What's on at UNIT23 in Totnes from now until the end of the year? Read on to find out....
We're so lucky to have a venue such as UNIT23 (formerly the South Devon Arts Centre) in the heart of the South Hams that hosts such a variety of live music, DJ's and so much more.
Here's just a small section of the events that are happening between now and the end of the year, to be sure to catch all of the new acts and performers, please bookmark UNIT23 and check back regularly.
SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER - ANDY KERSHAW
African, Caribbean and Latin Dance Night
& special guest DJs
Doors open 8pm | Ends 2am | 18+ ID REQUIRED
THE ORIGINAL and only global music DJ, Andy Kershaw is coming to sdac to throw down some serious grooves.
One of the UK's best-known DJS, Kershaw doesn’t follow . . . he leads. A DJ who breaks the rules and dares to play something different: irresistible dance music from around Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin American.
Soukouss to Salsa, Roots Reggae to Rai, Soca to South African Township Jive. And all points in between.
PLUS there's special guest DJs to get the evening started. Don't miss this incredible night of dance.
General Admisson
£10 in advance / £12 on the door
DATE TBC - THE UNDERCOVER HIPPY
With full five-piece band
BILLY ROWAN, (aka The Undercover Hippy), is definitely not your average singer songwriter. His music brings together acoustic guitar, soulful vocals, infectious reggae rhythms, and the lyrical delivery of a skilled MC.
Combining intelligent, provocative lyrics with dangerously catchy hooks and a feel good groove, this is music for the thinking man to shake his arse to. Think The King Blues meets The Cat Empire…on a protest march…at the Edinburgh Fringe.
From starting out 5 years ago playing in festival cafes for a free meal, Billy and his band of back-street groove pushers now perform at some of the UK’s best festivals, including Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Green Man, The Secret Garden Party, Sunrise Celebration, Ireland’s Electric Picnic, and many more.
After starting out playing solo, Billy now has a Bristol based five-piece band consisting of Joe Gaywood on drums, Zak Ranyard on bass, Callum McSherry on violin, Andreas Milns on keys, Jessica Langton on backing vocals and Mati Congas on… Congas.
THURSDAY 10TH NOVEMBER - ONLY FOOLS AND BOYCIE
Am Intimate evening with Only Fools & Horses' John Challis
Doors open 7.30pm
ENJOY AN intimate evening with John Challis, one of the nation's greatest comedy actors, best known as Boycie in BBC1's Only Fools and Horses. In this one-off show the national treasure will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career.
John can't keep away from our TV screens and has this year made appearances in Benidorm and the all-new Are You Being Served.
Having worked with some of the biggest names in show business, he'll be spilling the beans about Only Fools and Horses co-stars like Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst and friends and fellow performers like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Oliver Reed, George Best. He’ll also recall tales from his time in Dr Who, Coronation Street and other TV classics.
The show will also celebrate the launch of the second volume of Challis' autobiography, Being Boycie, and Mr Challis will sign copies during the interval and after his performance during a meet'n'greet.
Show running time: 90 minutes with 20 minute interval.
Unreserved seating
£16.00 in advance / £18.00 on the door
FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER - HEG & THE WOLF CHORUS
+ special guests
Doors open 7.30pm
HAILING FROM Bristol, Heg & The Wolf Chorus has been born out of Heg Brignall's story-inspired songwriting. They create theatrical, original folk which draws inspiration from fairy tales and the twisted roots of Heg's family tree, taking the listener on a journey from Grimm’s fantastical forests, across the stormy Atlantic to the black, dangerous coal mines of Illinois and far beyond.
In 2014 the band was nominated for Bristol Folk Festival's Isambard Folk Award and their trilogy of EP's (produced by Gareth James Bailey) received critical acclaim, putting the band firmly on the folk map. The title track from the first EP Giant was nominated for 'Song of the Year' in the Fatea Magazine Awards 2014. The sea-themed EP A Tale of Sailors, the second release, followed triumphantly in Giant's footsteps and was awarded 'Single of the Year' by BBC Merseyside's Folkscene show.
The final release, Rain, which completed the trilogy came out in 2015 and was heralded by fRoots Magazine as "inventive piano and string arrangements and exquisite vocal harmonies."
During this time the band supported Moulettes, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, The Lucy Ward Band, Bridie Jackson & The Arbour and Gilmore & Roberts on tour and had a successful season of UK festivals climaxing in a showcase performance with fRoots Magazine at Sidmouth Folk Week. The songThree Sailors was included on the highly regarded fRoots magazine summer compilation.
