A word from the Editor

Pg 1

Cheltenham’s MND

Pg 2

Tribes Live Review

Pg 2

Furore

PG 3

Gloucester Guildhall 25th Birthday

Interview

PG 4-5

Fabio Thomas

Pg 5

What’s On Listings

Pg 6-11

10 Minute Review

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MAG Needs You!

We are always looking for news and reviews for MAG from lovely people like you! Being a non-profit initiative we don’t pay but can get you into gigs and publish your work. Please contact Amelia if you want to contribute any-thing to this fanzine: musicatglos@gmail.com

MAG would like to say a special thank you to the

Popular Music course at The University of Gloucestershire for their contri-bution to the distribution of the fanzine.

A Word From The EditorWe have a bumper issue for you this month hav-ing to add in two more pages just so we can fit in all the music listings going on in March.

As well as all those music listings we have some great features for you. Furore reviews The Big Bang Festival at The Gloucester Guild-hall, Stuart Dean reviews Tribes at The Guid-hall and on ther 25th Birthday Dan Gutteridge interviews The Guildhall’s Marketing Manager Joe Schiavon. On top of all of that we have regular colum-nists Andrew Lansley, Fabio reviewing Emmett Brown’s new EP and our monthly 10 Minute Review of MyDesign’s gig at St Paul’s Tavern.

Make sure you follow us on Twitter @MusicAt-Glos, like us on Facebook and check out the website for all the latest issues www.musicatg-los.wordpress.co.uk

You may have noticed that there hasn’t been any print issues for a while, we are currently in the process of looking for some new funding for this, so if you know anybody who can help us with this email us musicatglos@gmail.com

March is set to be a busy month for the county with lots to celebrate, so make sure you take advantage of all the great music events going on.

Cheltenham’s Music Network Developer

Hello all.

January and February are normally considered dead months for music news and programming. The festival season seems a million miles away and we all have to endure the national music press outlin-ing who they think will be the “ones to watch” for this year...

With the HMV closures and Brits already in the rear view mirror for 2013 it’s worth looking inwards to see what’s happening in our own county as an indicator of the year ahead. I believe this can be defined sim-ply as contrasting musical ideologies reap rewards with the dirty hands and hard graft of Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun off to the US to tour with The Drop-kick Murphy’s, whilst the pre-packed matching shirts and ties of Young Kato return from Russia having signed a publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis.

Massive successes for both bands, I think we can agree, and I sincerely hopes this kicks down more doors for them. Whilst I stare at my original JL&tSS reel-to-reel recordings that sit of my shelf gather-ing value (I’ll never sell them) it makes me wonder how the rest of our town’s music scene will take this recent news. I hope it’s not with bitterness or enmity, but with genuine happiness that our peers are show-ing the quality of our musical calibre, grown from a conside able culture within the town. Besides, their success will impact directly on Cheltenham and they should be watching these developments very closely indeed - the more bands we have on the national (and now international) the more opportunities lie ahead for those who will follow.

Tribes ReviewWords: Stuart Dean

On February the 4th Tribes took to stage at Glouces-ter Guildhall marking the 5th day of their tour. They brought with them competition winners ‘Jaws’, who’s visual appearance can only be described as rather ‘alternative’.

The bar began to empty as the band took to the stage. After being prevented from taking alcohol from the bar it quickly came apparent that the main demo-graphic attending the gig were young ‘alternative’ In-die kids, a number of whom were similarly dressed in oversized tee’s with the sleeves rolled up and electric styled hair! Tribes opened with ‘Sappho’, which gave the entire crowd ‘Tribes vibes’, as I had heard one of the ‘alternative Indie dudes’ remark. The band main-tained their fantastic musicianship throughout; with guitarists Jim Cratchley and Dan White joining Johnny Lloyd to create pitch perfect chorus harmonies.Half way through the set they presented their new song ‘Sons and Daughters’, there was a great reac-tion from the crowd, fantastic news for the band as the singles initial release was the following day! A constant and slightly irritating jeering came from behind me the entire show, when eventually, guitarist Dan White spoke out to the man revealing that he was in fact his father, ending up with a dedicated version of the beautiful ‘Halfway Home’ for his efforts.

Tribes went on to play ‘How the Other Half Live’, the current “hottest record in the world” as announced on the BBC by none other than Zane Lowe earlier that evening, “It sounds familiar in many ways and it’s reference points are all classic rock & roll attributes. A positive reflection on classics from the past gives Tribes one of their biggest songs to date and a sure fire festival hit”.

