YEAR REVIEW,
2015.

A look at 2015 at Esquires Bedford by Martin Stapleton.

With countless music venues still closing down at an alarming rate, we in Bedford are still down at a place that continues to put on gigs consistently, all throughout the year, often four days a week, plus of varying genres. Although not a particularly vintage year in my opinion, these were still enough exciting nights at Esquires to make people flock to the ‘old church,’ the following month by month look back is by no means a total definitive review. Juicebox Indie ran many showcase nights throughout 2015 and the ever popular Sunday Sessions still continued to offer the more mature music fans plenty of blues flavoured covers. How many of the shows I have mentioned were you at? Needless to say, tribute band nights I ignored completely.

January
This month is always quiet on the level two mainstage. Except for a smattering of bar gigs, it’s very low key. The outstanding highlight occurs on a Monday evening (26th) Esquires is supporting the annual National Independent Venue Week, Frankie And The Heartstrings are our visitors and for only two pounds admission, you can witness up close, this Sunderland indie pop band of musical entrepreneurs. With their composition Hunger performed, many remember it featuring on The Inbetweeners film soundtrack. Also of note is a metal night headlined by Canvas which blows many cobwebs away on the last day of the month!

February
Blossoms are a five piece psyche pop band who offer some shimmery synths and hail from stockport. They enhanced their burgeoning reputation during 2015 and visited Esquires on (7th). Grunge infused trio Darlia brightened up a wet Monday evening (16th). this Pad Presents show was a winner all round, as strong support is provided by those leather clad rock gods in training namely Sandra Karma, as well as Glastonbury emerging talent competition winner Declan Mc Kenna, who has also appeared on Sky News discussing his political composition Brazil. Eventually arriving at the venue were (Spooky Halloween band) Lola Colt (13th) who take their name from a sixties spaghetti western, the wait wasn’t worth it however. Much better and offering some wild and exciting noise were Crows (28th). This punk band were supporting The Voyers, who namely are now minus occurred in Holy Molys (20th) headlined by The Ceazers, hearts band The zipheads appeared, as did the local quartet Henry And The Bleeders. Quaffs and fashion aplenty on a spectacular evening were Hellvar, who brought their Scandinavian skills to town. Larger than life bluesman Big Boy Bloater entertained Valentines Day night, with his unique stage persona (14th).
Eastfield brought some inter city rail punk 6th while also appearing in the bar were the popular Luton metalers Imicus (21st) this was to be their final appearance in Esquires, as Miller and his gang called it a day in April.
American wordsmith Levi Weaver may live his life in a suitcase, but his post folk stories are always entertaining (11th).
A top notch B.A.M. show (27th) is headlined by Point Of Extinction.

March
The top gig this month was by F.M. (13th) they were formed way back in 1984 and these musicians are far more used to playing in large stadiums and festivals. Not hampered by the tiny stage, they induced a waving aplenty with their power ballads. This intimate appearance offers a warm up taster for a tour and their new A.O.R. album Hero’s And Villains. Making his annual Esquires visit is American Bluesman Kent Duchaine (6th) together with his famous guitar Leadbessie.
Folk punk ruled on (14th) as Blythe Power appeared alongside those quirky locals Fishwives Broadside. Opening were Jesus Hooligan who got everyone in the mood by handing out wooden batons, which whacked together in unison made for a mighty row!
Sunday (22nd) featured its regular visit by John Verity. Best known for his tenure with Argent in the seventies, he continues to play his take on the blues with his latest album, Tone Hound. (20th) March also included a headline show from young rockers Phoenix Calling who as Everybody Knows, hail from Cambridge! Travelling even further were Smokin Durry’s and Tinned Fruit. These two bands are part of the Falmouth sound, making Cornwall the happening place to be for forming bands. These two played (26th) hard, fast and loud. A Sue Ryder charity gig on (27th) was headlined by bands Ark and Marzipan respectively.

