Holy Embers, Spiderman! It’s THE SUMMER PAGEANT
As part of The Borderline’s Summer Pageant, Louis Eliot & The Embers* will grace its stage on 7th June 2010, playing selections from their latest album ‘Kittow’s Moor’. http://www.louiseliot.com
The evening will also feature “candlelit punk”ers (TimeOut) SONGDOG, uber-DJ GAVIN MARTIN & female Morris dancing troupe The Belles Of London City. To celebrate further into the ever-receding nighttime, Songdog will host an after-party right across Tottenham Court Road, down PETER PARKER’S ROCK-N-ROLL CLUB, round about 22.30-ish. Once again, I’ll kidnap Patmo Sheeran away from ‘The Dirt’ for another awesome set, maybe Super-Siren Cheyne Pride’ll join in if I’m damn lucky…. and if the moon shines just right maybe Martin Bell will pluck up his fiddle for us, too.
*The Embers include: Louis Phillips – vocals, whistle and percussion, James Sneyd – accordian, Mike Polson – bass and vocals, Jim Ledbetter – drums and Martin Bell – mandolin and fiddle.
The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette St, London, W1D 4JB Transport Tottenham Court Road, Telephone 020 7734 5547
Peter Parker’s Rock-n-Roll Club, 4 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8LP Telephone (020) 7836 1451
Filed under general | Comment (0)Brighton My Weekend – I live in Hope
This weekend’s gonna be so mighty I can almost taste it. Had to poach Patmo Sheeran from ‘The Dirt’ whilst they weren’t lookin, to come & accompany my solo support set for the infamous SHRAG (‘Effortless pop skill’ – Artrocker) down Da Doo Run Run: It’s Alive #3, this Saturday 5th June at The Hope Brighton.
GAVIN MARTIN’s gonna fluff us up good, spinnin some choice full-frontal, female-led classics & rarities from his own personal & private record collection of musical genius. He will hypnotise your bootyshake, I guarantee!
PATMO & I are on at bout 21.30 ie dusk with my 30 minute solo set of Country-Motown-esque songs to reclaim the political as personal including a cosmetic surgical lament, wrong side o the trax romance balladry, conspiracy theory protest songs, stream of unconscious trip-hoppery & MO!
Then StormTheCharts shortlisted, darlings of this year’s London Popfest, bean-crazy grrrl & boyeee band – SHRAG – will blast up the boards with their signature post-New Wave drenched dear-diary, dirty confessionals worthy of the justified and ancient waif/naif collective that they are…
Miss it … and miss out, MISSY!
The Hope (formerly Polar Bar Central)
10-12 Queens Road
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 3WA
http://www.myspace.com/thehopevenue1
£5-er in advance right here (only 12 left!)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/81622
Then THEN! COUNTRY DIRT will gather together again on Sunday the 6th – 6/6/10 – to hit the mainstage for this year’s …. HOPE WEEKENDER 2010 …. in the wilds of Biggin Hill somewhere. Everything you need to know about it’s right here below including some countrified directions to this year’s new venue: Highams Hill Farm
http://www.hopefestival.co.uk/
Features Live entertainment on 2 stages and the piano + Ska-Bar; The big fire; Kids workshops and the magic show; Kids dome; Big bouncy castle; Licenced bar with draught guinness and ale; Cafe and coffee stall, burger van, ice cream
We played the benefit gig in April, and they liked us allright. Hell yeah we’re playin this Sunday and no mistake.
Be there or blow it, Y’all! Yeeeehahahaha!
