In News

The Wildhearts – Diagnosis (mini-album)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Less than five months since they release Renaissance Men, their first album in a decade, The Wildhearts are back again with a mini-album, Diagnosis, taking one previously released track and adding five new ones recorded in a more recent session (oh, and in between Ginger Wildheart found time to...
October 6, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

St James Presents… WaterColour Matchbox Album Launch with Isle Stone, Case On The Base and Rachel Dawson – St James Concert Hall – 28/09/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard WaterColour MatchboxSince St James Concert Hall started their ‘Presents…’ series of events showcasing Guernsey bands in a different way a few have certainly stood out; the inaugural one from Track Not Found saw them present their music as time line showing their songwriting evolving while Lord Vapour became the...
October 4, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Playlist – September 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A real mix of stuff added to the playlist this month from several, possibly unlikely sources. From the Channel Islands there are tracks from Guernsey’s WaterColour Matchbox who put out their new album Pathways and from Jersey there are new singles from Hot Plastic (Time Bomb) and Hot Juice...
September 30, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands – September 2019 – Nick Coleman and Coastal Fire Dept

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Nick Coleman on BBC IntroducingClick here to listen to the show For my edition of BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands for September 2019 I featured two up and coming acts from Guernsey with rather different styles. In session was Nick Coleman who’s made a name for himself...
September 29, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

WaterColour Matchbox – Pathways

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Back in 2017, when they released their debut album Fragments, Artefacts & Ruins, WaterColour Matchbox was little more than a two piece studio project for Peter Mitchell and Mikey Ferbrache just beginning to look into expanding to live performances. Now, as they release their second full length record, Pathways,...
September 27, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Thirty years ago the band who defined the 80’s Los Angeles glam metal sound, often derisively dubbed hair metal, Mötley Crüe, released arguably their magnum opus, Dr Feelgood. Released following arguably the most tumultuous period of their career where they hit commercial highs and personal lows aplenty, highlighted by...
September 25, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Byzanthian Neckbeard – Extinction EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Five years ago Byzanthian Neckbeard dropped their debut album, From The Clutches Of Oblivion, the waves of which carried them as far as the Blookdstock metal festival in Derbyshire and The Underworld in Camden. Since then, despite the loss of one guitarist, the trio have continued to cement their...
September 23, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Tiger Army – Retrofuture

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard When Tiger Army released their fifth album, V…-, a couple of years ago it felt like Nick 13 and his crew had closed the book on past debates as to their status as a psychobilly band with a set of songs immersed in a kind of 50s film noir...
September 21, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Ghost – Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard As seems to have become their modus operandi after releasing new album Prequelle last year Swedish goth-black-pop-rockers Ghost are back with a new EP, Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic. It is, according to their own increasingly convoluted, self-created back story, a throw back to the ‘original incarnation’ of the...
September 19, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Andrew O’Neill’s History Of Heavy Metal

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard After reading A History Of Heavy Metal by comedian and musician Andrew O’Neill a couple of months ago I was lucky enough to pick up the DVD of the live show he put together to accompany it after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Recorded at Camden’s famed Underworld venue, it...
September 16, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Hot Juice – Small Town Blues

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A couple of weeks ago Jersey based three piece Hot Juice played their biggest show to date headlining the Made In Jersey Stage at the island’s Weekender festival after winning a battle of the bands contest and releasing their third single, Small Town Blues. The track starts out as...
September 14, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Hot Plastic – Time Bomb

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Over the last year or so Hot Plastic have, in their current form, been steadily building their reputation both in their home base of Jersey and across the south of the UK with a few visits across the Channel and in August 2019 they released their latest and fourth...
September 10, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

