ROCK FEST
The King Billy, Northampton
Thursday June 20th – Sunday June 23rd
No Sixfields festival this year from Blackbush, the replacement is two festivals at the Billy this weekend and one in August. Thursday sees STEVIE JONES & THE WILDFIRES, FAMILY OF NOISE, and 100,000 HOURS playing. Friday means V8. Saturday welcomes JOHNNY THE FOX, 9 CARAT PURPLE , EMPYRE, MOJO CITY REBELS, RED HAWK RISING, FUELED HATE, CATALYST, LOKI, and GRAMMA VEDETTA. Finally Sunday brings out DIRTY JACK DC, MOTORPACE, PORCELAIN HILL and BLUESTONES. Times vary. Thursday and Friday are free entry, Saturday and Sunday are £5 per day [or a weekend ticket for £8]
SAM MORROW + MOUNTAINTOP JUNKSHOP
Thursday June 20th
Little Country Smokehouse & General Store, Cransley
Southern stomp and old-school funky-tonk from Los Angeles. Minimal country/Americana in support, from the slightly closer locale of Leicester. Doors 8pm, £10 tickets
THE NORSEHAMPTON VIKING FESTIVAL
Friday June 21st to Saturday June 22nd
The Black Prince, Northampton
A “celebration of Viking life” in Northampton, amazing. Musical delights from ATORC [folk meets metal from Bury St. Edmunds], GREENMAN RISING [Midlands folkies] SELLSWORD [Yorkshire metal], THE DIRTY TALES [celtic folk/punk band from Bedford], SCOTT SWAIN & THE SINNERS [acoustic alt-rock from Herts], BORN TO DESTRUCT [rock’n’roll from Cambridge], RALPH BEEBY & THE ELEPHANT COLLECTIVE [blues rock from London], THE WHISKY REBELLION [gypsy-punk from Leicester]. Tickets £8/£12
LAY IT DOWN
Friday June 21st
The Lab, Northampton
New Breed of open mic for the urban music scene. Impact, Hagglar, L30 Robinson, Paxx, RG The Baron, and many more perform. Doors 8pm, free entry
BRIAN STONE
Friday June 21st
Albion Brewery Bar, Northampton
Stone [from Hampshire] is a lively, original singer songwriter known for engaging, entertaining performances. Doors 9pm, free entry
THE DRONES CLUB + CORINNE LUCY
Friday June 21st
The Pomfret Arms, Northampton
Solstice night, with a headliner mixing of ancestral and improvised music with eastern and dub rhythms. Supported by the hypnotising singer-songwriter. Doors 8pm, free entry
THE MISPELT
Saturday June 22nd
Albion Brewery Bar, Northampton
Solid punk rock of 21 years vintage [think Ramones, Rancid, Clash]. Plus solo support from Lee of Lhasa Calling fame. From 8pm, free entry
CANYONS + support
Saturday June 22nd
The Pomfret Arms, Northampton
Re-branded from Real Live Owls, Canyons is a collective of seven musicians. Call it Anglicana, country and eastern, call it folky rock and roll. This is the stripped down four-piece version of the band, airing new tunes from a forthcoming ep. Doors 8pm, free entry
THE MUSIC BARN FESTIVAL
Saturday June 22nd
A barn in Cranford
Returning for its 6th year, they continue to donate most of proceeds of the event to a local charity, in particular a local palliative care hospice, the Cransley Hospice in Kettering. The festival showcases artists from across a broad range of genres including folk, rock, dance and electronic music. Artists include KOYO, SWEET CRISIS, KING PURPLE, THE BRANDY THIEVES, JJ JECZALIK, and HAUSWERKS. Doors 2pm, £25 tickets
JOEL HARRIES
Sunday June 23rd
The Garibaldi Hotel, Northampton
Solo set. 8pm, free entry
📸 of Sam Morrow by @lesliecampbellphoto
