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Sunday 1st
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Rory Ellis with support from Kit Holmes |
Rory Ellis has performed at many major festivals in Australia over the years including Port Fairy Folk Festival, National Folk Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival and just recently completed his third tour of the UK in 2005 performing around 120 shows in 7 months. He performed at festivals such as Larmer Tree Festival, Fylde Folk Festival, Southsea Festival, Middlewich Festival, Broadstairs Festival, Great British R&B Festival and many more as well as venues all over the UK including Londons famous Borderline, The Spitz and The Garage. www.myspace.com/roryellis65 Support comes from Kit Holmes, described as Macy Gray meets Nick Drake, has already established herself as one of the rising acoustic stars. Her trademark sultry vocals and virtuoso guitar playing have wowed audiences across the UK through extensive touring with the guitar hero, John Etheridge. Her eagerly awaited second album, Catch The Echo, featuring the legendary double bass player Danny Thompson and the wonderful Pat Illingworth on drums, is a captivating collection of uplifting thought provoking songs, interwoven with mesmeric guitar tracks. Bob Harris and Andy Kershaw featured Kit on their BBC shows and she’s played at the International Guitar Festivals and Paul McCartney’s LIPA. www.myspace.com/kitholmes £4.00 ticket and £5.00 on the door |
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Monday 2nd
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Available For Private Hire
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Tuesday 3rd
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Available For Private Hire
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Wednesday 4th
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Jamming
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Free entry before 10.30pm and £1.00 thereafter |
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Thursday 5th
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Comedy Zone
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Worcester's only regular top class comedy night is held here at The Marrs Bar first Thursday of every month, we have had some massive names here in the past including Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, Frankie Boyle, Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard, Andy Parsons, Tim Vine, Jeff Green, Daniel Kitson etc. etc. These shows usually sell out every time so book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are usually £10 unless otherwise stated and are available from The Marrs bar and Music City on 01905 26600 |
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Friday 6th
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Undercover Police
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³Sound more like The Police than the Police² Angling Times ³The band The Police wish they were² Bunty "The only Police I'm always glad to see" Nick Leeson Formed in the beginning of 2007 The Undercover Police succeed in replicating the music of The Police with amazing attention to detail. Being a successful Police tribute band depends on one big question how good is your ³Sting² Craig Westwood (Stink) is second to non when it comes to sounding and playing like Sting Backed up by two great musicians who replicate Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers beat for beat and note for note, The Undercover Police play the music of The Police with a passion and energy not seen since the heyday of The Police. The Undercover Police are Craig Westwood Stink Bass & vocals, Tim Welding Stewart Cantcope Drums and Percussion, Simon Fraser-Clark Andy Summat - Guitars www.theundercoverpolice.com £4.00 ticket and £5.00 on the door |
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Saturday 7th
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The Gwyn Ashton "Band"
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Gwyn Ashton has played onstage with the likes of Mick Fleetwood, Hubert Sumlin, Marc Ford, Jon Paris, Canned Heat and opened for BB King, Buddy Guy, Rory Gallagher, John Hammond, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Van Morrison, Pat Travers, Jeff Healey, Tony Joe White and many others. Gwyn Ashton's one-man-band solo show is a blend of alternative blues and swamp boogie, all played on his resonator, lap-slide, 12 & 6-string guitars, harmonica and a homemade foot stomp board. For the band shows, he trades in his stomp board for a drummer and kicks his roots-rock power duo into overdrive making creative use of fuzzed-out bottleneck slide, octave dividers, delays and loops and bringing the blues into the 21st century. Like a band possessed, Ashton’s fiery 2-man combo pulls no punches and delivers the goods every time. These guys are Lo-Fi, analogue, wild and dangerous! www.myspace.com/gwynashtonmusic £5.00 ticket and £7.00 on the door |
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Sunday 8th
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Amy Wadge support from David Berkeley |
I personally promise you that Amy is absolutely fantastic, but you don't need to just take my word for it, this is what THEY say... 'The Voice of her generation - a star is born' - Ouest-France 'Amy is a ray of light one moment shot through with sorrow the next. Her voice is amazing and it's suddenly clear why she's getting so much recognition' - Big Issue 'The new Joni Mitchell, with her distinctive voice and well-crafted songs' - London Evening Standard 'A rangy, tough-but-tender voice' - Venue Magazine 'Deeply impressive' - Honk Magazine 'Pint sized poetess with Valley quaking voice. Her songs have a raw vibrancy that suit her earthy voice and emotionally mature lyrics' - Q magazine ...and if you're still not convinced then listen for yourself on www.myspace.com/amywadge £8.00 ticket and £10 on the door |
