Blog Posts

JOSEPH KNIGHT + LAWRIE ILLINGWORTH and JACK'S GOT A PLAN at THE QUEENS HEAD,BELPER. JUNE 16th. £5.Doors at 8.00pm.

9/6/2017

Joseph Knight makes his long overdue debut at The Queens Head,Belper on Friday June 9th.
Living proof that Belper has indeed got talent,Joe first came to my attention at last year's Belper Goes Green Festival when an act scheduled for Sunday was suddenly forced to pull out. Saving our blushes,Joe took to the stage and impressed with the quality of his vocals and thoughtful songwriting.
Since then of course,Joe has gone on to headline many Midlands venues and his new EP 'Nervous' is evidence of just how far he has progressed.
Support comes from Lawrie Illingworth and Jack's Got a Plan who impressed when opening for Headsticks back in January. And what a night that was !
Tickets available at the venue from June 10th or contact mjones572@hotmail.co.uk.

PAYTRON SAINT and MOON BULLET at THE QUEENS HEAD,BELPER. JUNE 10th. £8/£6 concessions. Doors at 8.00pm.

27/5/2017

The two bands are of course linked by the presence on bass of Dave Sturt but that should not detract from the wealth of talent scattered throughout both line ups. For Paytron Saint brothers Nick and Joel Glynn-Davies are of course respected as serious songwriters while Joel's proficiency on a range of instruments is also remarkable. For Paytron Saint he is of course the drummer - apparently his main instrument.
For fans of Moon Bullet, the new line up with Gary Clarke on drums offers reassuring evidence that the latest incarnation continues to progress and impress with their quirky blend of ska-inflected psychedelic pop and if you were lucky enough to see both bands unveil their distinctive styles at the Weare Kunst Gallery in April you won't want to miss this one.
Tickets are available at the venue or contact mjones572@hotmail.co.uk.

FRACKING LICENSES GRANTED ACROSS AMBER VALLEY. FIGHT BACK ON MAY 26th. WINTER WILSON AT THE QUEENS HEAD,BELPER £8.Support from Sue MacFarlane. Doors at 8.00pm.

21/5/2017

This is serious. Ineos buy features in our local press concealing the devastation fracking has caused in Texas and Pennsylvania USA. Which is why Amber Valley Against Fracking has booked the UK's premier acoustic duo to to fund the fight back. While the incumbent MP openly champions fracking,I doubt if he even understands the havoc wreaked across the Marcellus Shale across the USA in terms of water pollution and methane gas release.
Support this one . You don't get too many acoustic duos with Guardian And Folk Roots **** reviews in this neck of the woods. Perennial festival and concert favourites Winter Wilson. Check out 'Cutting Free' and 'Ashes and Dust' albums.
Check with the venue for tickets or contact mjones572@hotmail.co.uk. Advance booking advised as capacity now limited to 60.

AMBER VALLEY AGAINST FRACKING PROUDLY PRESENT WINTER WILSON + SUPPORT at THE QUEENS HEAD, BELPER. FRIDAY MAY 26th . £8. Doors at 8.00pm.

12/5/2017

First and foremost, this is a benefit to raise funds and awareness about the very real threat of fracking to vast swathes of the East MIdlands. Probably one of the most unnecessary and polluting forms of fuel extraction ever dreamed up in Satan's Kitchen,licenses to frack have been granted across an area of land from Ripley to Matlock. Whatever the outcome on June 8th, this threat will not go away without opposition on the ground and that campaign is unlikely to be funded by lottery money.

Secondly however, this is an opportunity to grab a live performance by probably the finest acoustic duo in the realm. Since their 2013 return to full time touring and recording, two albums 'Cutting Free' and 'Ashes and Dust' have brought not only critical acclaim but a whole new audience. The secret to their appeal lies firstly in the vast range of Dave Wilson's writing. Tackling topics from maritime disasters,murder, WW1 and the joys of the Pregnancy Testing kit to the refugee crisis and the life of Jack London, Winter Wilson tackle a range beyond most performers. Secondly, their appeal lies in the power and range of Kip Winter's vocals. Jazz and classically trained,it is not your typical folk voice but instead one of the most distinctive and powerful instruments on the circuit.

Our own Sue Macfarlane will open this one and she has personal experience of what it's like to be on the front line against fracking.

Tickets are available at the venue in Chesterfield Road or can be reserved by contacting mjones572@hotmail.co.uk. Capacity is 60 so best to book early.

Stop press ! The line up now includes the bard of Derby, Danny Webber + Nick Glynn Davies.Joe Solo headlines at The Queens Head,Belper. May 12th. Admission free but donations of food and money to Hope for Belper. Doors at 8.00 pm.

6/5/2017

Hope for Belper runs our local food bank and every month more people including hardworking nurses resort to food banks to feed themselves and their families.

How can this be allowed to happen in the world's fifth largest economy ? Is austerity an economic necessity or a political choice ? Whatever your views, we cannot live with a world where children go to school hungry and we can make a difference with little acts of solidarity and community. This is how the world can change.