3Teeth – Metawar

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard I first discovered 3Teeth when I saw them supporting Ministry in London on 6th July 2019, the day after the release of their third album, Metawar. After Hyperstition, an intro that drops us very much into the present, Affluenza kicks off a maelstrom of industrial metal that paints a...
September 4, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Playlist – August 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Another busy month for music with a load of new music topped off with the longest running festival in the Channel Islands, the Vale Earth Fair, means another packed playlist. From and inspired by the Earth Fair is music from The King Blues, The Wakes and Lifejacket. Byzanthian Neckbeard...
August 31, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Vale Earth Fair Weekend 2019 – 24-25/08/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Neville Staple BandFor the third year in a row the Vale Earth Fair expanded to a two day event with the main festival, this year celebrating 43 years, in its usual place at the Vale Castle on the Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend but with Sound...
August 29, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Black Sabbath – The End (Blu-ray)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A little over two years ago, as I write this, the band that really defined what became heavy metal called it a day after a farewell world tour that wound up in their home city of Birmingham England. Dubbed The End this final Black Sabbath concert was captured on...
August 27, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands – August 2019 – Unplugged Club, Hip Hop Coffee Shop and Tadhg Daly

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Click here to listen to the show For my edition of BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands for August 2019 there was a packed line up. Rather than the usual live, acoustic session in the studio I headed to the Guernsey Gigs Unplugged Club and recorded some tracks...
August 25, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Vale Earth Fair 2007 – Vale Castle – 26/08/07

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard BabyheadAs we approach the 2019 Vale Earth Fair, and I noticed some of my first review of the festival back in 2007 has dropped off the BBC website, I thought I’d revive it here. From the sounds of this it was a packed year and I can only imagine...
August 23, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Frank Turner – No Man’s Land

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Even before it was anywhere near release Frank Turner was already courting controversy thanks to the concept of his new album, No Man’s Land, which is based around the idea of telling the stories of women from history, many in the musical or artistic world, in a way that...
August 21, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Ginger Wildheart – Headzapoppin

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard To say Ginger Wildheart is prolific would be something of an understatement — in the last twelve months he’s released the GASS Mark II compilation record, The Pessimist’s Companion solo album, new Wildhearts album Renaissance Men and the band have just announced a new mini album to be released...
August 19, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Woodstock: Three Days Of Peace And Music – Director’s Cut

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard To say 1969 was a landmark year for several aspects of culture would be an understatement. Less than a month ago (as I write this) we marked the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, the Stonewall riots in New York ushered in a new era for the LGBT+...
August 15, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Havoc Events presents Byzanthian Neckbeard, Granite Wolf, Burning At Both Ends and From Darkness – The Fermain Tavern – 09/08/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Byzanthian NeckbeardNine months ago Havoc Events returned from a decade long break with a night of heavy metal at The Fermain Tavern. Now, after a few other shows, they are back with another night of the heavy stuff featuring Byzanthian Neckbeard, Granite Wolf, Burning At Both Ends and From...
August 11, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Lords Of Chaos (presented by Clameur De Cinema)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The story of the early Norwegian Black Metal scene is one that has been told many times and from many different points of view, and that I have more than a familiarity with from reading articles in Kerrang, Metal Hammer, Terroizer and other magazines. One version I haven’t read...
August 9, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

IDLES – Mercedes Marxist/I Dream Guillotine

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Hot on the heels of what many are describing as the stand out set of this year’s Glastonbury festival, and for my money one of the most zeitgeist grabbing performances in those fields in Somerset from an upcoming British band in the best part of two decades, IDLES are...
August 7, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Electric Shakes – Rye And Dry/Trash

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Bournemouth based rockers The Electric Shakes have been back in Ed Deegan’s Gizzard Studios recently crafting the followup to their second album Electrohypnosis and it’s emerged in the form of double A-side single Rye And Dry/Trash. If you’re familiar with The Shakes past output you’ll know, generally, what to...
August 1, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Playlist – July 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard With a festival and a lot going on, my July playlist has become a bumper one with double the number of tracks than normal. As ever some of these have more specific reason to be here while others are just songs that happened to pop up and strike a...
July 30, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands – July 2019 – Vale Earth Fair and King Nun

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Vale Earth Fair Collective and King NunClick here to listen to the show For my BBC Introducing In The Channel Islands radio show there was a lot going on being deep in the midst of summer festival season. With that in mind, as well as a little look back...
July 28, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Oliver Marson – Cocaine Romance

