What's On

Thursday 11 February
BLURT
Legendary group founded by poet, saxophonist and puppeteer Ted Milton in 1980 in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Ted Milton's brother Jake Milton, formerly in psychedelic group Quintessence, on drums and Peter Creese on guitar. After three albums Creese left the band to be replaced by Steve Eagles, former member of Satans Rats and The Photos.The latest drummer in the band is Bob Leith, also on drums in The Cardiacs. Blurt's compositions are based around repetitive minimalistic guitar and/or saxophone phrases with relentless, machine-like drum beats, over which Ted Milton orates his lyrics in a variety of `voices` that betray his days as a puppeteer. The overall effect is hypnotising, compelling and sometimes even unsettling. Blurt have a very strong live reputation due to the extra-ordinary theatrical talents of Ted Milton. www.tedmilton.net www.myspace.com/tedmiltonblurt Tickets £5Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 £6 on the door

Friday 12 February
K`CHEVERE: Top Afro Cuban Salsa Band FREE ENTRY
K’Chevere are a UK-based latin band with a repertoire strongly influenced by the music and rhythms of Cuba. Artists including ‘Tito Puente’, ‘Patato Valdés’, ‘Compay Segundo’ and ‘Eddie Palmieri’, have influenced their mix of Cuban classics with their own original compositions, that combine Afro-Cuban dance rhythms such as Son, Danzón and Cha-Cha-Cha with a blend of Latin Jazz and Salsa. www.kchevere.co.uk FREE ENTRY

Saturday 13 February
ACTION FOR HAITI BENEFIT
Confirmed so far Djute, Falling into difference, Drunken Butterfly If any bands want to play contact David on 01173738947

Sunday 14 February
SUNDAY GASTRO 12am-5pm (Payment By Cash Only)
Top Bristol Chef OWEN TUNSTALL (Inn on the Green) continues his weekly Sunday Gastro with Meat & Vegetarian Roast Dinners + 3 specials... People are saying its the best roast in Bristol! Theirs plenty of tables available inside, when the weather is better, Enjoy and eat in our lovely south-facing large enclosed rear garden with childrens' play equipment. PLEASE COME WITH CASH AS WE DO NOT HAVE A CARD MACHINE... Food Orders between 12.00 – 5.00 Open until 6.00 The Menu is as follows: SUNDAY ROASTS Roast Sirloin of Beef & Horseradish Sauce £7.95 Slow roast Pork Belly & Apple Sauce £7.95 Roast Leg of Lamb & Mint Sauce £7.95 Nut Roast with Vegetarian Gravy £7.95

Thursday 18 February
HOWLING LORD
'Galloping raw country blues. It's terrific, entirely in keeping with the spirit of Hank Williams, whining, urgent and desperate.' Kid Pensioner Venue Magazine 'Not so much a one man band as a one man army.' Gary Smith BBC Bristol Uncovered 'Howlin' Lord will have you weeping in your beer and baying for blood. Not to be missed!' Pier 13 'Galloping raw country blues. It's terrific, entirely in keeping with the spirit of Hank Williams, whining, urgent and desperate.' Kid Pensioner Venue Magazine 'Not so much a one man band as a one man army.' Gary Smith BBC Bristol Uncovered 'Howlin' Lord will have you weeping in your beer and baying for blood. Not to be missed!' Pier 13 'Galloping raw country blues. It's terrific, entirely in keeping with the spirit of Hank Williams, whining, urgent and desperate.' Kid Pensioner Venue Magazine 'Not so much a one man band as a one man army.' Gary Smith BBC Bristol Uncovered 'Howlin' Lord will have you weeping in your beer and baying for blood. Not to be missed!' Pier 13 www.myspace.com/howlinlord £4Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 £5 on the door

Friday 19 February
BULAWAYO (Zimbabwean Dance Band) Free Entry
Bulawayo - Zimbabwean Dance Band The infectious music of Bulawayo, Cecilia Ndhlovu's entrancing mbira thumb-piano and hypnotic and joyous Ndebele and Shona vocals take listeners on an educational journey throughout tradition. Driven by classic jit-jive guitar and rolling chimurenga bass matched with the powerful drum patterns of modern Zimbabwe, the classic sound of Bulawayo has arrived. Cecilia Ndhlovu - Mbira, vocals Fidelis Mherembi - Marimba, Mbira Simwinji Zeko - Lead guitar Edd Bateman - Bass Blaggy - Drumkit The band now all currently reside in the UK and will be available for shows from March 2010 www.eddbateman.com/bulawayo _________________________________________________________________

