February,April etc..Gigs York

February at Fibbers

Thu 01 - MEDICINE HAT + The Asylum Seekers Hard-edged London
"outlaw-country" band genuinely rooted in their music and it's history.
Indeed, their latest album 'Bone Dry' was conceived during a trip of
discovery to the Indian reservation of the US northern plains. This ain't
no Garth Brooks line-dancing fodder (!) and rock fans will enjoy their raw
power and dazzling musicianship. You may have caught them here a few years
ago supporting Albert Lee, no less, when they did a version of Country Boy
which rivalled the master. Listeners to Bob Harris and Johnny Walker will
also be familiar with this excellent act. Details of their releases and
others in a similar vein can be found on the maverick label Way Out West.

Fri 02 - COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS + Blueryder + Poptones DJs POPTONES presents
RADIO4 featuring THE COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS! Having blown away Alan McGee
whilst playing live in their hometown Glasgow, his new label Poptones
released Cosmic Rough Riders' third album “Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine”.
Their first two self-written and self-produced albums ("Deliverance" and
"Panorama") on their own label (Raft) sold out, the latter entering into
Virgin’s Encyclopaedia of the Greatest Albums of all Time. Their music is
a collection of classic and contemporary Americana West-Coast guitar-pop
masterpieces, Byrds/Beatles/Beach Boys/Neil Young, already acknowledged by
The Jayhawks on whose UK tour they guested. The heavyweight press on this
act has been awesome - "rugged, yet beautiful, occasionally tinged with
folk, but mainly woven from the finest jangles … ringing guitars,
breathless harmonies, timeless pop songs" (MOJO), "while others
desperately try to emulate the spirit of late - sixties / early seventies
guitar pop, they already have it bottled" (Q), "the purity of dense
acoustic strummage under wave after wave of vocal harmony with sad-sweet
chorus melodies that would go for old -master prices at auction" (ROCK AND
REEL), "in it's unashamed eclecticism of influences this is nothing short
of glorious, the riders gallop home with would-be classic after would-be
classic of precise, melodious country / pop. Another winner" (COUNTRY
MUSIC INTERNATIONAL). Even Liam Gallagher has been known to lend his
support and The Poptones DJs will be playing local demos to finish off the
night - more information on this as soon as we have it. Phew. Can you miss
this event? £5 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113598225
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Sat 03 - THE BOBAK CUT + Alaska + Matrix The Bobak Cut are creating quite
a stir at the moment as now, more than ever, they seem to have their own
sound with final piece in the puzzle - guitarist Simon Keddy. The band say
"When he joined the electricity was immediate and the finite balance
between subtlety and strength had finally been found, and with stunning
results". Long summer nights composing and rehearsing new material at The
Jam Factory has produced "contemporary guitar music not dissimilar to the
The Verve and The Stone Roses, but with an edge reminiscent of 70s rock n
roll. The folk tinges and ballsy bluster of Led Zeppelin spring to mind".

Sun 04 - FARRAH + High Sound + Plan B Power-popsters Farrah formed in May
1998 after Jez had a dream that Charlie's Angels serenaded him while
wearing 1970's polyester trousers…. Influenced by the exuberance of
Supergrass, the harmonies of The Beach Boys and the skewed lyrical
sensibilities of Elvis Costello, the band left their home town of York and
after months of hard gigging recorded1999 adrenalised debut single "Terry"
(Noisebox). The cover depicted a Terry's Chocolate Orange segment and said
company threatened legal action over the song's drug imagery. Debut album
"Moustache" - bittersweet-bubblegum crushes, jealousy, Neighbours
obsessions and German schoolgirls(?) - took shape combining influences as
diverse as The Jags (responsible for all-time classic "I got your
number"(written on the back of my hand)", The Vapors, Fountains Of Wayne,
Doo Wop, Teenage Fanclub and Squeeze.

Mon 05 - LUX PERPETUA + Psychoskank + Ryder Battle of the Bands warm-up!
Just £1 for the brooding, industrial Joy Division-ish gloom of Lux
Perpetua, King Prawn-ish punk/ska of Pyschoskank and tuneful "indie with a
twist" from Ryder.

Tue 06 - CATYLYST + Penfold + The Back Wheels Battle of the Bands warm-up!
Just £1 for "Foo Fighters having a scrap with Underworld while Faith No
More roll up their sleeves to join in" ... er ... thats Catylyst, the
Idlewild-ish Penfold from Harrogate and melodic punksters The Back Wheels.

Wed 07 - THE ALEXANDER KING PROJECT + 5'4 + The Turners Battle of the
Bands warm-up and, actually, this is a gig-and-a-half in it's own right -
well worth £1 of anybody's money! The confrontational powerpop of The
Alexander King Project (top gig at Fibbs in December) with the punky
powerpop also of 5'4" who've supported Goldblade and Doves. Round that off
with finalists of last year The Turners whose 60s to 90s altrock is very
Who/Spencer Davis Group/Ocean Colour Scene - and you've got a rather
splendid night all round!

