Devizine

Swindon Palestine Solidarity Host Summer Fete Swindon Palestine Solidarity will be hosting a summer fete on Saturday 23rd August 11am - 4pm at The Broadgreen Community Centre, Salisbury St, Swindon SN1 2AN.... Bring the family to float a boat for Gaza, send a postcard to Gaza, or play ring toss, ball toss or knock down alley, knocking down injustice one throw at a time! There will be food, Palestinian embroidery, Arabic calligraphy, face painting and henna.

Swindon Palestine Solidarity Host Summer Fete

Swindon Palestine Solidarity will be hosting a summer fete on Saturday 23rd August 11am - 4pm at The Broadgreen Community Centre, Salisbury St, Swindon SN1 2AN.... Bring the family to float a boat for Gaza, send a postcard to Gaza, or play ring toss,…

Strangers Frontman Hugh Cornwell Coming To Cheese & Grain Image: John Kisch Legendary songwriter and original Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell has announced a run of UK dates this November, accompanied by special guests The Courettes, and it includes Frome’s Cheese & Grain on Saturday 15th….. Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl, Always The Sun... sound familiar? All big hits, all great songs, all penned and performed by Hugh Cornwell, the songwriter behind the legendary early eighties punk band The Stranglers. 

Strangers Frontman Hugh Cornwell Coming To Cheese & Grain

Image: John Kisch Legendary songwriter and original Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell has announced a run of UK dates this November, accompanied by special guests The Courettes, and it includes Frome’s Cheese & Grain on Saturday 15th…..…

Talk in Code Announces New Single; More Than Friends Atmospherically anthemic and reinforced with that infectious rhythmic groove we’ve come to love Talk in Code for, More Than Friends is chockfull of it, and it’s their latest single, to be released on Friday 22nd August 2025 via Regent Street Records…. Even if you’re accounted for now, happily married and matured like a fine wine, the recollections of a blossoming relationship and the eagerness versus apprehension it provokes will never be pushed down a dark alley of your memory lane; successful or epic fail, they live inside the mind forever, I’m afraid!

Talk in Code Announces New Single; More Than Friends

Atmospherically anthemic and reinforced with that infectious rhythmic groove we’ve come to love Talk in Code for, More Than Friends is chockfull of it, and it’s their latest single, to be released on Friday 22nd August 2025 via Regent Street…

Female of the Species Return for the Last Time “More deadlier than the male” is my usual corny pun for this, but if supergroup Female of the Species returns to Melksham this September, it looks like the last time I’ll be able to use it…. September 2017, when Devizine had merely eight articles published, I previewed a charity fundraising event in Melksham, The Female of the Species, and I’ve loved it and supported it since.

Female of the Species Return for the Last Time

“More deadlier than the male” is my usual corny pun for this, but if supergroup Female of the Species returns to Melksham this September, it looks like the last time I’ll be able to use it…. September 2017, when Devizine had merely eight articles…

Crowned Lightbringer; New Single From Ruby Darbyshire Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! So good the Kaiser Chiefs wrote a song about her, or if not, at least brilliant enough to silence the most rowdy venue into an utter state of jawdropping awe! A video of a new tune, a metaphorical sea shanty, Crowned Lightbringer teasing us for a forthcoming EP, is out today….. A diary jam-packed, gigging across the South West to Scotland and beyond, her natural talent is off the scale, and deservedly gaining attention.

Crowned Lightbringer; New Single From Ruby Darbyshire

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! So good the Kaiser Chiefs wrote a song about her, or if not, at least brilliant enough to silence the most rowdy venue into an utter state of jawdropping awe! A video of a new tune, a metaphorical sea shanty, Crowned…

Wiltshire Music Centre Announces First New Season Under New Leadership Wiltshire Music announces a new season for Autumn Winter: and the first under the new leadership of Daniel Clark, Artistic Director and Sarah Robertson, Executive Director…. Since first opening in 1997, Wiltshire Music Centre has been a musical hub, bringing the best in live performances to the area as well as providing a home for local orchestras, choirs and music groups.

