NAMING themselves after a historical sect who advocated republicanism, a written constitution and the abolition of the monarchy during the English Civil War gives some idea about The Levellers’ political leanings. The five-piece folk-punk band are a last-minute addition to Salisbury City Hall’s spring programme, playing a gig there on March 12.
Originally formed in Brighton in the mid 1980s, The Levellers arrived on the music scene professing to be a very English band drawing on the country’s roots, but also drawing on some Celtic influences.
They got their first record deal with a French record label in 1989 but distribution difficulties led them to transfer to China Records in 1991, a good move, as they immediately made a breakthrough with minor chart hits "One Way" and "Far From Home". Their second album, “Levelling The Land,” also enjoyed chart success hitting the Top 20 album charts. A mixture of English and Celtic folk with powerful guitar-driven rock, it was acclaimed throughout Europe where the band toured before performing sell-out domestic concerts.
Committed to numerous environmental and social causes, The Levellers continued to play many benefit concerts to support them throughout the 1990s alongside constant commercial tours in the UK and Europe. They also continued stacking up chart hits including the singles “Belarus”, “This Garden”, “Hope Street” and “Just The One” and numerous successful albums.
More recently band members Mark, Jeremy, Charlie, Simon and Jon have registered their opposition to a war with Iraq by opening an anti-war website www.waketheworld.org
Before every tour The Levellers ask fans to vote for the songs they would most like to hear. “Riverflow”, “Come On” and “Beanfield” were the three most popular this time round. Expect to hear these songs plus new songs from the recently released album “Green Blade Rising” when the band play Salisbury City Hall on Wednesday March 12. For ticket details ring 01722 327676.(©Peter Ashton 2003)

        ROOTSY Scottish singer Eddi Reader who appears at Gosport & Fareham Easter Festival has recently renewed acquaintanceship with the work of 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns. She is just putting the finishing touches to an album of his songs recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. “I’m really proud of the project,” enthused Eddi, “it’s my blessing to his soul and it’s dedicated to the sublime and the mundane, the glorious and the ordinary. Burns wrote for the working class and I wanted to give the songs my earthy approach which I thought might reach ears that didn’t particularly “get” him before.” “I’ve been singing Burns songs like”Ae Fond Kiss” for years,” continued the former Fairground Attraction vocalist, “ then last year I was asked to join Michael Marra on a televised celebration of Burns music. With Michael I learned a new version of “My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose”; I adored singing it so much that I learned to play it on my guitar using this new tuning that I had found.”
It was at a Burns Festival at Culzean Castle in Alloway last May that Eddi first teamed up with the Scottish National Orchestra. “In boiling hot
sunshine with the beautiful island of Arran on the horizon I sung “Green Grow The Rashes-O” and “Auld Lang Syne”, to a couple of thousand people in the grounds of Culzean Castle,” recalls Eddi. Unfortunately the album won’t be ready for the concert at Ferneham Hall in Fareham on Thursday April 17when Eddi follows another poetic Scottish performer, Jackie Leven. “The album probably won’t be ready til May or June,” says Eddi, “but I’ll be giving the Fareham audience a taste of it. I hope to have Colin Reid, Boo Hewerdine and Christine Hanson with me, and I’m
looking forward to playing there again - I enjoyed it when I played there two years ago.” Tickets are £15 via 01329 231942. (©Peter Ashton 2003)

       KARNATAKA will be lighting the “Delicate Flame of Desire” at The Brook on Thursday March 27. That is the title of the rising young rock band’s new album which they will be promoting when they make their debut at the Southampton venue.
Karnataka have emerged as one of the UK’s most innovative classic rock bands since they formed in the late 1990s. A six-piece line-up fronted by female vocalists Rachel Jones and Anne-Marie Helder, the band have a great visual impact to complement their dramatic and multi-layered sound. With guitars, keyboards, drums and flute in their line-up they create a haunting soundscape with the emphasis on melody and symphonic arrangements.
Karnataka honed their unique style on their first two albums “Karnataka” in 1998 and “The Storm” in 2000. The quality of their albums and live appearances impressed the Classic Rock Society who voted Karnataka Best New Band in 2000 and lead vocalist Rachel Jones Best Female Vocalist in the same year and in the following two years.
Karnataka have worked hard at building their reputation as an outstanding live band by constant touring in the UK and Europe over the last two years. A live DVD " Karnataka - Live in Concert ", filmed at London's Mean Fiddler, captures the excitement of a typical Karnataka concert. Karnataka have recently performed in the USA at an acoustic concert in Manhattan and also at the Patriots Theatre in New Jersey at The Classic Rock Festival.
Tickets for Karnataka’s gig at The Brook are £7 through 02380 555366. (©Peter Ashton 2003)