Thu 08 - LAPDOG + Bruise + Bighead Splintering the boundaries of indie
rock come Lapdog fusing melancholy with optimism against a backdrop of
merged break-beats and power chords. One catchy, nerve shattering song
follows another in their heavy-duty rock set. No brainless metal freaks
these, though, they have power with beauty and fragile romanticism over
crunching metallic beats. "Bruise, led by Isobel Morris, are sometimes
acoustic in the manner of Nico, but othertimes as powerful and direct as
Patti Smith in 'Horses' mode" - The PFS A&R GUIDE 2000. Reflecting a life
of diverse experience, from her native Yorkshire, Isobel has travelled via
the pork fields of Iowa to the ice fields of the Alaskan Wilderness but it
was in Anchorage that Isobel stumbled across her own glorious,
broken-stringed style playing in front of drunken bushmen, commercial
fishermen amongst others - with and without her then acoustic trio The
Pagan Cowgirlz. As well as regular slots at the 12 Bar, Kashmir Klub and
The Edinburgh Festival, Bruise have also played Nottingham Pride, In the
City and a run of shows at The Borderline. New on the local scene, BigHead
sound "a little like Nick Drake covers played by Jon Spencer Blues
Explosion (weird detuning and melodic guitar riffs, loud and distorted).
Ex-Waterline James Richardson on vocals.

Fri 09 - BREATHE + The Makers + The Scooters Unlucky for some, and usually
those at the front when supercharged frontman Justin Jamieson displays his
Battle of the Bands winning style and hurdles the barriers to mix it with
the crowd. Walking like John Wayne, stepping on every crack in the
pavement and killing yourself for the last time (with Sheena and Lenny)
are rapidy becoming part of York's language folklore. Supports with
Stereophonics, Terrorvision, Four Star Mary (Buffy the Vampire Slayer band
Dingos Ate My Baby), Spear of Destiny (and too many more to mention) have
cemented their reputation for unmissable, exciting, full-frontal and
downright arrogant rock dammit! - with a smile. Or nurse's uniforms. Or
Windscale boiler suits. Or ....

Sat 10 - THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTHMARTINS As the name suggests, a tribute to the
music of The Beautiful South and The Housemartins (Fat Boy Slim was a
member and drummer Hugh Whittaker is now playing for excellent local act
Percy), both of Hull's finest. And what a good band, too - we've heard the
stuff. Complete with excellent female singer, all the arrangements and the
feel are intact. Here's what Times journo Mike Pattenden had to say,
"You're nobody in the '90s music scene unless you have your own tribute
band, and tonight the Beautiful South have come down to the Putney Half
Moon to meet the group that pays homage to them. They play versions of
both Hull bands' songs, something The Beautiful South flatly refused to do
with The Housemartins' material. The harmonies are tight, the voices blend
together nicely and the crowd applaud. Paul Heaton, stood at the bar,
applauds loudest of all. The Beautiful Southmartins are good value, and
their counterparts find it hilarious (and flattering) that anyone else
should bother performing their songs." The band has an enormous repertoire
from both acts including Old Red Eyes is Back, A Little Time, Perfect 10,
Don't Marry Her, Rotterdam, Let Love Speak Up Itself, You Keep It All In
and I'll Sail This Ship Alone from The Beautiful South. Old Housemartin
faves Caravan Of Love, Happy Hour and People Get Ready are there as well
as lots of other material. In fact, as this is being written we're
reminded again just how much quality material Paul Heaton is responsible
for. £5 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113466213
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Sun 11 - MY VITRIOL + MO-HO-BIS-O-PI + Thirteen:13 Within days of
receiving a copy of first EP "Delusions of Grandeur" Steve Lamacq had
broadcast a track on the Session Unsigned slot and their mission was
complete when guitarist Seth Taylor and multi-instrumentalist Carolyn
Bannister were both discovered playing at gigs, the former supporting Mint
400. Debut double A-side single Always:Your Way/ Pieces made the playlists
for Radio One and X-fm, - the first unsigned band to achieve this on the
latter and was Single of the Month in Kerrang amongst others. In the last
week of 1999, the band signed to Infectious/Mushroom (home to Ash and
Garbage) only 7 gigs into their career, the 10th being at the London
Astoria NME Premier shows. Recommended by The Times, Evening Standard,
Guardian, Kerrang, NME, Music Week, Flipside, Rocksound, and Melody Maker
and now The Fly whose Pieces review called it "Shiny, polished, perfectly
crafted slabs of melodic rock/pop not dissimilar to Smashing Pumpkins..."
Deftones' Chino Moreno has hailed MV as "one of the best bands on the
planet" and Som is making an appearance on his forthcoming solo project
(thanks for that Corinne!). £5 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113537713
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Wed 14 - THE NOSEDIVERS + Breathe + The Surf Sluts There's a chance you
may not believe this line-up but it's happening. Happy Boithday Mugsy,
bring a violin or a red rose, it's up to you. Possible one of the most
explosive (and entertaining) local band line-ups of recent years. Forget
the candlelit dinner - bring her here and you'll have more fun. (£4
advance - tickets available from our Ticketline on 01423 52 22 45 or from
the venue)

Fri 16 - INERTIA CRISIS + The Makers + Bellamy Explosive Muse,Bush and
Nirvana outfit, lots of press and record company interest. Just in, more
details to follow.

Sat 17 - NO SURPRISES - RADIOHEAD TRIBUTE + Zane Back by demand from their
previous two gigs here. Uncannily accurate but it's not just about playing
the right notes (which they do perfectly to every nuance), this band seems
to give every song the right feel as well. Highly recommended!

Thu 22 - TONY'S COMEDY CLUB Acts to be confirmed - watch this space!

Fri 23 - HIGH SOUND + Tahoma + DJs Hard to categorise but original in the
real sense of the word. The Police sing Talking Heads? Morcheeba meets
Ride? My Bloody Valentine - the hip-hop remixes? Kenny Sayers, Simon
Jenkinson and Phil Alderson definitely have something here and come highly
recommended by the venue if you're in to clever and passionate
arrangements, songs that go somewhere instead of round and round like
flipping Oasis and … well … original!