Wiltshire Music Centre Announces First New Season Under New Leadership

Wiltshire Music announces a new season for Autumn Winter: and the first under the new leadership of Daniel Clark, Artistic Director and Sarah Robertson, Executive Director…. Since first opening in 1997, Wiltshire Music Centre…

Announcing The Top Ten Nominees of Wiltshire Music Awards 2025 Yeah, I hear you! An update on our inaugural Wiltshire Music Awards is overdue. So my partner on this monumental project and the guy doing all the work while I take the credit, Eddie Prestidge of Wiltshire Music Events, has taken off his shoes and socks and provided a top ten shortlist for each category….drum roll, and perhaps a generous spray of Febreze!

Announcing The Top Ten Nominees of Wiltshire Music Awards 2025

Yeah, I hear you! An update on our inaugural Wiltshire Music Awards is overdue. So my partner on this monumental project and the guy doing all the work while I take the credit, Eddie Prestidge of Wiltshire Music Events, has taken off…

Devizes Rising Star Jess Self in Final for West End Kids If you’ve seen Jess Self performing at the Wharf Theatre, singing at the FullTone Festival or elsewhere I’m certain you’ll agree with us; Jess has that star quality which lights up the stage….. At 13 Jess won Vernon Kay’s Talent Nation, studied performing arts at Trowbridge’s Stagecoach and has appeared in many productions including Devizes Music Academy's Six:Teen, The Railway Children and lead roles in more…

Devizes Rising Star Jess Self in Final for West End Kids

If you’ve seen Jess Self performing at the Wharf Theatre, singing at the FullTone Festival or elsewhere I’m certain you’ll agree with us; Jess has that star quality which lights up the stage….. At 13 Jess won Vernon Kay’s Talent Nation,…

FullTone Festival 2026: A New Home It's been a wonderful summer's weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited to cover Devizes Scooter Rally, Trowbridge Festival and My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad festival in Swindon as well! I either need cloning technology or more people willing to write for peanuts; apply within, monkeys! What I did discover on the Devizes Green was the usual exceptionally high standards of entertainment, amidst the equally usual quality of sound and light engineering.

FullTone Festival 2026: A New Home

It's been a wonderful summer's weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited to cover Devizes Scooter Rally, Trowbridge Festival and My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad festival in Swindon as well! I…

Devizes Scooter Rally; Best Yet, Ranking Full Stop! If there's been hearsay and ballyhoo about the date clash of two major but individually different events in Devizes this week, I hold my hand up for stirring the pot, yet try to attend both and find fair balance. But at the dawning of them, as magical as the FullTone Festival is, it cannot be argued, Devizes Scooter Rally was the success story this weekend…..

Devizes Scooter Rally; Best Yet, Ranking Full Stop!

If there's been hearsay and ballyhoo about the date clash of two major but individually different events in Devizes this week, I hold my hand up for stirring the pot, yet try to attend both and find fair balance. But at the dawning of them, as…

FullTone Gets Underway With Devizes Music Academy Showcase and Something About Jamie Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,  and finalised Friday night with their recent musical There’s Something About Jamie…. If today the stage is filled with the sixty-plus piece FullTone Orchestra and guest singers, Friday night was all about Jamie ....or something about Jamie! A contemporary set musical akin to Billy Elliott, save tap dancing is replaced by a desire to become a drag queen.

FullTone Gets Underway With Devizes Music Academy Showcase and Something About Jamie

Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,  and finalised Friday night with their recent musical There’s Something…

Static Moves Crawling Back With Debut Single In a way it’s more intriguing when a cover band sends an original song than one already producing originals. For if original bands can sometimes be critical of the desire of pub venues to value cover bands over them, yeah, your average cover band is heeding the call for their bread and butter, but are often equally passionate about music, and turn to recording some of their own wares.

Static Moves Crawling Back With Debut Single

In a way it’s more intriguing when a cover band sends an original song than one already producing originals. For if original bands can sometimes be critical of the desire of pub venues to value cover bands over them, yeah, your average cover band is…

Salisbury Musicians Record Fundraising Single in Memory of Thom Belk A feast of Salisbury musicians have recorded the single Edge of Reason, a powerful tribute to the irreplaceable Thom Belk, a champion of Salisbury’s music scene who sadly passed away at the end of 2023.... “Thom’s passion for local talent lit up this city, and this song is our way of keeping that flame burning bright,” explained Salisbury punkers Lump, organisers and main artists of the single.