Filed under general | Comment (0)Fresh from THE ORGAN …. NO:ID FESTIVAL DAY 1 – RUDE MECHANICALS, COUNTRY DIRT
http://www.organart.demon.co.uk/aaalive2.htm
The Others, Stoke Newington, London – 16th April ‘10 – The Others isn’t your conventional rock venue, no, tonight we’re upstairs, above a 70’s looking snooker hall in some kind of DIY community space. No stage as such, bands down one end, on the floor, old armchairs scattered around, friendly space, relaxed atmosphere, boundaries blurred, where does band end and audience start? Slight air of chaos and punk rock, the more than healthy spirit of do it yourself. We’re deep in the depths of Stoke Newington, some kind of police incident up on the main road outside as we head for the venue. You’ll know you’ve found the place by the broken vintage synths chained to the wall in the stairwell.
There’s all kinds of strange people walking around in colourfully strange dress, there’s rather home made looking art on the walls (the venue doubles as a lo-fi art gallery that also hosts life drawing classes on Monday nights), the art isn’t that inspiring, then again, hard to get to it amongst the chaos of the cowgirls, the sweet dealers – “got some Dolly Mixtures here” says the dubious looking “punk” in the wrap-around glasses as he produces a sweaty looking plastic bag with three sticky looking sweets “five pence each, don’t tell anyone, three for twelve pence to you”. DJ’s are spinning cheesy 70’s/80’s disco pop alongside classic slabs of wholesome Black Sabbath, the place fills up pretty quickly…
Somewhere through the healthy chaos and confusion, once Cornellius has finished politely ranting and singing and telling us all we know nothing about anything (and just about gets away with it because he does it with an innocent smile and some harmless lefty-hippy good intention), a band finally takes to the ‘stage’… They take to the stage from the crowd, they appear to be called COUNTRY DIRT. She’s a star in her red stockings and white cowboy boots, the stage is hers, the fake redneck drawl and her talk of putting the cunt in country, you almost want the song to end so she can get in to the teasing performance once more. The songs are good though, countrified bluegrass, banjos, sunshine, they throw in a rather decent Gram Parsons cover alongside what we assume are their own rather good songs. Songs with great titles, titles like Pussy Whipped, as she coverts around her microphone stand and makes sure you know she’s the centre of attention. Country Dirt are fun, they have their tongues stuck firmly in cheek as they bring a collective smile to the face of the venue, they have some seriously good bluegrass country rock there though, they’d be good without her, they’re excellent with her. They go down extremely well, she’s a star in her big cowgirl hat, her name is Marieanne Hyatt..
COUNTRY DIRT: www.myspace.com/countrygrit
The NO:ID festival was and is part of the NO:ID network, anetwork of artists in East London, a gallery, and a question of identity, working equally with fine arts, performance arts, and musicians. here’s some links…
noidgallery.net / theothers.uk.com
War HWUAHH What is it good For – 16th May – The FlowerPot 147 Kentish Town Rd
THIS IS A FREE EVENT. THE ONLY EVENT OF ITS KIND IN LONDON THIS YEAR:- A POSITIVE GATHERING TO UNITE MANY VOICES. NB THIS IS NOT AN OPEN MIC SESSION.
NB THIS RUNNING ORDER MAY CHANGE
Singers, Songwriters, Poets, Speakers, Journalists, Bloggers, Writers, Video Makers, Film Makers, Activists.This is a serious event, which will feature Video Projections, Music, and Spoken Word ‘Live’.
DJ Stan Brennan (Pogues Producer, with veritable trove of tunes)
Many Video Projections +
Gaynor O’Flynn (Singer-Songwriter)
Paul Howard (Singer-Guitarist: 3 great covers on Acoustic Guitar)
Rosamund (Poet-Performance Artist with excerpts from Lily Marlene)
AnnaLeDoesPoetry (Spoken Word Poetry for our times)
Pennie Quinton (Re ‘I’m A Photographer – Not A Terrorist!’ + Palestine)
Aine Duffy (Acoustic Guitarist-Singer-Songwriter from Cork) TBC
Mic Wright (Writer-Journalist-Speaker)
Siskin (Upcoming Duo who have been receiving Press adulation recently)
Grassy Noel + APE (Truly unique music)
Sonja Kristina & Special Guests (formerly singer with Curved Air, The Strawbs) Clifford Slapper, pianist (David Bowie, Boy George, Billie Ray Martin, Finlay Quaye, Jarvis Cocker) speaks about ending war, and performs John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ – with Sonja Kristina on vocals.
