New at the Halfmoon, Putney - April

	Preview by Paul Nelson

This month The Halfmoon has improved its listings format to give a clearer idea of music than previous E-letters. They've also provided web links of the bands for your perusal.

****STOP PRESS****
The Rollin' Stoned - Sunday, April 6, A few tickets left!
The day of the Oxford vs Cambridge boat race, which starts at Putney Bridge. Watch the start live, watch the rest of the race on the big screen in the Halfmoon, and then celebrate in the evening with this excellent and hugely popular Stones tribute. But be quick - only a handful of tickets are left and will go very quickly.
Buy now at www.halfmoon.co.uk

Highlights in April

Blast - Friday, April 4
Blast, a four-piece guitar indie band from Moscow, have become the biggest and most controversial band in the growing underground scene in Moscow. Their first visit to the UK in 1999 was to promote their "Cookies Are Sweet" single on their Moscow label Apollo G. They were spotted and signed up by the independent UK label Ghost Records, and shortly after released the single "Bury The Shoe Girl". In July 2000, the band embarked on their first UK tour, culminating in a rooftop gig in Chelsea.
The last couple of years have seen the band tour worldwide, perform alongside the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, and South Africa's biggest rock band, Just Jinger. Their latest single Girlfriend/I Don't Know has received airplay from both Radio 1 and XFM, and the band are returning to the UK in April for a mini tour including this gig at the Halfmoon. 'Dirty, sleazy, alternative rockn'roll.... the plucky defectors raise hell' Time Out

The More Specials - Saturday, April 5
The UK's only tribute to the ska legends, this nine-piece extravaganza have played with Bad Manners and Selecter, and perform The Specialists to packed venues across the UK. Their last Halfmoon gig was simply fantastic, and they return by huge public demand.

Martyn Joseph - Friday, April 11, advance/ door
Martyn Joseph has won the admiration from some of today's hardest-to-please music journalists through his beautiful songwriting, and distinct guitar and vocal work. The Welsh troubadour, who first walked blinking and faintly reluctantly into the spotlight of popular acclaim with his 1992 chart-hit 'Dolphins Make Me Cry'. After building a major nationwide audience in fifteen years of touring, Joseph now has the freedom to call the shots: following two albums with Sony and two with Grapevine, now its Martyn Joseph direct. After his fantastic gig with Steve Knightley (Show Of Hands) in January, Joseph returns for this solo appearance at the Halfmoon. 'An artist of enduring worth' Mojo Magazine

Fleetwood Bac - Saturday, April 12
The Mac tribute that have won the approval and encouragement of Mick Fleetwood, Bob Brunning, and most importantly the Fleetwood Mac fans. so much so, that original Mac bassist, Brunning, joined them on stage at the Halfmoon recently for a rendition of 'Need Your Love So Bad'. Fleetwood Bac have a well thought out set list that encompasses the best bits of Mac's long and varied catalogue, as well as some good Stevie Nicks tracks. It is a musically accurate show with plenty of good humour and entertainment. There is a rumour that Fleetwood Mac are reforming for a tour but will miss out the UK! 'There's only one thing for it then. keep up the good work! Much luck.' Mick Fleetwood

John Otway - Saturday, April 19
The year that the dwindling British music industry resorted to reality TV game shows to find new acts, John Otway took everybody by surprise (not least the major record companies) by storming in at number 9 in the charts with 'Bunsen Burner'. Otway has waited 25 years for his second hit having first hit the charts with 'Cor Baby That's Really Free'. Bunsen Burner's success, which received no music industry help whatsoever, will be remembered as one of the greatest rockn'roll swindles of all time, and proved that Otway's fan power can match those of his chart rivals Gareth Gates and Atomic Kitten! Showing that fame and chart success hasn't gone to his head, Otway returns to his home London venue (where Bunsen Burner was first ever performed), to provide his usual comic show of psychedelic pub rock, RnB and punk-disco! 'Now with two hits in the set, as well as his Guinness World Record breaking cover of 'House Of The Rising Sun he's national treasure'. Q Magazine

Boo! - Friday, April 25 (pictured)
Boo! are a band we simply cannot recommend enough. They need no introduction to South Africans, they are of course one of the country's biggest acts, but they are now gaining a following in Europe down to their downright original and upbeat music. This is a rare UK visit so Brits - don't miss out. The three piece comprise drums, trumpet, bass guitar and vocals - the strange line up in itself indicates that this band are something different. Listening to the music evokes XTC, Primus and touches of modern dance music. Their live show is truly stompin', and there is something of a carnival or clubbing atmosphere to their gigs. Quite simply, there is no other band like this on the planet - a highly, highly recommended live gigging experience. Come and join the converts.
Check out www.boo.co.za - a really fun website!

