Leatherat – “Purveyors of hi-octane rockin’ folk” (Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine)
Five folkers from Oxfordshire, dedicated to playing folk-rock loud, fast and to the highest standard. With two studio albums already sold worldwide and a live show on DVD, Leatherat have just recently released their third studio album “Short Time on Earth”. The new offering is guaranteed to delight existing fans as well as ensnaring unsuspecting new ones!
Leatherat’s live show captures the excitement of a rock gig combined with the influences of traditional and original folk tunes. Theirs is a show packed full of energy and stage presence in abundance. Leatherat are no strangers to Weyfest, this being the third year they have been invited to grace the stage. If you’ve missed them in the past, be sure not to miss them this year as they play material from the new album mixed in with all original material from their history; Leatherat never fail to impress.
Fiery mandolin and furious fiddle, fused with a relentless powerhouse of rhythm, bass and drums. Fans of the Levellers, Oysterband, Flogging Molly (to name a few)… will not be dissaponted!
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Where you see one of these click it
to watch video of the artist on You Tube.
The Jackie Lynton Band
Jackie Lynton has been famous more times than most of have had hot dinners!
He started his career as a young ballad singer in the late fifties and early sixties - in the same shiny suited genre as the young Billy Fury - he had chart hits with All Of Me, Teddy Bears Picnic and Somewhere Over The Rainbow. As the sixties progressed Jack expanded from the ballad style (at which he is still a mean exponent) into the blues and rock style which he really loves best, and he wound up as the front man for The Savoy Brown Blues Band , becoming the cover hero for their legendary LP "Jack The Toad".
Jack has always been a bit of a poet, and during the late seventies he struck up a songwriting partnership with Rick Parfitt of Status Quo; the lyrics of many of Status Quo's headbanging hits come from Jacks pen. His next venture into the public eye was as lead singer for Diesel - a band created by the Quo's drummer, John Coghlan (now a member of KEBB - come back on Sunday to see him). During the nineties Jack became a familiar background figure in "The Queen Vic" as an extra in TV's Eastenders; and for the last twenty years he has played locally in pubs and clubs.
He is still writing and recording songs and he still commands an amazing vocal talent for blues and rock'n'roll. His fame and respect among fellow musicians is legendary. Almost anyone you meet on the music scene will have a story about him - usually rude! His association with the music business over the years means he is often called on by the BBC to participate in documentaries about such colleagues as Long John Baldry, Dave "Screaming Lord" Sutch and others. He is a consummate entertainer and - if the audience is right - will pepper his performance with blue jokes. This respect from his peers means that he has always managed to attract an amazing array of talent to his band - you can judge for yourself at Weyfest that the current line up of The Jackie Lynton Band is nothing short of excellent.
The Flying Tigers
Formed in 1982.
The Flying Tigers play rhythm 'n' blues covers, early Stones, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Dr Feelgood, etc. with a good line in humour and theatrics thrown in. Tamla, a vocalist from the Arundel Delta joined 2 years ago and complements the band wonderfully.
After many a cup of tea with Sylvia Clapton (Eric's Aunt) talking about the British blues era, Adam's zest to play this music perseveres. After various line-ups, the current band are still thumpin' out classic covers of numbers from acts such as the Stones, 9 Below Zerow, Muddy Waters etc.
Over the years Adam had harmonica lessons from a friend of his - none other than....Johnny Mars. An American bluesman who settled in this country, Johnny has played with some top draw acts including Jimi Hendrix and BB King and still gigs around the country.
The Flying Tigers have between them many years of gigging and jave performed at biker festivals (haven't done a Barmitzvah yet!). They have also played at Weyfest for the last 3 years and even in the middle of Truro town centre. They hope to have many more years gigging endorsed by Angie Richards.
Adam Russel: harmonica, rhythm guitar, vocals
Paul Baker: Lead guitar, vocals
Alan Wise: Bass guitar, vocals
Tamla: Vocals
Ray Smithers: Drums
Drunken Balordi
Drunken Balordi are a very dynamic band with an eclectic NEW young sound, a very strong stage presence and deliver high energy shows. Their sound is a mix between Balkan, Klesmir and Folk Punk. Their singers voice has been decribed by fans as an urban poet with a voice hauntingly similar to that of Joe Strummer (Clash), and together with the bands gifted musicians sturring this crazy mix, Drunken Balordi work any crowd that they have performed in front of into a heaving sweaty frenzy.
