They say that every month has 28 days, some have 30 and others have 31, January on the other hand has 456, at least this is what it feels like after Christmas and New Year!

What we need to blow away the blues are a few killer gigs to look forward to and it looks like I have the tonic that you need to get you through until pay day….

Let’s take a look and see what is happening at EXETER PHOENIX over the next few weeks.

INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

Up and down the country, independent venues are gearing up to host a variety of bands and artists throughout what is known as ‘Independent Venue Week'.

EXETER PHOENIX is taking part and has some great shows lined up for your entertainment, read on to see what is on and when….

KRIS BARRAS BAND - Wednesday 1st Feb

One of the UK’s breakout artists over the past few years, the Kris Barras Band. They are set for an incredible 2023; they’ve just finished a sold-out UK tour with Kentucky’s favourite sons Black Stone Cherry, culminating with a show at the world-famous Royal Albert Hall. Their biggest headline tour to date begins in March 2022, followed by playing the iconic Wembley Arena in support of Thunder.

CUT CAPERS - Friday 3rd Feb

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO 3 FEB 2023. TICKETS BOUGHT FOR THE ORIGINAL DATE REMAIN VALID.

Cut Capers are embarking on their biggest tour to date – performing a range of festival favourite tunes as well as a selection of brand new songs from their 3rd album. Get tickets now to hear the new material before anyone else!

Famed for their electric festival appearances, both in the UK and across Europe, Cut Capers are turning their attention to venue crowds in need of an injection of Glastonbury Festival-style energy and atmosphere. Following on from a string of gloriously sweaty, sellout shows on their 2021 Autumn Tour, they are getting set to once again break the ticketmaster website through sheer demand!

‘Come on! that puts a wiggle in your walk!’ CRAIG CHARLES, BBC RADIO 6

‘Something really special and unique’ STEVE YABSLEY, BBC RADIO BRISTOL

THE EMBEZZLERS - Saturday 4th Feb

Tickets for Original 2022 Date Remain Valid

WITH SUPPORT FROM

+ THE REGGASKAS

+ Glynn Wilcox, acoustic (The Simmertones)

THE EMBEZZLERS

The Embezzlers are a 6 piece, 100% Live, ska band based in Exeter, Devon. Playing the best in ska and 2tone from Desmond Dekker, Toots and Jimmy Cliff to The Specials, The Selecter, Madness and The Beat, and there’s even a tiny little bit of The Clash thrown in for good measure!

Going back to the late 70s and early 80s the sounds of the likes of  Madness, The Selecter and The Specials were floating around on the airwaves, uplifting the spirits. That music still does that to this day because ska and 2tone is a movement that unites people. 

Comprising of a bunch of highly experienced and extremely dedicated musicians , The Embezzlers have every base covered with a top notch horn section, killer keys, perfect off beat strings, crazy tight drums and all fronted by ‘Murph’, a front man with more energy than a gallon of Red Bull! If you can keep up with him, then you are a true ‘Bezzler!

THE REGGASKAS

The Reggaskas are an eight-piece female-fronted band, with a strong rhythm section accompanied by a lively horn section. Performing unique original songs and a few covers with an energetic reggae/ska vibe, which guarantees to get the crowd dancing.

Founded in 2014, The Reggaskas first single Who’s the Daddy went down a storm.  Releasing their first album called Long Way Home in 2016, which has been played across local and national radio stations. Playing live at many festivals, weddings, and pubs over the years, this is a band not to be missed. Creating that unique sound has to be the bond between the band-members who share the same passion for the music and the creative spark to make something unique.

The band’s line-up consists of two lead vocals and front-girls Lizy Eames and Rozie Bond. On horns, we have Mike Bourne on Saxophone, and Steve (Fester) Bourne on Trumpet. The unmistakable rhythm section we have Ken Taylor on the keyboard, Chris Reeves playing lead guitar, Dave Nicholson on Bass, and Harry Colridge on drums. With a new album in progress, which I’m sure will bring you that unique Reggaskas sound which they create live on stage.

That’s it for IVW2023, let’s see which other bands are heading South West to play at The Phoenix….

THE LITTLE UNSAID - Monday 6th Feb

The Little Unsaid is a musical vehicle for the diverse music of songwriter and band leader John Elliott. Born out of the English indie-roots scene of the 00’s, The Little Unsaid have built up a solid following one tour and release at a time, received glowing reviews and gained the attention of national media since signing with UK independent Reveal Records (home to award winning international artists such as Joan As Police Woman, Lau, Kris Drever and Eddi Reader).

In 2021 The Little Unsaid released two albums: the full band & experimental “Lick The Future’s Lips,” followed by a contrasting, intimate solo winter music reflection “December Songs”.

“A stunning interpretation of contemporary chaos…a gorgeous whiplash of delirium and hazy reveries”

THE LINE OF BEST FIT

EMILY BREEZE - Saturday 18th Feb

SUPPORT FROM BALUSTRADES

Bristol based pop noir artist Emily Breeze returns with new album Rapture. Written and recorded in her 40th year on planet Earth, the songs are a poignant and humorous take on how it feels to grow old disgracefully in an increasingly weird world. She describes the album as “a collection of coming-of (middle) age stories which celebrate flamboyant failure, excess and acceptance”, saying “I was receiving advice from music industry types to try and hide my age as if it was a dirty secret like an S.T.D or a disgraced royal, so I decided to do the exact opposite.”

