Another great night down The Phoenix Bar, High Wycombe, on Saturday 25th November 2017 when Pussy Cat and The Dirty Johnsons headlined a ‘punk’ influenced event. Scroll down for two self shot videos from the gig.
Pussycat and The Dirty Johnsons – Phoenix Bar High Wycombe – 25th November 2017
Headliners Pussy Cat and The Dirty Johnsons have been described as ‘Punk-Rockabilly-Grunge-Glam rockers’, while East Town Pirates describe themselves as a ‘voodoo pirate rock and roll band and have also been likened to a cross between The Pogues and Motorhead.
Other acts were: The black bullets, The Blunders, HatePenny and The GOGO Cult.
Locally based Public Service Announcement are scheduled to make their fourth appearance since forming earlier in 2017 with a headline appearance at High Wycombe Phoenix Bar on Friday 8th December 2017.
Public Service Announcement – Phoenix Bar – Friday 8th December 2017
The band, who include former members of 1980’s punk outfit Basta Roc, debuted in April 2017 before a fully blown debut at The Phoenix Bar in June 2017. They went on to play BledFest in September 2017 and will return to The Phoenix Bar for some ‘Xmas Shenanigans’.
Support on the night is set to be two more punk bands – Nottingham based Interplanetary Trash Talk and Northampton based Crash Induction.
Doors Open 7.30pm – Admission £5 – In aid of Alzheimer’s Society.
The annual Dashwoods Arms Music Festival takes place over the weekend of 15th July 2017. The 2017 event at the Piddington pub (5 miles west of High Wycombe on the A40) is looking to raise funds for The Air Ambulance and to also raise money to help produce the music of recently departed High Wycombe musician Les Payne.
Dashwood Arms Music Festival 2017
The event kicks-off on Friday evening, followed by a full afternoon and evening of acts on the Saturday. There will also be four acts closing the weekend on Sunday afternoon. Entrance is free all weekend.
Food at reasonable prices will be served throughout until around 9pm (on the Saturday).
Expected running order as posted on The Dashwood Arms website and Facebook page.
There was a surprise appearance at the Annual Radnage Beer and Music Festival that took place over the weekend of 1 and 2 July 2017.
Joining covers band Hustler for their rendition of Stereophonics song ‘Dakota’, was bassist Richard Jones from the Welsh band.
Radnage Beer & Music 2017 – poster
Jones, a member of Stereophonics since their formation in the early 1990’s, lives in Buckinghamshire and accepted the invitation to take the stage and join in on bass for the one song.
Stereophonics’ bassist Richard Jones joins Hustler on stage at Radnage Beer and Music Festival – 1 July 2017
The two day event was held at The Crown in Radnage (8 miles from High Wycombe). The festival has expanded to host ten acts on the Saturday (afternoon and evening) and five more on the Sunday afternoon.
Former members of Basta Roc took new band Public Service Announcement for a live airing at The Phoenix Bar (Bridge Street, High Wycombe) on Friday 30th June 2017, with support from The SD5.
Public Service Announcement/The SD5 – Phoenix Bar – Friday 30th June 2017
They say they will be: ‘Featuring songs of Basta Roc, stripped down and lovingly restored as well as new compositions and classic songs for your musical pleasure.’
High Wycombe punk legends The Xtraverts opened the third ‘No More Heroes’ all-day event at The Phoenix Bar in High Wycombe on Saturday 24th June 2017. They played a short set as a way of thanking the other bands for helping to celebrate lead singer Nigel Martin’s 60th birthday.
Nigel Martin’s wonderful birthday cake on show at No More Heroes III on 24 June 2017 at The Phoenix Bar
Also scheduled to be on the bill were:
Satellites
Rebel Station
Feckin Ejits
Ambition Demolition
5 Go Mad
Acid Attack
Shag Nasty
Nuffin’
Murderball
No More Heroes III – Phoenix Bar – High Wycombe – 24 June 2017
The event follows two previous successful No More Heroes events promoted by Nigel Martin. The two day 2016 bash included Xtraverts, Pussycat and The Dirty Johnsons, East Town Pirates, Dragster, Rage DC and Healthy Junkies.
The 2017 event saw The Xtraverts take the stage at about 1.30pm (yes, in the afternoon!). After a short rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ by the other band members, Nigel took to the stage as the band crashed through four numbers – old favourite, ‘Police State’, plus both sides of their new single (’21st Century Motorbike’ and ‘Wild Boys, Wild Youth’), before finishing with their classic, ‘Speed’.
If you have any pictures or videos from the day, you are welcome to post them in the comments section below or send links via email.
High Wycombe punk legends The Xtraverts released their first single in 36 years on Friday 9th June 2017. The re-energised version of the band, with roots dating back to 1976, blast out two new tracks, ‘21st Century Motorbike‘and ‘Wild Boys, Wild Youth’ that manage to capture the energy of their live performances at least as well as any of their previous three singles.