Joe Solo is a veteran of fifteen albums,broadcasting and writing. Championed by John Peel and Mike Harding and commanding respect within the music world from the likes of Billy Bragg and Attila the Stockbroker,Joe is a commanding performer. It takes a special kind of performer to get the whole crowd at Tolpuddle Festival on its feet but last year Joe did just that. A Woody Guthrie for our times perhaps.

Come along,sing along and make a difference.

BONFIRE RADICALS and ARGUABLY VENOMOUS MAMMALS at THE QUEENS HEAD,BELPER. FRIDAY MAY 5th. £8. Doors at 8.00pm.

22/4/2017

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If you were at the Dave Sturt gig in January you will already be acquainted with Andy Bole's impressive mastery of guitar,bouzouki and electrickery. Now he returns to The Queens Head as one sixth of Bonfire Radicals. Loosely described as a psychedelic folk rock band, the Radicals weave folk,jazz and world music into a glorious fusion of woodwind,Scottish fiddle and percussive world beats.
Seeing musical boundaries as just another fence to trample down, their live performances are already drawing rave reviews calling them 'a harmonious hotchpotch of sound'.
Supporting them, Arguably Venomous Mammals sees Nancy Ferret of currently resting Red Ruff make a return to the Queens Head. Cheerfully describing their sound as somewhere between Kate Bush and Motorhead, The Mammals have already made quite an impression beyond the local scene and to me there's more than a bit of Patti Smith in there.
An intriguing double bill and one to turn up early for.
Tickets are available behind the bar or contact mjones572@hotmail.co.uk.

LIVE AND LOCAL PRESENT AMADOU DIAGNE and YAKAR at BELPER RUGBY CLUB. THURSDAY 27th APRIL. £9 or £7.50 concession.

6/4/2017

Senegalese percussionist,guitarist and singer-songwriter Amadou Diagne brings the sound of West Africa to Belper Rugby Club. Together with his multi-talented band, he combines traditional West African music with infectious jazz and funk grooves which never fails to bring audiences to their feet.
A rare chance to catch a genuine global talent.
Tickets available from Oxfam Bookshop,Kings St or contact mjones572@hotmail.co.uk.

ANDY T + IBC, SOPHIE SPARHAM and ADIE SANDERS at THE QUEENS HEAD, BELPER. APRIL 22nd. £8.Doors at 8.00pm.

27/3/2017

Spot the connection between last month's guests ,Steve Ignorant's Slice of Life, and Andy T ? Well apart from sharing some memorable bills at The Queens Head over the past 4 years, Andy's first recordings were released by Crass Records. One of the legends of the anarcho-punk scene, Andy has performed and published his unique brand of performance poetry for over thirty years. Now backed by a band specialising in grooves redolent of early Joy Division, Andy headlines at The Queens Head for the first time in his own right. Uncompromising and fiercely original, an Andy T performance is utterly compelling and powerful. On this occasion, Andy is supported by local goodtime folk/rap heroes IBC, Derby favourite Sophie Sparham and singer-songwriter Adie Sanders. Almost a mini festival.

SAVE OUR NHS ! BENEFIT NIGHT. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24th. Sweet Liquorice, Annette Oakes and more. Free Admission. Donations welcome. Doors at 8.00pm.

18/2/2017

With our NHS and Social Care in crisis, it has never been more important to make our voices heard. Locally we stand to lose at least 535 beds - 395 in Acute Care, 85 in Community Hospitals and 35 in Mental Health Care - with the implications of hospital and ward closures.
However, campaigning and fundraising can be fun as is evident from the line up for this gig.
Sweet Liquorice are of course Tony Stark and Saskia Searle whose quality is rapidly gaining wider attention and Annette Oakes needs no introduction to anybody familiar with the local scene.
An evening therefore of words and music to lift the spirits, a few glasses and raise money to sustain the campaign to ensure the survival of our NHS in a time of crisis.

SEAN TAYLOR at THE QUEENS HEAD, BELPER. FRIDAY FEB 17th. £8. Support from Sweet Liquorice. Doors at 8.00pm.

30/1/2017

From Kilburn London to Austin Texas is just part of Sean Taylor's extraordinary musical pilgrimage. Barely into his thirties, Sean has already released eight albums and the latest 'Flood and Burn' has attracted more than usual attention. Featured on Radio Two by Huey Morgan, the album was awarded four stars by Mojo Magazine only for R2 to go one better and give it five. Recorded with such luminaries as Danny Thompson and Roscoe Beck ( musical director for the late Leonard Cohen) and produced by Mark Hellman feted for his work with Carole King among others, the album has been widely praised for its seamless fusion of folk, blues and jazz. 'A record that shows maturity,confidence,growth and an artist having the total freedom to be himself.'
Clearly unmissable, Sean is supported by Sweet Liquorice aka Tony Stark and Saskia so early arrival is recommended.
Tickets are available at the venue or contact mjones572@hotmail.co.uk.

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