Category Archives: Windsor

Bez and Domino Bones with Garage Flowers

. gig guide, gigs, live dates, live music, whats on, Windsor . , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bez at Firestation Windsor

Bez and Domino Bones + Garage Flowers

The Firestation Arts Centre

St Leonards Road Windsor SL4 3BL
February 05   8:00p

Ignition! In Association with muhead.com returns for 2010 after a year and a half of bringing the very best in bands you may know and bands you certainly don’t!

And what a way to kick off the new season, an appearance by the living legend that is …Bez!

Mark Berry, better known to millions as ‘Bez’ was the figurehead for a generation,as the freaky dancing, maraca playing mascot to seminal Salford band and ‘Madchester’ legends The Happy Mondays.

Bez’s life and career have more ups and downs than most, from bankruptcy to winning celebrity Big Brother, to reforming the Mondays to best selling author. His autobiography ‘Freaky Dancing’ has become a modern day classic, charting his unbelievable life and times, with terrifyingly funny anecdotes of his chemical excesses.

Bez is now back in the public eye having formed a new band Domino Bones taking on the role of ‘Lead Ranting Preacher, Tambourine and Freaky Dancing’ and is joined by the considerable talents of Monica Ward on lead vocals, Winker (ex-Bodnies) on Bass, Simon Moore (of Ian Brown and Stone Roses fame) and the fantastic Wags (former band member of Happy Mondays and Black Grape) on guitars.

Formed around a camp fire in Joe strummer’s back garden! Bez and Domino Bones last single/video for “Rattle’ was supported by MTV2 and VH2. Their manic stage show has seen them storm the most prestigious festivals and support slots, including: Glastonbury, K-festival, D-Percussion, Get Loaded and they were also support to Ian Brown on his recent tour.

Soulful, Rock n’Roll, Reggae, Funk and Baggy all fall into the mix, along with an explosive live show, Bez and Domino Bones are a sheer hedonistic joy of a band…

Support comes from Reading based Indie upstarts ‘Garage Flowers’, hipness, attitude and swagger combine with a ear for a tune to make a formidable live force..

The Firestation Arts Centre

St Leonards Road Windsor SL4 3BL
February 05   8:00p

Bez and Domino Bones + Garage Flowers

£10/£8(Members)

Links:

http://www.firestationartscentre.com

http://www.myspace.com/garageflowersuk

Ad Pontes Staines- music arts & going out IN STAINES

Lady and the Lost Boys

. Berkshire, gigs, live music, Live Review, music, Riverside, rock, Windsor .

Lady and the Lost Boys Nov 28,  The Old Fire Station, Windsor

Playing music from the Berkshire school of damp labradors, green wellies, moist Edinburgh woollens and  ‘Mummy Knows Best ’ attitudes, this band played a short but sweet set at the Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor on Sat 28t November.

The smallish crowd sat in patient lines, cross-legged on the wooden floor, humble like children in the school end-of-term concert.

Lady and the Lost Boys are a female lead five-piece band with chunky bass guitar, tantalizing percussion, emotive keyboards and a multi-talented muso who bounces between guitar, keys and even supplemental percussion, providing layers of texture as each song unfolds.

The introspective topics of the songs are based upon personal experiences and transparent memories – coming largely from a female perspective. Sipping a coffee in the breaks, petite dark haired vocalist Annabel Jones sings the Legoland, Camberwick Green, Technicolor songs from the Lady and the Lost Boys song-book.  Her delivery reminds me of ‘Alanis Morissette’ and to a lesser extent,  ‘Elizabeth Fraser’ (not so ethereal) and her voice is airy, high register and distinct enough to cut above the harmonic texture of music. Some of the songs ended with melodramatic yet creative ‘shoe-gaze’ blended sounds – others ended on a hand-clap or a jingle.

A few pared down guitar riffs are well hidden and tend to illuminate rather than detract from the amorphous sounds and add drama and insistence when required. The experience is fascinating and calming reminding me a lot of ‘Alison’s Halo’.

One of my favourites was the bass heavy (bass by Robin Pearson) song ‘That’s OK’. This is a song rippling with action, combining integrated piano tinkling and rat-a-tat percussion with honey sweet lyrical content delivered in a breathy, whisper-in-your ear style. The clappy and trilling chorus was nod-headingly joyful and the extraordinarily well-behaved and obviously well educated audience showed their appreciation with understated murmuring claps. Gently unfolding lyrics such as  “How many gold coins should I put aside before I’m out of debt in your eyes . . . “ demonstrate the band’s ambitions as poetic quality shoegazers.

