Worcester Music Forum

Well they've been going five years so only right and proper to pay another overdue call to the Cellar Bar in Worcester's Foregate Street for the 11:47 club's big birthday bash. They call themselves the biggest clique in town and it's where the local great and good come to exchange a few impromptu moments of a Tuesday night.

Pete Austin and Flo Rowland opened up proceedings with their always pleasing melodic solo renditions, swiftly followed by the wonderfully off-beat ska-popsters The Donns with their hummable numbers like 'Girl Don't Want Me' and 'Home Truths'.

I wondered what had happened to Meteor Street of late - turns out they've morphed into two new outfits - Ziggurat (crazy circus cartoon rock apparently) and tonight's incarnation The Shambolics - who combine stoner rock with some stylophone scratchings - interesting!

Good to see George Clarke back from China - also Adam of Zebedy Rays psyching himself up for the Noztock and Worcester Festivals. Sight of the night though had to be Rob of Meg's shirt - sparkly or what - there's a picture on the website if you can handle it folks! Cue then the Kiddy foursome with their 'greatest hits' set of 'Chips', 'A Song For' and their own take on 'Virginia Plain' - ok by me guys!

Rachel of Thick As Thieves has now teamed up with Blue Radio and they've got a new Sunday residency at the Chestnut Tree - more of that in a bit

Big credits to James Perry for organizing the 11:47 Club - also for persuading local heroes And What Will Be Left Of Them? to round off a night of fun and frivolities with a clatterpopping grande finale - woo-woo!

There's usually a good feel to the atmosphere at The Gun in Worcester's Newtown Road and no exception again last Saturday for another of Siani Driver's feelgood promotions - as always kicking off with hardworking local ska-popsters The Donns with their always enjoyable but sometimes risqué set of jangly foot-tappers.

Always good to see a new young band hit the scene and my first impressions of Heroes Of Hanoi are of a Corals-ish outfit with a hatful of original rocking but well-thought-out numbers who can only improve with time - definitely watch this space!

I think Hereford's gone slightly on hold for the moment - with festivals like Nozstock, The Big Chill, Dubstock and The Jam Stand upcoming - so Worcester can look forward to seeing acts such as Dandelion Killers, Tastyhead and We Do Kung Fu around town in the next few weeks. Tonight though was another visit of awesome Bromyard rockers SmokeStack - I can't get enough of this outfit nowadays but make your own mind up when they open the Worcester Festival!

Also taking up semi-permanent residency in Worcester at the moment are Stourbridge's BSN[4:20] 'Because everyone knows our songs' says frontman Matt - he's spot on you know as ditties like 'Leaving Home' and 'Plant A Seed' are great bellow-a-long numbers with the heartwarming feel of Toasted Egg Sandwich at the Ross Unintentional a few years back. Great to see Dan and Kieran of Cobweb Dilemmas lending their vocals to 'Student Life' - I'll catch you soon guys!

I mentioned earlier the new club night at the Chestnut Tree in Worcester on alternate Sundays - well I eventually arrived after biting my nails to the quick watching a certain tennis match - Stu Matthews and Flo Rowland accepted my excuse with good grace but enough time left to catch the enjoyable jangly sounds of Blue Radio featuring Rachel of Thick As Thieves - I think I might just pop along next weekend - can't be too careful you know!