Thursday 25 February
WILL SELF (On stage 8pm)
Celebrated author of novels, short stories and non-fiction, Will Self contributes to many publications and regularly appears on radio and television. Fifty of his PsychoGeograpghy columns from The Independent have recently been collected in a new publication featuring art by Ralph Steadman. Will will be on stage @ 8pm and do readings, questions & answers and finish with book signings. www.willself.com £10Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008

Friday 26 February
From Oxford THE DACOITS + Mr Bennet
BBC Introducing’ recently described The Dacoits as: “Rousing and noisy, the band have an immeasurable chemisty on stage. Carrie's stage presence is mesmerizing, and insane guitar bursts are thrown in when least expected, making each set unpredictable, but totally memorable.” Blending a dynamic garage rock sensibility with stirring melodies, The Dacoits songbook veers fluently between adrenalin soaked anthems, haunting soundscapes and scuffed up pop goodness, infused with an obvious passion for the fine art of rock n’ roll. 2009 saw the band co-produce their debut EP and the aforementioned album with Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters / Biffy Clyro / Pixies) as well as having one of their songs featured in the hit American drama ‘Life’. After celebrating the release of their acclaimed debut album with a string of successful live dates late last year, The Dacoits have now signed up with Playdead to organise a run of spring / summer gigs and festivals and would like to discuss possible dates with you. Please find enclosed a copy of the album together with their first EP ‘Dumbstruck’ together with a page of recent reviews. www.myspace.com/thedacoits www.thedacoits.co.uk FREE ENTRY

Saturday 27 February
KATEY BROOKS `Bristol Album Launch` TICKET ONLY EVENT
Bristol's very own acoustic soul songstress Katey Brooks, This is an album launch; an evening celebrating acoustic music, in a laid back, mellow atmosphere, where you the audience can relax, and the musicians can be heard with an attentive ear. www.myspace.com/kateybrooks www.kateybrooks.co.uk/default.asp?id=3069 Admission by TICKET ONLY £8 Doors: 7.30pm Music: 8.30pm

Friday 05 March
CARLENE CARTER-Daughter of June Carter Cash (and step-daughter of Johnny Cash), Carlene is heir to one of the richest musical legacies of all time
Carlene Carter is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband Carl Smith. This singer-songwriter has had 12 records since 1978; most on major labels, over 20 singles as well as 3 #3 Billboard Hot Country Songs. In 1979 Carlene married British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe and spent much of the next decade in the UK. She joined together with The Carter Sisters (her mother June Carter Cash and aunts Helen and Anita Carter) to revive The Carter Family brand. That same year they performed with Johnny Cash on Austin City Limits. Her career really took off with 1990’s I Fell In Love, produced by Howie Epstein, bassist for the Heartbreakers. This record kickstarted the neotraditionalist movement in Nashville. The title track was nominated for a 1991 Grammy as Best Female Country Vocal Performance. “Come on Back” was another extremely popular single in Canada and the US from this record. The 1993 follow-up Little Love Letters also charted high and had one of the top rated music videos for the year, `Every Little Thing.` Her latest record, Stronger (2008), has earned universal critical acclaim. ...................`I couldnt let a day go by without writing a note about C.C`s record-It was astounding.` Elvis Costello........... On August 8, 2009, she performed an acoustic set in Huntington, NY, the first time she had played by herself in over 30 years. www.carlenecarterfanclub.com Tickets £18Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008

Saturday 06 March
THE BLUE AEROPLANES
Bristol indie-phoenixes the Blue Aeroplanes play a one -off warm up before they fly off to the internationally renowned South By Southwest Festival in Texas. Their career has been a pyrotechnic blur of dulcimers, bagpipes, turntables, dancing and lots of guitars, all bound together in tendrils of freeform poetry. Charismatic bedsit poet and band leader Gerard Langley has lost none of his insouciance and the band are still as fresh an arty beat-combo as ever. ``Awesome, singular, revelatory`` Michael Stipe (R.E.M) www.myspace.com/blueaeroplanes www.theblueaeroplanes.com TICKETS £10Adv £12 on the door