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Oliver Marson first came to my attention as part of the heavily Smiths inspired Guernsey based trio China Aster (that also gave us former Of Empires drummer George Le Page) several years ago. Since then he has, as many youngsters in Guernsey are wont to do, headed to the...
July 26, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard For as long as I can remember Bruce Springsteen has been a part of my musical vocabulary, as I’m sure he is for many people born in the 1980s, however Western Stars marks the first new album from the New Jersey native since I first properly started exploring his...
July 24, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

JD And Folk – Inn Slide Out

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard JD & Folk have been plying their trade as, mostly, a duo for a few years now mixing their take on well known country songs with their own original material and have now released this, Inn Slide Out, their first collection of their own songs on CD. The band...
July 22, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

NoFX – Punk In Drublic

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard 25 years ago punk rock was, at least in the eyes of the mainstream, undergoing something of a resurgence. Green Day had just released Dookie and The Offspring had dropped Smash and into this, like the fly in the ointment they always seem to strive to be, came NoFX...
July 20, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Roots, Radicals And Rockers: How Skiffle Changed The World by Billy Bragg

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard During the late 1970s and early 1980s Billy Bragg rode the wave of DIY punk rock to establish himself as a new kind of protest singer for (excuse the pun) a New England. While firmly a part of the punk movement it’s easy to trace Bragg’s musical roots back...
July 18, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

King Nun, Track Not Found, The Recks, Savage Sons and Case On The Base – St James Concert Hall – 13/07/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard King NunWith the sun beating down outside it felt rather incongruous heading into St James on Saturday evening after a couple of the island’s big festival weekends, but with some upcoming visitors in King Nun, live favourites The Recks and Track Not Found, Chaos/Sound Guernsey Battle of the Bands...
July 16, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Ministry, 3Teeth and Grave Lines – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 06/07/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard MinistryIt’s nearly four years since I attended a show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire (The Wildhearts PHUQ anniversary show) and I always seem to forget how good a venue it is — big enough to feel like an event on the scale of those at Brixton Academy or the...
July 10, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Devotees, Teaspoonriverneck, No Ambition and About An Hour – The Fermain Tavern – 30/01/09

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Brett and Steve of TeaspoonriverneckThe last review (in terms of date of the event at least) revived from my old blog takes us back to January 2009 again and a show at The Fermain Tavern with an impressively mixed line up of Guernsey rock bands. The Fermain Tavern tonight...
July 8, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Chaos 15 – Pleinmont, Guernsey – 28-30/06/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard After seemingly settling back into a winning formula last year, Chaos returned for a 15th time to the Pleinmont headland in Guernsey over the weekend of 28th to 30th June 2019. With two stages running for the three days it was possibly the most varied Chaos event yet with...
July 4, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands – June 2019 – Arts Sunday and Sark Folk Festival

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Click here to listen to the show For my latest stint in the hot seat on BBC Music Introducing in the Channel Islands I had two features in amongst the music. First was a look back at three of the five artists who played the BBC Introducing on Arts...
June 30, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Playlist – June 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Another packed and varied selection this month featuring, I think, more Channel Island acts than usual too. Monty Taft made an impression when he playing the BBC Music Introducing stage on Arts Sunday so his latest single Bloom is included and his fellow islanders from Jersey, Hot Plastic, feature...
June 28, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Slim Pickings and The Honest Crooks – St James Concert Hall – 22/06/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Honest CrooksWhen it was announced that St James was staging a pirate themed ska party featuring well known Guernsey based band The Honest Crooks and visiting octet Slim Pickings, ‘complete with pirate ship,’ I expected maybe a few Jolly Rogers and some inventive fancy dress. Upon arriving at...
June 26, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BlackTopTales, Blue Mountains and JD And Folk – The Golden Lion – 15/06/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard BlackTopTalesWith festival season fast approaching three bands, BlackTopTales, Blue Mountains and JD & Folk, took over The Lion’s Den upstairs room at The Golden Lion for a bit of an unofficial warm up for this year’s Sark Folk Festival that happens at the beginning of July. Country influenced duo...
June 20, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Recks, Hot Plastic, Ukuladeez and Isle Stone – The Fermain Tavern – 14/06/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The RecksThe last time The Fermain Tavern changed hands it was marked with a full refit for Guernsey longest running live music venue and a launch show featuring 70s British R’n’B legend Wilko Johnson. This time things have been less obvious, externally, but nonetheless, following a a few big...
June 18, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Dresden Dolls – A Is For Accident (8ft Records Edition)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard After seeing punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls at Troxy in London last October I have now finally completed my collection of their records (at least as far as I’m likely to given the rarity of their self titled debut EP) with A Is For Accident. For clarity this...
June 16, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Cor Damme Lars – Tangled Lies