Salisbury Musicians Record Fundraising Single in Memory of Thom Belk

A feast of Salisbury musicians have recorded the single Edge of Reason, a powerful tribute to the irreplaceable Thom Belk, a champion of Salisbury’s music scene who sadly passed away at the end of 2023.... “Thom’s passion for…

Devizes Food & Drink Festival Programme of Events Released Devizes Food & Drink Festival launched their 2025 programme of events today. Running from Saturday 20th to the 28th September, the Box Office opens online and at Devizes Books on August 11th; can you wait that long or is your tummy rumbling already?! The free Street Food and Artisan Market will take place in the Devizes Market Place on Saturday 20th, opening the festival.

Devizes Food & Drink Festival Programme of Events Released

Devizes Food & Drink Festival launched their 2025 programme of events today. Running from Saturday 20th to the 28th September, the Box Office opens online and at Devizes Books on August 11th; can you wait that long or is your tummy…

Strange Days Festival Brings Brian Blessed and Henge to The Barge on HoneyStreet in September With your standard festivals two-to-a-penny, some consisting of not much more than a bloke with a guitar in a pub selling undercooked and overpriced hotdogs, folk are hunting for the unique and often quirky exceptions. Accept The Barge at HoneyStreet always goes the extra mile as a fact. With camping and weekly events so good it's like a little festival there most of the time, and their homemade HoneyFest still looming on our calendar this September one caught both my eyes and ears; it's not just unique, it's otherworldly…..

Strange Days Festival Brings Brian Blessed and Henge to The Barge on HoneyStreet in September

With your standard festivals two-to-a-penny, some consisting of not much more than a bloke with a guitar in a pub selling undercooked and overpriced hotdogs, folk are hunting for the unique and often…

Schools Out For Summer: Here’s Some Things to Do in Wiltshire! Schools out for summer, yelled a man called Alice, but that was in 1972. We're about what you can do THIS school summer holiday with those little munchkins; here's what we've found... Please note as soon as we publish this we'll be bombarded with events we have missed; at least that's what usually happens! So, bookmark this article as it will update, as will our event calendar, as soon-(ish) as they come to us!

Schools Out For Summer: Here’s Some Things to Do in Wiltshire!

Schools out for summer, yelled a man called Alice, but that was in 1972. We're about what you can do THIS school summer holiday with those little munchkins; here's what we've found... Please note as soon as we publish this we'll be…

Devizes Dilemma: FullTone or Scooter Rally?! Contemplated headlining this “Clash of the Titans,” but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes can peacefully contain two major events on the same weekend, and, potentially, everyone comes up smiling because they attract different target audiences. But if the practicalities and ethos of both events differ enough for townsfolk to calculate a decision on which they'd prefer to attend, when you think about it there's also some striking similarities between the two….

Devizes Dilemma: FullTone or Scooter Rally?!

Contemplated headlining this “Clash of the Titans,” but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes can peacefully contain two major events on the same weekend, and, potentially, everyone comes up…

Goodbye to The Beanery but Hollychocs Lives On Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Café will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its opening in Poulshot, near Devizes…. Founded by award-winning chocolatier Holly Garner, Hollychocs has become a much-loved fixture in the local community, known not just for its handcrafted chocolates but for creating a warm, welcoming space for chocolate lovers to connect, indulge and experience the very best chocolate in the Southwest.

Goodbye to The Beanery but Hollychocs Lives On

Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Café will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its opening in Poulshot, near Devizes…. Founded by award-winning chocolatier Holly…

Right Here, Right Now; Fatboy Slim Tribute at Salisbury Fundraiser A smidgen fuddled over a tribute to a DJ, but Fatboy Slim is no ordinary DJ, he’s a superstar, constructing hits from samples and remixes, rams Brighton beach and is loved for largin’ it. So, when Salisbury Live and The Sounds of Salisbury radio get together for a live summer extravaganza at the city’s Victoria Park, you might fancy being right there, right then; Victoria Park, Salisbury on Saturday 16th August…..