For a band that has just formed last summer they are already causing a huge commotion, having twice been mentioned by TIME OUT magazine as the 'Recommended Gig Of The Week' last year. Drunken Balordi have played their debut at the famous 100 club in Oxford Street, went on to support Alabama3 after an event organizer saw their performance at Tommy Flynns in Camden. At Christmas Drunken Balordi were offered a gig hosted by none other than Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) but turned it down in order to play at the Pogues official after party at the JAMM in Brixton to support the POPES showcase for their new album with Shane MacGowan turning up to sing a few tunes.
After Drunken Balordi raised hell last christmas when they supported The Popes with Shane MacGowan in Brixton Drunken Balordi have recently been asked to support Maddog and the boys again for their Album Release Show on the 14 May at The Borderline in Soho.
Drunken Balordi will also play The Vikedal Roots Music Festival in Norway this July where they will perform their blinding 1 hour set along side The Levellers!
Spank The Monkey
Spank the Monkey have been playing the
country for 12 years now, they all come
from the Banbury area.
After playing at the Fairport festival in 2000, they were signed by a small label "A New Day Records" and recorded their first studio album "Spank". The album was critically acclaimed and was voted one of the top ten blues albums of 2001 by readers of "Blueprint " magazine.
After playing and plugging the album they recorded a completely live album at the annual Christmas gig at the Mill Theatre in Banbury. "Year of the Monkey" is considered one of the finest live albums ever recorded, which is amazing considering that all 5 of them were out of their tree at the time.
At the end of 2006, Spank then produces a 3rd CD for Christmas named 'Backdoor Santa'. This included 4 brand spankin' new songs, counting the Christmas special, and an additional 4 songs recorded at the Mill originally for the "Year of the Monkey" album.
Spank continue to tour the country with their own brand of boogie. Wherever there is a bar and a stage you can see 'em!!
Neck
Neck - Come Out Fighting (Golf) County Holloway’s finest back with another fine album of dirty London town celtic punk goodness! - Organ
Neck - Sod 'em & begorrah!
ALBUM OF THE WEEK NECK - Sod'em & Begorrah - a yes, this is what we want, defiant flutes and punk'd up reels - real ones, real reels - Irish folk-punks, real ones!
Organart, UK
Another dose of manic psycho-ceilídh from the London-Irish heirs to the Pogues' legacy. …not for the fainthearted, this is incendiary, belligerent stuff and front-man Leeson O'Keeffe doesn't pull any punches on tracks like 'Blood on The Streets', 'Every Day's St Patrick's Day' and 'Diaspora'.
Hot Press, Ireland
Pull me a Guinness, boys and make sure to put a shamrock in the foam for kitsch value …if you ever want to head-bang until you pop a couple of veins & dance like Michael Flatley after one too many red bulls, then this is your album! Proclaiming that 'Every day's St. Patrick's Day' …good music, good lyrics, lots of musicians & mad craic!
Irish Post, UK
This north London crew seem to be nearer the real classic kinda vibe that the Pogues emitted, they have that same attitude both in the mood and the subject matter. But it's the pulsating 'Diaspora' that's their best number, and a tribute to the Irish emigrants and their descendents that really stood out. It's got an addictive tune that shows Neck in a class of their own with an excellent chorus and some great fiddle and whistle work. And they are supposedly a deadly live act too!
World Power or Ruin, USA
They're brash, they're loud, they like a drink… It's a riot from start to finish… and [this] album marks their arrival in the big league!
Irish World, UK
So, here's to this band that proclaims it's St. Patrick's Day every day. Good music, good lyrics, lots of musicians. And the English are all bastards.
Punk News, UK
Jackie Leven
Jackie Leven made his first forays
into the music business in the late
1960s under the pseudonym
"John St Field" and recorded one
album, Control, in 1971.
Leven admits this is probably his
favourite album and he loves the
bass playing, which is all his.
In the following years he travelled, but enthusiastic about punk, he formed the band Doll by Doll in 1978. Despite having a unique and powerful live act, this band never broke through to the mainstream. They released four albums between 1979 and 1982. Blending LSD visions, folk, blues, Celtic, psychedelic and punk influences the band, which featured Leven as main songwriter, often explored the darker side of human nature ("Butcher Boy", "Sleeping Partners", "The Palace of Love"), contrasted with the tough, almost macho tenderness of songs such as "Stripshow", "Chances" and "Hey Sweetheart".
