soundCHECK 59 – August 12th 2010

If I were King, you’d quickly see the advantages of a monarchy. Stephen Fry would be Prime Minister, gherkins in Big Macs would be abolished and Lady Gaga would headline the Execution Stage at the inaugural soundCHECK In The Park, which would take place in the palatial grounds of the love nest I shared with Fearne Cotton.

Not so for The King Blues, whose sole desire appears to be to take 2010 by the scruff of its Topman neckerchief and drag it into King Blues Castle for a kick up the musical botbot. Led by the thick Cockney-drawl of their frontman, The King Blues’ brand of reggae-tinged power-pop has been causing a steadying stir among critics and fans alike. And while their bravado and FM-friendly sheen will not appeal to all, their Barnstaple booking is a coup for the North Devon music scene.

They take to the stage at Inn On The Square in Barnstaple tomorrow (Friday 13th) as Generator Promotions dish out their latest fun-capsule to North Devon’s gig-goers. Tickets are available from the North Devon Theatres box office but are cheaper from Beats Workin’ in Barnstaple. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get one on the door too, which will open at 8pm.

Support comes courtesy of the latest band spewed from North Devon’s musical mouth-parts: French Children. But while the name may be unfamiliar, the line up is not. Three of the four members were in the indie-pop powerhouse that was Pretty Jacks. Although you can expect something far dissevered from their former musical vistas as Olly Richards’ voice soars over melodies of an altogether darker persuasion. Marvellous.

Speaking of new bands, I trust you’ve heard of Sharks At Bay? They pack a post-hardcore punch as tight as it is terrifying and feature Tom Hitchins’ fleet-fingered bass-manoeuvres as he continues his quest to sate a musical thirst so rich that it seemingly drives him to get involved with every fourth band in North Devon. Rockin’. You can listen up their brutal rhythms at myspace.com/sharksatbayband.

This week’s other gigs go like this: Tequila Rockin’ Bird squeeze their juicy riffs into The Olive Branch tomorrow night (13th) as Volcanicore head to The Waverly in Ilfracombe, Amy Newton serenades a tasty fish supper at The Boathouse in Instow and Conflict Against play at The Venue in Ilfracombe. Which they’ll presumably be taking quite steady seeing as they’re playing the same venue the very next evening. At least that’s what their MySpace decrees. Meanwhile, the mighty Severe:Zero play at Zena’s in Barnstaple on Saturday (14th). Saturday is also the final of Okehampton Battle of the Bands.

I’ll be in a field in the middle of nowhere. See you there.

soundCHECK 58 – August 5th 2010

Ordinarily, a leap from one of Devon’s tallest piers would be the preserve of the lunatic or the clinically lugubrious. Or myself after any form of sensory exposure to Lady Gaga.

But for one day a year, Ilfracombe Pier hosts what is unreservedly promoted as a “family day out” as folk festooned in all manner of dignity-chafing furbelows form a lemming-like queue to throw themselves into the cold clasp of the Atlantic; their spirits buoyed by the cheer of gathered onlookers who play a kind of ‘emotional-armband’ role.

But rather than some doolally sacrifice to Poseidon, the intention of such tomfoolery is to discover who of the participants can ‘fly’ the furthest before falling, inevitably, from pier to sea. I am, of course, referring to Ilfracombe’s annual Birdman Festival, 2010’s instalment of which unfurls this weekend (Sunday 8th).

The revelry will be soundtracked by a range of musical talent, the most notable belonging to Dave Sharp, responsible for co-founding big-in-the-eighties rock band The Alarm. He’s played gigs with Johnny Cash, you know. And with an admirable determination not to miss the cliché boat, Birdman 2010 will also feature music from The Wurzels, a band whose headline slot could well inspire a few last minute leaps from the pier.

All the money raised from the event goes to charity and local good stuff so go and get involved.

The gig of the week takes place at Boston Tea Party as Kaya cram their flamboyant fusion of jazz, hip-hop, dub, soul and reggae into the nearest travel bag and make the journey from London to Barnstaple. Kaya are fronted by Natty who found minor notoriety with his solo material which led to a performance on Later With Jools Holland a couple of years ago. He is also the founder of Defcon Records. The gig takes place tomorrow night (Friday 6th). Tickets are available on the door at £5 from 8pm.

Elsewhere, you can go and get your dance on to live DJs at The Palladium on Saturday with Wendy May’s Boom Boom Room. It may sound like a pinchbeck reincarnation of a Malibu advert, but I’m assured by reliable external sources that it’s “well good, mate!”

And if you want to catch Dave Sharp’s ‘warm-up’ show for Birdman, you can see him at The Waverly on Saturday evening (7th). Without a Wurzel in sight.