The inevitable encore produced the epic hit ‘We Were Children’. Leaving the entire audience including their newest fan, myself, with ‘Tribes Vibes’.

FurorePromoting local bands, venues and talent.

Words: Melissa Tucker | Picture: Rachel Purchase

Three of our favorite acts preforming at the fantastic, talent packed, Big Bang Festival!

Andy Oliveri & BandWhen Andy Oliveri & Band emerge onstage amongst an array of instruments completely unannounced the crowd pay little interest in their arrival. But unfazed by the differences they present Andy addresses the crowd with a quiet charm poised to present an enlight-ening facet to the night. And as subdued as their entrance appears the moment the music begins they command the venue with unprecedented authority. “Marching Bands and Marigolds” pairs uplifting banjo harmonies with Andy’s poignantly melodious vocals to create a lingering naivety to the track that really resonates long after its ended. Accompa-nied by the crafted qualities of their folk styling the crowd are guided through what feels like a storyboard of emotions. Each song possesses such a cinematically rich quality to it, be it either the appreciation of pace or the authenticity of the lyrics, that the music pro-vides a beautiful escape from normality. “A Heart That Sings Never Bleeds” certainly ends their set in a befitting fashion. Joined by Canary Swing they take their musical journey one step further by fully involving the crowd around them as this rare insight into a pitch

perfect world comes to a close.

Little Victories

Looking around at the swathes of people gathering for Little Victories set it’s clear they’ve amassed quite a following for tonight’s gig. Now with a fervent amount of attention within the room the pressure is on for these hometown hero’s to maintain the impressive standards the previous acts have ascertained. Thankfully they don’t disappoint, bringing a barrage of off kilter psychedelic tunes and punchy ruckus vocals for the entirety of their set. “Holy Baby” uses a killer combination of soaring yet snarly guitar riffs and an infectiously catchy chorus to amalgamate into one gutsy rock tune. The bands hand over of vocals is also very refreshing as Sam’s mellow and concise qualities contrast well to Kav’s raw and guttural tones which feature prominently on the roaring track “Rarrla.” Incorporating the best of a fusion of styles ranging from funk to grunge, blues to alternative the bands diversity is sure to set them apart from most in the running for local music supremacy. Teamed with the ambitious and down to earth attitude that Little Victories boast they’re sure to be alive kicking for a long time to come.

Charlie BaxterEver wanted a high octane, non-stop techno fueled dance party but without the hassle of setting everything up? Well look no further as the one man madness machine, Charlie Baxter, has it covered. Glow sticks at the ready as things are about to get crazy. Open-ing the set with dubstep drones akin to that of an alien abduction he bursts on stage ready to entertain. Twinned with pop induced synth tracks he lights up the room with an inordinate amount of energy and enthusiasm. One track in particular that got the crowd going was an alternative cover of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” bringing a unique twist to the song making it seem entirely his own. However demonstrating not just to be a cover act his new single “Girls, Guitars & Glowsticks” proves just as addictive fusing the best of a plethora of styles into one neon coated package. Meanwhile as the crowd coerce into animated celebrations Charlie’s work here is done and he does so by leaving everyone with a permanent smile upon their face. A hard feat to achieve and a fantastic end to one

explosive festival.

25 Years of The Gloucester GuildhallWords: Dan Gutteridge | Pictures: Gloucester Guildhall

It’s time to get out the cake, write those cards and put up the ban-ners! Gloucester’s go to place for big bands, new acts, movies, com-edy and much more is turning 25. Originally opening in March 1988 the venue has properly established itself as ‘the county’s liveliest venue’. I went along to speak to the Guildhalls programming and mar-keting manager Joe Schiavon to find out a bit more about the venue. He started by giving a brief history on the Guildhall explaining it was used as an old council building with the cinema used as the debating room before re opening in 88 as the ‘county’s leading cultural offering as provided by the council’.

I was keen to ask about some of the bands that have graced the Guildhall in the past. A list of bands which is really quite special. Joe

starts with the story of the old programmer before him. ‘His first book-ing here was Muse for 100 pounds which is a story he often liked to

tell.’ But then there’s the story of the one that got away. ‘NME called up in the late 90’s saying there putting together a tour for a band who they thought was going to be quite big. They said we’ve got this one date, have you got this date free. He checked the diary and there was a blues band who played the hall every year, so he says ‘there really good custom, bring a decent crowd, I don’t wana mess them about’. To which NME says ‘honestly, look this is gonna be seen as a really good move in a few years’. He turned them down again before asking ‘who’s the band by the way?’ NME mag say ‘oh there Coldplay’. Coldplay for 50 pound and he turned them down!’.