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Monday 9th
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Available For Private Hire
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Tuesday 10th
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Available For Private Hire
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Wednesday 11th
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Jamming
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Free entry before 10.30pm and £1.00 thereafter |
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Thursday 12th
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Lord Bishop Rocks plus local support |
Sonically, Lord Bishop Rocks is a highly pleasurable hell-raising assault on the senses. (Cool Hendrix Vibes, James Brown Funk, Nirvana Power and Zappa Humour.) Visually, I guarantee its one of the greatest performances you will ever see. The 3 piece is fronted by Lord Bishop – who many are asking - Is this the new Jimi Hendrix? Possibly/Yes, some will say, but in reality, No. For this is Badass black guitarist / singer-songwriter Lord Bishop, and he is like no other. Already established in Europe as a hugely in-demand artist who has risen to give rock music a mighty kiss in the rear, and a veteran of non-stop euro gigs and festivals in the past few years (check out his current tour schedule). Lord Bishop is the “black giant” (two meters plus 120 kg) from New York City and with his Sex Rock gang they produce a daring and crazy mixture of dirty Rock’n’Roll, Funk, sweat, Soul, sex appeal and power. www.myspace.com/lordbishop £4.00 ticket and £5.00 on the door - TRUST ME ON THIS ONE |
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Friday 13th
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The Festivals Experience
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Remember, or for the uninitiated imagine, the twilight at the end of a long, hot summer day at Glastonbury; in the midst of 150,000 excited and happy people; the sunshine feeling in your stomach accompanied by several pints of warm beer and a peculiar tasting truffle you bought in the Green Field; the anticipation in the air and the smell of herbal cigarettes; and then your favourite band bangs into their first number. Feels good doesn't it …….. The guys in this band are veterans of the great summer festivals scene and can recreate those same sights, sounds (and occasionally odours) in a venue near you. Trip Switch, Christian Forthright, Quentin Spentlove and Vince Le Magma have been regularly working the beer tents at Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds and the like since 1997 and have constructed their set list around the best of the best that they have seen over the years. They cover all the great bands that have performed at the big summer festivals over almost 20 years or so. This ranges from James, Happy Mondays & Stone Roses, through the Brit Pop of Oasis, Blur, Pulp etc, and later on Travis and Coldplay; then bang up to date with Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and Killers etc. resulting in a set full of hits, albeit with a theme and a feel good factor. So why not come along to the gig and experience some of that FESTIVALS magic? www.festivalsexperience.co.uk £4.00 ticket or £5.00 on the door |
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Saturday 14th
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The Little Hellfire Club 2nd Birthday Party!
An Alldayer!
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The Little Hellfire Club has been "bringing clatterpop to the kids since 2006" and for eight hours straight we'll be celebrating the night's second anniversary. In its 24 months of existence, The Little Hellfire Club has brought some of the best UK bands to the faithful city, nurtured a new generation of local talent and even been featured in the NME and on Radio One. Already confirmed for this year's celebration are: EXPEDESTRIAN, SILVER TEQUILA, GIRLS ON FILM, SPENCER McGARRY SEASON, THE DONNS, GINDRINKER, FLO ROWLANDS and PETE AUSTIN. With plenty more bands to be confirmed, expect three stages of rock 'n' roll excess, hi-jinx, lo-jinx, party poppers, birthday cake, egg & spoon races, a swingball championship, eating competitions and some fantastic fashion tips from host JAMES PERRY. www.myspace.com/thelittlehellfireclub THIS IS AN ALL AGES SHOW - £5 on the door - 4pm start |
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Sunday 15th
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Dan James
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Dan James will be touring with his fantastic four piece Be Bop Da Jig and finishing the tour here at the Marrs Bar. Celtic music fans will remember Dan james's previous band firebrand which was a hit on the festival circuit a few years ago. Now Dan is back with something completely different, mixing folk with modern jazz, blues and a whole host of other influences. The CD will be available for sale from some local outlets, at the gigs and via the myspace. Dan's band create a sound that is ridiculously sublime. It's gonna be big…Be Bop Da Jig. www.myspace.com/danjamesmandocello £4.00 ticket and £5.00 on the door |
