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Sound Advice

There’s a host of summer festival line-ups that have just been announced which include…

Rebellion, Blackpool punk festival takes place at The Winter Gardens over 7-10 August. Among the four stage acts playing are: Cock Sparrer, SLF, 4 Skins, Cockney Rejects, Bad Manners, (Andy Scott’s) The Sweet, The Rezillos, [spunge], The Crack, The Dickies, The Business, Neville Staple, Goldblade, Runnin Riot and Sonic Boom Six. For ticket, full rosta of acts and other details www.rebellionfestivals.com

The Levellers’ Beautiful Days Festival takes place from 15-17 August in Devon and headlining the main stage this year are Squeeze, Supergrass and The Levellers. Other acts booked include Stiff Little Fingers, Alabama 3, Turin Brakes, Zion Train, Fishbone, Justin Sullivan and The Rhythmites, with more TBA soon. For info visit www.beautifuldays.org and www.myspace.com/beautiful
daysfestival

Guilfest 2008 is back at Stoke Park, Guilford over the weekend of 4-6 July and main acts include The Levellers, Kula Shaker, Blondie, Freak Power and From The Jam. For ticket and other information go to www.guilfest.co.uk

Carling Weekender in Leeds and Reading over the August Bank Holiday/IoW scooter rally weekend have announced The Killers, The Fratellis, Editors, Dirty Pretty Things, Dropkick Murphys, Babyshambles (if they show up!) and Manic Street Preachers among the acts performing, book advance tickets online at www.festivalrepublic.com

Madness are rapidly filling their 2008 diary, no doubt in preparation of their forthcoming album, with some festival dates both home and abroad. You can catch them at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona on 20 June, Newbury racecourse on 11 July, Sandown racecourse on 7 August and Newmarket on 8 August, and for the really keen tickets have just gone on sale for Madness at the London O2 Arena on 19 December!

Also of note is that the Madness musical, Our House is due to make a return this year as a touring show. It will apparently play at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 29 May to 21 June 2008 and then tour the UK (dates STC) until April 2009. For more Madness related info visit www.myspace.com/madnessofficial or www.madness.co.uk

Still on a Madness vein, check out a new act called Dance Brigade, as revealed in Scootering a couple of month’s ago. Dance Brigade features Lee ‘Kix’ Thompson from Madness with Jennie Bellestar among others, and a listen to their recently formed MySpace website reveals some very interesting ska related tunes, one of which features Double Barrel legend, Dave Barker. All well worth checking out as is the tip to watch this space for details of any likely releases or live performances.

Rumours have been circulating again recently that The Specials are to reform in the near future. This has no doubt been fuelled by various members appearing together on stage over the last 12 months (Terry and Lynval with Lily Allen at Glastonbury and with the Dub Pistols at Guilfest for example), Jerry Dammers is currently DJing with Neville Staple on his UK tour, and general rumours that full line-up shows have been ‘confirmed for the end of the year’. In a recent interview with the BBC Terry Hall said: “We're still trying to put dates together, but hopefully September/October time. We need to spend the summer rehearsing. I think it's taken me 30 years to realise we could do it really well,” and added if they were to reform they’d have to: “Do it with dignity or don't do it at all.” Our inside source has suggested that there’s nothing concrete to reveal as yet.

London’s Jazz Cafe in Camden has a number of acts you may enjoy, including The Skatalites on 1-2 May, Jazz Jamaica on the 4th and Gregory Isaacs on 18th and 19th. www.jazzcafelive.com