Sat 24 - BLUERYDER + Four Way Trauma + Sonus The very excellent Blueryder
(you might have caught 'em supporting Hugh Cornwell here recently) with
London band Four Way Trauma featuring the brother of Gaz from Supergrass
on vocals and, from the North East, Sonus who are a bit Stereophonics-ish
(we're told) and attracting label interest.

Mon 26 - UNITE + faKe + Neutrino Mixed-up Southern hardcore band Unite
play their own breed of superfast Blastbeat (metal/hardcore mayhem),
accelerating through your stereo and flying out of the speakers. These
guys sound if they should be from New York as there is a definite
influence of tough guy and a USA style of powerful old school. Their mini
CD, Playing With Fire, was produced by Dave Chang and has just been
released on Blackfish Records. Fake's nu-metal debut CD "Failure Breeds
Within The Minds Of the Weak" draws on System of a Down/Machine
Head/Earthtone 9/Kyuss and has already impressed Kerrang! - "There's a
fine band in here … untapped talent" and Metal Hammer - "… old school
thrash values and uncompromising take on nu-metal … exceedingly well
produced … show real promise".

Tue 27 - CHRIS SMITHER Chris Smither, three decades as a performing
songwriter, first flourished in the streets and coffee houses of Boston in
the mid-60s, ". "I'd loved acoustic music - specifically the blues - ever
since I first heard Lightnin' Hopkins' Blues In The Bottle album. I
couldn't believe the sound Hopkins got. At first I thought it was two guys
playing guitar. My style - to a degree - came out of trying to imitate
that sound I heard." There he forged lifelong friendships with Bonnie
Raitt (who has made Smither's "Love Me Like A Man" a signature song of
hers, and refers to Chris as "my Eric Clapton"), Eric von Schmidt, Jim
Rooney. Smither's first albums, I'm A Stranger, Too! (1971) and Don't It
Drag On (1972) were released on Poppy Records, the home of kindred spirit
Townes Van Zandt and reissued in 1997. By the time Smither recorded his
third album, Honeysuckle Dog, with Lowell George and Dr. John helping out,
United Artists had absorbed Poppy and dropped much of their roster. To
this day the record has never been released and his next record would not
be made until 1985, the spare It Ain't Easy. The early 90s marked a return
to touring and consistently brilliant albums like 1991's Another Way To
Find You, Happier Blue (AFIM Best Folk Recording 1993) and Up On The
Lowdown in 1995 the first of three albums to be recorded with producer
Stephen Bruton at The Hit Shack in Austin. The release of Small
Revelations garnered concert dates with B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Nanci
Griffith, and the hugely successful "Monsters of Folk" tour with Ramblin'
Jack Elliott, Dave Alvin, and Tom Russell. Emmylou Harris recorded his
song "Slow Surprise" for The Horse Whisperer and added another gold record
to Chris's wall. In 1999, Chris released Drive You Home Again and toured
with John Prine and Joan Baez. "Smither's roots are as blue as they come"
- Rolling Stone. "Think of a wandering Zen troubadour with a blue guitar,
a hot finger-picking style and a gravelly voice that could make any
material sound deep and cool" - Associated Press. "One of the finest
interpreters of classic blues and contemporary roots" - Chicago Tribune.
Sitting alone with that stunning blue guitar and feet stamping out the
beat, Chris Smither has quietly achieved mythical blues status.
Recommended. £8 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113508274
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