The Supernovas (5 Stars in The Daily Mirror Music Column)
VIDEOS
Suzanne Moore (Speaker: Journalist & Columnist from The Mail & The Independent. Standing as INDEPENDENT candidate for Stoke Newington in May 6th General Election).
Sterling Roswell Band (Inc Rosco formerly of Spacemen 3)+
Martin Belmont (Guitarist with Graham Parker & The Rumour,
Elvis Costello (Trust), Carlene Carter, Nick Lowe’s Cowboy Outfit, Hang Wangford, Carl Perkins, and the late Johnny Cash!) WITH vocalist Barbara Marsh (Singer on Martin’s new GUEST LIST CD) PLUS vocalist
Marianne Hyatt (singing Texan Tunes and providing Country Vibes from Austin, Texas)
Country Dirt play Hope Weekender Benefit 2nd May 6pm
Country Dirt are vyin for a slot at the Hope Weekender 4/5 June 2010 by playin…
Hope London Benefit Gig, Mayday bank holiday Sunday 2nd May – 6pm - The Hob Gobblin in Forest Hill SE23 (opposite the station). Entry charge £5 on door.
Free entry if you buy your Hope Weekender ticket on The Door (creditcards and checks not accepted).
HOPE WEEKENDER 2010 - 4th/5th June – http://www.hopefestival.co.uk/
This year looks set to be one of the best ever. We’ve found a fab new site, just for us, on a working farm (no animals) and inside the M25.
The line up is coming together and looking great. Details to follow. Features:
Live entertainment on 2 stages and the piano + Ska-Bar
The big fire.
Kids workshops and the magic shows
Kids dome
Big bouncy castle slide.
Licenced bar with draught guinness and ale
Cafe and coffee stall, burger van, ice cream
Site Details:
Fires allowed. Wood for sale on site NB Fires must be off the ground on most of the site so bring something to burn on. This will be enforced. Areas available for fires on ground
Wristbands must be worn at all times.
Recycling facilities available.
Flushing toilets, no showers this year
No dogs please.
The ground is hard so we advise you plan for that. Special tent pegs are for sale on site.
Camping separate from parking this year, camper vans have an area for themselves There are no hookups for these.
Please respect the boundaries of our event or you will be asked to leave. (you’ll get it when you arrive).
The nearest railway station is 3 miles away and a bus does go past the site.
Enjoy!!!
contact Dave Ripp: dave@plumbandbass.co.uk / cc: dave@skadaddy.co.uk
Filed under general | Comment (0)NO:ID Festie – The Others – featuring Country Dirt 16th April 8pm
Just when you thought it was safe to put yer pistol in yer pickup, COUNTRY DIRT skid off with full cavalry horsepower in a cloud o pure white gypsum at the NO:ID 2-day indoor festie – The Others, Stoke Newington - 16 April, doors open 7pm. Take it away you LONESOME COWBOYS FROM HELL – http://noidgallery.net/festi.html
“This is a two day indoor festival featuring some of the most cutting edge novel + established acts in musical live performance London’s underground has to offer.
All artists have in common that we understand being on stage as being in character, and all projects are famous for combining amazing musicianship with great showmanship.
Friday April 16th is featuring some astonishing acts, mainly acoustic, headlined by the Lonesome Cowboys from Hell which are somehow Psycho-Country or Country Jazz. Mescaline for Methodists play dancy world fusion to round up the night.
Both nights are moderated by the amazing Aunty Luxury (Annouchka Bayley), acts being connected by DJ’s and live performances of the unexpected kind. There will be a bar, and a merchandise and record stall.