April
With a voice as fine as gossamer, Maria Hackman enchanted a Sunday evening audience (12th), still barely into her twenties, her album We Slept At Last received much critical acclaim. The infamous squeaky ladies toilet door hinge did receive a mention from this svelte folky singer songwriter! 2015 only saw one appearance by those legendary Quireboys at their spiritual abode. It was an unplugged acoustic Sunday night (19th) in Holy Molys. They featured tracks from their latest album St Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul. It was recorded in the Swedish outpost of Klippan. Described by the renowned musician and broadcaster Paul Jones as “Having a fresh sound and style,” its always a mystery as to why the Bedford born bluesman Ben Poole doesn’t pack out Esquires when he comes back to play – ( Age prejudiced Sunday crowd! – Ed.) (17th) he appears live at the Royal Albert Hall, gets sold out notices up and down the country but sadly Bedford is indifferent to his magnificent skills with voice and guitar.
Metal courtesy of B.A.M. opened the Easter Holiday period (2ndh) amongst the four bands on show were Countless Skies. In August they appeared at the prestigious Bloodstock Festival, after winning a hard fought bands competition in Luton.
(24th) saw Juicebox Indie present an acoustic show by Drew McConnell now of Helsinki, this former sidekick of Pete Doherty is better known as the bassist of Babyshambles. Other visitors during the month were We Are Carnivores (24th) and Eskimos (11th) both in the bar, plus lively sleaze rockers The Deadly Romantics who parked up on their ‘Drunk And Disorderly tour (25th)

May
The undoubted highlight of the month, indeed probably the year, is when The Pad Presents brought the great Thurston Moore to Bedford Esquires (9th). This former Sonic Youth frontman and guitarist is also joined in his band by the S.Y. drummer Steve Shelly. Respectful of his small surroundings, he fondly recalls anecdotal stories and includes many tracks from his latest album The Best Day. An awesome towering performance from a living guitar legend. A fantastic night and one to live long in the memory. The previous evening (8th) featured a show by Irish teens The Strypes. Suited and booted, they unleashed plenty of speed encrusted retro rhythm and blues. They played a fair smattering of their newer material, which seems to baking them in a slightly poppier direction. In Holy Molys on the same night, punk ruled like it was 1977. The ribald lyrics of Knock Off featured songs from their current album Same Shit Different City. The hard hitting compositions probed a dying country with a corrupt government, to the lighter subject of sex doll fantasies.
A bank holiday Sunday evening (3rd) gave people a wide ranging choice of musical styles. Lev 2 played host to CC Smugglers. These lads love to mix and mash up some world flavoured new roots music. Championed by many radio D.J.’s their E.P. Write What You Know is the latest instalment of this Shefford based collectives recording work. Supporting is Danni Nicholls, whose new Nashville recorded album Mockingbird Lane, has proved such an essential listen. Downstairs B.A.M. played host to an acoustic showcase. Amongst a varied cast of performers are the glorious sounds of Ragged Tone.
The late spring holiday is a 25th anniversary party in honour of Bedford Esquires. (23rd) two stages are given over to a variety of local bands. Other highlights include the return of bluesman Jack J Hutchinson, (16th) while Steve Jones travelled from Leicester, although minus his Wildfires, to acoustically strum many tracks from his album Stratigraphic Heart (22nd).

June After a frenetic May, but with the many festivals now taking place, June proves to be a whole lot quieter on the Esquires gig calendar. Returning after a long absence is MC poet and songwriter Akala. (13th) A Mobo award winner, he is affectionally known as ‘The Black Shakespeare’ principally performing tracks from Knowledge Is Power II, it is a gig that really won me over. He sold many of his poetic story books as well. The next day (14th) saw a visit from brightens Red Butler. This band were recently named as best new blues act in the UK by Blues Matters magazine and are fronted by effervescent Jane Chloe Pearce. With the long Summer Holidays fast approaching on the horizon, Esquires was subject to a Bedford College music showcase takeover on the venues two levels. (18th) Returning from New Zealand are Brillaux, (26th) these suave attired gentleman powered out some high octane, no nonsense old skool rhythm and blues. Popular visitors to Bedford are Sykopath Condor, they travelled from Luton (20th) as part of their tour to promote the new album Cell 36. If hardcore punk is more your thing, then Corby’s Fuelled Hate are the band for you to catch. (6th).

