Intimate, articulate, experimental, beautiful performances at (usually) Slak and (sometimes) The Exmouth Arms in Cheltenham.

The best new artists, the best new songs, the best voices at the best venues in the area.

You can contact Calmer by emailing calmercheltenham@googlemail.com, visting us at www.myspace.com/calmermusic or go and be our friend on Facebook.

Thurs 15th April 2010
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Laish

+ Kristen McClement
+ Edd Donovan

Tues 15th Dec 2009
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Calmer* Christmas Spectacular with...

Gannets + AF Harrold
+ Men Diamler + Animal Magic Tricks

Gannets

For our Calmer* Christmas spectacular we thought you deserved something very special and with the Gannets, that's what you'll get.

Comprised of the Guillemot's frontman, Fyfe Dangerfield, and the bands old brass section, Chris Cundy and Alex Ward, you'll find a group Mercury nominated musicians playing at their free-form best.

With Dominic Lash, double bass and Steve Noble, tubthumping and drums, Gannets promise to make this a Calmer* to remember.

"The abstract improv version of the Guillemots..." The Guardian

www.myspace.com/gannets

AF Harrold

AF Harrold is an award winning performance poet with a yak fixation - but this is a good thing.

Starting out on the Slam scene, AF has performed for radio and television while working as poet in residence for the Glastonbury Festival in 2008.

Comedic, insightful, elegant and altruistic are just some of the words reviewers haven't yet used to describe the man.

AF Harrold - a man for all seasons (except summer, which is a bit hot on the whole).

We love him and are sure you will too!

"This yak-poet is Spike Milligan and Peter Cook rolled into one..."  Daljit Nagra

www.myspace.com/afharrold

Animal Magic Tricks

Animal Magic Tricks began two years ago when Frances Laura Donnelly fled London, and her own crap art and poetry, to return to the seaside town of Bournemouth, where she finally combined her malformed disciplines in the joy of making noise.

Her musical training took place under the strict regime of an elderly audience demanding Vera Lynn and Billie Holiday in the old folk's home in where she worked. She currently lives in Brighton which is lovely, though the coastline is unspeakably better in Dorset.

"...a sublime voice and tricks aplenty..."  Rebekah Cane

www.myspace.com/animalmagictricks

Men Diamler

Men Diamler is a channel for old thyme ways - footstompin’ blues, two string serenades, backwoods drinking hollers, horse play and pagan folk all get exorcised.


Imagine Roy Orbison with a two punctured lungs and John Fahey with a fractured hand? Well, he sounds better than that.

Following his recent UK tour and sessions on BBC radio, Men returns to Calmer* with a handbag of new songs, strangeness and smiles.


"Men Diamler cannot be ignored. He looks a little like electric-era Bob Dylan..." Fact Magazine

www.myspace.com/mendiamler
 

Fri 31st July 2009
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Dead Days Beyond Help
+ Brainville Desperados (in association with The Week of Small Miracles)
+ Pete Robson

Dead Days Beyond Help

The amazing multi-talents of Mr Alex J Ward (Guillemots and much, much more) team-up with drummer, Jem Doulton, to reach a petit mort of mad intensity with their modern love moniker, Dead Days Beyond Help.

In their own words: "A guitarist and a drummer, following their whims. (One of the guitarist's more frequent whims is singing - the drummer tends to show a bit more self-control in that regard, though not when he's playing in some of his other bands.)

"Having strenuously avoided anything with a prog or math taint since the demise in 2001 of his previous band Camp Blackfoot, with this material he once again allowed himself to explore (though not fixate upon) overt structural complexity."

We say: A treat for the senses!"

www.myspace.com/deaddaysbeyoundhelp

Brainville Desperados

Coming from Germany as part of the ambitious "Week of Small Miracles" mini-fest, the Brainville Desperados are one of those beautifully indefinable bands that just happen and find their way to a place like Calmer*.

Brainville Desperado’s feature contrabass clarinettist Ove Volquartz (Gottingen), percussionist Christian Dreher (Gottingen) and guitarist Andreas Duker (Gottingen) performing improvised music inspired by Sun Ra.

We are more than happy to offer up our welcoming smiles and clapping hands for an evening of excellent improv and more...

"...Ooh!..." Us

Pete Robson

Improvised music from the piano - sometimes a trumpet - but always the heart.