MAIN ACTS FRIDAY 16th:
Rude Mechanicals: Absurd rock music, punk funk caberet – musically somehow reminiscent to some stuff by Frank Zappa, but voice and appearance of Jo Robert are beyond comparison. Jo Roberts – vocals, harmonica; Cos Chapman – guitar, bass; Guy Avern – bass, keyboard; Kate Newell – oboe, keyboard, concertina; Dylan Bates – violin, trumpet; Tom Greenhaulgh – drums.
Country Dirt: if there is “alternative country music”, this is it. Crafted with great musicianship, this ensemble questions and transgresses the limits of a genre. Featuring Marianne Hyatt.
Lonesome Cowboys from Hell: a mix of traditional and self-constructed instruments creates music that can best be described as “psycho-country”, fronted by Frank E. (Calum F. Kerr) whose lyrics have been called “the last word on what’s to be said about the art-world”. Seriously one of the most interesting combos that came out of the “noughties”. “JK-EE” Tim Fitcroft – ukuleles, guitar, accordion; “Jan E. blister” Jan Suchanek – bucket bass; “A.N.Other Musician” Billy Smith – fiddle; John “D. Vile” Devolle – drums.
Mescaline for Ministers: A tribute to Peyoti for President, who have been touring world wide with famous Manu Chao and are London’s most sought-after world fusion band. Dance your shoes off. All musicians have requested to not reveal their ID… ”
The Others, 6-8 Manor Road, London N16 5SA http://www.theothers.uk.com/
Filed under general | Comment (0)Jones-in for The Dirty Johnsons – Pussycat Scratch Fever down the Dublin Castle – 11 March 10
“Baby, you don’t look at me the same way anymore …..Maybe it’s because your eyeball’s come out of its socket….. and it’s rollin on the floor” – Zombie Nightmare

Still got plenty o time 2 get in yo kitty car & drive away, unless you can fight better than you can drive
She’s just a wispy slip of a pussywhip, afraid of the dark, but dancing in it, like it’s her last refuge – flinching from the collective strobe of fanatic flash like a cat who glided into a hot water wiggle. Pussycat Johnson dodges her ever-watchful-through-the-lense spectators, and stakes her claim at stage’s edge, looming over us sky high in her hometown platforms, painted on rubber suit and hair shellacked high – frozen at the moment she broke the sound barrier in Russ Meyer’s car during a desert drive-by. It’s only by coincidence her hairdo looks like engorged and erect kitty ears. It was just a freak accident when her outstretched fingers cauterised to claw during the driving rhythm. She dares us to take the leap with her but doesn’t wait a single second for us. Faster Pussycat, KILL! KILL!!

Was that "Welcome to the pussyfoot jungle?" or "Made in Basingstoke" I saw tattooed on her shiny vinyl tail?
“I’m your Hammer horror, …. I’m a real cruel woman, you’re in real hot water” – Boogie Woman
When Jake (Psychobilly guitarist deluxe) & Ant Johnson (drummer de-Sade) are nearly spent b/w numbers, Pussycat still purrs out an extended lo-smoldering pussycat rant, lisping about herself – Pussycat – in 3rd feline Basingstoke lilt. The ’burbs are back! Jake & Ant’s unforgiving rhythms and merciless cock-a-billy rev spark up her non-stop monologue and welcome us to her world. Once she was a little kid who stood in the corner, with her little whiskers grazing the chalkboard, for saying the right thing at the wrong time – “Some guy put his balls on my head once” - now Pussycat lets rip an ancient, feral, helium howl in defense of the archetypical villainess; trapped behind the fetish-shop mask she glued on to her face (for real). Oh the triumph of the under-cat. Use her up if you think you can.