Wellerbration takes place on 25 May at Land Rover Social Club in Solihull, West Midlands. Live acts are The Jam drc, John Bracko (acoustic) and Small Fakers. It’s a fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care, is celebrating Paul Weller’s 50th birthday and it’s in association with Heartlands Scooter Club. Advance tickets are £10, doors open at 6pm – call Brendan on 01212 444643 for more details.
Soul Of North Stafford Records’ recent four singles released on one day hit the spot with all releases from Novellos, Raphaels, The Title and This Is Seb Clarke occupying top five indie chart placings. In fact This Is Seb Clarke’s Rock And Roll Alimo Part 7 knocked The Futureheads off the top slot and the Novellos have got themselves a radio session with Steve Lamaq. The next SONS showcase in Stoke is another set for 2 August. For band information visit www.thesoulofnorthstaffsltd.co.uk

Plenty of advance notice for news that the Stray Cats are coming over in September and can be found on the 10th in London, 11th in Manchester and 12th in Glasgow.

Back in London and the Hope Not Hate 2008 concert takes place at Brixtom Academy on 30 April featuring Alabama 3, Misty In Roots, The Levellers, The Thirst and Tom Robinson all on the bill.

The Lurkers have a new CD album, Fried Brains due out imminently, there’s a ‘best of’ collection out soon from Guitar Gangsters titled Razor Cuts and The Chords’ Complete Mod Singles is set for a late April release, all via good ol’ Captain Oi! Visit www.captainoi.com for mail order and other information.

Academy in the UK happens in Liverpool and Birmingham on 3-4 May with the Buzzcocks, The Damned, Thee Rezillos, Mad Sin, The Beat among the main acts, and support including GBH, UK Subs, Spunge and The Grit.

Fans of Beck can rejoice in the fact that his Odelay album has just been re-released by Universasl, now as a double CD Deluxe Edition compile by the artist himself, digitally remastered and with 20 rarities including two Dust Brothers produced tracks. Nice…

Also on it’s way is a five CD box set from The Pogues containing loads of unreleased and live stuff, Peel Sessions, demos, and of course all their hits.

Fans of Edwyn Collins will have to be quick to catch his UK tour which runs from 20 to 29 April and from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Northumbria, Mancheswter, Leeds and London’s Shepherds Bush.

Another quickie, there’s an art exhibition during April at AC Gallery in Huddersfield, featuring David Barrow’s Northern Soul and Wigan Casino paintings, including the renowned I’m On My Way, closing date is 26 April.

Angelo Starr & The Team have just announced a couple of live dates which are in Minehead on 27 April, Rochester Castle on 16 July and Watchet Festival on 23 August.

Keep updated with Northern Soul happenings in the Cambridgeshire/East Anglia area by visiting www.soulmotion.co.uk there are lots of regular and one-offs ongoing in that region of the UK.

York Soul Club have a Northern Soul night on the first Saturday of every month at York RUFCC and cricket social club with resident DJs plus guests. £4.50 on the door, check www.yorksoulclub.com for more information.

30 May sees the Stormin' Soul Allnighter take place in Barnsley’s Citrus Rooms. Call Shaun on 07811 228733 for full run down and tickets.

The 15th Cleethorpes Weekender takes place over the weekend of 6-8 June, with a top DJ line-up. For details of this and and 100 Club allnighter dates visit www.6ts.info

The next couple of allnighters at The Marrs Bar in Worcester are 25 May and 24 August featuring resident DJs Dave Rimmer, Sean Chapman and Pete Robinson, plus guests.

Talk of The South Soul club’s seventh anniversary is on 14 June at Luton Rugby Club where Sean Chapman and Pete Tebbutt are joined by top name and up and coming guests. Get there early as it always packs out, email talkofthesouth@hotmail.com for advance ticket information.

Oxford Soul Club’s next bash takes place on 28 June at Empress Ball Room, Romanway Oxford. Email mike.mazurek@btinternet.com for the full information and details.

Next allnighter at Kings Hall, Stoke is 19 July with some of Northern Soul’s premiership DJs on the decks in two rooms. Ticket hotline 08704 460196 or visit www.goldsoul.com for more news on arguably the biggest allnighter in the UK.

Andy & Sargie

• MUCH more in this issue of Scootering!

• On to this month's recommended listening chart >