March at Fibbers

Fri 02 - I AM KLOOT I Am Kloot's frontman Johnny Bramwell, voice rarely
straying from that distinctive Mancunian blunt yowl, is five feet of
attitude with piercing eyes, instructing his audience to "go crazy, you
goopy little chimpanzees", with admirable vigour. He's incapable of
writing a pretty, breezy pop song without at least trying to give it a
black eye and debut single Titanic starts with the line "Murderers come
dressed as suicides". Twisted torch songs and heart-wrenching serenades
laced with gorgeous melodies, littered with savage one-liners. "Catch them
before they're too big" - Time Out. Reviewing the band’s debut London show
at the Highbury Garage upstairs, Melody Maker's Siobhan Grogan took one
look and proclaimed: “I Am Kloot already write songs verging on classics.”
Johnny refused to take the Great White Wordsmith plaudits too seriously.
“Words? It’s just junk! I’m making it up!” Reviewing the singles that week
in the NME later that week, Piers Martin initial response was “Bloody
hell!”, before recovering his wits to laud its “incisive, darkly humorous
musings". The long awaited debut album, produced by Elbow's Guy Garvey, is
currently being mixed in Rochdale and London, and is expected to be
released early 2001. A single will precede it, provisionally "Storm
Warning". Initially on Ugly Man Records, the band is now signed to the
innovative Wall of Sound, home to Propellerheads and Dirty Beatniks. £4
advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113598245
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Sun 04 - THE SNAKE DAVIS BAND Phew. What a band Snakey has put together to
showcase his new album "Snake Bites" which includes reworked favourites
and new versions of soul classics. Some of his favourite London musicians
will be making the gig including drummer Peter Lewinson (Eurythmics,
Heather Small), Winston Blissett (Massive Attack) on bass, guitarist JJ
Belle (Tina Turner, George Michael, Lionel Richie) and Paul Birchill
(M-People) on keys. As ever, Snake is much in demand with the likes of Ben
E King, Westlife, Lesley Garrett and Hamish Stuart recently and will
shortly be touring acoustically with Jim Diamond. Here's your chance to
catch one of the country's top soul and jazz players. A consummate
technical and "feel" musician with the common touch who is equally home in
a stadium being MD for The Eurythmics and M-People, or sweating it out in
a small club like Fibbs. Respect. £ advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113667171
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Mon 05 - COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE + Starkitten A Reading-based band whose live
show has been blowing away audiences for the last year or so, making
critics come out with such claims as “they are what you wish Oasis still
were” and “I quite like the one who sits down” You might have caught 'em
here recently on support duty with Coasta. They definitely rock, but then
it’s a bit cleverer than that, so let’s call them space punk for now.
Imagine a balance not too far from recent indie rock / baggy hybrids with
some flourishes of "Air" type dripping keyboards and there have even been
some Radiohead comparisons (in their rockier, "The Bends" moments)
combining with theremin electronica keyboards reminiscent at times of Pink
Floyd They slip easily between paces, even with' target=in single songs -
at times more punk rock and at times at a more ballady tempo. Psyched-out
SFA-tinged rock, anyone? York's "foremost garage-punk kings of trash"
Starkitten just added as main support. PLEASE NOTE THIS GIG HAS BEEN MOVED
FORWARD ONE DAY FROM TUESDAY MARCH 6 - TIX ARE STILL VALID OR YOU MAY, OF
COURSE, HAVE A FULL REFUND. £4 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113519438
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Tue 06 - THE EXPERIMENTAL POP BAND (TBC) Formed in Bristol from the ashes
of Brilliant Corners thanks to Davey Woodward and the late Chris Galvin,
EPB are an eclectic fusion of intelligent pop mixed with strumming
guitars, cool samples, soulful jazzy moments and beats. Formed in 1995
initially as a studio project, they released debut album 'Discgrotesque'
in 1996 and 1997 on Swarffinger. Music press from across the board fancied
them as "skewed boho-pop", "world-weary", "bookworms" and " eclectic,
strum'n'bass vs beats vs indie shuffle vs European god knows what. Pop
music for people who are bored with pop music!." Consecutive Melody Maker
Single Of The Week and Pick Of The Week followed in '96 for 'Boutique In
My Backyard" (later covered by theaudience). 1998's 2nd album 'Homesick'
was all laid back grooves and cool melody with a nod to Shaun Ryder and
Josef K. "like hearing De La Soul for the first time … here's casual
bloody genius. ". (Melody Maker), "British provincial Beck" (The
Independant) " (Melody Maker) "highly eclectic mix of easy listening
loops...even a burst of Ray Davies lyricism". (Q) and "sexy, gooey mush of
future pop threats from outer space". (Venue). Brought to you by City
Slang, the home of J Mascis, Boss Hog, Tortoise, Sebadoh and Lambchop.

Thu 08 - DEAN FRIEDMAN In the summer of 1977, Dean Friedman marked his
entry into pop consciousness with "Ariel", a quirkily irresistible pop
song about a free spirited, music loving, vegetarian Jewish girl in a
peasant blouse who lived, as the lyric goes, "...way on the other side of
the Hudson." A year later, he struck again, duetting with Denise Marsa on
"Lucky Stars" . It went to No 1 (and gold) instantly and paved the way for
a slew of hits off of Friedman's humorously titled album "Well, Well" Said
the Rocking Chair", including familiar tracks such as Lydia and Rocking
Chair as well as singles from his first album, Woman of Mine and Ariel.
Although Friedman's next single, McDonald's Girl, was officially banned by
the BBC for mentioning … er … McDonalds it has since been covered by
Canadian band Barenaked Ladies and The Blenders. During the '80's,
Friedman turned his hand to composing TV and film soundtracks and
unbeknownst to many of his fans, composed, performed and produced all of
the music to Central TV's hit series Boon, himself singing the country &
western songs played over the end credits of every show such as The Texas
Rangers, He's My Friend, He's My Buddy and Handsome Stranger. Friedman
also composed, performed and produced the soundtrack to the underground
cult horror film classic I Bought A Vampire Motorcycle. Despite his
apparent absence from the popular music scene, evidence that his name and
music have made a lasting impact are not hard to find. Gaby Roslin from
The Big Breakfast almost single-handedly sparked off his return and Half
Man Half Biscuit released a best selling EP The Bastard Son of Dean
Friedman. Uunderground poet, Nicholas Awde, published a well received
collection of poems entitled, I Saw Satan on the Northern Line which
includes a romantic poem featuring three ardent Dean Friedman fans. Ben
Folds Five acknowledge Dean as an important musical influence and their
song Kate from Whatever and Ever Amen pays direct homage to Ariel.
Friedman, now 44, lives in New York having recently released Songs For
Grownups. £9 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113668029
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Fri 09 - FOUR DAY HOMBRE + High Sound + Nemo This is the music we'll be
listening to in two years time and, honestly, you just can't pigeonhole
it. Variously described as alternative country to REM, from Massive Attack
to "too aggressive for me and I used to like thrash metal!", their two
guitars, two lead vocals, bass, drums, keyboards and decks combine in a
glorious noise of melody, sweat and emotion. Not content with a hundred
gigs last year, Radio 1 Evening Session airplay and being described by one
London promoter as "one of the few Northern bands that is easily
recognisable on the London circuit", they also achieved the Independent's
"Hot 5" Tickets Recommendation for their London debut. Supports with JJ72,
Seafood, The Frames, Chuck Prophet and Baby Bird as well as constant
gigging have earned them a huge following and brilliant reviews as well as
offers of a London residency and the main support on a One Little Indian
national tour. With two CDs on sale, talk of a single release later in the
year and continual touring it seems the only thing holding fdH back is
lack of hours in a day. We've begged you to see bands here before
(Coldplay, Travis, Reef, Stereophonics etc etc) and now we're on our knees
again - highly recommended, life-affirming, essential. "North London’s
Nemo are here to put the preposterous back into pop and you just know
what’s in store when they arrive onstage in matching sci-fi tunics. Devo,
OMD and Talking Heads all rolled into one" - NME October 2000.