“It ain’t music, just makin noise….. I don’t wanna if I gotta look like boys….. & oh those boys, oh shoot, they look like girls….. I don’t wanna ride what they’re tryin to sell….. DON’T WANNA GO TO THE SHOW ….. DON’T WANNA KNOW …. RA RAAAAAAA” – To the Show
Well I do! They’re playin again at the Haiti Benefit Party 26 March The Grosvenor, 17 Sidney road Stockwell SW9 0TP £3
Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons + Kodek + Midiot + Active Slaughter + Killerbomb + Rude Mechanicals + Lord Muck + Anarchistwood + The Bailiff + Tokie
Filed under general | Comment (0)Come to my GIG + Archive Party this SUNDAY Eve 14th @ The FLOWERPOT
An Acoustic Night – Marianne Hyatt & Alex Thomas + Knox of legendary UK Punk band The Vibrators in a ‘special guest spot’

6.oopm Gavin Martin’s DJ set (Mirror’s Music Critic)
7.oopm Stan Brennan’s DJ Set (w cool vid projections)
8.oopm Rare 1960′s Acoustic ‘Blues’ Video performances on the Big Screen
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Sonny Boy Williamson
Muddy Waters
Cyril Davies All Stars
8.15pm Knox of The Vibrators goes acoustic. Very entertaining!
8.45pm Rare Country, Ballads, & Rock ‘n’ Roll all on the Big Screen
Christian Bollocks
Dusty Springfield
Bill Withers
Johnny Cash
Phil Ochs
Barry McGuire
Country Joe MacDonald
Nick Lowe
Rambling Jack Elliot
Jerry Lee Lewis
9.15pm Marianne Hyatt & Alex Thomas play ‘Country Dirt’, and more
10.00pm New York New Wave & Rare Punk Rock on The Big Screen
****The Ramones*****Blondie**** The Saints**** The Tubes ***** *****The New York Dolls ***** Radio Birdman ******
10.30pm End
THE FLOWERPOT, 147 Kentish Town Road . London . NW1 8PB
RADIO JOY live broadcast – the Foundry Sunday 7th March 8pm
Text & visuals from – Nicola Wayne Maskrey, Inga Tillery, Tracey Moberly
Dancing songs from DJs Gavin Martin and Johny Mugwump
LIVE SET from BAND OF HOLY JOY
Ten years ago Tracey Moberly produced a show at the Foundry in Hoxton whose title LOVES DIRTY HABIT came from a Band of Holy Joy song. The premise as I remember it was that we set a thousand pink balloons up in to the night sky with a mobile phone number on and a request for any balloon finders to text in their ‘Love’s Dirty Habit’. The answers would be stuck on the gallery walls in the basement of the Foundry. The new language and future of communication was uppermost in our minds but we also wanted to throw a great party. The opening night was a blur of pink balloons and scuzzy texts that were zapped in from the hinterlands of London. It was a great night and a supreme show if memory serves.
Tracey has kept the project very much alive and a decade on we revisit the notion. Nicola Jayne Maskrey and Inga Tillere will take Tracey’s texts and set about visualising them from a new perspective. The Band Of Holy Joy will play a live set from a collection of songs they are about to release called PARAMOUR, songs which are very much about Love’s Dirty Habits: Betrayals, lustings, casual sexual murderings that kind of low and grand déclassé behaviour. As the Foundry is about to close its doors soon we would love to make this event as memorable as the first. Indeed… We want your texts and we want you to come. 7th March is the date 8pm is the time and the Foundry is the place. On Valentines Day we will issue a number. We want you to use it.
Radio Joy will broadcast the entire evening. The DJ’s Gavin Martin and Jonny Mugwump will spin the songs to keep the night flowing. James S Finn will supply a soundscape. The immense Andrew Bailey will perform a twenty-minute set.
Tune in & turn on here http://www.bandofholyjoy.co.uk/radio.html
Drop in & turn out here: The Foundry – 80 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3JL
http://www.bandofholyjoy.co.uk/news2.html
http://www.myspace.com/andrewbaileymusic
http://www.myspace.com/bandofholyjoy
Filed under general | Comment (0)












