9.29°C This editorial currently features in the January 2011 issue of The Colchester Circle, available throughout the town right now.
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Here are just some of the events taking place this month that you can go to, safe in the knowledge of hearing some great music.
Crowbar, the undisputed heavyweight champions of the New Orleans sludge sound, open their UK tour at Colchester Arts Centre on 13 January. Their music was labelled “doom-core” by the European press – a tag the band are more than happy with. More than 20 years have passed since they formed in Louisiana, and in that time, they’ve released eight full-length albums, the second of which sold over 100,000 copies. Their new album, Sever The Wicked Hand, is released on 8 February. Personally, I love the fact that their videos for All I Had (I Gave) and Existence Is Punishment were aired on Beavis and Butt-Head.
At the time of writing, this gig at Headgate Theatre was still to be confirmed, but here’s hoping it comes together for Saturday 15 January. The monthly AcoustiCity night is set to welcome back the one and only Jon Otway. As many of you know, I work in PR, and I genuinely admire the publicity side of Otway. Grassroots engagement is vital for an effective campaign, and Jon was mastering it long before Facebook and Twitter made it easier. In 1999, his fans voted Beware Of The Flowers – a B-side from 1978 – to seventh place as the Nation’s Favourite Song Lyric. The line “Beware Of The Flowers ’Cause I’m Sure They’re Going To Get You, Yeh” ranked higher than anything by Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen. In 2002, his supporters again rallied to grant his 50th birthday wish of a “second hit”, pushing Bunsen Burner to number nine in the charts and earning him a Top of the Pops appearance, 24 years after his Old Grey Whistle Test debut. Don’t miss this cult hero if he makes it to town.
On Thursday, 27 January, Octane OK from Birmingham play The Twist. The hotly tipped pop-rock outfit give Essex fans a chance to catch them live before heading out on a February tour that includes the O2 Academies in Islington, Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and Manchester. To date they’ve shared stages with Kill Hannah, My Passion, Attack! Attack!, Saving Aimee, The Twang and Aiden’s Will Francis, building a strong reputation along the way. Their debut single Take Take was released last summer, followed by Fly Again, with a new single and video due in February.
Looking ahead to 2011, I genuinely believe we’re in for a strong year in Colchester. Established venues such as the Arts Centre, Sub Zero at the University of Essex, The Bull and The Twist continue to bring in touring acts while giving local bands valuable opportunities. Tin Pan Alley promises live music every night of the week, and bars like Trotters, V and Twisters have worked hard to establish themselves as key spots for showcasing new talent. And, of course, we’ll be back with another Free Festival later in the year.
Ultimately, though, it’s the wealth of talent in Colchester that makes it all worthwhile. It would be fantastic if 2011 became the year another local act added their name to the town’s musical history as a major success – it’s been a long time since Blur happened.
For more information, visit www.thecolchestercircle.co.uk.