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The last year and half has seen the The Cor Damme Lars build a solid reputation for themselves on Guernsey’s music scene, first as a trio and then really hitting their stride as a five piece with bass (Tom Bradshaw) and drums (Andy Nicholson) added to their mandolin (Gemma...
June 14, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing at Arts Sunday – St Peter Port, Guernsey – 09/06/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Burning At Both EndsFor the fifth year in a row BBC Music Introducing was represented with a stage at Guernsey Arts Commission‘s Arts Sunday event. Matching the growing scope of BBC Music Introducing in the Channel Islands the stage featured five acts including performers from Guernsey, Jersey and Sark...
June 12, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Cor Damme Lars album launch – The Mariners Inn – 07/06/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Cor Damme LarsBarely a year and a half since their first show, at the 2018 Vale Earth Fair Unplugged event, The Cor Damme Lars launched their debut album, Tangled Lies, with a show at The Mariners Inn on The Bridge. Before they hit the stage though Dave ‘Duke’...
June 10, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Free Range Music – Jamie-Lee, Lucy and Claire, Jamie and Cheese and The Coalbox Generals – The Fermain Tavern – 17/01/09

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Coal Box Generals (at Chateau De Sound)This throwback to January 2009 looks at another of the Free Range Music series of shows including a selection of acoustic artists and an early outing for The Coalbox Generals… Over the past few months the Free Range Music brand, spear-headed by...
June 8, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Playlist – May 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard May 2019 has been a varied one musically for me but has been highlighted by a trio of what could be called comeback albums. First came The Wildhearts’ Renaissance Men that saw the unlikeliest band of 90s Britrock survivors unleash possibly their best album in two decades. Then German...
May 31, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Stray Cats – 40

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard After great ‘comeback’ albums from both The Wildhearts and Rammstein dropped in May 2019 after a 10 year break, rockabilly revivalists Stray Cats outdid both and, almost out of the blue, marked their 40th anniversary with their first album of new material in 27 years, appropriately named 40. While...
May 29, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing in the Channel Islands – May 2019 – The Cor Damme Lars

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Cor Damme Lars in the studioClick here to listen to the show This month I was back across all Channel Islands once again for BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands with new music from Guernsey, Jersey, Sark and Alderney all represented (I’ve still not got anything from...
May 26, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Rammstein – Untitled

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard It seems May 2019 is the month for big comebacks. So far The Wildhearts have broken a ten year silence for new material to give us the rather excellent Renaissance Men and still to come The Stray Cats are back to mark their 40th anniversary, now we can add...
May 24, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Havoc Events presents Third Time Lucky and friends – The Fermain Tavern – 18/05/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Third Time LuckyThirteen years ago I started a section on the BBC Guernsey website called Guernsey Unsigned, since then it’s developed into the BBC Introducing radio shows for Guernsey and now the Channel Islands but, back in June 2006, the first live event I covered was headlined by Third...
May 20, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Cokie The Clown – You’re Welcome

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Over the years NoFX have, along with increasingly blistering social and political commentary and their fair share of juvenile humour, featured a darker, often more personal, streak than many other bands who grew out the 1980s California punk rock scene. This now seems to have reached its peak with...
May 18, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Liberation Day Warm Up with The Recks, The Honest Crooks and Track Not Found – Imperial Hotel – 08/05/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Track Not FoundLiberation Day is always a busy one when it comes to live music and 2019 was no different, however in the past the night before has often been a rather quiet one. This year though that was different as The Imperial Hotel at Rocquaine chose Wednesday the...
May 12, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Wildhearts – Renaissance Men

