Now that Master Boris has given us the green light to “get down and party” from July 19th, I wanted to focus on a venue which is situated in the heart of Exeter and is very close to my heart. I’ve been attending live shows here since the 90’s and it was the first venue that allowed us to photograph bands that were performing, this really gave us a boost and allowed us to use the content in order to reach out to larger venues and massive festivals which are now main events on our calendars…

I am of course talking about Exeter Phoenix, looking at the sheer volume of acts they have booked, we’re VERY excited, you should be too! Here’s a summary of some of the events that you should be attending from now until the end of September 21.

ENGLISH FOLK EXPO PRESENTS SAM SWEENEY

Tuesday 20 July | 8pm

A veteran of the mighty Bellowhead, founder member of Leveret and a musician at the forefront of the revival in English traditional music.

Nominated four times, and winner in 2015, of Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Sam is a veteran of the mighty Bellowhead, former and inaugural artistic director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, founder member of the acclaimed instrumental trio Leveret, and “one of the defining English fiddle players of his generation” (Mark Radcliffe) at the forefront of the revival in English traditional music.

Sam has also recorded and performed with The Full English, Eliza Carthy, Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings, Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Emily Portman, Martin Carthy, as well as his own critically acclaimed show Made In The Great War.

FLO & JOAN

Tuesday 27 July | 7.30pm

Following last year’s sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival, London’s Soho Theatre, national UK tour and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, musical comedy sisters Flo & Joan have a new hour of their dark and waggish songs to parade about the place.

‘These intricately crafted, flawlessly performed numbers will have you howling with laughter one minute, wiping away a tear the next.’
THE TELEGRAPH

‘Their style is stiletto sharp, their diction perfect as they race through their complex rhymes’
EVENING STANDARD

‘If Flanders & Swann and Flight of the Conchords and Garfunkel & Oates had a six-way time-travelling gang-bang that somehow mixed all their DNA, the offspring might end up sounding something like Flo and Joan.’
STEVE BENNETT, CHORTLE

THE HI-LIFE ORCHESTRA

Wednesday 28 July | 7.30pm

Legendary trombonist Abdul Raheem’s 8 piece orchestra takes the magical sounds of hi-life and updates it with modern grooves that drives you crazy with its infectious riffs and blazing horn lines. This is a rebirth of Hi-Life that continues to play important roles in shaping the future sounds of West Africa. Expect to hear classics from the Hi-Life’s incredible music history.

THE AFRICAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Thu 29 July | 7.30pm

The 10-piece African Jazz Orchestra is directed by Cameroonian French double and electric bassist Serge Ngando-Mpondo whose musical vision is to see adventurous collaborations that will provide musical styles spanning the whole continent of Africa.

The African Jazz Orchestra creates spectacular live shows with some of the best African jazz soloists in contemporary music. The extraordinary line-up of established and emerging names combine to take on a journey of African jazz improvisations with dance grooves undertones.

OAS-IS

Saturday 31 July | 7.30pm-11pm

The world’s best Oasis tribute band – as seen on Channel 4’s The Last Leg.

Oas-is are five Oasis fanatics who live and breathe Manchester’s finest band and are now dedicated to giving you the best look and sound that you should expect from an Oasis tribute band.

Oas-is are made up of experienced musicians who have toured all around the world and who take great pride in reproducing the classic Oasis sound with frightening accuracy and all the attitude you would expect from the real thing. No wigs, no fancy gimmicks, just the closest you will get to recreating the sound of Oasis.

What’s the story? Some might say Oas-is are definitely, NOT Maybe the best tribute out there.

CRYSTAL METHYD’S WONDERLAND

Monday 02 August | doors 5pm

Join us as Klub Kids UK bring to you an exciting live show from the fan favourite from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12, Crystal Methyd. Expect the unexpected from this unique crazy cooky queen, plus we will be announcing a unique line up of support acts. It’s time to get weird in wonderland this winter!

