BIG things could be about to happen for Southampton band Stout.  Two representatives of a major US record label flew over to see Stout play at The Joiners Arms last month and liked what they saw.  Now, the rocking five-piece band have been invited over to perform for record executives in New York early next month, all expenses paid.
  All in their mid-twenties, Stout have been playing together for around eight years, and have lately been getting a lot of gigs on the London scene.  The line-up is Steve Goodall on vocals and guitar, Wayne Muldowney on guitar, John Vaughan on bass, Lee Reynolds on drums and Andy McColm on vocals.
  Stout will play a set at Don Hill’s music venue in Greenwich, New York, during the first week of March, after which record chiefs will decide whether to sign the band.  Watch this space for more news!
 

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       CHICHESTER’S  rather limited music scene gets a boost with a new music show  on the last Saturday of each month.  The event will take place at the town’s Oxmarket (Chichester Centre of Arts) at St Andrews Court in East Street.
  The show will boast some of the best new music talent in and around the area. Lined up for the first show on February 22 are Nic Saunders, a solo pianist who improvises around Indian Ragas, Louise Field, a composer who uses electronics to create bizarre soundworlds, and Jon Watson, a multi-media artist who will be showing some of his films and playing some new music. Finishing off the night the Pro Musica Collective will present some strange organic improvisations.
 

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        OVER a dozen bands will be singing the blues next month over in Dorset when the third Swanage Blues Festival gets underway from March 7-9.  It’s free admission to all the blues sessions taking place in pub venues around the attractive seaside town.  Bands include Renegade, Cross Cut Saw and Arecibo.  There will also be workshops and informal jam sessions throughout the weekend.  For more details ring Steve Darrington 01929 422338  (mobile 07870 545725) or have a look at the website on www.swanage-blues.org

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        FOLLOWING her successful foray into the world of live music promotion last summer, crazy Hythe woman Linda Charles is at it again.  After risking lots of her own money to put the Colin Blunstone/Rod Argent Band on at the Waterside Theatre at Holbury last August Linda has switched to Wiltshire for her next venture.  She is risking even more of her money by putting Colin and Rod into Salisbury City Hall  for an even more ambitious concert on Friday April 4.  Tickets are available via 01722 327676.  Linda tells me that there is a special element to the show that won’t be revealed until nearer the time - watch this space for an exclusive announcement!

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        SOUTHAMPTON’S grandfather of the blues Bob Pearce isn’t making his usual pilgrimage to the Falklands this year.  He is leaving it to his cohorts Blues Etc to fly thousands of miles to entertain the islanders as guests of The Fighting Pig Band.  Chris and friends will be singing the blues to people and penguins alike from February 18 -26.

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        FOLK blues player Dave Peabody makes a rare appearance in Southampton this month when he plays a gig at the homely Platform Tavern down by the Town Quay.  Anyone who was at The Brook a few years ago when Dave accompanied Big Boy Henry will remember a fascinating show, marred only by Dave’s suggestion to Big Boy Henry to tell the crowd about his time as a fisherman.  Big Boy Henry obliged and went on to describe life at sea in great detail.  In fact he went on and on and on and on...........

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        THE village of Rowlands Castle near Portsmouth accommodates one of Hampshire’s best kept secrets. It’s The Fountain Inn - a music venue run by ex-Van Morrison Band guitarist Herbie Armstrong, with the bonus of a Thai restaurant, the Mai Thai, on the premises.
Herbie runs jam sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when musicians and singers can get up and do their thing in informal style. Tuesdays tends towards the electric, with a more laid back acoustic feel the following day. Herbie usually pitches in with a few songs himself at the end of each evening. There’s more music on Fridays and Saturdays with a mix of rock, blues, reggae and folk from bands and duos. See our Listings section for full details of live music nights in January.
Herbie offers great Thai-style bar food in the Regency-style pub bar on weekday lunchtimes, with traditional roast dinners on Sundays. In the evenings the Mai Thai Restaurant across the courtyard opens up at 6pm Tuesday to Saturday and 12.30pm to 4pm on Sundays for some truly authentic Thai cuisine. The restaurant consists of two intimate rooms decorated in colonial style with seating for 40 diners to enjoy a huge choice of spicy platters all freshly cooked with prime ingredients by Sara the Thai chef.
A bonus of The Fountain Inn, an atmospheric former coaching inn, is the fact that Herbie and his Swedish born wife Lisa also do accommodation. Upstairs there are five elegant en suite bedrooms, one containing an antique four poster bed. Music lovers and gourmets alike can enjoy bed and breakfast accommodation from £50 per night.
The Fountain Inn is situated overlooking the village green. It’s just off the M27via the Horndan and Emsworth exit. With easy access to both Portsmouth and Chichester and good rail links The Fountain Inn is ideally situated. For more details ring 02392 412291.