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Ten years on from their last album, Chutzpah, The Wildhearts have been back in the studio and created Renaissance Men, an album that at once harks back to old glories while defiantly looking forward and presenting something fresh and new – not bad around three decades since they first...
May 8, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Rock of Ages 2 – Princess Royal Centre For The Performing Arts – 02/01/09

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Brutus Stonefist – TallpicturesAnother look back to early 2009 and the second Rock Of Ages event that definitely took a turn for the heavier with a selection of some of Guernsey’s top young metal bands of the time in Brutus Stonefist, Elmer Henley and Murder For 10, along with...
May 6, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Bright Orange Spectacle – She Could Get Better

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard When retro rock ‘n’ rollers Of Empires called it a day at Sound At St James back in October they were joined in stage by a number of guests and little did we know then, that in amongst them was the nucleus of a new band, Bright Orange Spectacle....
May 4, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Playlist – April 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Another busy and varied playlist this month spanning skiffle and American folk to Neue Deutsche Härte and steampunk. A few things to point to more specifically include something from the original line up of blackened death metal band Darker Shores who soon make their return to the stage under...
April 30, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing in the Channel Islands – April 2019 – The Recks and Atmoised

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Recks and AtomisedClick here to listen to the show This month BBC Introducing in Guernsey and Jersey have been combined so going forward its BBC Music Introducing In The Channel Islands, with me still in the hot seat for the final Saturday of each month. With that in...
April 28, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

L’Islet Records Presents To The Woods, Coastal Fire Dept and Isle Stone – The Fermain Tavern – 20/04/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard To The WoodsWhen a show is announced featuring a rare appearance from To The Woods, a grunge and indie inflected hard rocking trio who built a formidable reputation a couple of years ago, there is always something of a sense of anticipation. When you add to that a newly...
April 24, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Blues Cruise with Rawcuz Crowzz and The Fuzzey Group – The Fermain Tavern – 10/01/09

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Fuzzey GroupAnother throwback moment to early 2009 and another night advertised as a blues night but with The Fuzzey Group we were in for something more, along with Alderney punk-blues trio Rawcuz Crowzz featuring a young Robert J. Hunter. Though tonight was dubbed the Blues Cruise, traditional blues...
April 16, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Spoonful – The Doghouse – 09/01/09

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Spoonful mk 1Back to 2009 for this review, with blues band Spoonful at The Doghouse at a time when it seemed the venue was under threat of closure (for reference, at time of re-posting it’s still going strong) and the band themselves were appearing in a rare form with...
April 12, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Baghdaddies, The Recks and The Cor Damme Lars Take 2 – St James Concert Hall – 06/04/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard BaghdaddiesTowards the end of last year, just as St James was starting to establish itself as a venue of broader use once again, they held a mid-week event headlined by visiting act Baghdaddies. Despite being a Wednesday night it proved rather popular and it wasn’t long before a return...
April 10, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Robert J. Hunter – Good People and Hurricane

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Robert J. Hunter Band on stage in SpainThe last few years have seen Robert J. Hunter and his band not just gigging relentlessly (including a recent successful trip to Spain and some upcoming gigs even further afield) but also releasing a steady stream of records that have each...
April 6, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

St James Presents… Lord Vapour And The Buds In Bloom – St James Concert Hall – 30/03/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Lord Vapour and The Buds In BloomFor the second of their monthly St James Presents series the new managers at the concert hall, who have spearheaded something of a revolution in the concert hall, had booked Guernsey’s preeminent vintage style stoner rockers Lord Vapour. However, in the lead up...
April 4, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey: March 2019 – Elliot Falla and Burning At Both Ends