Sat 10 - THE HAMSTERS Remember that first time you heard a band that sent
tingles down your spine with an enormous guitar sound filling your head as
a rhythm section kicked so hard you couldn't stand still? It happens every
time with The Hamsters. Blues rock so bluesy, rocky, loud, ballsy you
never want them to stop. This isn't a 35 minute indie shower fresh on the
road or a manufactured boy band - THIS IS REAL. And if you like real music
from real musicians who've been there, done that and worn out the T-shirt,
this gig might just be for you. But be early or get a ticket, you may be
the last one on earth to find out about them ... £6.50 advance - tickets
available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113596229
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Thu 15 - THE STEVE WILLIAMS BAND Fronted by the Snake Davis writing and
playing partner-in-crime Steve Williams and his "moving and grooving bass
playing...at the sharp end of funk", with sizzling keyboards from Paul
Kilvington, inventive guitar from Mike Walker and dynamite drums from
Steve Gilbert.

Thu 22 - DAVE SWARBRICK AND MARTIN CARTHY Londoner Dave Swarbrick has had
a lifelong passion for folk music and was working and recording with
legends such as Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker even from
his early printing apprenticeship days. He joined the Ian Campbell Folk
Group in the early 60's and, in 1966, teamed up with Martin Carthy and
this remarkable pairing played an important part in the tremendous shake-
up of British folk at that time. When they parted in 1969 Dave joined
Fairport Convention and his contribution to folk and folk/rock music is
legendary and well documented. In 1984 Dave left Fairport and, along with
Kevin Dempsey, Chris Leslie and Martin Jenkins, formed Whippersnapper a
group renowned for its drive and acoustic prowess, but left in 1989 to
concentrate on solo work and revive his partnership with Martin Carthy. In
the early 90s Dave and Martin were members of the folk "supergroup" Band
Of Hope along with such luminaries as Roy Bailey, Steafan Hannigan, John
Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson. In 1993 Dave moved to the Australian Blue
Mountains and began working with Alistair Hulett, producing the highly
acclaimed "Saturday Johnny and Jimmy The Rat" and "The Cold Grey Light Of
Dawn". £7 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113466147
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Sat 24 - THE ROLLIN' CLONES Back by demand from their sensational gig in
November 2000, The Rollin' Clones live the part from the moment they walk
in the venue …. Formed in April 1997 to celebrate the music of one of the
most successful rock bands in history and, like their idols, have a
dynamic stage show, packed full of classic Rolling Stones songs, performed
with vitality and energy, together with colourful costumes and imaginative
stage presentation. Already the subjects of an ITV mini-documentary (er …
"Rockumentary?), the band's players also have some find playing credits
including session work with Ray Davies, Francis Rossi and Mike D'Abo. NME
said, "A storming set", The Daily Mail said "The Clones stole the show ...
outstanding" and the final compliment comes from the RSSA - "This band
managed to re-create the Stones at their most prolific and do it with all
the passion and raw energy of the real thing. Great fun, fine musicians
and an excellent choice of songs ... not to be missed". £5 advance -
tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113597623
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue


April at Fibbers

Sat 07 - THE COMPLETE STONE ROSES (TBC) You want the Stone Roses? You're
10 years too late! But if you want to re-live the groove, the experience,
the vibe that was and still is - take in The Complete Stone Roses, an
amazingly authentic show and one of our most requested return acts.
They've even turned up with Mani who says, "They're a good little band,
the first time I saw them it was quite weird, but I think they're doing
the songs justice. They're good players first and foremost - they're not
fakers.... Tonight they sounded better than we did before we split." Check
out the set list, close your eyes and you're nearly there.