After Doll by Doll disintegrated in 1983, Leven embarked on his solo career. However, a vicious and unprovoked assault in the street during the recording of his first solo album in 1984 left him unable to speak for nearly two years - the after-effects of near strangulation. During this time he slid into heroin addiction. Despite this he managed to collaborate with fellow ex-Doll by Dolls Joe Shaw and David Macintosh plus ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock to release the single "Big Tears" under the name "Concrete Bulletproof Invisible". The record was a Melody Maker single of the week in 1988. He eventually cured himself of his addiction though a mixture of acupuncture and psychic healing: this led him to form the CORE Trust, which favours a holistic approach to the treatment of heroin addiction.
In 1994 his solo career started in earnest with the release of the album The Mystery of Love is Greater than the Mystery of Death, which earned much critical praise. Since then he has been extremely prolific, releasing another 15 official albums, including a joint album with crime writer Ian Rankin Jackie Leven Said, featuring the keyboards of Michael Cosgrave. In addition to these official releases, he has released a number of limited edition, fanclub-only live albums through the Haunted Valley fanzine and website.
In 2006 Leven released the album Songs For Lonely Americans using the pseudonym "Sir Vincent Lone". A second Sir Vincent Lone CD, When The Bridegroom Comes (Songs For Women), was recorded a year later: initially sold only at live shows, it proved so successful that it eventually saw commercial release by his record company, Cooking Vinyl.
Predatür
A rare UK outing for what many boogie fans
would consider to be the number two Rock
and Roll band in the land. Predatür’s heavy
sounds can be traced right back to the ‘70s.
Their frantic steam hammer rhythms are
strongly influenced by early Quo and Rory
Gallagher while embracing the energy of the Punk movement. Established in the late 70s, they were regular sell outs at the legendary Target Club and Top Rank in Reading, and at the Marquee Club in London and were a major part of the ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal’ playing alongside Tygers of Pan Tang, Y&T, Saxon, Samson, More, and Girl as well as double headliners with Blues legend Larry Miller. To celebrate the release of the single “Take a Walk / Seen You Here” in `82 they had the honour of sharing the bill with Slade. “Take a walk” remains one of the most sought after and collectable singles for worldwide fans of NWOBMH vinyl.
The release of their first studio album, "Mean", sparked new interest. Recorded in the summer of 2004 its popularity grew with requests for the CD coming from all over the globe. Their second album “In Your Garden” has seen similar levels of interest. They have built up a dedicated following of fans both in the UK and on the continent – many often travelling many miles to see them play.
These days you are more likely to catch Predatür at a festival in Europe headlining the Crossed Guitars Festival in Northern Holland, the Mecca for boogie fans across Europe, appearing on live Dutch TV during their set at the Zwartse Cross festival, to toping the bill at the French or Spanish Quo parties and sharing the bill with Jaguar at the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival.
If you do find Predatur in the UK it’s more likely to be whilst sitting in with, “The Governor” - Quo drummer John Coghlan. As ‘The John Coghlan Band’ during his ‘Audience With’ shows where “we get to play all that old rare quo stuff that we really love”.
The band are: founder member and lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Baz Barratt, Mick Hughes lead and rhythm guitar and vocals, Pete Knight bass, and Jack Lefevre drums.
“We’re old school, we were old school when it was new school, we just haven’t moved on”
For further information and audio please visit www.predatur.com
Jiezuberband
Words which have been used to
describe the music of Jiezuberband,
a 5 piece act from Scotland, who
embrace a variety of genres in their
music woven within a scented rock quilt.
Jiezuberband formed in 2007 when musical outcasts, keyboardist Mikey Grant and vocalist John Strachan, met and decided to put together a rock super-group that followed none of the existing musical stereotypes in popular rock culture. Three musicians at the top of their field completed the line up: Musicologist Kenny McClean (bass), Archaeologist Scott Coulter (guitars) and Gynaecologist "Dr" Iain Duncan (drums and percussion.)