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Monday 16th
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Available For Private Hire
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Tuesday 17th
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Available For Private Hire
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Wednesday 18th
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Jamming
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Free entry before 10.30pm and £1.00 thereafter |
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Thursday 19th
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Annies Blind, Blue Nation and Lords of The Flatbush
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West mids outfit ANNIE'S BLIND are 3 young male raging 20 something's and plan to start smashing through the circuit at any given time offering plenty of bollocks and attitude, starting round about now.! www.myspace.com/anniesblind Neil is the main songwriter in Blue Nation and also the guitarist and singer. He aims to always keep things simple with his song writing and the band. He brings ideas to Oli, Paula and Ade then they thrash it out until it is just where they want it! His main influences are The Who, Small Faces, The Beatles, Paul Weller, OCS and many, many more. www.myspace.com/bluenation The Lords are a bunch of Rockin' heroes with one foot in the world of Rockabilly, Lord La Bass, Lord Bravo, Lord May and Lord Bobby. They have been sent to put the world of Rock and Roll back in the hands of the Devil. Theire mantra is "Rock and Roll is life is Rock and Roll". Beware! FREE ADMISSION |
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Friday 20th
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The Gundogs with Support from Dirty Youth |
The two girl, two male line up originate from Columbia, Iran, Pakistan & England respectively, was fused together 18 months ago by a mutual love for the fierce individuality of acts like Prince, Pixies and Madonna, the unbridled savagery of the Pistols and the Clash, the chaotic introspection of Sonic Youth and Nirvana and the sheer primitive eroticism of Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and Patti Smith. They have had support slots the likes of The Kooks, Neds Atomic Dustbin, The Twang, The Wildhearts, Cooper Temple Clause, The Futureheads, Six Nation State, Polytechnic, Editors, Longview, Electric 6, Beat Union, Neurosonic and The Automatic, which helped the band create a live performance which just oozes sex appeal & class. www.myspace.com/gundogs Another female fronted band to kick things off, check them out either their audio or video clips on their myspace site. www.myspace.com/thedirtyyouth £4.00 ticket and £5.00 on the door |
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Saturday 21st
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Abdoujaparov + AWWBLOT + Gamble Gamble + tbc
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A welcome return for ABDOU (as they're known to their friends) to the Marr's Bar Formed in 1998 by ex-CARTER USM guitarist Les Carter (aka FRUITBAT).? With musical foundations taking in the joyous and shambolic influences of 1977 punk rock, the music is raucous, fast and sometimes a bit country. The lyrics are rude, tender, funny and frequently a little unwell. So far eight EPs, and two albums have been released on Spinach Records. A compilation CD featuring tracks from the first 3 EPs was released by Pop Gun in Australia. The band has toured the UK, Germany, Australia and America. AND WHAT WILL BE LEFT OF THEM? (AWWBLOT) are "Worcester's finest electro-pop shambolists and future Lo-Fi Cult Heroes" - Drowned In Sound. The band are currently playing clubnights all over the UK (and bits of Europe) in support of their debut album which is due out at the end of Summer. Woop woop! Local gang GAMBLE GAMBLE are "noisy, disjointed and full of twisted humour… the sound of angry youth kicking holes in bus stops and pissing off the neighbours" - The Plastic Ashtray. They are also ACE! There is one more awesome act TBC! www.abdou.co.uk www.myspace.com/awwblot www.myspace.com/gamblegamblemusic £5.00 admission - 8pm start |
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Sunday 22nd
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Jont Present's The Unlit Club |
This guy is absolutely fantastic. I actually cover one of his songs when I'm gigging solo and always get people asking about it after the gig. He used to play here a while ago but then moved to New York and we lost touch. Anyway while he was over there he was doing what he called "Unlit Gigs" and they could be in a venue, a hostel, or even someones house! These gigs became hugely successful and now he wants to bring them over to England and contacted me asking to return to The Marrs Bar which I jumped at the chance of hosting. In Jont's words - "So, Unlit at the Marrs Bar will be, as with all things at the Marrs Bar, a little different. It's not a house, but thats allright, we're willing to let a few particulars slide so that we can make Worcester a stop on the first ever Unlit UK tour and so I can come and see me old mate Marzy. Well, he does practically live there - and it is the home for real music in the area, so that's good enough for me. I will be on the road with a cameraman, Dave Depares, who came with me when I took this thing on the road around America (see Unlit US tour) and also specially for this leg of the tour with Josh Weller, a young english singer who I met through myspace who organises his own house concerts you might have heard of called UNDER THE STAIRS. He will be coming along with another mate of his who played his last tour and, if Marzy can provide a couple of your best local acts and a dj I think we're gonna have a beautiful night. looking forward to it." £3.00 Admission |