TICKETS

• General admission: £15

• VIP Meet and Greet: £31.50. The VIP meet and greet will take place at 7pm, after the main show. A VIP meet and greet ticket includes entry to the exclusive meet and greet event for a photograph opportunity plus chance to purchase official merchandise.

SHOW TIMES

• 5pm: Doors

• 5.30pm-7pm: Show

• 7pm: Meet & Greet

ENGLISH FOLK EXPO PRESENTS: SOUND OF THE SIRENS

Friday 06 August | 8pm

Westcountry folk-rock duo Sound of the Sirens have released two albums so far This Time in 2019 and their debut album For All Our Sins was released in 2017 to wide praise including from R2 Magazine who called it a ‘stunning debut collection‘.

Current album This Time continues to showcase an evident gift for crafting unique, vivid and enduring melodies with 15 catchy and heartfelt songs all written by Sound of the Sirens, aka Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood, whose voices harmonise beautifully throughout the album.

A new album is planned for release in 2021 and you can expect to hear some new songs debuted at shows.

Their live shows combine a natural facility for connecting with their audiences and unforgettable performances with warmth, humour and, above all, real conviction.

FEMI AND THE INRHYTHMS

Thursday 02 September | 7.30pm

Afro-funk-beat of the highest order.

Bassist, singer and composer Femi Sofela and his extraordinary 10-piece band Femi And The Inrhythms arrive at Exeter Phoenix to play from their album Pressure To Pleasure.

UNDERGROUND ENERGIES

Friday 03 September | 10pm - 3am

A night of rap and dnb.

DIGDAT

A uk rapper with over 5.1 million views on his smash hit Air Force One (Remix) he has been shaking up the scene for a while. He recently has dropped his debut album ‘Eight Mile‘ with some big name feature such as Aitch, Headie One and K Trap. This seems to be his year and it will be exciting to see him at this event with his new content representing Sony. Audiomission – A Dnb producer/dj part of Gyro Records known for there upbeat and exotic drum and bass and neurofunk he is sure to get the crowd pumping! From Exeter himself this will be right up his street and add some flavour to the later hours of the event.

MONROLLER

A Bristol based Dnb Producer/Dj who is also known for his fast tempo energetic riddims such as Pull Up he will be smashing out the later hours of the night.

T-MENACE

A tekno and jungle Producer and Dj that is a big member of Amen4Tekno who has smashed sets at boomtown is bound to smash it here. With a large collection of music his set will not be one to miss.

TRILLESTLIVING ENT

Exmouth based multi genre record label trying to make a stir in the scene. They will be bringing many genres to the night and keep it going till the closing doors.

DAVE’S WOODSTOCK

Saturday 04 September | 1pm - late

A charity event with a mix of punk and rock bands, raising money for the The Lions Barber Collective.

Exeter’s very own punk rock superstar Dave Wood, also known as Dave Growler, has curated a lineup of his favourite local artists to help raise funds for a donation to The Lions Barber Collective – a charity that uses the unique and intimate time that hairdressers have with their clients to talk about and support men’s mental health issues.

Dave has a passion for music like no other and has put his heart and soul into this event. On The House Music CIC & MIDI couldn’t be more proud to be involved in making Dave’s vision a reality!

LINE UP

• Headliners TBA

• Sweet Teef

• Demeta

• Hokes

• Spitting Blood

• Wrongens

• Big Shipping

• Cast Courts

• The Maisonettes

• Future Pilot

THE WILDHEARTS

+ PHOXJAW

Sunday 05 September | 7.30pm

For 3 decades The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the British rock scene. From their classic debut album ‘Earth Vs’ (voted number one album of the year in Kerrang! back in 1993, and number 20 in the best rock albums of all time in a Kerrang! Special in 2006), through to now with the release of Renaissance Men, their first full-length studio album in 10 years, their creative output and legendary live shows have been second to none.

Although the 90s saw the band covered like a living soap opera in the press with tales of sex, drugs, bust ups, fights (both with labels and themselves), splits, more drugs and a lot more controversy (one such incident including entering and then proceeding to trash the Kerrang! Offices!), the recent years have seen the band more focused than ever before and firing on all cylinders.