This is a band for a damp autumn evening by the open-fire, or to listen to on your Ipod as you take your golden retriever for a walk down the leaf-fall winter lanes.  Thoroughly recommended.

© Neil_Mach

Link:

www.myspace.com/ladyandthelostboys

Ad Pontes Staines- music arts & going out IN STAINES




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Sticky End for Live Music in Staines?

. gig guide, gigs, Hobgoblin, live dates, live music, music, Riverside, rock, spelthorne, staines, sticky fungus, sunbury, West London, Windsor . , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sticky End for Live Music in Staines?

Message from STICKY FUNGUS:

I guess by now that most of you (even those that have not yet visited The Club) have heard that Sticky Fungus has closed. That is correct. However…….

The club Had to close as we were informed that the Licensee had been objected to by the local Police and Licensing Authority and insufficient numbers through The Club made it un-viable. That was enough to cause a temporary closure.

Unfortunately, since we have been closed, The Club has been subject to a serious theft. Sound and Light equipment plus fixtures, fittings and Drink Stock with a total value in excess of £10,000.00 was stolen. Some has been returned but insufficient to immediately re-open. The Police are aware of who is responsible and when CID have finished with evidence and video images, those who carried out the theft, will be prosecuted….

ASFlogo

With the sudden closure of Sticky Fungus just four weeks after its faltering opening (and let’s not forget that the whole project was on/off on/off on/off more times than a professional stroboscopic light show at a Hawkwind concert in downtown  Vegas) together with the total collapse of the Phoenix as a venue, along with the complete dogs dinner at the Dog & Partridge (the latest owners apparently left in quite a hurry … without leaving a gig diary) and it would be easy to assume that the live music scene in Staines is looking shakier than Shakin’ Stevens standing on a lilo in the North Sea.

But that good ole musical equivalent of a soup-kitchen- The Hob (Hobgoblin, Staines) – is still going strong (thanks to the sheer dedication and hard work of those nice folks BUCKLE UP) every Sunday and Thursday (ACE & GRAVITY IS DEAD are on JUNE 7th entry £3) and don’t overlook the Staines Riverside Club.  Yes, yes, it may look like your nan’s front living room and have the same atmosphere as a fun-night in at a retirement home in Eastbourne, but they have hosted some magnificent acts there over the years … none more exciting than this week’s headliners – BRAINSCAPE – Friday 5th June entry £3…

And just a few stops down the line at Windsor & Eton riverside you have got the thriving Old Ticket Hall venue – almost on your doorstep. (Jun 12 2009 they host ALOUD OUT for all you Killers and  Kaiser Chiefs fans out there)… not to mention The Firestation Arts Centre a short walk down the hill from the riverside station (20th June sees Post War Years + MidiMidis + Vienna Ditto all in their Basement Studio entry £5.)

If you have the cash left, you could take a mini-cab to the ROYAL OAK HAMPTON ( Friday 12th June – Smileys Heros – or Saturday 13th June – Netherworld .) Or pop along to The Barley Mow, Shepperton – a really comfortable pub – who are hosting a classic rock night with local favourites BandX on Saturday 6th June.

We at ADPONTES really hope that Sticky’s can get up and running again (soon) and , if and when they do, we will support them as much as possible …. but in the meantime DON’T GIVE UP on STAINES ….

“Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That rivers flowing
That rivers flowing”

Ad Pontes Staines- music arts & going out IN STAINES




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UNGUS

HMS Pinafore – New Victoria Theatre Woking

. Live Review, Musical, opera, show, Surrey, Windsor, woking . , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

sani-annatt

I must admit that I was a bit concerned about the choice that Peter Mulloy (Artistic Director, Carl Rosa Opera) had in mind to play the pompous desk-pushing first sea-lord (The head of the Queen’s Naveeee) Sir Joseph Porter in the latest production of Pinafore. Corrie Street butcher Fred Elliott was not a face that I had previously connected with the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. But the 71 year old actor, John Savident, had previously performed in Phantom of the Opera (as well as giving 11 years exalted service on The Street) and has enjoyed a brilliant career on stage, television and in film. In many ways he makes the perfect Sir Joseph Porter.  Just the right amount of parody and pastiche.

