This image: Grieving
Jordan Worland from local music website Slate the Disco selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge during July
Sure there’s a big gathering of folk music up at Cherry Hinton Hall at the end of the month, but aside from that there is still plenty going on elsewhere in Cambridge to check out in July.
Our top tip comes via our favourite new Cambridge band. Grieving play direct, twisting indie-punk and their demo material has so far been picked up by countless music sites and had national air play on Dan Carter’s Rock Show on Radio 1. Their demos have been leading to their debut EP, which launches on the 29th at The Blue Moon. In debt to the likes of Les Savy Fav, Fugazi and the lo-fi pop and punk of Guided By Voices, Samiam, The Lemonheads and Bob Mould, listeners can expect anxious, anthemic indie-punk filled with angular crunches.
Sticking at the same venue we have a brilliant night of noise lined up on the 15th. Legendary DIY noise punk supremos Death Pedals headline. Formed in early 2010 through the mutual appreciation of all things John Reis, the band set out to fill what they had felt was an apparent void of ‘balls out punk rock ’n’ roll’ in London. Death Pedals have made a name for themselves within London’s DIY punk scene as a must-see live band. Second on the line-up are the quite frankly brutish Rad Pitt, who we guarantee will raise more eyebrows with their raucous brand of energetic rock than they will with that rather questionable name. Excellent prog post-punk outfit The Furious Sleep support.
Our top pick from a busy July at The Portland goes down on the 20th when The Ginger Wildheart Band, Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors and Massive Wagons take to the stage. Riffing his way onto the UK Brit rock scene in the early 90s with The Wildhearts after earning his chops in glam outfit The Quireboys, Ginger has since graced the audio world with numerous musical outings and solo projects.
This image: Moonstrips
There’s an excellent triple header on the 30th, The Machismos, a legendary band putting weirdness and punk back into indie since 1996, top the bill. Heavy psych trio Moonstrips who bend garage rock round many corners and Cambridge stalwarts The Scissors complete the bill – all in aid of the Down’s Syndrome Association.
Also at The Portland this month you have Duncan Dodds album launch (1st), The Saps (7th) and Frost (31st). Then on the 17th over at the Corner House there is Dos Floris, Jonathan Beckett, Bouquet of Dead Crows acoustic and The Seven Twenty. Nice mix of acts from Cambridge, Nottingham and, erm… Italy.
There’s a host of events that catch our eye at Cambridge Junction. Following on from last year, Rapademic 100 is back on the 28th to showcase some of the city’s finest up-and-coming urban acts. The event is being produced by young people, aged 16–25, selected as a result of their work through Romsey Mill’s well-established music programmes.
The 3rd sees three-time Grammy-award winner Lucinda Williams at the Cambridge Junction’s J1 stage, following the release of her latest album The Ghosts of Highway 20. Williams’ live performances are filled with passion and intimacy as she connects with her audiences on a very personal level, allowing insight into the soul of her artistry.
The Average White Band are regarded as one of the best soul, R & B and funk bands alive and they play the Junction’s J1 on the 5th. Though first known for the timeless instrumental mega-hit Pick Up the Pieces, the band has strong foundations in its songwriting, stretching across several gold and platinum albums and triple Grammy nominations with Atlantic Records. As well as being the first Brits to simultaneously top the USA Top 100 Singles, Albums and R & B Singles charts, they garnered similar honours internationally and at home in the UK.
Then on the 30th on the same stage, step back in time to hear 70s mod revival outfit The Circles, with support from The Face.
We end with a nod to the Cam Comp record due out this month. 41 artists, 41 tracks – the fertile sounds of the Cambridge underground coming to a download platform near you from 8 July.
