at

The Labour Club, Northampton NN1

on

Friday 7th October 2005

SLIPSTREAM

You know these guys by now. These super-professional psychedelic rockers (with a string of top flight credits as long as the M6) played two magical sets at Masters of Budvar last year, two of the best nights we have had. Now we are delighted to welcome Mark Refoy and Jon Mattock back to the cheery confines of the Labour Club once again. At a recent soundcheck their computer died on them, forcing them to alter their set list at the very last minute. Having seen the ensuing set, I'm happy to report that the technical whoopsie-daisie didn't seem to phaze them in the slightest. A huge, barrelling wall of spaced-out sonority, simple melodies sweetly sung and a drummer to marvel at.

Come and see how Slipstream just keep getting better and better.

Artist Website: www.slipstreamweb.co.uk

KEVIN BUXTON and KONTRA BAND

Riding in from the badlands of Wellingborough with his trusty team of pistoleros in tow comes a man who has clearly done a lot of living, and taken the time to chronicle it all in his sharply-observed, poignant songs. His recent album "Through Any Window" offers a range of thoughtful character studies and wry reflections on a full life richly lived. The music is deceptively simple and inviting, but cast about with mysterious and faintly intimidating ambient shadows, perhaps along the lines of one of John Cale's early solo albums. (He's got a song about cowboys, too.) When our Masters of Budvar talent scouts last clocked Kevin and the band they were grinding out a truly frightening tune about Robert Johnson, the Devil and...well, you should just come and see for yourselves.

Artist Website: www.kevinbuxton.co.uk

CHARLIE BARNARD

Charlie Barnard comes from Milton Keynes, where he used to front a band called The Dead Girls. He is a charming solo performer, with a very English take on the dark side of psychedelia. We first saw him at Beat Wednesday, where his resemblance to a young Peter Perrett held an awful fascination for our talent scouts and indeed for Glenn Hoddle's cousin, who happened to be passing through at the time. There are also more than a few flashes of Syd Barrett about when Charlie sings. Altogether, then, the signs are that he'll probably disappear off the face of the Earth when he's about 28, so catch him now would be our advice!

Artist Website: www.lemonrock.com
Credit: pat