Wednesday 10 March
HOWARD MARKS Aka Mr Nice (Rescheduled from Dec 2nd 2009-Tickets valid for this night)
Born in 1945 in Kenfig Hill, a small Welsh coal-mining village near Bridgend, Howard Marks attended Oxford University where he earned a degree in nuclear physics and post graduate qualifications in philosophy. Described by the Daily Mail (UK Tabloid) as 'the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time', Howard Marks has worked with the British Secret Service and has been connected with the Mafia, the IRA, MI6 and the CIA. Busted in 1988 by the American Drug Enforcement Agency and sentenced to twenty-five years at America's toughest federal penitentiary; Terre Haute, Indiana. He was released on parole in 1995 after serving seven years. In 1996 he released his autobiography, Mr. Nice, which remains an international best seller in several languages and was the best selling non-fiction book of 1997. On the subject of his book, he says: `Through a plethora of media interviews and several public book readings, it became clear that the predominant reason why so many adolescents and university students read and enjoyed Mr Nice was their frustration with the law prohibiting cannabis consumption and trade. Until then, I had no idea of the extraordinary extent of cannabis use by young people today.` During 1997, he performed his first live shows, which discussed his life as a marijuana smuggler and his views on drug use and legalisation. The shows received excellent reviews throughout the national press, and his now legendary one-man comedy show, An Audience with Mr Nice, continues to sell-out at venues throughout Britain and Europe. Howard Marks wrote a monthly column for Loaded for five years and has written features for the Observer, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Time Out, GQ, and the Guardian. He continues to campaign vigorously for the legalisation of recreational drugs www.howardmarks.name £10Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008

Thursday 11 March
HOWARD MARKS Aka Mr Nice (2nd Night due to demand)
www.howardmarks.name £10Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008

Friday 12 March
EXPLOSIVE NZAKOMBA (Congolese dance band) FREE ENTRY
Explosive Nzakomba are a Congolese dance band, they began when Congolese guitar virtuoso Daniel Vita Isakongo and his wife, South African vocalist and trained dancer Phelisa relocated to England to bring their music to a new audience. Now their 6 piece line up including dancer and singer Blessing, bassist Edd Bateman, drummer Sandro and master percussionist Bi do perform Congolese rumbas as well as the infectious traditional dance style known as Soukous. www.11arecords.co.uk FREE ENTRY FREE ENTRY

Saturday 13 March
DR FEELGOOD
Formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the 1970s Dr. Feelgood remains one of the most popular and exciting live rhythm and blues acts in the world. The raw and uncompromising sound and style of their music resulted in the album Stupidity which immediately went to the number one position in the U.K. charts. Dr. Feelgood have also enjoyed global success with a string of hit singles including Roxette, Back In The Night, Milk And Alcohol, Down At The Doctors, She Does It Right, Going Back Home and See You Later Alligator - which gave the group their first gold record. The band continue to tour extensively throughout the world visiting exciting new places and thrilling crowds with the vitality of their live show. www.drfeelgood.com TICKETS £12Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 www.bristolticketshop.co.uk £15 on the door

Tuesday 16 March
WRECKLESS ERIC & AMY RIGBY+ DJ Bruce Revolution
Since their debut duo performance of `Je T’Aime` at the Yo La Tengo 2005 Hanukkah show fell apart and left the Hoboken crowd in stunned silence, Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby have been delighting and confounding audiences from Seattle to Walthamstow. `We've gotten a lot better since then,`says Amy, with her trademark wit. Eric agrees.`Now we only fuck it up half of the time.` Combining several decades of acclaimed records and failed relationships, Eric (`maverick genius` Record Collector) and Amy (`poet laureate of bohemian domesticity` Memphis Flyer) join together to play their should-be, could-be and has-been hits, accompanying each other with harmonies, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards and beatbox. An album of eleven new songs and one cover version is on its way, played and sung entirely by the courageous pair. www.amyrigby.com www.wrecklesseric.com Tickets £7 from Bristol Ticket Shop £10 on the Door