Right Here, Right Now; Fatboy Slim Tribute at Salisbury Fundraiser

A smidgen fuddled over a tribute to a DJ, but Fatboy Slim is no ordinary DJ, he’s a superstar, constructing hits from samples and remixes, rams Brighton beach and is loved for largin’ it. So, when Salisbury Live and The Sounds of…

Park Farm; Mantonfest Came to Devizes! The first Park Farm Festival happened Saturday, it was fabulouso, and in some way Mantonfest came to Devizes; conveniently for me as I had to unfortunately miss Marlborough's gem a fortnight ago….. Weather and festival organisers aren't besties. Organisers quiveringly check forecasts months prior, usual concern being moisture. Daytime at the inaugural Park Farm Festival just outside Devizes, where they positioned a professional looking stage some distance between where punters took shelter in beer tents and sun-shaded tables, Southwest’s premier Chicago blues replicators, aptly named Chicago 9 blasted a wonderful set to distant onlookers whilst the zone between better resembled an African savanna where no man dare tread from fear of being frazzled!

Park Farm; Mantonfest Came to Devizes!

The first Park Farm Festival happened Saturday, it was fabulouso, and in some way Mantonfest came to Devizes; conveniently for me as I had to unfortunately miss Marlborough's gem a fortnight ago….. Weather and festival organisers aren't besties. Organisers…

Pitstop at Air Ambulance Fundraising Mini-festival at The Three Crowns Devizes  Rude to walk into an event sporting another event wristband but the welcome was friendly as ever at the Three Crowns in Devizes. It's mid-afternoon, Park Farm Festival's shuttle bus took me into town, cheekily I used it to poke my nose into the Air Ambulance fundraiser here, their first real multi-act day, I believe, save perhaps my 50th birthday, which if you remember any details of, you could always fill me in!

Pitstop at Air Ambulance Fundraising Mini-festival at The Three Crowns Devizes 

Rude to walk into an event sporting another event wristband but the welcome was friendly as ever at the Three Crowns in Devizes. It's mid-afternoon, Park Farm Festival's shuttle bus took me into town, cheekily I used…

Ann Liu Cannon’s Clever Rabbits Ann Liu Cannon is the Marlborough success story I hadn't heard of until yesterday; thanks to local promoter and frontman of the Vooz, Lee Mathews for the tip off! Her debut album  Clever Rabbits was released today, and it’s a must……. Brit Award winning Paul McCartney and Tom Jones producer Ethan Jones spotted Ann Liu performing at Camden's Spiritual Bar, leading her to a publishing deal with BMG.

Ann Liu Cannon’s Clever Rabbits

Ann Liu Cannon is the Marlborough success story I hadn't heard of until yesterday; thanks to local promoter and frontman of the Vooz, Lee Mathews for the tip off! Her debut album  Clever Rabbits was released today, and it’s a must……. Brit Award winning Paul…

Striking Photographic Portrait Exhibition Celebrates Five Years of Impactful Creative Work with Older People at Wiltshire Music Centre If you’ve popped into Wiltshire Music Centre recently; for a concert, workshop, screening or even a meeting, you might have noticed changes in our foyer: recorded music, the cafe-bar open at peak times during the day, and currently, a striking photographic exhibition of black and white portraits….. The ‘Men in Conversation’ exhibition presents portraits of members of the Trowbridge Creative Conversations Men’s Group, a creative arts and heritage group for men aged 65+ held in Trowbridge Library.

Striking Photographic Portrait Exhibition Celebrates Five Years of Impactful Creative Work with Older People at Wiltshire Music Centre

If you’ve popped into Wiltshire Music Centre recently; for a concert, workshop, screening or even a meeting, you might have noticed changes in our foyer: recorded…

Wendy James Tour Coming to Frome’s Cheese & Grain Photo credit: David Leigh Dodd Pioneers of the indie-rock sound which would lead us into the nineties, Transvision Vamp lead singer Wendy James has announced a UK tour in October in support of her recently released tenth solo album The Shape of History, which includes Frome’s Cheese & Grain….. Wendy will be accompanied on tour by a full band, featuring Transvision Vamp's bass player Dave Parsons, Jim Sclavunos from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds on drums and Alex Ward (Thurston Moore Group) on guitar.