Gilbert & Sullivan went to painstaking lengths to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the original work, even going to Portsmouth to make detailed drawings of a real quarterdeck to be replicated by D’Oyly Carte. At the time (1878) the operetta was a huge box office success- and so it was with some pleasure that I noticed that the same kind of attention to detail was present (in production) in the new show at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking. I was also pleasantly surprised that the theatre was full.

Beverley Klein (Orlovsky: Die Fledermaus – English National Opera and Golde: Fiddler on the Roof – Savoy Theatre) presented a relaxed and rosy bumboat woman – Little Buttercup. Wyne Pencarreg (winner of the Erich Vietheer Memorial Award from  Glyndebourne) played an efficiently capable Captain Corcoran.  Perhaps baritone Gareth Jones (Dick Deadeye) could have been more forceful in vocal style and – at times- his voice was lost in the huge auditorium at Woking. But Josephine (Olivia Safe) was a pleasant and lightly agile soprano.

The best thing about all Gilbert & Sullivan operas is that they stand the test of time. When Sir Joseph sings “I grew so rich that I was sent – By a pocket borough into Parliament….I always voted at my party’s call” the audience cheered and chuckled. You could not help but be reminded of the ignominy faced by many of today’s ‘Sir Joseph Porters’ in a Parliament scandalised by a bunch of pocket-lining over-promoted junior clerks. Likewise, how many people do you know (family and friends) who, “In spite of all temptations – To belong to other nations – Remain (probably begrudgingly) English Men” ? Almost everyone I know is thinking of moving abroad for the sake of their own sanity!

And so the performance zipped merrily along – and all too soon- we found ourselves at the finale ‘Oh Joy, Oh Rapture. Unforseen’ and the jubilant celebration of right over wrong, good will prevailing over wickedness and a really English kind of muted successful conclusion – in other words a bit confused and bedraggled with everyone facing an uncertain future.

All in all, the show was light and frothy in all the right places but stern and stubborn when required. The choreography (by Steve Elias) was spot on – I particularly enjoyed the lines of pattern – almost like coiled ropes being rolled and unrolled on stage- and the gentler hornpipes, vortices and flourishes. Stage management was excellent and the costumes were efficient and convincing. The lively ensemble proved to have plenty of gusto and moved the show onwards in leaps and bounds.

Very highly recommended – whether you are a Gilbert & Sullivan ‘vet’ or new to comic opera – please try this show…

© Neil_Mach
May 2009

Link:

http://www.carlrosaopera.co.uk/

Next Shows (last in series)-   Tuesday 16 June to  Saturday 20 June at Theatre Royal, Windsor (01753 853 888)

(This autumn Carl Rosa Opera will be reviving their West End production of The Pirates of Penzance with Jo Brand as the
Sergeant of Police)

Ad Pontes Staines- music arts & going out IN STAINES




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5 Things – This Week in Staines

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1.


Superb Hard Rock – Live inStaines This Week


Land of Cain at Staines


Land of Cain

May 16 2009

Dog & Partridge

Staines



Land of Cain is a four piece rock/metal outfit from West London. Featuring superb guitar work, a pounding rhythm section, progressive strains and thought provoking lyrics the band are becoming
a force to be reckoned with in the UK hard rock scene.

The band started life as “One Bitter Pill” in 2004, with Grant Chambers and Aaron Waddingham in the original line-up, as well as Chris Jones (now of Voodoo Six).

With the departure of Chris in late 2007, Grant and Aaron decided to take the band in a darker and heavier direction, and with the additionof Spencer Dargue on Drums and Chris Jordan on Bass, the band began writing the new material which would later evolve into the songs for their first album
“Collapse the Control”.

The band began recording the album in early 2008 at The Lodge in
Northampton, and hope to be able to release it early in 2009.

Links:

www.myspace.com/landofcain


2. Saxy Lady – Jazz Live at Windsor



Yolanda Brown at Firestation Windsor


YolanDa Brown

May 16 2009

Firestation

Windsor




Think saxophones, and most of us will immediately start thinking
of jazz, specifically trad jazz. No bad thing, maybe, as there are few
instruments as stunning as the saxophone and few sounds as effortlessly
beautiful as jazz. YolanDa Brown is someone who has made the instrument
truly her own as a miraculously gifted saxophonist fluent in a whole
lot more than just one genre.