Thursday 18 March
EUREKA MACHINES
Recently supported The Stranglers, The Wildhearts, Forward Russia. Just finished touring the UK in December 2009 with Electric Six, at their request. Highly successful slots at festivals like Reading and Leeds (2008), Wickerman, Guilfest and Moor Music Fest in Leeds (2009) Released their debut album Do Or Die in September 2008 to reviews like 'power-pop perfection... a dazzling debut' in The Sun, and 'a collection of largely straight-ahead and chewy-centred pop-rock nuggets' in Kerrang had the song The Story Of My Life featured on the Classic Rock cover CD in November 2009 Released a couple of singles and had airplay on BBC Radio 1, 6Music, XFM, Channel Five, MTV2, Scuzz and various local station.www.eurekamachines.com www.myspace.com/eurekamachines £4Adv £5 on the door

Friday 19 March
EDDIE MARTIN
Born in London in the 60's British Blues Boom, Eddie Martin turned professional after being nominated for Best British Blues Guitarist, Band and Album between 1996 and 1998. Since then he has played or recorded with many greats from both sides of the Atlantic, including John Mayall, Peter Green, Buddy Guy, and Taj Mahal. His prolific recording and touring schedule takes him from his native UK all round the world to major events - first touring the USA to some acclaim in 1999. 2005, for example, saw his big band headline the Colne International Rhythm and Blues Festival in the UK, his trio perform at the prestigious Cahors Blues Festival in France, and brought him to the World Harmonica Festival in Germany where he performed solo, held a harmonica masterclass and judged the world blues harmonica competition. He has recorded numerous live sessions for national radio programmes (BBC Radio 2 in the UK). His songs have found their way to the finals of the International Songwriting Competition and to the song stable of Alligator Records. His songwriting seamlessly updates blues tradition to the modern world and his solo and band performances fill even hardened blues audiences with new enthusiasm for the expressiveness and power of this genre. His acoustic style has developed into a percussive blend of traditional blues slide and fingerpicking blues styles with flamenco rasguerdo techniques. These he combines with rack harmonica playing and foot percussion in the style of the one-man-blues bands such as Duster Bennett, Joe Hill Louis and Dr Ross. On the electric, his forbears are Freddy King, Albert King and Buddy Guy, as, for example, `the Times` has noted. His guitar-playing alone has seen his cd work commended by the Guitar Press around Europe, receiving `excellent` tags from `Guitar` in the UK and `Guitar` and Bass` in Germany. Most strikingly innovative is the simultaneous rack harmonica and guitar style that he has developed and which caused the International Harmonica Federation to single him out as one of the innovators on the instrument at this year's World Harmonica Festival in Germany. A master acoustic and electric guitarist, harmonica player, songwriter and powerful singer, Eddie Martin has been described as `the most remarkable blues man of his generation` by Blues in Britain. £7Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 www.bristolticketshop.co.uk

Friday 26 March
Mortal Presents; FUZZ AGAINST JUNK (Free Entry)
Formed in Summer 2002 this experimental, psych-folk collective have gone on (and off) to great things! Having previously backed the Blue Aeroplanes Gerald Langley and Can's Damo Suzuki, they have recorded a session for Stuart Maconies BBC Radio 6 show Freakzone and played a storming set at the All Tomorrows Parties festival in Minehead, where they performed again with Suzuki and Adrian Utley from Portishead. Bass player Billy Fuller is currently one third of the successful head-space band that is Beak> with Geoff Barrow from the aforementioned Bristol favourites. The various members get together in this formation on rare occasions only so don't miss this evening of the wonderful and possibly strange. A great opportunity to see some of Bristol's musical alumni in the intimate Thunderbolt setting. Followed by DJs Law and Beck playing a Vulcan mind-meld of everything from classic Rock to squonky Jazz for the assembled throng to dance to. Or not. www.invadashop.co.uk www.myspace.com/fuzzagainstjunkuk FREE ENTRY

Tuesday 06 April
BOO HEWERDINE
This hugely talented, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer is a former member of the cult group The Bible. Since the group went their separate ways in the early 90s, Boo has pursued a successful career with 4 solo albums under his belt. In addition to his other projects Boo has also enjoyed success writing for other artists, including Eddi Reader (who recorded Boo's Ivor Novello Award nominated song Patience of Angels), kd lang Chris Difford and Natalie Imbruglia to name but a few, as well as producing albums for artists including The Corrs and David McAlmont. Boo has also scored the movies 'Fever Pitch' and 'Twenty Four Seven'. Don't miss the chance to see him play live - a truly spine-tingling experience! www.boohewerdine.net www.myspace.com/boohewerdine Tickets £7Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 £10 on the door