        “LEGENDS of Rock” seems to be the theme at Southampton’s Brook venue this month. Over the next four weeks there are some cracking gigs featuring some of the most influential rock artists of the last four decades.
Ex-Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden arrives with his bluesy Big Boy Blue Band on Friday March 9, with a one-time member of no less than The Rolling Stones gracing the stage on Wednesday March 12. Mick Taylor played guitar with the Stones during their most fertile period from 1969 to 1974, and he brings his own classy band to the venue, made up of musicians who have played with artists like Chris Rea, George Michael and Billy Ocean.
West Coast American rock is represented by Big Brother & The Holding Company, the late Janis Joplin’s band, the day after Mick’s gig. Containing three original members of the 1960s outfit, they are always a big draw at The Brook. The following week Roger Chapman of 1970s favourites Family roars in, as does one of the wild men of rock, Paul Di’Anno the original vocalist with Iron Maiden.
Add visits by rock tribute bands Perfect Alibi with their Pink Floyd show, The Silver Beatles saluting the fab four, and Whole Lotta Led performing the best of Led Zeppelin and there is something to satisfy every rock fan.
For more details phone 02380 555366 or have a look at the website www.the-brook.com. (©Peter Ashton 2003)

        CELTIC folk-rockers Bluehorses who gallop into Southampton’s Talking Heads venue next Saturday (March 15) will be introducing a new guitarist to their fans. Jakey will join fiddle players Mark and Lizzy, drummer Nic and bass player Nathan at a venue where their frenetic and atmospheric music is always a huge draw.
Founder member Nic Walker explained from his home in Wales: “Our former lead guitarist Neil has had to leave as he has found it difficult getting to gigs from his isolated home in Snowdonia over the last eighteen months. We’re really going to miss him, but we’ve recruited an old friend Fast Jakey Easyrider who has worked with us before. It's been a difficult period for the band over the past year and a big part of that has been caused by everyone being spread across England and Wales and having their own projects and commitments. This made it very difficult to rehearse. We also thought we were going to lose one of our violinists Mark who was going to tour with Massive Attack, but this has fallen through. Obviously if Mark had left it would have put extra pressure on Lizzy our other fiddle player who also plays the electric harp and lead vocals, so we are glad Mark is still with us.”
“We are very pleased to announce the arrival of our long time pal, Fast Jakey Easyrider though,” continued Nic. “He is a superb electric and twelve string guitarist and also plays the mandolin. He’s a Bristol boy, so that'll also make the rehearsing and stuff a whole lot easier - I’ve just got to persuade Nathan to tow his mobile up to Wales and we'll be well away!”
The gig at Talking Heads next Saturday will be the first time Bluehorses have played there since recent improvements. “We understand there’s a bit more room to dance now, so we hope our fans will all turn up and go crazy as usual,” said Nic.
Admission is £6 on the door and the band will be on stage around 10pm. (©Peter Ashton 2003)

        ONE of the highlights of this year’s Gosport and Fareham Easter Folk Festival next month will be the appearance of a man who spent a good deal of the 1970s standing on one leg singing and playing the flute. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame will we staging a novel “Rubbing Elbows” show at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall on Good Friday, April 18.
It will be no ordinary concert as Ian explains: “Imagine a slightly saucy talk show with too much music: or a music concert with a tendency to wander off into obscure spoken topics and with the comings and goings of some odd bods, waifs, and strays from the world of radio, local media, and musicians. Somewhere between lies the format of "Rubbing Elbows with Ian Anderson."
Ian completed a trial run of the show at eleven venues in Eastern USA last autumn. The Ferneham Hall show is the only 2003 UK gig. Ian sums up the appeal of the show: “It’s one of the most fun things I have done in music since I started thirty-five years ago. Someone described the show as having the hallmarks of traditional music hall entertainment. Local musical guests are duly flattered to have their song learned (more or less) by me and the band and have a sympathetic audience remember their names the next day. A local celebrity makes an appearance to talk briefly on any topic and we gently question each other on matters of intimate personal revelation. Anecdotes and diatribes punctuate the musical performances of loads of Jethro Tull gems from albums like "Aqualung," "Stand Up", and "Thick as a Brick”, plus some of my solo stuff.”
Amongst a host of other folk stars playing between April 17 - 21 are Eddi Reader, Jackie Leven, Show Of Hands, Lindisfarne and The Saw Doctors. Tickets for Ian Anderson’s concert on Good Friday are £20 standing and £25 seated through 01329 231942. (©Peter Ashton 2003)