Joe speaks of his own coupe that very very nearly came off. ‘We host the Underground festival every September and for that I start booking about February time. Last year I originally had Alt J booked for the Saturday when they were still relatively small and not getting many column inches. I booked them for quite a small price then come summer the manager rang and said ‘look they’ve been booked for America in September I’m gonna have to cancel, sorry there’s nothing I can really do’’. I tipped my hat to Joe for picking them out so early on, but in a dedicated nod to the Guild-hall which really shows his commitment to the place, he responded by saying ‘well yeah but if they don’t play, it doesn’t really count’.

I went on to ask about a few of the other bands that have stood out in his memory. ‘The ones that I quite like doing are the ones I listened to in college, so Turin Brakes played last Friday and they might not be massive but for me, I had their first album in my car for two years then to be working with them 10 years later is pretty cool’. ‘For me though doing the festival in the park with We Are Scientists was pretty special, so I’ll say that’s my highlight’. Some of the other bands who pop up in conversation include Radiohead who played the Guildhall twice, as well as Robert Plant, Primal Scream and Pete Doherty in recent years.

When asked about the increase in bands com-ing to the Guildhall the marketing manager puts it down to the crowd. ‘When bands come here they’re always blown away by the enthusiasm of the crowd and ask why is it so good. And I just say well if you’re in Bristol you have about 3 good gigs a night, were as if a big band comes to Gloucester it’s a huge thing and something to get so excited about. So I tell them to let their agents and booking agents know about us and it goes from there’. As for local bands Joe says he keeps a folder full of contacts and music from the local scene that he always turns to if ever a headline act is in need of some support. The folders compiled using emails he gets sent from the local bands themselves, so you know what to do!

And finally any band to play in the next 25 years of the Guildhall? ‘My choice would be Arcade Fire but I think for everyone, Springsteen, he’s just phenomenal’.

So thank you to the Guildhall for filling us with 25 years of musical memories from Radiohead to Lilly Allen and Muse to Klaxons and almost Cold-play. I for one salute all you do for music in the County and raise my glass to another 25 years.

Fabio Thomas On...Emmett BrownWords: Fabio Thomas

When a band describes themselves as a ‘Ska / Funk / Hip-hop’ outfit, its easy to start to believe that whilst their live appearances may be sublime sweat filled evenings full of danceable tunes, their studio releases might leave a little to be desired. Having seen Emmett Brown previ-ously, it is clear that the former of the statements is true. Thankfully, the presumption that studio material is not good, is far from the truth.

Their new E.P, ‘Suburban Grooves’, was released to the public following their launch show at the Frog and Fiddle on the 15th February. The five tracks collectively make up a psychedelic swirl through ska, reggae, funk, rock and hip-hop,

which depicts a narcotic induced dream like trip along-side “the little green men with eyes on sticks”.

The opener, ‘Pyramids (of Mars)’, kicks straight into an offbeat ska groove which builds into a Reel Big Fish-esque chorus, before breaking back down into a riff driven ending. The second track, ‘Magic Carpet’, momentarily brings the tempo back down with a laid back intro, which would not sound out of place on a Fat Freddy’s Drop album. This is before we encounter a more rock fuelled track, which climaxes to a blues driven guitar solo. This short instrumental interlude displays the sheer musicianship of the band’s rhythm section, who’s bass runs and complex drum patterns modestly comple-ment the guitar improv.

The reggae sounds of ‘Remedy’ incorporate dubby basslines and harmonies which contrast well with the re-verb and delay of the guitar melodies, to create a perfect platform for the penultimate song: ‘Suburban Grooves’. The title track, my personal favourite from the EP, seems to move seamlessly through several styles without sounding like Frank Sinatra singing 50 cent. ‘Big Fish’, the last track, is the bands main expedition into funk with a large amount of percussion, wah wah and slap bass.

‘Suburban Grooves’ ties together all of the given styles with dovetailed execution, whilst incorporating Fun Lovin Criminals’ inspired spoken word and lyricism. ‘Pyramids (of Mars)’ pleads to “take [them] back to GL53”, and that’s where I want to be if it’s where Emmett Brown are playing. For Fans of: Sublime, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Specials, Toots, Reel Big Fish.