As her two EPs to date, July 2007’s ‘Finding My Voice’ and
August 2008’s  ‘A Step Closer’ attest to an artist who takes jazz and introduces it to all sorts: to soul, to R&B and gospel, to loping reggae and soaring Latin. She can take a sound at first emotionally raw and incontestably infectious, and make it sound like nothing else on earth. For the past three years she has performed with some of the world’s most respected artists. Selling out venues like London’s Jazz Café at the drop of a
hat and the recipient of a prestigious MOBO Award, YolanDa is in demand
and it is a great privilege that she will be appearing with her band
here at The Firestation for this very special concert.



Upcoming show:


YolanDa Brown Live In Concert


16.05.2009 20.00 h


The Auditorium – Firestation Arts Centre
Windsor




£10(GA) £9(Conc) £8(Mem)



Links:


www.myspace.com/missyolandabrown



http://www.firestationartscentre.com


3. Powerful Indie Rock Covers – Windsor



The Riots at Old Ticket Hall Windsor




The Riots

May 16 2009

Old Ticket Hall

Windsor


THE RIOTS PLAY THEIR LAST GIG AT THE OLD TICKET HALL FOR 2009. We wish them the best in their musical career. The Riots are a
Berkshire based 4 piece band playing up to the minute indie rock covers
by popular names such as Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Arctic Monkeys and
Fratellis as well as a few standards by greats such as Oasis, The
Beatles and The Kinks.

Having built up a collection of toe tapping covers, the band started by
getting their first gig at The Old Ticket Hall in Windsor in 2007. They
have played many gigs since and are currently writing their own
material whilst learning up to the minute covers to keep your ears
smiling

+ DJ PLAYING 80’s &
90’s HITS

- BAR OPEN TILL 2AM

The
Old Ticket Hall Windsor & Eton Riverside Station

5/8/2009 8:00 PM at AXIS

Links:

www.myspace.com/wearetheriotsband

4. Classic Rock Hits – Live at  Hampton


Cry Wolf at Royal Oak, Hampton



Cry Wolf

May 16 2009

Royal Oak

Hampton


Classic Rock Hits


Tom
Farmer (vocals, bass) David Farmer (drums, vocals) Gary Farmer (vocals,
guitar) Pars Evrenos (guitar)… make up the formidable local orginal
material / covers band CRY WOLF.


Described by our ADPONTES reviewer, Neil_Mach,  as ” heavy, bluesy,
mature and very, very serious – thoroughly recommended”  we
give them a five star rating !


Links:

http://www.crywolfrocks.co.uk/

http://www.blackfootsue.com/


5. Local Favourite Rock Party band  -   Live in Staines



Foulplay- Sticky Fungus Staines


Foulplay

May 15 2009

Sticky Fungus

Staines

w/ Four Wheel Drive – Classic  Rock


Foulplay are one of our favourite bands here in STAINES band mixing old-time rock and roll and skiffle, through to classics from the glam-rock seventies, big numbers from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and even into modern indie rock territory

May 15, 2009 at 8pm to May 16, 2009 at 2am

Location: Sticky Fungus Music Venue

Street: Elmsleigh Road

City/Town: Staines

Doors open at 8pm. £5 entry. Over 18′s only (ID required)

Links:

www.myspace.com/foulplayuk

www.myspace.com/4wdtheband





5 Things – This Week in Staines

. gig guide, gigs, Hobgoblin, live dates, live music, middlesex, music, punk, Riverside, rock, soul, spelthorne, staines, West London, whats on, Windsor

1.

Indie/ Punk – Live in Staines This Week

The Valkyries at Staines

The Valkyries
Apr 26 2009
Hobgoblin
Staines

Buckle Up - presents this Progressive / Indie / Punk band – The Valkyries playiong with ACE

Links:

www.myspace.com/thevalkyriesmyspace

Buckle Up Staines

http://www.buckleuppromotions.com

2.

60′s to 80′s Soul Classics Live at Ascot

Fran the Cat - Jagz Ascot

Frank the Cat
Apr 25 2009
Jagz
Ascot


With their vibrant versions of sixties seventies and eighties soul, disco and funk covers, Frank The Cat has built up a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts on the circuit today.

The ten piece band is made up of the tightest rhythm section, a three piece brass section to blow you away, two mighty fine girl singers and the soulful lead vocal talents of Roy Gayle.