Thu 12 - OH SUSANNA + Hayley Hutchinson Suzie Ungerleider's voice has been
described as somewhere between a lonesome whistle and a delta moan. When
asked about that touch of Appalachia she replies,"I would tell you that I
got it all from my Grandmother, but she ain't much of a singer". Born in
Massachusetts and raised in Vancouver, she has twisted traditional folk
idioms into tales of her personal quests after years of listening to the
blues, early country, honky tonk, & mountain balladry. She says, "I want
to communicate some kind of eerie beauty. The kind of beauty you had in
folk music - in spirituals, blues and in mountain ballads - intense and
terrifying music that evokes mystery". The press are unanimous in their
admiration - " ghostly tales from the dark end of the street … about pain
you can't forget and places you can never go back to … her companions are
the likes of Johnny Cash or Robert Johnson … mixing the poetic exuberance
of a young Tom Waits and plenty of Jimmie Rogers/Hank Williams rootsiness
… writes in blood and sings like it hurts." And from BILLBOARD, "Her
narrative force, incisive and amazingly detailed lyrics, and simple
musical approach mark her as an artist to watch." If you're a fan of The
Handsome Family and The Willard Grant Conspiracy this could just be your
thing. Recommended. £4 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113596252
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Fri 20 - DUMPY'S RUSTY NUTS Chaucer would have appreciated Graham 'Dumpy'
Dunnell. No taller than a pub counter, not much wider than a barrel and
hairier than a sozzled St. Bernard, the aptly named Dumpy is an
ale-swilling vulgarian whose idea of heaven is to tread the boards of any
handy pub stage and gee up the pissed populous with a ready array of
abusive banter. Devoid of all philosophical and political intricacies,
Dumpy's rabbit is of the rude and ribald persuasion, delivered with coarse
good humour betwixt a brazenly unfashionable battery of blues and boogies
cut with hefty hard rockers. The man himself garrottes a mean Gibson and
he demonstrates his passion for British motorbikes with a pioneering,
raspberry-blowing impersonation of same, developed when he was a humble
mechanic in the dim and distant past. Biker rock? Well, Dumpy was a 60s
greaser, and the band attracted hoards of their 80s equivalents, a
connection confirmed on vinyl via the The Blues Band's Cool King label,
first with a sprightly cover of Mike Sarne's 'Just For Kicks' in June '82
and then with the self-penned paean to motorcycle mecca Boxhill, 'Boxhill
Or Bust'. Released in mid-September to coincide with their national tour
with the Blues Band, the single was enhanced with references to such haute
cuisine delicacies as 'a cup of splosh and a greasy dog', and was
adequately summed up by Lemmy who dubbed it "Chas and Dave backed by
Status Quo". "We're not a street level band," the Wolfie Smith of rock
explains. "We're gutter level, we appeal to people in the gutter." Yup,
50% covers and 50% originals, their set is a populist delight that goes
down like the Belgrano anywhere beer is drunk and posers are frowned on.
£5 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113597647
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Thu 26 - ROBB JOHNSON + Miranda Sykes and Saskia Tomkins Robb Johnson is
now widely recognised as one of the finest contemporary British
songwriters and as Tom Robinson, presenting on Radio 4, memorably said,
"Robb Johnson may be singing in the wilderness, but thank God he still
is". Robb has always been a political animal - the original of agit-prop
single "The Animal Song" was nearly NME Single of the Week - but material
such as "6B Go Swimming" (highlighting his supply teacher experiences) and
"Sunday Morning St Denis" (originally recorded by Roy Bailey and latterly
by chanteuse Barb Jungr) is more observational and personal. Last year's
release "Margaret Thatcher - My Part In Her Downfall" was a new recording
(on the Thornbory guitar they were originally composed on) of 20 of his
older songs that audiences still continue to ask for, including The Herald
Of Free Enterprise, Rosa’s Lovely Daughters, Captain Swing and Boxing Day.
Also appearing are the clear-voiced Lincolnshire folk player Miranda Sykes
(Press Gang) on double bass and Jazz/Popular Music BA (Hons) Saskia
Tomkins on violin and cello. Saskia studied under Mike Thomas (leader of
The Brodsky String Quartet) and has appeared overseas with Al Stewart and
Sonja Kristina as well as working on projects with bodhran genius Stefan
Hannigan and Bill Caddick. Both were present on "The Big Wheel" of which
Johnson says "I am usually reticent about making any claims for my work,
but this is, I think, a very fine album indeed". Also with Philip Hoessen
(accordion) and Leon Rosselson (guitar), the 14 fine acoustic-based songs
covered everything from Cirio's in Brussels to Paradise St in Liverpool,
songs of a new baby to songs for the barricades. Check out this excellent
Rock'n'Reel interview, too. £6 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113656027
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue


May at Fibbers

Sat 12 - JOHN OTWAY John Otway first achieved notoriety, with Wild Willy
Barrett, live on The Old Grey Whistle Test by leaping six foot astride an
amplifier with no protection between the very hard object he was
descending towards and the most delicate parts of his anatomy. A
fascinated public rewarded this very daring/stupid act with a hit record
"Cor Baby That's Really Free" and a sizable live audience. Polydor mistook
Otway's unusual gymnastics for talent and signed him to a deal that these
days would be worth close to a million. True to form and with acts just as
fascinating and painful, the vast fortune was reduced to a large overdraft
in a mere nine months. A heady mix of blind ambition and rank incompetence
has kept this microstar shining for almost two decades but his optimism
has never faltered, and over time, only the word "young" has had to be
dropped from that "promising career". Otway's attempts at achieving
further chart success are interesting to say the least. There was the
competition: Amongst the copies of "Frightened And Scared", three just had
the backing track on them. If the copy you purchased did not have John's
voice on it - he would come to your house, stand between your stereo
speakers, and add the vocals live. However, although his particularly wild
act was often admired in the atmosphere of a punk rock venue, the thought
of having this wild loony leaping up and down on your living room
furniture and swinging from the curtains was too much even for many avid
Otway fans who preferred the idea of going to see him rather than him
coming to see them. You can also see John acting the uncoordinated,
unsuccessful wally (a part he created himself) in Supergran, Forever
Green, Heartbeat and numerous adverts including R Whites Lemonade,
Bradford and Bingley Building Society and Irn Bru. In 1993 John decided to
celebrate his 2,000th gig at The London Astoria and an astonishing 2,500
people turned up. Two years later, he was chosen by Weetabix to sing
Delilah on their current TV advertising campaign. It was released and made
183 in the charts. John has never quite lived up to the bill as
"Rock'n'Roll's Greatest Failure" simply because this engaging, witty and
compulsive performer will entertain you as nobody as ever done before.
Highly recommended!! £5.50 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113648026
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue

Sun 13 - CHRIS WHILE AND JULIE MATTHEWS " An act that only comes along
once in a blue moon" - City Life. In 1997, already leading members of The
Albion Band, Chris & Julie left after their escalation and increasing
success as a duo on the international stage. Firstly in 1995 touring
Canada as The Women of Albion and in 1996 in the all-female supergroup
Daphne's Flight which included Christine Collister, Helen Watson and
Melanie Harrold. Their songwriting partnership is well-established with
Barbara Dickson, Frances Black and Collister already covering their
material. Multi-instrumentalist Julie has been compared to Richard
Thompson and Mary Chapin Carpenter (who she supported at Her Majesty's
Theatre, London) and her songs have been covered by Fairport Convention
and Mary Black (Thorn Upon The Rose). She has also been producing the
phenomenal blues/jazz singer Helen Watson. Folk Roots wrote of Chris
While, "She learns from many, takes from few and comes away her own
woman". A sense of fun belies her dedication, unique guitar style and
reputation as a singer's singer. Her songs have been covered by other
artists including the Nashville award winning blue grass singer Kathy
Chiavola. Chris has three solo albums, 'Look at me now', the beautiful 'In
the Big Room' and the long awaited 'Still on fire / By Request'. Ticket
details available soon.