Wendy James Tour Coming to Frome’s Cheese & Grain

Photo credit: David Leigh Dodd Pioneers of the indie-rock sound which would lead us into the nineties, Transvision Vamp lead singer Wendy James has announced a UK tour in October in support of her recently released tenth solo album The Shape of…

Henry Aldridge and Son to Move Into Devizes Old Town Hall Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector's items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes; a move which will see them return to their roots….. Alan Aldridge started Henry Aldridge and Son from the first floor of The Old Town Hall thirty-five years ago. They’re delighted to be coming home having completed the freehold purchase of the property.

Henry Aldridge and Son to Move Into Devizes Old Town Hall

Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector's items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes; a move which will see them return to their roots….. Alan Aldridge started Henry…

Live in Pewsey, at the First Oak-Fest Amidst another packed summer weekend's schedule laid that lovable large village Pewsey’s turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if it’s good enough for King Alfred….. The Royal Oak has filled a gap, hosting quality regular music nights under the production of Wiltshire Music Events, but this Saturday was the true test, transforming it into an inaugural carpark-festival, an icing on an already delicious lardy cake, though equally a learning curve.

Live in Pewsey, at the First Oak-Fest

Amidst another packed summer weekend's schedule laid that lovable large village Pewsey’s turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if it’s good enough for King Alfred….. The Royal Oak has filled a gap, hosting quality regular music nights under…

No Surprises Living in Devizes: June’s Hypermasculinity Speeding Solar Farming Rave Sinkhole Harold Wilson said, “a week in politics is a long time.” Lesser within local politics, but we’ve a month to lambast, so no messing about…. okay, maybe a little. With the promise to reduce satire to this monthly causerie, I’ve been biting my lip till sore… Calne Councillors for Rape campaign, Potterne Hates Solar, to a five- or six-million-pound “sinkhole,” in other words a Wiltshire councillor’s offshore account; it’s all been happening…...

No Surprises Living in Devizes: June’s Hypermasculinity Speeding Solar Farming Rave Sinkhole

Harold Wilson said, “a week in politics is a long time.” Lesser within local politics, but we’ve a month to lambast, so no messing about…. okay, maybe a little. With the promise to reduce satire to this…

International Reggae Day: Ten Reggae Songs You Might Not Know, But You Do…. 1st July marks International Reggae Day, and I want to jam it with you. Why? Because as something of a reggae connoisseur I cringed when someone once asked me if Eric Clapton or Bob Marley recorded I Shot The Sheriff originally. It didn’t deserve an answer! It occurred to me, going on this, old ravers with no idea who Max Romeo was until he sadly passed in April, and the amount of songs wrongly listed as being by Bob on YouTube, that your average Joe Bloggs doesn't know as much about reggae as they should!

International Reggae Day: Ten Reggae Songs You Might Not Know, But You Do….

1st July marks International Reggae Day, and I want to jam it with you. Why? Because as something of a reggae connoisseur I cringed when someone once asked me if Eric Clapton or Bob Marley recorded I Shot The Sheriff…

Free Charity Fundraising Festival at The Three Crowns Devizes With the Three Crowns being the liveliest pub in Devizes for some years now with live music every weekend and the Brewery Shop as a new neighbour, it seems sensible to upgrade the idea to a free Wadworth mini fundraising festival ....yay! On Saturday 12th July The Three Crowns will pull all stocks out, with a free mini-festival supporting Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Julia’s House.

Free Charity Fundraising Festival at The Three Crowns Devizes

With the Three Crowns being the liveliest pub in Devizes for some years now with live music every weekend and the Brewery Shop as a new neighbour, it seems sensible to upgrade the idea to a free Wadworth mini fundraising festival…

Supergrass Headline Frome Festival to Support Local Community Action Group Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group ‘People for Packsaddle’ who are fighting to save a much-loved local green space from development....... The Cheese and Grain made a last-minute announcement of the concert slated for Friday 11th July as part of the Festival, crashing their site with fans eager to find out more.

Supergrass Headline Frome Festival to Support Local Community Action Group

Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group ‘People for Packsaddle’ who are fighting to save a much-loved local green space from development....... The…