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Monday 23rd
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Available For Private Hire
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Tuesday 24th
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Available For Private Hire
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Wednesday 25th
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Jamming
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Free entry before 10.30pm and £1.00 thereafter |
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Thursday 26th
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Rachel Harrington
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Rachel Harrington has been doing things in the wrong order for quite some time. She had extensive radio play before performing her first live show, and she opened for Grammy winners and nominees before her debut full-length record was even a glimmer in her eye. Bob Harris says "I am absolutely enchanted with this record! A brilliant debut ... already a leading contender for Album of the Year in my opinion!” ~ Bob Harris, BBC Radio Rachel is touring behind the new record as a duo, joined by multi-instrumentalist Zak Borden on vocals, mandolin, guitar and various other weapons of mass destruction. A solid songwriter in his own right, Zak has toured extensively throughout the US and UK having worked with, among many others, Casey Neill, The Watson Twins, and his platinum selling cousin, Willy Mason. www.myspace.com/rachelharrington www.rachelharrington.net £4.00 a ticket and £5.00 on the door |
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Friday 27th
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Smoke Stack, The Donns and Jazica
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An organic mix of bright melodies and original riffs; pop music perfect for sitting about in the sun. Described as the ideal soundtrack for any traveller, their set will take you through the unheard-of and leave you singing along to their catchy lyrics. With considerate use of synths and drum machines, Jazica manage to combine electro noise with acoustic ambience to create an irresistible sound. The foursome from Southampton, led by 21 year old, Frankie, whose vocals compare to the likes of Sia (Zero 7), will have you tapping your feet before you know it. The band draw their influences from the reggae tones of Jack Johnson, subtleties of Massive attack, to the eccentricity of Muse. www.myspace.com/jazicamusic SmokeStack comprises sisters Scarlett and Ebony Clay and friends Josh and Dave. SmokeStack was formed back in September 2003 when Scarlett, Ebony and Josh all realised that that could play instruments and they have been writing and recording their own original material ever since Dave joined the band in September 2006.. www.myspace.com/smokestacktheband The Donns are from Worcester and cite their influences as Bob Marley, Sublime, Zakk Wylde/Ozzy Osbourne, Rancid, NOFX, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, Reel Big Fish. www.myspace.com/thedonnsworcester £3.00 ticket and £5.00 on the door |
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Saturday 28th
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The Matt Schofield Trio
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Inspired by the Blues, infused with the funk rhythms of New Orleans and topped-off by virtuoso musicianship, Matt Schofield is being talked of as the finest Blues guitarist to have emerged in Europe for several generations. Guitar & Bass magazine named him as one of the Top 10 British Blues Players of All Time. While Britain's Guitarist magazine described Schofield's guitar playing as "Dynamite", picking him as the only non-American in their review of the future of Blues guitar. And in 2006, just two years after his debut CD, Schofield gained the distinction of being one of only two living British artists to be given a four star (excellent) rating in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings. www.myspace.com/mattschofield £10.00 ticket and £12.00 on the door |
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Sunday 29th
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Neil Ivison Acoustic
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"SURELY THE VOICE OF 2008?" NME "SOUNDS LIKE JET COVERING THE FACES!" (XFM) "WORLD CLASS" Mick Willetts - SURGE MUSIC "SPINNING - My No.1 Song of the Year!" Andy Marston - BBC RADIO Neil Ivison & The Misers is the much anticipated debut of former Seymour/The Fever/The Shakedown frontman Neil Ivison. Along with Adam Barry aka 'Dirtbag' on the Keys, Neil will be performing brand new material from his soon to be released 'debut' album. Also appearing will be George Elliot (amongst other guests!), and this will be the first time in 4 years that Neil, Adam and George will be appearing as a 3 piece band! "It will be great to be playing at The Marrs Bar again, I've always loved acoustic gigs, and I'm really looking forward to playing the new stuff and digging up some songs that we haven't played for years, and as always there will be a few surprises thrown in!" www.myspace.com/neilivisonmusic £5.00 Admission |
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Monday 30th
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Available For Private Hire
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