The band are now embarking on their much anticipated debut album Raising The Fires. The first single The White Witch was released in October 2015 and was again recorded and produced by Gareth James Bailey of Misterlong Recordings. The White Witch tells the story of how the world ended, brought to it’s demise by a white witch who was wrongfully burnt at the stake (a story Heg collected from her travels in the inner hebrides). After a catastrophic end, the world returns to a land of myth and all the mythological creatures return to claim their land! To coincide with the release of The White Witch single, the band supported Moulettes and Nizlopi on their 2015 co-headline UK tour, culminating in a very special sell-out show at London's Union Chapel.
Raising The Fires will be released in 2016. Tour dates to be announced very soon.
Unreserved seating
£7.00 in advance / £9 on the door
SATURDAY 3RD DECEMBER - JANET DEVLIN | MY OPIUM TOUR
+ special guests
Doors open 7.30pm
NORTHERN IRISH singer-songwriter Janet Devlin caught the public’s attention on Series 8 of The X Factor in 2011, where she consistently received the highest consecutive public vote out of all the contestants.
Janet grew up outside the village of Gortin in County Tyrone, the only girl and youngest of four in her family. She thrived on a diet of watching Kerrang! TV and taking regular bus rides to local record stores in nearby Omagh. Fuelled by a love of bands like Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers and inspired by their songwriting, hidden away in her parents’ shed she taught herself to play instruments by ear and penned her own songs where nobody else could hear her sing.
“I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, as long as my mum remembers,” Janet says. “My gran recalls me writing songs when I was five. If there was a musical instrument around I would want to play it, but I am ‘sound shy’ so I’d go to the shed where there was a big pool table as I didn’t want my parents to hear what I was doing.”
Janet’s debut album Running With Scissors was released in June 2014 reaching number one on the UK Indie Breakers chart. This 10-track debut is full of folk-driven pop songs and heart-touching ballads, which perfectly showcase her unique and enchanting vocals. The tracks are mostly authored by Janet and were recorded up in a staggering 6 weeks; but hidden around the corner you’ll find featured co-writes with Newton Faulkner (“Creatures Of The Night” and “Hide And Seek”) and Jack Savoretti (“Delicate”) nestled alongside a surprising and sensitive cover of The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love”.
2016 has started as busy as ever, with Janet traveling around the country to various studios for numerous co-writing sessions. Lyric books are overflowing, poems are being penned and exciting content for her second album Holy Water is starting to take shape, and you can see the spectacular results live here at sdac.
Unreserved seating
£10.00 in advance / £12.00 on the door
VIP MEET & GREET + Gallery Seating
£25.00
(Buyers will watch sound check and meet Janet before doors open to standard ticket buyers - Arrival time 6pm)
THURSDAY 22ND DECEMBER - MAD DOG MCREA
+ special guests
Doors open 7.30pm | Strictly 18+
MAD DOG MCREA blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music. From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies – Mad Dog never fail to capture their audience with their infectious songs.
“It’s always a joy to me when something jumps up and smacks you between the eyes – Mad Dog Mcrea did that to me” - Mike Harding
It was at Glastonbury in 2013 (notably the Avalon Stage), the release of their ‘Happy Bus’ video, take-up from national radio from esteemed folk such as Mike Harding, and others . . . Matched with the unshakable dedication of their massive and loyal to the hilt, fan base – that Mad Dog Mcrea began to become more than just a very popular, West Country festival act; – whilst obviously killing it live – Mad Dog Mcrea, determined that their fans and media alike – should see them as serious and acclaimed recording artists too.
“A sound mixed, mashed and finely honed through years of live gigs” - Rock ‘n Reel Magazine
Mad Dog’s new album ALMOST HOME, produced by Sean Lakeman, is an album fuelled with the all the essential Mad Dog energy and antics that the band have become known for – Dave Podmore writes engagingly about Mad Dog stuff – as one might expect, all night drives, police car chases – Folk musicians, in particular have been playing tribute to the hero’s of WW1 of late – MDM are no exception, offering up their bone chilling song – “You Can’t Find Me”. “The Sound” written by Seth Lakeman includes beautiful guest vocals from Suzie Mac.
In constant demand and having played just about every festival and two-bit, jibe-arsed dive in Christendom, Mad Dog Mcrea. are, in every sense of the word, a live, band – ALMOST HOME – encapsulates that – and so much more.
The famous purple happy bus is fired up and ready for action, and there’s room for you – jump aboard!
General Admisson
£15 in advance / £18 on the door
VIP Gallery Seating
£25 in advance / £30 on the door
Tickets for ALL events can be purchased from the South Devon Arts Centre Website or by calling the box office on 0844 888 0435