Mon 28 - SAMAID 2000, ACTS TO BE CONFIRMED And what better way to spend a
Bank Holiday Monday than listening to live music, acoustic and electric,
at Fibbers? Following on from 98's immensely successful fundraiser for The
Samaritans, here's another chance to smooth your passage through the
pearly gates by doing your bit for charidee. Donations during the day, £3
at night. LOcal acts interested in performing should, in the first
instance, contact Rachel on 07730 912246.

Thu 31 - THE LOOP - TRIBUTE TO RORY GALLAGHER Rory Gallagher 1948 -1995.
Irish blues-rocker. No pretension, just a flannel shirt, blue jeans, an
old beat-up '61 Fender Stratocaster, and a love of the blues. The young
Rory saw Melody Maker photographs of The Chris Barber Band touring with
Muddy Waters and Big Bill Broonzy, became fascinated by the blues and when
the Stones came to Cork he vividly remembered Brian Jones' skill as a
guitarist, "It was the first time I'd seen anyone playing the slide
guitar. A very underrated musician." Gallagher had a habit of doing it his
own way, regardless of convention, in an age when rock was frowned upon.
His devotion to the blues never wavered as he discovered Chuck Berry,
Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy and Woody Guthrie through Lonnie Donegan.
Other influences were Eddie Cochran and Jimmy Reed as a young Gallagher
listened to Radio Luxembourg at night, and tuned in to jazz and blues on
the American Forces networks. After forming Taste in 1966 who supported
the ill-fated "supergroup" Blind Faith and split after 1970's Isle Of
Wight Festival, he went solo and '72's "Live! In Europe" went platinum
earning him "Musician of the Year" Award, also. His bassist of twenty one
years, Gerry McAvoy, still plays regularly at Fibbs with Nine Below Zero
and drummer Ted McKenna has appeared here also with The Sensational Alex
Harvey Band. Gallagher had acquired the status of a top-class blues
guitarist and this long-haired crusader led the way for '70s youth,
hauling a battered Stratocaster, a bass player, drummer and minimal road
crew across the European festival circuit but, in 1994, fell seriously ill
and died in June of the next year. Thousands lined the streets of Cork and
millions mourned the passing of one of the greatest ever blues musicians.
European tribute The Loop, first formed to showcase material by the likes
of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dave Spector, Monti Amundsen, Gravy and Sonny Boy
Williamson, have been performing Rory tribute concerts since 1997 and
recently toured Ireland to great acclaim. £5 advance - tickets available
ONLINE:http://www.fibbers.co.uk/cgi-bin/tickets.cgi?performance=113600424
or from our Ticketline on 01904 466149 or from the venue


January at The Blues Bar

Sun 21 - FOUR DAY HOMBRE An essential Sunday afternoon gig and in a couple
of year's time when this act is flipping enormous you'll be able to say
you were here. Variously described as alternative country to REM plays
Massive Attack, their two guitars, two lead vocals, bass, drums, keyboards
and decks combine in a glorious noise of melody, sweat and emotion. Not
content with a hundred gigs last year, Radio 1 Evening Session airplay and
being described by one London promoter as "one of the few Northern bands
that is easily recognisable on the London circuit", they also achieved the
Independent's "Hot 5" Tickets Recommendation for their London debut.
Supports with JJ72, Seafood, The Frames, Chuck Prophet and Baby Bird as
well as constant gigging have earned them a huge following and brilliant
reviews as well as offers of a London residency and the main support on a
One Little Indian national tour. With two CDs on sale, talk of a single
release later in the year and continual touring it seems the only thing
holding fdH back is lack of hours in a day. Highly recommended,
life-affirming, essential.

Mon 22 - JAZZITUDE - EVERY MONDAY NIGHT Now a weekly residency, you can
expect a subtle blend of delicious jazz flavours old and new mixed with a
dash of hip-hop, drum'n'bass and dub. "Jazzitude is a creature endeavour
of musicians with free-style rapper DJs and horn players and a relaxed,
chilled night that will leave you fulfilled with vibes". Charm magazine
has this to say, "One of the most aurally pleasing things I have ever
heard". Recommended! (The picture you see accompanying this gig is just
part of the incredible hand-painted murals, courtesy Rick Duffield, on
most of the walls). Check out Everyfridaynight.com for further Harrogate
shenanigans (with a review of The Blues) as well as Charm for an
independent and irreverent look at the area's music scene and more.

Tue 23 - SING FOR TOFFY - EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT Er ... let's see, how to
describe this? OK - a local singer/songwriter called Toffy gets up with
his guitar and the rest of the world queues up to join in or play instead.
The night is quite anarchic, gets real busy and puts the rest of these
so-called open mic nights to shame simply because it has grown
organically. Which means it's good for you. Accompanying this gig is a
picture of folk legend Sir Martin Carthy when he played at The Blues last
year, but don't go thinking he turns up as well.