The Wildhearts and their incendiary shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands the UK has ever produced.

ROBYN HITCHCOCK

PLUS SUPPORT FROM JESSICA LEE MORGAN

Thursday 09 September | 8pm

Robyn Hitchcock is one of England’s most enduring contemporary singer/songwriters and live performers. A surrealist poet, talented guitarist, cult artist and musician’s musician, Hitchcock is among alternative rock’s father figures and is the closest thing the genre has to a Bob Dylan (not coincidentally his biggest musical inspiration).

Since founding the art-rock band The Soft Boys in 1976, Robyn has recorded more than 20 albums as well as starred in Storefront Hitchcock an in concert film recorded in New York and directed by Jonathan Demme. Blending folk and psychedelia with a wry British nihilism, Robyn describes his songs as ‘paintings you can listen to’.

‘A gifted melodist, Hitchcock nests engaging lyrics in some of the most bracing, rainbow-hued pop this side of Revolver. He wrests inspiration not from ordinary life but from extraordinary imaginings…’
ROLLING STONE

‘These 10 gems slither, rock, roll, glide and shapeshift, coalescing around Hitchcock’s typically anxious, strained but striking and immediately identifiable vocals.’
AMERICAN SONGWRITER

‘Beloved of everyone from Led Zeppelin to REM, Hitchcock has only enhanced his status with this wonderful outing.’
HOT PRESS

‘Witty, moving and seriously catchy, Robyn Hitchcock is a glorious return for a man who wasn’t really gone in the first place.’
PASTE MAGAZINE

FLYTE

Saturday 11 September | doors 7.30pm

Flyte are heading out a UK tour this autumn in support of their latest album This Is Really Going To Hurt.

London-based Flyte began to form when Will Taylor (vocals, guitar) and Jon Supran (drums, vocals) started playing together aged 11 at their local comprehensive school. Later, Nick Hill (bass, vocals) would join after a series of line-up changes.

In Autumn 2017, the band released their debut album ‘The Loved Ones‘ under Island Records to widespread acclaim. The Sunday Times naming it ‘The best British debut of the year‘. Then followed a number of headline tours around the UK and Europe as well as support tours with The Lemon Twigs and Lord Huron.

After an extensive tour of the US and Europe, they made the move to Los Angeles to complete their second album ‘This is Really Going to Hurt’ collaborating with producers Justin Raisen (Angel Olsen, Yves Tumor), Dave Cerminara (Father John Misty) and Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief) in what is surely their most ambitious and emotionally exposed work to date.

SPEAR OF DESTINY

WORLD SERVICE @35 TOUR

Wednesday 15 September | doors 7.30pm

Hard to believe we know but it is true, Kirk Brandon has now been leading Spear Of Destiny for over 37 years.

Spear Of Destiny were formed in 1983 after the demise of Kirk Brandon’s post punk iconic rockers Theatre Of Hate. (Brandon had also, before TOH, been the main man in every punk rockers favourite band of that era, The Pack).

The current line up of Spear is the longest serving to date and features Adrian Portas (New Model Army / Sex Gang Children), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy / The Cult / The Mission) and Phil Martini (Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind) on drums. Long time Brandon cohort Steve Allan-Jones will be covering the keyboards. During 2019 the line up was boasted by Saxophonist Clive Osborne who will be staying in the line up for 2020. 

On 6 Apr 2018 Spear Of Destiny released their fourteenth studio album, Tontine. The album was been fully funded from a private fan pre-sale. The album is officially released for Brandon’s own Eastersnow Recording Company label imprint and is available on CD, Vinyl and Download across Europe. US label Cleopatra Records will be handling the North American release. 

The current live show pulls on songs from all 37+ years of Spear Of Destiny. The classic’s Liberator, Mickey, Rainmaker, The Wheel, Never Take Me Alive and more are all found sitting closely alongside newer fan favourites such as Pskotik, Age of Unreason, Lucky Man & Mr Livingston!. 