In their first two years, the band released two eps (“Mile High Maniac” and “Eternal Chaos”) and gigged extensively throughout Britain (around 100 gigs and live radio shows). Their most notable gigs to date have been support slots with The Twilight Sad and Glasvegas. Festival highlights include Dunstaffnage and Retrofest, where they played on the same bill as 10cc and Midge Ure at Strathclyde Park to 15,000 people. The band are no strangers to the big stage, once again playing to a 10,000 plus crowd in the summer of 2009. This was a special invitation gig from the organisers of the Johnny Walkers rally in Kilmarnock, also featuring Hue and Cry.
The start of 2010 has seen the band start with a couple of high profile support slots at Glasgows O2 Academy and they look to continue the early notoriety with a string of notable gigs in other cities across the UK throughout the year.
With a variety of musical styles and character personalities, Jiezuberband’s live show is explosive, energetic and, some might say, volcanic.
Anna Phoebe Band
Anna Phoebe has been hailed as
the “vixen of the violin” for stunning
live stage performances that have
won audiences and fans all over the
world. Her distinctive and original
sound combines influences from
rock, classical, gypsy, metal and Middle Eastern music, creating a new genre for the violin. Anna’s electrifying stage presence and unique style of playing has cemented her position as one of the world’s leading stage performers.
She’s best known in the United States for her exhilarating role with the multi-platinum selling arena rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra where Anna is String Director and solo violinist. Anna Phoebe has featured with guests including Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Paul Rodgers (Queen, Bad Company, Free) and Jon Anderson (Yes).
In 2007 Anna joined Jethro Tull as guest soloist, playing her own compositions as well as Tull classics. She is currently touring with Oi Va Voi, promoting their latest album in venues and festivals across the world. Anna also tours throughout the year with her solo material.
Her most recent recording, Rise of the Warrior, (available now on iTunes) is an attention-grabbing collaboration with Dutch musician/producer Joost van den Broek. The album showcases Anna’s wide ranging style: symphonic melodies combined with rock and metal rhythms, seizing the best from a whole host of genres. In live performance or on record, the music of Anna Phoebe is not to be missed.
Raising Sand
The first incarnation of Raising Sand rose from the ether in late 2005, quickly garnering rave reviews in the press and on radio, with XFM being particularly impressed, for their debut EP and their hard hitting, high octane, hair raising live shows.
Although all seemed to be unstoppable from the outside there were certain elements not hitting all the right notes and so by end of 2006 a change was needed. The Barthram brothers – the backbone of the band – remained and went about the business of scouring the earth in search of that missing piece of the puzzle.
Their wandering took them far and wide, all around London and beyond, but they had no luck finding what they thought the Sand needed to rise again. Then one night as all the bars and pubs were kicking out in Camden Town they heard a voice that drew them in like a siren.
By the night’s end they had managed to prise the girl with the Grand Canyon lungs away from her band and within two months a new EP was already written and recorded with a sound and vision that confirmed that the planets had indeed aligned and something very special was happening. That’s enough chat from me though – put the new record on and get down to a show and let the music do the talking it 's never so made so much sense.
Chris Difford
Double Ivor Novello Award-winning Chris Difford
has been writing lyrics for over twenty five years,
most notably with Squeeze. After 13 albums and many top 20 hits, 32 American tours, 30 UK tours and various trips around the globe, Chris decided to stop the merry-go-round and test the waters. His first solo album, I Didn’t Get Where I Am…was released in 2001; a live release, South East Side Story, soon followed before reconvening with songwriting partner Glenn Tilbrook in a Squeeze line-up also featuring early bassist John Bentley for their first UK tour in nine years (“it’s hard to remember when Squeeze were ever quite as good as this first time around,” enthused US trade bible Billboard).
Difford’s second solo album on Stiff records came out earlier this year, co produced and written by Boo Hewerdine: The Last Temptation Of Chris received rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and further secured Chris’s position as one of the greatest lyricists of our time. Songs like “Tempted”, “Up the Junction”, “Cool for Cats” and “Black Coffee in Bed” still find steady airplay on UK and US radio. Squeeze released The Big Squeeze, a compilation of singles and B sides that went straight into the UK Top 10 album chart , proving the timeless appeal of their music. A live album from their 2007 tour soon followed.