MAG would like to say a huge thank you to the Gloucester Guildhall and especially to Joe Schiavon for all of their help and support. Without allowing us to come along to their gigs each month we wouldn’t be able to fill our pages with the great content that we do!

Cheltenham 01/03/2013 United Services Tubby Blues Club 20:00 01/03/2013 The Cotswold Coronttes 21:00 01/03/2013 London Inn Which Ones Gerry 21:00 01/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Drawing of the Three & Stressechoes 20:00

02/03/2013 Albion House Traveller 20:45 02/03/2013 Five Alls Knebakeye Alley 21:00 02/03/2013 The Daffodil Lee Jones Trio 12:30 02/03/2013 Beaufort Arms Emily J Mew Duo 21:00 02/03/2013 Subtone The Cuginis 12:00 02/03/2013 Charlton Kings Club Too Rock For Country 21:00 02/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Castles 21:00 03/03/2013 Albion House Paul Keys 14:00 03/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Eastwind 21:00 03/03/2013 Rising Sun Hotel Sax Appeal 21:00

04/03/2013 The Daffodil Jo Silver & The Café Bohemia 20:00

06/03/2013 Bayshill Gordon Wood 20:00

07/03/2013 Zizi’s Peter Nemesvari 19:00

08/03/2013 2pigs My First Tooth 20:00 08/03/2013 London Inn Dirty Trainers 21:00 08/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Mizizi 21:00 09/03/2013 2pigs EMP!RE 20:00 09/03/2013 The Daffodil Laura Collins String Trio 12:30 09/03/2013 The Cotswold Funk Bomb 21:00 09/03/2013 Subtone Knebakeye Alley 12:00

10/03/2013 Royal Union Groove Front 21:00 10/03/2013 Albion House Lucy Harvey 14:00 10/03/2013 Rising Sun Paul Ritchie 21:00

11/03/2013 Albion House Sax Appeal 21:15 11/03/2013 The Daffodil Arabella Sprot New Quartet 20:00

12/03/2013 London Inn Knebakeye Alley 21:00 12/03/2013 Albion House Sax Appeal 21:15 12/03/2013 The Plough Short & Sweet & Curly 20:00 12/03/2013 Racecourse Roving Crows 10:30 13/03/2013 Subtone The Cuginis 18:00 13/03/2013 The Playhouse JCV Blues Band 20:00

March GIG LISTINGS

13/03/2013 Albion House Sax Appeal 21:15 13/03/2013 Ryworth Inn Short & Sweet & Curly 20:00 13/03/2013 The Queen’s Hotel Occasionally Big Band 20:00 13/03/2013 Gotherington Village Hall John Kirkpatrick TBC 14/03/2013 The Brown Jug Hambling & Lloyd 21:00 14/03/2013 Albion House Sax Appeal 21:15 14/03/2013 Subtone The Cuginis 18:00 14/03/2013 Zizi’s Peter Nemesvari 19:00 14/03/2013 The Plough Short & Sweet & Curly 20:00

15/03/2013 The Brown Jug Big Black Car 21:00 15/03/2013 London Inn Los Bandiidios Del Tempo 21:00 15/03/2013 Subtone The Cuginis 18:00 15/03/2013 Ryeworth Inn Short & Sweet & Curly 20:00 15/03/2013 The Wheatsheaf 5 Undercover 19:00 15/03/2013 The Queen’s Hotel Occasionally Big Band 20:00 16/03/2013 2pigs The Detached 20:00 16/03/2013 Frog & Fiddle Travelling Band plus 20:00 Ellen & The Escapades 16/03/2013 The Bayshill Dirty Trainers 21:00 16/03/2013 Albion House Dark Fire 20:00 16/03/2013 The Daffodil Huw Johnson Trio 12:30 16/03/2013 The Cotswold Profoundly Blue 21:00

17/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Paul Murphy, Andy Oliveri 19:30 & Charlotte Carpenter 17/03/2013 Albion House Nobby 14:00

18/03/2013 The Daffodil Emily Wright & The Royals 20:00

21/03/2013 Zizi’s Peter Nemesvari 19:00

22/03/2013 London Inn Profoundly Blue 21:00 22/03/2013 Beaufort Inn Dark Island Reservoir Dogs 20:00 22/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Last Nights Victory & Charlie Baxter 21:00 23/03/2013 2pigs Stereo Influence & Canary Swing 20:00 23/03/2013 The Daffodil Bex Jazz Strings 12:30 23/03/2013 Albion House Sandy Ford & The Flying Saucers 20:00 23/03/2013 St Margaret’s Hall Rockology & The Ramrods 19:30 23/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Within These Walls & Skyline 21:00