Anyone who’s seen Frank The Cat at one of their regular venues or at a private party will testify – you’ve just got to get on up – and dance…

Playing songs from such artists as: James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Kool and the Gang, Luther Vandross, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Green and Stevie Wonder.

Frank the Cat radiate an infectious party atmosphere… delivering a dynamic and lively experience, they come with their own flexible sound system, sufficient for a small bar or large auditorium… with lights and can also provide background
music to suit your personal taste during the evening, to make a very special event oh so much more special.

Upcoming shows

Saturday, 25th April
Show will start at 8.45
Ticket cost: £8.00
Doors open from 7.30pm. £26 for 2 courses and entrance (£30 for 3 courses). Entrance for the bands is £8 but is strictly

limited and on a first come first served basis. Entrance for dining or just the band INCLUDES free entrance to the nightclub


3.

Exciting Live Rock – Party Time in Hampton

Kiln at Royal Oak Hampton


Kiln
Apr 24 2009
Royal Oak
Hampton

Kiln are an exhilarating rock / pop / funk covers band who have been gigging, teaching and recording for a number of years in the home counties, London and abroad.

Their dynamic showman singer knows how to get a party going and the drums, guitar and bass provide an energetic, versatile and danceable mix of songs from the 60’s to the present day. They play for pubs, weddings, conventions, corporate events and the occasional high society party!

Kiln promise a fun entertaining evening and always guarantee to get the crowd on their feet dancing

Links:

www.myspace.com/kilnrock

4.

Jazz Tenor Sax Giant -  Ascot

Ray Gelato Quartet:Jagz Ascot

Ray Gelato
Apr 26 2009
Jagz
Ascot

Nominated for BBC Radio 2 ‘ Heart of Jazz Award’  2008

Ray Gelato was absorbing the influence of jazz giants long before he first picked up a tenor sax 30 years ago. The London-born son of a music-loving American airman normally is leading his Giants with a predictably winning swagger but
today will be playing straight ahead jazz with a great quartet. On piano is his favorite sideman, Richard Busiakiewicz, with Alec Dankworth, bass, and Matt Home, drums.

Ray is truly one of the last in the long line of ‘great’ Jazz entertainers with countless albums, releases and world tours under his belt, and 25 years in the business. He’s scooped a number of awards and nominations including Ronnie Scotts Best band, plus a nomination for BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist Of The Year in 2006 and BBC ‘Heart Of Jazz’ in 2008.

With performances all over the world, he’s twice been requested to perform by personal invitation of HM the Queen, opened for Robbie Williams at The Royal Albert Hall, not to mention private appearances for the likes of Richard
Branson, Elle McPherson and a personal invitation to perform at Paul McCartney’s wedding. Other performances include sets with BBC Symphony Orchestra live in Hyde Park, The Proms, and a superb show backed by a 35 piece orchestra
alongside Katie Melua and Will Young at the BBC’s VE Day Concert in Trafalgar Square. Further TV appearences include This Morning, Top Of The Pops, BBC News and Stritcly Come Dancing. Ray has just released a brand new album, ‘Salute to
the Great Entertainers’, in which he pays tribute to his some of his musical heroes. Recently Ray and the Giants enjoyed two sold out weeks at Ronnie Scotts. Gelato being a keen chef has also written a cookbook, entitled ‘Cookin’ with Ray’.
More then 100 copies were sold during Ray’s Xmas Ronnies Scott’s run.

Upcoming shows

Sunday, 26th April
Show will start at doors 12.30pm, two sets from 1pm to 3.30pm
Ticket cost: £6.00
Special, entrance and roast lunch £12. 

Link:

http://www.myspace.com/raygelato



5.

Four Piece Rock Covers -   Live in Windsor

The Stratospheres Old Ticket Hall Windsor

Stratospheres
Apr 25 2009
Old Ticket Hall
Windsor

The Stratospheres are a four piece rock and pop functions outfit based in Buckinghamshire. Playing classic songs from the 60’s through to the latest anthems, this band is eager to please and always puts on a great show. Expect covers of The Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Killers and Oasis to name a few. They are a young band not to be missed.

+ DJ PLAYING 80’s & 90’s HITS – BAR OPEN TILL 2AM

… WINDSOR Old Ticket Hall

Wishbone Ash Tickets