Sat 27 - DR BROWN'S BLUES BAND Groovy r'n'b from the North East's top
practitioners of this blood sport we call the blues. Drawing on influences
as diverse in their own field as Nine Below Zero, Sonny Boy Willamson and
Alexis Korner you can be sure of a roof-raising night of rip-roaring blues
and rock.

Sun 28 - THE JED THOMAS BAND PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON GIG. The
mighty Jed Thomas returns to The Blues Bar. Often touring Europe with his
acclaimed brand of heavily-influenced Rory Gallagher style of rock and
blues, Jed is nationally recognised as one of the leading lights in the
fight to keep the check-shirted Irishman's music and influence alive.


February at The Blues Bar

Sun 04 - BLUE RINSE - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON GIG! Fem-fronted
originals and covers act including material by the likes of Skunk Anansie,
Alanis Morrisette, Blondie, Garbage and Republica.

Sun 11 - DR BROWN'S - DUO PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON GIG. A scaled
down semi-acoustic version of the classic North East outfit Dr Brown's
Blues Band. Drawing on classic blues influences such as Big Bill Broonzy,
John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters here's a great chance to sit back on a
Sunday afternoon, stare out on to The Stray and wallow in great blues from
the soul.

Sun 18 - ASHLEY REAKS + The Saint Adolph Ring - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN
AFTERNOON GIG. A chance to scramble about inside the head of, without
doubt, Harrogate's strangest and probably most talented resident. Ashley
Reaks, the brains and bass behind the legendary 70s tribute act Roger
Scorpio and The Children of Love, tour musician and confidante of the
incredible Francis Dunnery (It Bites) and, latterly, the inspiration,
frontman and co-writer (with Jimmy Dickinson ex-Little Angels) of Younger
Younger 28s - checkout their album "Soap" - inspirational Northern
piss-take 80s disco. Ashley's latest CD "Itchy Circus Odour" is on sale
now featuring hit singles "Bobby Clonk", "Tony Potato" and "A Packet of
Straps". It's all John Hegley-isms on LSD as well as deep poetry, primal
pain noises and daftness with fellow musicians/partners-in-crime Rob
Bentley (acoustic/vox), Victoria Dalgleish (glockenspiel/vox), Mark
Woolnough (keys/bleeps/programming) and father and son brass team Ian and
Tom Peak (sax/clarinet/flute/trumpet). The Bedfordshire Times & Citizen
said it was "an uneasy marriage of the sexual moans of Valerie Singleton
and the melancholy lullabies of Saracen from Gladiators". Ashley will be
appearing at this year's Edinburgh Festival.

Sat 24 - DR BROWN'S BLUES BAND

Sun 25 - SORBET + Fuse + Atomic 55 - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON GIG.
We're always open all day and night for the best laid-back atmosphere in
town and this is the area's original and longest established non-formula
Amsterdam-style (without the "other" menu!) cafe bar. If you're taking a
trip to The Blues Bar for the first time, head down the main road in to
the town centre (with The Stray on your left) and turn left opposite The
Cenotaph but BEFORE the pedestrian crossing! "Bettys" is on this corner,
as well. This is THE funkiest, coolest little bar around - imitated by all
but matched by none. Check out Everyfridaynight for more Harrogate
shenanigans and an independent review of our humble abode as well as Charm
for Yorkshire's best in-depth, independent (and irreverent!) live music
coverage.


March at The Blues Bar

Sun 04 - MAGIC BOB (Afternoon)

Sun 11 - DARWIN (Afternoon)

Sun 18 - ASHLEY REAKS + The Bombay Trance Band(Afternoon)

Sun 25 - THE JED THOMAS BAND (Afternoon)

Sat 31 - DR BROWN'S BLUES BAND


April at The Blues Bar

Sun 01 - SLIDE - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON GIG. An acoustic band
from Leeds playing a mixture of traditional songs and tunes
(Celtic/English/American), covers (Richard Thompson, Show of Hands, Woody
Guthrie, Pentangle etc.) and original material. Their range of instruments
speaks for itself, but Slide are not about eclecticism or virtuosity, just
good Celtic roots music, filtered though 50 years of backbeat, and
presented in a refreshing, accessible style that should delight
non-folkies just as easily as it satisfies the die-hard trad fan. They
have a distinctive fresh sound and style somewhere between folk,
bluegrass, rock and pop that is uniquely its own.

Sun 08 - THE KING IVORY BAND - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERNOON GIG. This
stylish r'n'b band (remember when the term "rhythm and blues" really meant
something instead of Destiny's Child or The Sugababes??!!) has already
appeared on Radio 2's Paul Jones Show and features lead vocalist and
multi-instrumentalist Chris Smithers - who once upon a time wrote songs
and played in a band which went on to become quite famous …. We're always
open all day and night for the best laid-back atmosphere in town and this
is the area's original and longest established non-formula Amsterdam-style
(without the "other" menu!) cafe bar. If you're taking a trip to The Blues
Bar for the first time, head down the main road in to the town centre
(with The Stray on your left) and turn left opposite The Cenotaph but
BEFORE the pedestrian crossing! "Bettys" is on this corner, as well. This
is THE funkiest, coolest little bar around - imitated by all but matched
by none. Check out Everyfridaynight for more Harrogate shenanigans and an
independent review of our humble abode as well as Charm for Yorkshire's
best in-depth, independent (and irreverent!) live music coverage.

Sun 15 - ASHLEY REAKS + The Fo