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Burning At Both Ends and Elliot FallaClick here to listen to the show On the March edition of BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey I featured two live sessions as well as the usual range of tracks from artists from the islands. Elliot Falla joined me to talk about his...
March 31, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Elliot Falla and The Blue Valentines Single Launch – The Vault – 22/03/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Elliot Falla & The Blue ValentinesOver the last year Elliot Falla & The Blue Valentines have released a series of singles while gigging around Brighton. For their latest release, So Easy, they returned to Falla’s home island of Guernsey to launch the track with a show at The Vault....
March 26, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Elliot Falla And The Blue Valentines – So Easy

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard It’s been a couple of years since I had a close look at anything by Guernsey born singer songwriter Elliot Falla, but that isn’t because he’s been keeping quiet. Quite the contrary… after his debut EP Screaming At The Sky and regular gigs in Guernsey he made the move...
March 22, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Dan Ashplant – King Of The Country Road

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard With the abundance of music schools in Guernsey giving young musicians a chance to explore things away from the traditional classical basis of the school’s music service, it’s no surprise that more and more youngsters are once again forming bands or creating their own music. One such performer is...
March 20, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Rock Of Ages 1 – Princess Royal Centre For The Performing Arts – 24/10/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Danny of About An HourMy final revived review (for now at least) from 2008, this one was the first night of a new series of events giving access to live music in an all ages setting. The Rock of Ages shows went on for a few years, moving venue...
March 17, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

About An Hour and Lydia Pugh – Barbados Night Club – 19/10/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Lydia PughMy second to last review revived from 2008 and possibly the only live music event I can remember happening at Barbados at the rather awkward time of around midnight on a Sunday night/Monday morning… With everyone involved in local music always seemingly going on about the lack of...
March 15, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Free Range Music – The Fermain Tavern – 18/10/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The John Wesley StoneBack in 2008 The Fermain Tavern started a series of regular monthly events in different styles of music. We’ve already seen reviews from blues nights and one of the Discharge nights focussing on punk but this comes from the first ‘Free Range Music’ night which featured...
March 14, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Black March featuring From Darkness, Ironfoot, Of Abscess And Amputation and Gentle Suburban Boys – The Fermain Tavern – 09/03/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard From DarknessLate last year Havoc Events staged a metal night at The Fermain Tavern and it obviously inspired others as, with a very similar line up, Black March was announced once again highlighting the heavier side of Guernsey music scene that is, arguably, less seen today than it was...
March 13, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Peppered Ant Legs and Swallows – De La Rue – 15/10/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard SwallowsBack to Autumn 2008 to a rocking night at the De La Rue with Guernsey’s premier lady band along with old school hard rockers The Peppered Ant Legs With the Thomas De La Rue fast becoming the premier venue for live music in St Peter Port many had gathered...
March 12, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Discharge Punk Night – The Fermain Tavern – 04/10/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard 2 Minutes 2 LateIt wasn’t just blues at The Fermain Tavern in autumn 2008, here two of the island’s prime punk acts of the year took to the stage as the guys behind the Discharge events (and fanzine) who were and still are heavily involved in the scene in...
March 10, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Spoonful – The Fermain Tavern – 13/09/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard SpoonfulAnother blues night at The Fermain Tavern from back in 2008 – I mention a ‘recent renovation’ of the venue here, this was a precursor to the major overhaul that took place a little while later, just in case the photo of the crowd throws your perception of time...
March 8, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Havoc Presents… Kings, Coastal Fire Dept, Vice and Kiya Ashton – The Fermain Tavern – 02/03/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard KingsBack in November Havoc Events revived themselves after a few years away from organising shows with a metal night at The Fermain Tavern harking back to their former glory days. At the time though they were already saying they had plans to put on shows with a broader appeal...
March 6, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Bluez Crewz with Spoonful and Rawcuz Crowzz – The Fermain Tavern – 16/08/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Rawcuz Crowzz on stage at Chaos 2009Another of my revived reviews originally poster elsewhere, heading back to a time when The Fermain Tavern became the heart of something of a revived blues scene in the islands with what I think was the Guernsey debut of a certain Robert J....
March 5, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Finale – Princess Royal Centre For The Performing Arts – 08/08/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard FireFly (and guest vocalist)A further in my blogs reviving old, lost, gig reviews from 2008 and 2009. This one was a farewell show for Firefly who had made quite a name for themselves over the space of a few years and was held at the Princess Royal Centre For...
March 3, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Thee Jenerators and The John Wesley Stone – De La Rue – 02/02/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Thee JeneratorsAnother from the archive that is otherwise somewhat lost to time so I’m reviving here for better or worse… a rocking looking night at the De La Rue by the looks of things (as ever largely unedited unless I’m making no sense whatsoever or have spelling or grammar...
February 27, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Hogwash 2008 – St Saviours, Guernsey – 19/07/08