Pete will also be leading an improvisation workshop at Meantime earlier in the day with all ages and abilities welcome.

You can find more information on "The Week of Small Miracles" festival at www.myspace.com/theweekofsmallmiracles

Fri 29th May 2009
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Martin Stephenson
+ Jim Lockey

Martin Stephenson

We're delighted to welcome back the extraordinary talents of Martin Stephenson...

Formed The Daintees in 1980 and later toured with The Bluebells, Prefab Sprout & Aztec Camera.

Has appeared the likes of Roy Buchanan, John Martyn and Janis Ian, amongst many notable others.

Released 4 major albums on London Records & Capitol USA.

We really don't need to say anything more... It's the legendary Martin Stephenson.

Miss this and you'll certainly be missing out!

www.myspace.com/martinstephenson

Jim Lockey

Locally based performer, Jim sings articulate and intelligent songs of pure power and honesty - resonantly resonated through his resonator guitar.

We are really pleased to have him back in a rare solo performance... I'm sure you're all going to love this set too!

"...f**king excellent..." Us

www.myspace.com/jimlockey

Wed 25th Feb 2009
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Chris Corsano/Tony Bevan/Dominic Lash
+ Grace & Delete w/ Stuart Wilding
+ Warp Whistle & Ion Beale

Chris Corsano

Chris Corsano's drumming has to be seen to be fully appreciated. An 'into the void' musician who collaborates with a huge range of artists. Loose-limbed, intense, even melodic, he exposes the audience to sounds and rhythms that defy normality. He moves light footed around the world sparking off into all kinds of collaborations playing with/alongside Jim O'Rouke, the Dimension X project, Evan Parker, Bjork, Mick Beck, Okkyung Lee, Thurston Moore and Bill Nace among many.

Chris comes to Calmer* with his trio featuring Tony Bevan on Saxaphone and Dominic Lash on double bass.

"...Corsano, despite being arguably the most riotosly energetic and creative drummer in contemporary free jazz, does far more than merely bash his kit into submission. Playing loud does not mean abandoning subtlety, and Corsano's sudden shifts of texture and dynamics are a wonder to behold..." Dan Warburton, The Wire

www.myspace.com/chriscorsano

Grace & Delete

The enigmatic Grace & Delete duo of Chris Cundy and James Dunn reprise their horn and tinnitus analyser electronics in a must see return to Cheltenham. Joined by experimental percussionist Stuart Wilding, the unexpected is expected!

"...a contrasting world of incredible noise and, at times, devastating proportions..." Ochre Records

www.myspace.com/christophercundy

Warp Whistle & Ion Beale

Ambient samples and off-kilter drones hurtle around a Large Hadron Collider of 8-bit beats in a demented collaboration between the irrepressible Chiptune producer Warp Whistle and mysterious and relentless noise-monger Ion Beale.

www.myspace.com/warpwhistleisboss
 

Weds 21st Jan 2009
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

The Local & CMN Tour
Featuring Doveman
David Thomas Broughton
+ Sam Amidon

Sam Amidon

Sam Amidon was raised in Brattleboro, Vermont by folk-musician parents and plays fiddle, banjo, and guitar. In 2007, he released ‘But This Chicken Proved Falsehearted’ under the moniker Samamidon.

His most recent album of songs is 'All Is Well,' produced & recorded in Iceland by Valgeir Sigurdsson (Bjork, Bonnie Prince Billy) and featuring orchestral arrangements by Nico Muhly.

"...in an era of overheated Nick Drake comparisons, Amidon is eerily close to the real thing." Rolling Stone

www.myspace.com/samamidon

David Thomas Broughton

Using simple tools - an acoustic guitar, some looping pedals, an old radio – David Thomas Broughton has created a singular statement of purpose and artistic intent.

Long after “freak-folk” is no longer a trend, listeners are pulling ‘The Complete Guide to Insufficiency’ off the shelf.

"My jaw actually dropped" - Sandman Magazine

www.myspace.com/davidthomasbroughton

Doveman

26-year old Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman is one of New York's most in-demand keyboard players, collaborating & touring with artists such as Martha Wainwright, Antony, David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto & Yoko Ono.

Doveman is Bartlett and his select group of collaborators, who bring to mind artists such as Frederic Chopin, Cat Power, Keith Jarrett, Talk Talk, and Chris Whitley.

