly loving his great set. Chris has a presence on stage... relaxed and comfortable with a real warmth. Very much about the song, which are all good and lyrically excellent... a really warm and highly enjoyable set which was rightly warmly received by the audience

Next up was Rai Waddingham, for me the highlight of the evening. Beautiful voice, great singer and writer of superb powerful songs... hugely assured and warm performance loved by the audience... superb set... absolutely loved it... what more can i say?

Next up were Dada Women, representing the Riotous collective who were well represented as ever in the audience. I have never seen this band play better... full of power and energy they delivered a really cracking set of their great original material with real energy, commitment and assurance.. a terrific set that got toes a-tapping and dancers a-dancing... loved it!

To end the evening, up stepped A Kick In The Bits... they seemed to take a while to set up but once they did they announced themselves in an explosion of sound and power which was sustained throughout the set. The band have elements of Rock, Punk, Two-Tone and Reggae as they blow through their set of high powered exciting hooligan music...The songs sounded pretty good but the overall power of the sound meant i wan't concentrating on the lyrical content, though there was a strong political element... The band are a real breath of fresh air, led generally by exuberant trombone and rocking like fury throughout... the band clearly have a ball playing.. and so do the listening audience... a powerful, exciting and great fun end to what was a superb evening of music.

If you haven't been to one of these shindigs you are missing out... consistently high quality music, great friendly vibes and a knowledgable audience who are there to meet greet and socialise but always stay quiet and really listen to and appreciate the artists performing...

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

Noise Makes Guild/Simon Clements

NOISE MAKERS GUILD/SIMON CLEMENTS

Firebug 20th June 2025

After a gap, another gig, this time at Firebug... and to be honest a disappointment as the headliner, Ryan Chrys, was stuck in New York with his band due to their flight having to turn back... however we still had a hugely enjoyable gig, and huge credit to Calder and Noise Makers Guild for going ahead and playing for free and making it another fine night of music...

First up was Simon Clements, However he proved to be a fine singer/songwriter, delivering a number of his own songs, starting as he said with the upbeat ones before switching to the more sombre stuff... In both forms he sang well, a fine voice and delivering the songs with assurance and quality accompanied by some pretty good guitar playing throughout...

Fines songs and a thoroughly accomplished performance... thoroughly enjoyed it

After came the NOISE MAKERS GUILD who are supporting Ryan throughout the tour... they clearly disappointed that Ryan wasn't able to be there, but nonetheless delivered a fine mixed bag of a set.

Before the show they said that style-wise they were all over the place with a variety of styles in there... and it showed in the set!... Some quite poppy pieces, 90's jangly bits, rock, ballad, americana and blues... mainly original material with a couple of covers included towards the end, one an REM song which I didn't know, the other a number by a southern rock outfit (i think the River Dogs?).

For me the highlight was the excellent blues work out they ended the set with... a damn fine piece it was too!!

Another highly accomplished performance highlighted by some really great guitar work throughout... including both lovely lyrical passages as well as some rather fierce more rocky passages... all supported by some rock steady bass and drums and led by a singer with a strong clear voice.

All in all, a hugely enjoyable evening and again many thanks to the artists and Firebug for going ahead with a free show and providing such a good evening

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