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard SpoonfulI recently rediscovered a few old reviews from the second half of 2008 and early 2009 so thought I’d revive them on here for those of a nostalgic bent. Following, somewhat appropriately, on from Mudstock 2008, is my review of Hogwash 2008, another of the islands big biker parties...
February 25, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey: February 2019 – Lord Vapour and Dan Ashplant

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Click here to listen to the show For February edition of BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey I featured a familiar band along side a brand new artist. Lord Vapour will be well known to anyone with an eye on the island’s music scene through their relentless gigging and well...
February 24, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Eleanor Foundation present The Recks, The Cor Damme Lars, Episode 2 and Nick Coleman – The Fermain Tavern – 15/02/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The RecksIt feels like an age since I last ventured up to The Fermain Tavern as, for a number of reasons, it seems bands have been focussing on shows in and around town more over the last few months (though the Tav is hardly a great distance out-of-town, but...
February 18, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Wildhearts – Dislocated (single)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Ten years ago, when The Wildhearts released their last album Chutzpah, the very concept of their ‘classic’ line up (Ginger, CJ, Ritch and Danny – who recorded much of PHUQ and toured Earth Vs…) reforming was unimaginable. Now though, several solo and side projects and a slew of excellent...
February 14, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Granite Wolf and Gentle Suburban Boys – The Vault – 01/02/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Gentle Suburban BoysAfter a quiet first month of the year for music in Guernsey February started with a bang as a pair of the island’s heavier bands newcomers Gentle Suburban Boys and comparative veterans Granite Wolf, did their best to tear the roof off The Vault on Friday 1st....
February 4, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing in Guernsey: January 2019 – Hollie Lucia and Mike’s Magic Trip

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Hollie Lucia and Mike MeinkeClick here to listen to the show BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey started off the new year with a whole load of brand new music. As well as new tracks from new from the likes of BLAKALASKA, Blacksmith, Lord Vapour and Robert J. Hunter I...
January 27, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Hollie Lucia – Scales-Weights

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Cover artwork by Mikal DyasDecember 2018 saw more music released by artists and bands from Guernsey than I can recall in one such focussed period, so that’s why it’s taken me a while to get to this one. Hollie Lucia first came to my attention as half of ‘dream-pop’...
January 19, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Blacksmith – Chapter One EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Power metal, in its myriad variations, is and I think always will be a strange beast, and it’s into this world that Guernsey trio Blacksmith (Adam Powell – Guitar and vocals, Iain Baxter – bass and vocals, Josh Davies – drums) have leaped feet first with their debut release,...
January 8, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey: December 2018 – Review of the Year

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Click here to listen to the show For the final BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey radio show of 2018 I took a look back at the last year of music in the islands. As well as reflecting on some of the big events that took place across the year,...
December 30, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Music In Guernsey In 2018

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A year ago, when I was writing my review of music in Guernsey in 2017, I commented that it felt like a year when the bands and musicians in and from the island had all, collectively, taken a great step forward I terms of the quality of what was...
December 27, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Insurrection – Age Of Fear

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard With a wall of distorted noises we are ushered into Insurrection’s Age Of Fear, the hardcore band’s second full album, thirty years in from their self-titled debut. That thirty years saw the band split for a long while but then reform around a decade ago to play sporadic live...
December 22, 2018 by Tom Girard