The Hamsters - Saturday, April 26
Now in their sixteenth year, and soon to be performing their 3,250th concert, and with a national mailing list exceeding 20,000 the Hamsters are established as the UK's premier blues-rock attraction. Although primarily performing their own material, they are widely regarded as the leading interpreters of the music of Jimi Hendrix and, more recently, ZZ Top. The trio was recently voted the UK's best blues band by readers of Blueprint Magazine - the blues scene's essential read. Guitarist Snail's Pace Slim was also voted one of the top 100 guitarists of all time in a radio poll on LBC. If you've never seen the Hamsters before, prepare to be converted.
"Fabulous: one of Britain's very best live bands" Bob Harris, Radio 2
"Nobody does the music of Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top better (apart from the real ZZ Top)...one of the best live blues acts in the UK" The Times
See www.thehamsters.co.uk

PURCHASING TICKETS
The Halfmoon sells tickets for selected Halfmoon gigs in conjunction with Ticketweb. Where available, it is strongly recommended to buy tickets in advance, as many of their gigs now sell-out. They wouldn't want you to miss out!
You can buy tickets either:
Over the bar
24hr charge-by-phone on 08700 600 100
Online at www.halfmoon.co.uk (there is a cheaper booking fee this way)

Listings for April 2003

Doors open 8.30pm unless stated otherwise. Where two prices are shown, this indicates the advance ticket price followed by the on-door price.

Tue 1.... Angry Boy/Alluvium/Light Beyond Sight... punk pop and powerful British rock from LBS "Bloody Great" Dr Fox Capital FM.
Wed 2.... Reemer/Smug/Kate Aumonier...indie and pop-rock.
Thu 3.... Maker/The Delaners/The Lights...indie.
Fri 4.... Mortimer/Blast/Parker...indie.
Sat 5.... The More Specials...Specials tribute, ska.
Sun 6.... Dick Laurie & the Elastic Band...afternoon jazz...2-5pm... Free
Mon 7.... The Acoustic Session...all genres...8pm.
Tue 8.... Glass/The Fleet/Mongrel Dog...indie
Wed 9.... Makara/Lazy Killers/Lewd...indie.
Thu 10.... Control of Reason/White Man Kamikaze/Metro Riots...alternative rock.
Fri 11.... Martyn Joseph...acclaimed singer-songwriter. "An artist of enduring worth" Mojo Magazine.
Sat 12.... Fleetwood Bac...Mick Fleetwood approved Mac tribute.
Sun 13.... Dick Laurie & the Elastic Band...afternoon jazz...2-5pm... Free
Mon 14.... The Acoustic Session...all genres...8pm.
Tue 15.... Brink/Thirty Times...indie.
Wed 16.... Revere/Little Spitfire/Polar...Rock and New Wave.
Thu 17.... Ideophone/Mike TV/Amberdog...Indie.. One of the best unsigned bands we've seen in years headline -You'll love 'em.
Fri 18.... 13 Amp Sun/Stuart Avery Band...alternative rock with a psychedelic touch.
Sat 19.... John Otway...the 50 year old who got into the top ten without having to go on Pop Idol. "A national treasure" Q.
Sun 20.... Dick Laurie & the Elastic Band...afternoon jazz...2-5pm... Free
Mon 21.... No entertainment (Bank Holiday)
Tue 22.... No entertainment
Wed 23.... Emma Harding/Gloryscene/Roseemary.... Alternative rock.
Thu 24.... Mahoney/Standing Man...indie.
Fri 25.... Boo! one of South Africa's biggest bands (see link below). XTC, Primus mixed with modern dance. Unknown amongst Brits, spread the word!
Sat 26.... The Hamsters...blues-rock. Voted UK's best blues-rock band (Blueprint). "One of Britain's very best live bands" Bob Harris.
Sun 27.... Dick Laurie & the Elastic Band...afternoon jazz...2-5pm..Free
Mon 28.... The Acoustic Session...all genres...8pm.
Tue 29.... The Frontline/Column A/Unit...indie + rock.
Wed 30.... Burlesque/Friday Streets/High Rollers...raw alternative rock.

Listings correct at time of send. Bill subject to change. Please check before setting out. Over 18's only. R.O.A.R.

RELATED LINKS:
www.ideophone.co.uk
www.kateaumonier.com
www.13ampsun.com
www.amberdog.co.uk
www.column-a.com
www.lazykillers.com
www.themortimer.com
www.revereonline.co.uk
www.parkeronline.tk
www.lewdmusic.com
www.lightbeyondsight.co.uk
www.gloryscene.co.uk
www.boo.co.za
www.thehamsters.co.uk
www.fleetwoodbac.com
www.martynjoseph.com

Halfmoon Putney, 93 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1EU. Tel: 020 8780 9383; Fax: 020 8789 7863; Email: office@halfmoon.co.uk

Putney Bridge Tube, Putney Train
www.halfmoon.co.uk