July Monday (13th) and Ezra Furman is in Bedford. Born some twenty eight years ago in Chicago, he is certainly not your average boring musician. Ok, so he has done the drink and drugs, but he is of a strong Jewish faith Ezra does have a penchant for putting on lipstick and tonight he performs in a little black dress. His catchy songs match his varied mood swings. The lyrics are dark, deep and a touch disturbing, but the music is lively, joyous and triumphant. This fella is indeed a restless person. Opening the show is impressive singer songwriter Hannah Lou Clark. She returns after supporting The Thurston Moore Band in May and offers a set that owes a nod to P.J. Harvey. The preceding day (12th), Ian Dunlop dropped in to the bar. His C.V. is mightily impressive, as back in the sixties he was a bandmate and collaborator with the esteemed Americana legend Gram Parsons. Together, they were in a band called The International Submarine Band. Another American to visit us is Otis Gibbs (25th). Born in Indiana, he returns to Esquires to vividly perform his earthy tales of lonesome, rural America. This day is quite cosmopolitan here, as on level 2, an Australian band called The DMA’s recreate the sounds of a certain mid nineties Manchester band.
The (18th) features a mammoth rock and pop punk evening featuring amongst the six, Lights Out Crowd and Birdflipper.

August
Thursday August (16th) is eagerly anticipated by all the younger music fans in Bedford. Those lucky enough to have secured the purchase of a ticket arrive early, because they do not want to miss a single second of this gig which is headlined by their hero’s Don Broco. The level 2 main stage is packed to capacity as this towns premier rockers return home to a venue where they honed their musical craft as gangly teenagers. The nous of a stage performance has always gone hand in hand with them. Tonight is extra special, as its launch night for their new album Automatic, which will be available the following day. Never a band to forget their roots Don Broco always give Bedford a massive shout out when they are appearing at larger shows and festivals. Needless to say, this gig will live long in the memory of both band and their fans. At the closure of their set, Rob and the lads uncork several bottles of Champagne and in true formula 1 motor racing style, some are shook and sprayed around, before being swigged furiously. They had deserved them. Opening the evening are the precociously talented Beds Alternative rock quartet, Near Moments.
Also showcasing a new album are The Bohicas (15th) this emerging London quartet have released The Making Of and are eager to bring to Bedford, a set full of pop pumped mainstream rock n roll with added ‘sunny harmonies.’
Warming up for the Reading & Leeds festivals with a special show, were the Bristol based five piece Coasts (27th) who arrived here on a Thursday evening to ply their psychedelic tinged love songs, which included Oceans and A Rush Of Blood.
two bands to feature during the month were firstly Hulkenburg (1st) who also enjoyed a good 2015, which featured some high profile ‘out of town’ support slots, including one with Toy.
Then it was Immortalus who were rightly proud of both their E.P. and its launch night on (22nd). They continue to fly Bedford’s metal flag along with another promising band The Basilisk.

September
An extremely quiet month on the mainstage, infact only two. Firstly, Funk Soul Sister (12th) which included the sweet vocal talents of Bedford sisters Zara and Zoe on this varied bill was Paul Jackson, who continued to keep everyone transfixed when his nimble fingers pick at the strings of the mystical magical sound of the sitar.
The following week (19th) blues fans got to savour a visit from leading exponents The Della Grants, who were stoutly supported by The Wang Dang Doodles, bar gigs dominated the remainder of the month. Bedford punk outfit Yellowknife Bay played out their final official gig on (4th). While the smokey pop sounds of Healyum filled the air on (26th).
A visit from Cambridge saw The Abstracts (5th) feature tracks from their album, Requiem Of Mr M. including their single, Smells Like Summer. The first Thursday of each month has seen The Bedford Songwriters Circle perform in Holy Molys. The September show (3rd) was a special one year anniversary charity fundraiser. Throughout the year, you can expect to see and hear the talents of amongst others Luke Tuchscherer, Johnny Parry and Simon Gutterage. The plan of the evening is to perform songs with a continual theme of something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

