Soundbites

By dbiggane

TROWBRIDGE VILLAGE PUMP FESTIVAL

Just two weeks to go until Trowbridge Village Pump Festival and weekend tickets are selling fast.

The festival, which is based in an idyllic setting at Stowford Manor Farm between Wingfield and Farleigh Hungerford, is one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK featuring an eclectic range of folk, blues, roots based rock 'n' roll and world music.

The organisers have just announced the release of day tickets. The prices are Thursday £20, Friday £40 and Saturday and Sunday £45.

There are still some weekend tickets available at £115.

The guests appearing include Seth Lakeman, Luka Bloom, Edward II, Steve Knightley, Ade Edmundson and The Bad Shepherds, Alabama 3, Saw Doctors, Loudon Wainwright III, Baaba Maal and Hazmat Modine.

Visit the website for full details on www.trowbridgefestival.co.uk. Or phone the Festival Information Line on 01225 769132.

SUMMER SOUNDS

Norton-Radstock musicians will be performing in concert at The Mission Theatre in Bath on Sunday.

Midsomer Norton-based guitarist Joe Reed returns to the theatre having appeared there in a fundraising concert called Changes in February.

Also performing is Peasedown St John Primary School music teacher Myra Barretto, who will be performing a mix of jazz and blues.

Opening the concert will be a highly talented and dedicated jazz band from Bath's King Edwards school called New Jazz Revolution, led by Ed Cheverton who lives in Dunkerton.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £6 or £5 on the door.

For more details call 01225 336161.

JAZZ AT THE JAZZ CAFE

The first ever live gig at the appropriately named Jazz Cafe takes place tomorrow from 6.30pm at Kingsmead Square.

The live music will be provided by Jazz Times Three, featuring Mel Henry on trombone, Terry Veal on guitar and special guest Pete Morgan on double bass, and will continue until about 9pm.

Mel said: "Pete has played with just about everyone on the jazz scene – he is one of the few bass players to do bowed bass solos and is not to be missed.

"We really need this gig to work to make jazz a regular feature at this venue."

For further information call 01225 329002.

MAL WEBB

Some may remember an Australian band by the name of Totally Gourdeous whose unique take on folk and rock played a variety of handcrafted instruments made from hollowed out gourd caused quite a stir when they visited The Bell last year.

Well one of them returns to the Bell this Monday and it should be just as interesting and entertaining an experience.

Mal Webb is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne, Australia.

He is also unforgettably funny with a charismatic stage presence and accomplished at yodelling.

THE SCOVILLE UNITS

A dynamic new band visits Bath Folk Club at Widcombe Social Club tomorrow.

The Scoville Units features some of the best UK based musicians including former members of two now legendary bands Flook and Daily Planet who got together back stage after last year's Village Pump Festival and decided to form a new band.

The result is a distinguished mix of bluegrass, Celtic roots, country blues and jazz that is as red hot as any chilli pepper.

The band features Leon Hunt on banjo, Ed Boyd on guitar, Gina Griffin on fiddle and voice, Rex Preston on mandolin and Josh Clark on bodhran and cajon percussion.

Ed's guitarwork is always perfectly measured and his ability to sustain complex rhythms belies the skill of his finger style playing.

Leon Hunt is an internationally respected virtuoso of five-string banjo and like Ed is based in his hometown of Bath.

It should be a great evening.