24/03/2013 Albion House Them 2 14:00

25/03/2013 The Daffodil Tammy Payne Trio 20:00

March GIG LISTINGS

28/03/2013 Zizi’s Peter Nemesvari 19:00

29/03/2013 2pigs Smoking Hearts 20:00

30/03/2013 The Daffodil Ben Thomas Trio 12:30 30/03/2013 Albion House The Dough Boys 20:00 30/03/2013 Subtone Knebakeye Alley 20:00 30/03/2013 Sound Music Venue Masterplan 21:00

31/03/2013 Albion House Jason Lee 14:00

Gloucester 01/03/2013 Café Rene Laurence Jones Band 23:00

02/03/2013 Cross Keys Gordon Wood 14:00

06/03/2013 Café Rene Kirsty Gallacher 21:00

07/03/2013 Ridge & Furrow Otis Mack & the Tubby Bluesters 21:00

08/03/2013 Café Rene Bateleurs 23:00

13/03/2013 Café Rene Mark Abis 21:00

14/03/2013 Guildhall Huey Morgan & The New Yorkers 19:30

15/03/2013 Café Rene Poor Old Dogs 23:00

16/03/2013 Guildhall Roving Crows 19:30 16/03/2013 Kingsholm Bits & Splits TBC

17/03/2013 Guildhall Lewis Watson 19:30

20/03/2013 Café Rene Kris Dollimore 21:00

22/03/2013 Café Rene 6Fears7 23:00 22/03/2013 Blackfriars Priory Bex & Franks 20:00

23/03/2013 The Brunswick The Manic Shine, Atrevido & Damon T 20:00

25/03/2013 Guildhall Stornoway 19:30

27/03/2013 Guildhall Stiff Little Fingers 19:30 27/03/2013 Café Rene Live @ Glos Acoustic Night 21:00

March GIG LISTINGS

29/03/2013 Café Rene Funkinsteins 23:00

30/03/2013 The Brunswick Mad Hatter 2.0, Control the Storm, 20:00 Broken Jaw & Broken Tusk

Stroud 01/03/2013 Sub Rooms Piaf 19:30 02/03/2013 Sub Rooms DanceCupola 20:00

03/03/2013 Sub Rooms Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra 17:00

07/03/2013 Sub Rooms The Way of the Drums 19:30

08/03/2013 Sub Rooms Kimbers Men 20:00

09/03/2013 Sub Rooms Holst Singers 19:30

15/03/2013 Sub Rooms Out to Lunch 20:00

21/03/2013 The Golden Fleece Short and Sweet 20:00

23/03/2013 Sub Rooms Barb Jungr 20:00

29/03/2013 Sub Rooms Friday Night Live 20:00

30/03/2013 Sub Rooms All You Need is The Beatles TBC

Tewkesbury 03/03/2013 Croft Farm Bex & Franks 21:00

10/03/2013 White Bear Alex Chapman 16:00

13/03/2013 Theoc House Swing From Paris 20:00 15/03/2013 Nottingham Arms Bryn Thomas 21:00 15/03/2013 Theoc House Phil Beer TBC

17/03/2013 White Bear Sax Appeal 15:00

27/03/2013 Theoc House Kim Cypher Quartet 20:00

29/03/2013 Nottingham Arms Sax Appeal 21:00

March GIG LISTINGS

30/03/2013 Nottingham Arms Sax N Axe 20:30

31/03/2013 Nottingham Arms Rick Chase 21:00

Birdlip 01/03/2013 Royal George Scott Vallance 21:00

08/03/2013 Royal George Robbie Williams Tribute 21:00

15/03/2013 Royal George Tom Jurgens 21:00

22/03/2013 Royal George Ear Candy 21:00

29/03/2013 Royal George Scott Vallance 21:00

Winchcombe 05/03/2013 White Hart Folk Club 20:00 05/03/2013 Corner Cupboard Bluegrass Sessions 21:00