Chris has written with Elton John, Trilok Gurtu, Marti Pellow, Lamont Dozier, Willie Mitchell, Bryan Ferry and many others. He continues to run his own songwriting workshops and pass on the benefit of his weighty experience as a died-in-the-wool song man. Hurst House in Wales is the new venue for his songwriters week, and this year 19 writers came together to create 35 new songs. This is a passion he has been working on for 16 years. Helioscentric, a studio he built in 1995 still runs today; it has attracted such names as The Pet Shop Boys, Paul Weller, Keane, Scouting for Girls, Elvis Costello and many others.
Five years ago Chris scripted the lyrics for the film Still Crazy, this won him his first Ivor Novello Award, a proud moment for the mantelpiece. The film documented the insane life of a rock band in the 70s, something he knew a little about! His second Ivor was presented by Mark Ronson, a life long fan - Chris and Glenn accepted their Lifetime Achievement in June this year. A Nordoff Robins Silver Clef Icon award soon followed , presented by Lily Allen, also a huge fan – who compared herself presenting an award to them with an Eastender’s actor presenting an award to Robert DeNiro.
In 1984, Chris, with Glenn Tilbrook, wrote a musical called ‘Labelled with Love’; it ran for three months in London and this remains one of his fondest memories of working with Glenn.
Chris Conway
&
Dan Britton
Chris Conway and Dan Britton are a powerful combination demonstrated to anyone who has caught them live, and now on their CDs Just Be Real on A New Day Records, Live on Oblong Music, and their Live In Edinburgh DVD.
Chis Conway is best known as the multi-instrumental wizard in the Vikki Clayton Band. He has worked with members of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention, Talvin Singh and toured with Monkee Peter Tork. He has made 8 songs albums, several acclaimed in Q Magazine, Mojo, and Time Out.
Dan Britton has played with Jackie Leven and Cathy Lesurf and has supported the likes of the Saw Doctors and Dick Gaughan. He has released several nationally acclaimed albums and featured on Radio 2 as lead singer with the Katy Lied project. A passionate performer, his powerful voice and stage presence immediately attracts attention.
Together they have toured the UK, supported Bob Geldof. Frances Black, Jefferson Starship, Country Joe McDonald, and Roy Wood.
As well as their song sets, they also are part of Celtic band Govannen.
Blending American and Celtic styles, and between them playing guitars, flutes and whistles, keyboards, bodhran, kalimbas as well as their fantastically strong vocals, they have the unique ability to sound like a full band. They rock!
We are so very, very fortunate to be able to present another performance by this amazing duo, supporters of Weyfest for many years
As the house band for Weyfest Presents, local rock & blues band, Layst, can always be counted on to provide a great night of entertainment. They have recently expanded with the return of guitarist and vocalist, Tim Visser, whose harmonies are a fantastic addition to the distinctive sound of lead vocalist, Rhys Morgan. With Jack Usher on Drums, Jamie Bowden on Keyboards and Guitar, and Joel Buttery on Bass Guitar, Layst features some of Farnham`s finest up-and-coming musicians who have a dedicated following and are fast establishing themselves on the wider music scene. Appealing to a wide age range, Layst performs covers from Del Amitri, The Band, Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz, Scouting for Girls, Kings of Leon and The Fray to name just a few, as well as a growing repertoire of their own original music.
Where you see one of these click it to hear artists songs.
Fill 'er Up
'Fill 'er Up' are a four piece band who play a variety of styles including Rock, Blues, Country, Rockabilly, Swing and Shuffles. Between them they have a great many years playing experience, and the current line up is John - Guitar and Vocals, Keith - Guitar, Vocals and Harp, Geoff - Bass, and Phil on Drums. They have a fun stage presence and clearly enjoy what they do. 'Fill 'er Up' specialise in their own arrangements of 50's and 60's lesser known songs which guarantee an interesting set list every time. You may hear something you recognise, but can you be sure??? You may have heard it somewhere else, but unless you've already seen 'Fill 'er Up', be prepared for some rockin rhythms in their own inimitable style!
Joe Johnston Band
The Joe Johnston band out of Fleet and Farnborough a three piece Rock blues country act consisting of Joe Johnston JNR, the band's Award winning Songwriter & Singer, Guitarist, Colin Davis and Jamie Kiss The formidable Rhythm section. Having been signed to Red Admiral records in 2009 the band has seen through forty something shows this year already. Their second album 'The Message' is available on I tunes witch has the influences of The Rolling Stones, the Counting Crows, Roachford and an element of folk legends.