Saturday 17 April
THE LEGENDARY DJ DEREK + DJ Beavis
DJ DEREK returns!! Legendary Bristol DJ whose blend of reggae, dub and ska has made him an icon for many in the industry, including a host of Jamaican producers and Massive Attack. Derek isn't your average turntablist - a former accountant in his late 50s (at least!) with a major cardigan habit, Derek kindled his love for music as a washboard player in the 1950s; nevertheless he continues to blow away audiences with his unique selections. + DJ BEAVIS & DJ Papa G £3 on the door.....

Saturday 01 May
HIJAK OSCAR
If you've been watching the sad procession of bands on Channel 4's Sunday afternoon Mobile Unsigned with Alex Zane you'll have seen one act stand out; and the camera panning across Jo Whiley, Alex James and company all mouthing `Wow`. That would be Hijak Oscar, then. Named after the band on a doomed riverboat and mashing Tom Waits with Floyd, and Son House with The Who, this six-piece is completely original; utterly compelling and when they're flipping huge in 2010 you can say you were on 'em first here. York's 7-piece answer to Brian Wilson's imagination gently developing in the hands and harmonica of Tim Fox. A sound of sex, soul and searing imagination with an arsenal of instruments including sax, mandolin, banjo, slide, piano and, of course, guitars - electric and acoustic . Tim's 'born in the wrong era' blues vocals and Emma's collar-grabbing voice top off a delicate, harmonious and impassioned performance all dressed up Tarantino-stylee. Is there something special happening here? We think so ... www.hijakoscar.co.uk £4 Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 £5 on the door

Thursday 13 May
LOUISIANA RED & Michael Messer
One of the last great surviving bluesmen, Louisiana Red was born in Alabama in 1932. His mother died a week after his birth and his father was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. Louisiana Red not only plays the Blues, he lives it through his guitar and his singing. Strongly influenced by Muddy Waters, Lightnin‘ Hopkins and Arthur Crudup, he has long ago found his own voice, his own style, his own form of expression. In a career spanning over half a century, Louisiana Red has played with just about every major bluesman you can name. In 1983 he won the W.C. Handy Award for ’Best Traditional Blues Artist’. Michael Messer is recognised as one of the world’s leading slide guitarists and blues innovators. One prominent critic described him as `an unavoidable force in modern blues` £10Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop Tel 01179299008 www.bristolticketshop.co.uk £12 on the door

Saturday 22 May
WILKO JOHNSON
There’s one thing you can be sure of in 2009: Wilko Johnson, the Essex Assassin, will still be wowing audiences the length of the country with the unique brand of Rhythm’n’Blues-based rock he pioneered with his band, Dr. Feelgood, in the early seventies. The perfect onstage foil for Wilko is bassist Norman Watt-Roy.Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished bass players in the country, Norman shot to fame in Ian Dury & The Blockheads and has contributed his considerable talents to recordings by artists as diverse as The Clash and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. This powerhouse trio is completed by another ex-Blockhead, Dylan Howe. www.myspace.com/wilkojohnson www.wilkojohnson.com £10Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop £12 on the Door

Friday 30 July
THE LEGENDARY PRETTY THINGS
MAXIMUM R&B: The Pretty Things first prowled the stage in 1964, sporting the world's longest hair and the worst rock & roll attitude ever seen. Featuring lead vocalist Phil May and lead guitarist Dick Taylor – also an original Rolling Stone. The Pretties recorded a clutch of raunchy R&B rockers in the mid-'60s that offer a punkier, rawer version of the early Stones sound. Their first two albums, as well as a brace of fine major and minor British hits (of which `Don't Bring Me Down` and `Honey I Need` were the biggest), feature first-rate original material and covers, and remain the group's most exciting and influential recordings which the 60`s U.S garage scene took their humbridge... Don`t miss these garage rock legends!! £15Adv from Bristol Ticket Shop £18Adv on the door