16/03/2013 White Hart Red River Blues Band 19:00

28/03/2013 Corner Cupboard Songe Session 21:00

29/03/2013 White Hart Ezekiel Butler 19:00

Woodmancote 07/03/2013 Apple Tree Folk Law 21:00

09/03/2013 British Legion Rockology 20:00

21/03/2013 Apple Tree Bryn Thomas 21:00

28/03/2013 Apple Tree Rick Chase 21:00

Bishops Cleeve 10/03/2012 Tithe Barn Matt Schofield 19:00

16/03/2013 Denley Hall Phil Hambling 20:00

17/03/2013 Tithe Barn Black 19:00

March GIG LISTINGS

If you want your gig in MAG email us:musicatglos@gmail.com

Cinderford 09/03/2013 Miners Hall Complete Madness 20:00

15/03/2013 Miners Arms Ben Thompson 20:00

16/03/2013 Soldiers & Sailors Club Sax N Axe 21:00

Conderton 01/03/2013 Yew Tree Sax N Axe 20:30

13/03/2013 Yew Tree Folk Session 21:00

Festivals Banbury Blues Festival Mills Art Centre 23/03/2013

Cinderford Music Festival Fundraiser Miners Hall 30/03/2013

Open Mic Nights Tuesday St Paul’s Tavern, Cheltenham Tuesday Salisbury Inn, Cheltenham Tuesday The Brunswick, Gloucester Wednesday Cross Keys, Gloucester Wednesday Norwood Arms, Cheltenham Thursday The Strand Bar, Cheltenham Thursday Hogs Head, Cheltenham Thursday The Restoration, Cheltenham Friday The Fiery Angel, Cheltenham Friday Royal George Hotel, Cheltenham Friday Gardners Arms, Tewkesbury Sunday Royal Union, Cheltenham Sunday The Cotswold Inn, Cheltenham Sunday Bath Tavern, Cheltenham (Every 1st & 3rd) Sunday Under the Edge Arts, Wotton Under Edge Sunday Walls Country & Western Club, Gloucester

March GIG LISTINGS

Want to contribute? We like listings, reviews, editorial, previews, pictures, art, cartoons and would like to fill these pages with things you care about. We‘d love to hear about anything to do with live music in the

county really and can help with anything from promoting you here to getting you reviewed, played on student and local radio, putting you in touch with venues, musicians and artists across the county and just about any-thing else you can think of!

Want to advertise? Put your gig posters in with the MAG for distribution? Ask what our favourite kind of ham is? You can contact Amelia – musicatglos@gmail.com

MAG Editor Amelia Scognamiglio | Cover Design Robbie Pert | Listings Contributor Ollie West | Staff Writers Fabio Thomas, Furore-Alice Muir, Tom of 10 Minute Reviews & Dan Gutteridge| Thanks to all the people who contributed to issue TWENTY SIX of MAG, special thanks (again) goes to Nicky Hughes @ The University of Gloucestershire for organising the funding and production of this work and to Andrew Lansley for continuing to support MAG and everything musical in Gloucestershire| All work remains property of the original owner, used with permission. Reproduction in whole or any part (especially the listings) of this fanzine would be awesome as it’s great to spread the word people, just make sure you credit the fanzine.

10 Minute Review...

MyDesign @ The St Paul’s Tavern, Cheltenham

(17/02/13)

Whenever I drive my dad through the back end of town, he points his fin-ger out of the window and tells me: “There used to be a pub there…and there…and there…and one over there.” Sometimes as I walk through St Paul’s I look up and see signs of where these places used to be. Old pub signs hang over large front windows, which are now front rooms. Occa-sionally I see an old ‘Best In The West’ castle symbol still attached to a wall, but more often than not, these pubs have just disappeared or been replaced by bars with names pinched from a GCSE French dictionary. Yet, the St Paul’s Tavern is still here in Cheltenham and doing a pretty good fist of putting on free (yes, FREE) live music four nights a week.

Ok, so inside the pub could do with a tidy up and some of the locals are a little over-friendly. And the broken window in the gents toilet has been boarded over with cardboard. But that’s all part of the charm of the place – I like it like that. The band tonight are called My Design and play rocked up cov-ers of pop songs. They do it really well – the singer impresses and there are a few people at the front dancing. I hardly know any of the songs (because I only listen to Talksport), so people like Lady Gaga and Jesse J have just completely passed me by. The band crack out a couple of songs by The Blood-hound Gang and Nirvana which takes me back ten years or so when I wore baggy jeans and a wallet chain.

As we leave, I decide that I’m going to get back to the St Paul’s Tavern as often as possible. Hope-fully, in forty years’ time when I’m my dad’s age, I won’t be able to say, “There used to be a pub there.”

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