This may have been a wise decision as the single Confessions Of An Ageing Party Girl received airplay from Lauren Laverne, Don Letts and Tom Robinson (BBC Radio 6) who commented, “The UK’s 21st century answer to Patti Smith”.

Second single Ordinary Life spent four weeks on the BBC Radio 6 Playlist seeing multiple plays from Amy Lamé, Chris Hawkins, Steve Lamaq and Craig Charles who described the song as “an anthem” and invited Emily to do an interview as a special guest on the show. Emily has also found a fan in the A list actor Robert Carlyle who has shared both singles and commented, “Emily Breeze IS talent…Love her”.

The new album Rapture is released on the 10th of February 2023 via Sugar Shack Records – and Emily Breeze joins us one week later on Saturday 18th February 2023.

‘The UK’s 21st century answer to Patti Smith performing deeply personal lyrics over grooving post punk rock n roll’ – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music

‘Torch song tragedy, swathed in black humour’ – Mojo Magazine

‘A Trent Reznor/Lou Reed hybrid’ – NME

‘A triumph of glittering melancholy’ – Louder Than War

‘The love child of P.J Harvey and Johnny Cash’ – The Sunday Times

WILLE AND THE BANDITS - Thursday 23rd Feb

Essentially Wille and the Bandits is a classic blues rock band much in the vein of Cream or The Jimi Hendrix experience. But in a similar way to how these bands pushed the genre in their time, Wille and the Bandits try to take their sound beyond what is expected of such a traditional line up.

The use of more bizarre instrumentation and eclectic influences in the song writing often pushes them more into a world music or progressive category. Having toured with artists such as Deep Purple through to the John Butler trio and played major festivals across Europe, the band seem to leave an equally astounding impression on audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds with their energetic and soulful performances.

They have received great critical acclaim, being voted in the top ten must see bands at Glastonbury 2014 by BBC Radio 1 and reaching number 2 in the UK blues chart with their first single on downloads alone. Now touring their third independently released studio album Wille and the Bandits fan base, repertoire of sounds, styles and innovation seems to be growing at an exponential rate.

The band are praised in the press for their albums; bursting at the seams with textures, originality and soul. Rock legends such as Ian Paice, Joe Bonamassa and Francis Rossi have also praised the band’s musicianship and their unique edge to Rock and Blues.

It’s rare to find a band as dynamic as Wille and the Bandits, one that is just as comfortable and as impressive at both ends of the sonic spectrum. In the modern age of disposable music it is refreshing to hear a band that still value the art of creating albums and who continue to bring new instruments and ideas into their songwriting rather than settling for a tried and tested formula. Ten seconds of Youtube will not scratch the surface of the band’s sound and message; this is a band that is very much about discovery and one best experienced LIVE!

SUPPORT FROM TRUE STRAYS

True Strays are lifelong friends, songwriters and country boys – Joseph James and James Cameron – from Bristol, England who are fast carving out a niche of their own in the UK Americana scene. Their music is a cathartic celebration of alternative roots Americana and blues rock.

NATIVE HARROW - Tuesday 28th Feb

Old Kind of Magic, the fifth longplayer from Native Harrow, arrives two years into their new life in Sussex, England. It is in this new place that they have self-produced a work that is simultaneously their most sweepingly expansive and delicately intimate album to date. The songs contained herein move dramatically from the opening field recording of the Brighton seaside, to Laurel Canyon-esque folk-rock, piano and rhodes tinged soul-jazz balladry, oud and harpsichord driven 60s technicolour psychedelia, dense modernistic string quartet writing, and wide-as-the-western skies panoramic pedal steel with sepia-toned 12-string.

THE CUBAN BROTHERS - Saturday 11th March

The Cuban Brothers are unique. Born of the loins of seventies Havana, nurtured on a diet of soulful, sexy tunes and inspired by Cuban historical fact and mythology – their fresh approach to live entertainment whips up a frenzy at every gig they do, whether it be Glastonbury or Bestival, or the Gumball Rally, or even their gigs for Robbie Williams, Elton John or Richard Branson. Their legendary performances evolve with every show and combine music, riotous comedy, both physical and observational, and sensational dancing – consequently the energy at every show is incredible.

LOTTERY WINNERS - Tuesday 25th April

+ SPECIAL GUESTS

Tickets on sale 10am, Friday 27th January 

2023 is set to be a mammoth year for the Lottery Winners, hailing from Leigh, Lancashire. Their unrivalled and astoundingly energetic live shows have already secured the band a plethora of main stage slots at the biggest festivals, two massive headline tours, support tours with the mighty Frank Turner and Kaiser Chiefs, as well as taking them even further afield, returning to the USA and Europe to various festivals and shows, after firmly and impressively making their mark in both territories last year.

We’ll be back in a few weeks time to provide another rundown of forthcoming gigs at EXETER PHOENIX which is FAST becoming one of the South West’s GO TO venues.

For more information including the venue’s FULL event schedule and to buy tickets, head to their website

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