For those keeping a list, The Xtraverts’ first single was released in 1978 – ‘Blank Generation’ and ’A-Lad-Insane’ both being live favourites. A year later they shared a release with fellow Wycombe punk outfit Plastic People – Xtraverts contributing ‘Police State’, with Plastic People delivering ‘Demolition’. Completing the trio in 1981, of what are now hugely collectable punk vinyl releases, was ‘Speed’ backed with ‘1984’.
The Xtraverts – single collection 1978 to 2017
Line-up of the band at the time of the 2017 single was Nigel Martin (vocals), Poe Diddley (lead guitar), Nick Chapman (rhythm guitar), Andy Chalk (bass), Reg Charles (drums).
Claire from Ruby Moon has kindly been in touch with details about the 2017 Frog Fest in High Wycombe – happening on Sunday 28th May 2017 in the High Street.
Frogfest happens because of HWBIDco and the town centre businesses.
The one day family festival aims to raise the profile of the town, and make it a more attractive place to spend time. In its fourth year, Frogfest has grown, and attracted around 4,000 people to the town in 2016.
With 18 bands, two stages, Covent Garden street performers and walkabouts, bandana printing, circus skills and hooping workshops, bubble shows, Bollywood Punch and Judy, and festival food stalls, there will be plenty to keep everyone happy.
Running order:
11.30 – 12.50 – 20 mins -Acoustic stage- High Wycombe Acapella Group
A free day-time festival has been arranged at the home of the mighty Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 6th May 2017. Adams Park will host the event in the lower car park at Adams Park from 1pm to 4pm as a prelude to Wanderers’ final game of the 2016/17 season at home to Cambridge United.
Pop-Up Festival Adams Park – Saturday 6th May 2017
The live music will be from
Jon Auer – from US band Posies and Big Star
Charlotte Hatherley (DJ set) – former guitarist and backing singing with with Ash
Tony Goff and The Broken Colours
Entrance is free to the festival. Should you wish to attend the football (kick-off 5.30pm), tickets will be available on the day. There will be a bar and food available at the festival.
Sad to hear the news of the passing of High Wycombe musician Les Payne on Monday 1st May 2017 at the age of 74.
Les Payne
Les had been an institution in the local live music scene for close on the past 50 years. His fans will remember him as the man who always had time for a chat. It’s estimated that he played over 6,000 gigs, making him one of the most prolific live acts in Britain and prompting an award and a number of TV appearances in the early 1990’s.
Speaking to the press in 2012 he said “I have been gigging for over 50 years. It is kind of sad in a way as the way pubs used to be has almost disappeared.
“The whole thing has gone a bit pear shaped. It is very hard to make any money being a musician unless you are really famous.”
Les grew up on the Isle of Wight and he did his first gig when he was only 14, in 1956. He moved to Thame in 1963 and was most recently living in Chairborough Road in High Wycombe, where he ran his Dreamcatcher studio.
In 1991 he picked up an award for his gigging exploits – taking the Harp Beat Rock Plaque for representing musicians who played music for a living but hadn’t become a household name.
He dubbed himself ‘The Nearly Man’ in a mini documentary made in 2015.
One of his claim to fame is that he recorded David Bowie’s ‘Star’ before it appeared on the Ziggy Stardust album.
He supported many acts during his long career, including Genesis, Mott the Hoople and Skid Row (featuring Gary Moore). He also played in late 1970’s band Mainland who released records on the Christy Records label. His solo career also stretched across five decades.
In 1981 he produced Marillion’s first demo cassette release featuring early versions of ‘He Knows You Know’, ‘Garden Party’ and ‘Charting The Single’.
Marillion cassette 1981 – produced by Les Payne
In 1982 Les gained publicity from DJ Kenny Everett for his single ‘Who Would Be The Winner’. It was an anti-war song in protest at the Falklands War. It was promptly dropped by Les’s own record label and banned from almost every radio station because of the message it conveyed.
Commenting on the current music scene back in 2012, he said: “X-Factor is a bit annoying in some ways because it is so about TV. It is not about a career in music. I feel sorry for a lot of the people on The Voice too. Tom Jones said at least we know they will be ok, but they are not. It is not easy. It is a really tough business. I think it has become even tougher.”
He has three sons- Crispin, 50 and Elliot, 36.- His third son, Ritchie, passed away in 2010 aged 28. He also had two step children, Libbie, 34, and Josh, 31 with his wife, Pennie.
The Nearly Man – (Story of Les Payne) – documentary 2015
TV appearance 2006
Playing Gentle Man
You are welcome to post your memories and tributes to Les in the comments section or send an email.