As 2020 is the 35 anniversary of the band’s best known long player Worldservice, Live shows throughout this year will most certainly feature a good smattering of Worldservice tracks for good measure.

‘Kirk Brandon is one of our greatest musical geniuses’
JEREMY VINE

‘Spear of Destiny are criminally underrated and are one of Britain’s best’ 
LOUDER THAN WAR

‘Kirk Brandon is on of the UK’s best kept secrets’
MOJO

INGLORIOUS

PLUS SUPPORT FROM MERCUTIO

Thursday 16 September | doors 7.30pm

Inglorious are five young men with a mutual love and respect of the classics of Hard Rock music, big guitar riffs, and soulful vocals. Their influences stem from iconic rock and roll shrine of Rock albums from the 1970s – many years before the band members were born.

The same albums that have inspired generations of musicians and performers are noticeably evident when you listen to the Inglorious debut album. This is the music they were born to play together – inspired by bands in the classic rock genre as diverse as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Bad Company, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, to name a few.

Formed in February 2014, the band is fronted by Nathan James, who made a name for himself having sung for the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Scorpions guitar legend Uli Jon Roth. Nathan was looking for like-minded musicians that desired to make incredible rock music in a very honest fashion.

Inglorious is composed of the inimitable frontman Nathan James, guitarist Danny Dela Cruz who partners Dan Stevens in an Inglorious dual axe attack, renowned Brazilian bassist Vinnie Colla, and drummer Phil Beaver (who was once  signed to Mick Fleetwood’s label while still at school). A line-up that heralds a brand new era for the rising British stars.

2020 sees the band in the studio for Album 4. In the middle of Lockdown, this is an album they are never going to forget, keeping the 6ft rule, they produced an album of pure quality. Recorded in Cardiff with the renowned producer Romesh Gogandoda this album is at another level. The album is due out early 2021, with a UK tour to follow.

JACOB & DRINKWATER

Wednesday 22 September | Doors 7.30pm

UK alt-folk duo Jacob & Drinkwater have been called ‘stand out new folk‘ by BBC6 Music. Jacob’s sweeping vocals never fail to captivate, delivering many a spine-tingling moment; the fluidity and precision of his finger-picking underpinned by Drinkwater’s nimbly rhythmic double bass; at times sweetly soaring, haunting, percussive and driving, the layers of depth a perfect counterfoil. Featured numerous times on BBC Radio 2, BBC6 Music and lauded by their musical peers as one of the most accomplished acts touring the circuit today.

The duo’s dynamic and emotionally charged live show with all its energy, musical chemistry and spontaneity has drawn comparisons with the virtuosic pairing of John Martyn and Danny Thompson. Jacob’s sweeping vocals never fail to captivate, delivering many a spine-tingling moment; the fluidity and precision of his finger-picking underpinned by Drinkwater’s nimbly rhythmic double bass; at times sweetly soaring, haunting, percussive and driving, the layers of depth a perfect counterfoil. The added complement of stirring vocal harmonies nicely rounds off the mix.

‘Inventive and thrilling’
R2: ROCK N REEL

‘Intense and spellbinding’
FOLK RADIO UK

‘Stand out new folk… superb.. excellent’
CHRIS HAWKINS, BBC RADIO 6

NERINA PALLOT

+ JODIE MARIE

Wednesday 29 September | 7.30pm

Nerina Pallot is an Ivor Novello and Brit Award nominated songwriter and musician. She has made six albums and numerous EPs, and established a reputation as a mesmerising live performer over the last two decades. She is currently at work on her seventh album.

There you have it folks, just a handful of specially picked favourites of ours that we think you’d be a fool to miss live at Exeter Phoenix. I’ll be taking a look at acts booked from October to the end of 2021 very soon, keep your eyes peeled for that!

For ALL of the events taking place from now until mid 2022, head to the Exeter Phoenix MAIN WEBSITE