October
Higher profile gigs are thankfully back on the agenda for October. The first weekend is a case in point. Saturday (3rd). Features a stonking double header led by Paul – Ronney Angel, The Urban Voodoo Machine offer up a bourbon soaked mix of thrash garage and gypsy swing, all encased with a cabaret stage presence given the sad events that has befallen this band in the last year, their poignant version of Goodnight My Dear is performed on the night expressively with such touching thoughts. Long John Laundry present blues rock with a mid Atlantic twang from the bearded John. The next night (4th) brings back many memories of the nineties Brit pop era, when Echobelly, fronted by a still youthful looking Sonya Madan recall the days when Great Things was played endlessly on Radio 1. After somewhat saving the day last year to play a gig here with Theatre Of Hate, Kirk Brandon resumed his Spear Of Destiny duties (9th) Another packed crowd are only too happy to join with a singalong of the bands big hit of the eighties. Namely Never Take Me Alive.
Hailing from the Wirral, Hooton Tennis Club made a midweek appearance on (21st). They exude good time indie and saggy jeaned slacker pop. On the night, they were supported memorably by a garage rock trio called The Parrots. Lauded by some of the metal press Lets Talk Daggers showed just why this trio are trying to put Eastbourne, Sussex on the musical map. Friday (30th) featured a visit by the raucous, Nottingham based six piece punk – folk rebels Ferocious Dog. Their clever musical dexterity with words and music is jaw droppingly good throughout. They are preceded by the talented singer songwriter of angry caustic lyrics, Mr. Gaz Brookfield Split Whiskers (11h) travelled across the country border of Cambridgeshire to Purvey some Sunday blues. It gave them a chance to play some tracks from their latest album, Money Aint Everything. Local bands dominated both the annual Oxjam event, (24th) plus the following weeks Spooky Halloween night. (31st) where many of the Bedford crowd were seen to have made great effort to dress for the occasion with bands on both Lev 1 and 2 featuring Henry & The Bleeders upstairs and Bedford Alternative Music hosting down.

Mid November
The month starts with a huge party, as Sunday November (1st) saw the bar play host to one of the main movers of the Bedford music scene. Despite looking some twenty years younger, Mr Bruce “I’m much too old for this shit” Murray, celebrated his 70th Birthday. A veritable who’s who of the local scene came along to join him for a drink or three! Needless to say, he also strapped on his guitar and played along with his pals in The A Band, plus more than a few special guests. A superb afternoon.
After a gap of more than a decade (7th) Sick On The Bus returned at last to Level 2. They joined three other bands for an evening of punk. Also coming back to see us were The Wytches on Thursday (19th), They showcased many new songs from their forthcoming second album with compositions such as The Answer and Do You Know Me, fast rising quartet Vant scorched Holy Molys with a cluster of angry social commentary punk ‘bombs’ (21st) with a top 3 position and some thirteen weeks in the singles chart, Butterfly was one of the most catchy and instantly recognisable songs of 2001. Its composers were Crazy Town! And they made an appearance here on (28th) it reminded everyone of what an hypnotic tune it was. The same day also featured an all day festival hosted by Soundarc (studios) down in the bar. Sunday (22nd ) featured a visit by Kuenta I Tambu, based in Amsterdam, they offered up a non stop carnival of rhythmic sounds.
Other gigs of note feature local heroes The Scruff (6th) who were launching their new single Chin Up. Long time Goths Robed In Desire sang of Preacher Creatures on (13th) while Young Kings headlined a mammoth five band metal night on (14th).

December
Mainstage gigs this month were dominated by local based bands and what superb entertainment they all served up. First on (5th) were The Wholls. These popular lads were launching their brand new single X21 with much backing behind them, 2016 is going to be a seriously crucial year for the prime Bedford rock n rollers. On the same night downstairs, Foodstock took place. As well as paying admission, all attendees were encouraged to bring some groceries which were then donated to the Bedford Food Bank. A worthy cause and a wide rangling array of bands. These included the risqué and quirky skiffle trio Ouse Valley Singles Club to those raging loud mettalers Aghast!
The following week (12th) Pearl Handled Revolver filled the venue with their organ infused dirty blues rock. The (19th) is a nostalgic farewell party, as for the final ever time, eight piece ska collective New Groove Formation got the full house skanking very madly. Led by their ever irrepressible frontman Iain Guinn, they bowed out after some twelve years. With their roots in Ampthill, it seems as if the whole of that town have come to say goodbye. The familiar favourites Turkish Delight, Nosey Neighbour etc etc were performed and even a couple of former bandmates joined in with the fun.
Perennial Esquires visitors Bowfinger were the natural support for the evening. Other gigs to feature were a visit from Del Bromham And His Blues Devils (4th) The Stray frontman was joined by amongst others, Cherry Lee Mewis plus a few members of Pearl Handled Revolver. New Years eve saw a real contrast of genres and sounds. Holy Molys featured The Tendons, a notorious punk band who thankfully still don’t conform to this towns rules, plus the feisty two piece blues rockers, Black Doldrums in the bar, skilled musicianship ruled, with Sunday sessions favourites The Workshop Boys ushering in 2016. I wonder what that year has in store for the Bedford Music Fan?