"The kind of bittersweet music that would break your heart if it wasn't already broken — don't miss 'The Acrobat'." Performing Songwriter

www.myspace.com/doveman
 

Thur 4th Dec 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

The Greenman Tour
Featuring Mary Hampton
+ Pete Greenwood
+ Men Diamler

Mary Hampton

Bewildering Brighton based singer playing traditional yet modern folk with a clear wispy voice.

"...terrifying and gorgeous....unusual and strong.....epic and tiny... 'My Mother's Children' is an album I know I am going to love for life..." Eliza Carthy

http://www.myspace.com/maryhampton

Pete Greenwood

A regular on the London scene, Pete takes his audience back to the days of the 60s folk revival. With guitar work similar to that of Jansch and Renbourn, Pete is spearheading the current surge of folk talent.

"Greenwood’s future is surely as bright as his songs..." Q Magazine

www.myspace.com

Men Diamler

Despite his tender age he is a channel for old thyme ways - footstompin’ blues, two string serenades, backwoods drinking hollers, horse play and pagan folk all get exorcised.


Imagine Roy Orbison with a two punctured lungs and John Fahey with a fractured hand? Well, he sounds better than that.


"Men Diamler cannot be ignored. He looks a little like electric-era Bob Dylan..." Fact Magazine

http://www.myspace.com/mendiamler
 

Wed 26th Nov 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission:
Free Before 10.30pm

Longstone
+ Brickwerk
+ Special Guests

Longstone

Longstone exist beneath the vagaries of the pop world's glitzy detritus. Overlooked by all but music obsessives, Mike Cross and Mike Ward's efforts only fleetingly invigorate late-night airwaves. The mainstream doesn't much care for Longstone. And though it might not pay the rent, the pull to make music is far too alluring to give up for day jobs.

Tonight promises to be a very special performance as the band say farewell to their emigrating guitar hero, Steve Moody.

http://www.myspace.com/longstone

Brickwerk

Brickwerk is a side project for Mike Ward of Longstone and Kev Fox of Ninety Degrees South. It is both a recording and performing unit that allows them to explore musical styles and sound creation that may or may not overlap with their other bands. Happily utilising found and natural sounds combined with randomly acquired old equipment along side home-made - or converted electronic sound gadgets - to add to the amazing range of instrumentation available.

"A treat..."  Us

www.myspace.com/brickwerk
 

Fri 24th Oct 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Major Matt Mason
+ Matt Eaton
+ Cat Green Bike

Major Matt Mason

Calmer* Music welcomes Kansas-born, NYC-based 'anti-folk' pioneer Major Matt Mason. A member of the band Schwervon!, producer for the likes of Herman Dune, Jeffrey Lewis and Kimya Dawson (Moldy Peaches), and founder of the Olive Juice Music record label. And now with 4 solo albums under his belt.

Welcome to a world of ramshackle-yet-poetic lo-fi folk; simple, acoustic-driven tales of urban life, with melodies catchier than a cold in a Scottish winter. And a voice that will split the critics - into sheep or goats. While not always making a great deal of sense - think Syd Barrett or Robyn Hitchcock – here are wry, witty dead-on words of wisdom about life, the universe and everything. And girls.

Here comes your new favourite lo-fi electric-folk poet. And John Peel has played him, so there.

“Think a more flippant Elliott Smith, or if Billy Bragg didn't have the political agenda and came from NY rather than Barking. Simple, yet affecting, witty and clever. We salute the Major.” DrownedInSound

"Like an acoustic Evan Dando, Matt shares a similar ability to laugh at his misfortunes while simultaneously tugging on heartstrings." Mojo

“A storyteller of unmistakable proportions, NY tales unfold from his unassuming figure...” Trakmarx.com

www.myspace.com/majormattmasonusa

Matt Eaton

Having spent the last few years fronting Actress Hands - a noisy guitar pop group who've recently toured alongside the likes of Dinosaur Jr, The Pipettes, The Walkmen and Le Reno Amps amongst others - and playing guitar for Thirty Pounds Of Bone, The Electric Soft Parade and (the UKs number one Jonathan Richman tribute act) The Modern Ovens, Matt has a remarkable view point to strip down from, taking his inspirations of living and touring music and pouring them in his cavernous tones across arrangements that are both simple and complex and indeed equally sparse and warm.

Matt’s debut solo release, the ludicrously titled 'Finish Your Chips', is a candid and sincere documentation of how much of a musical fan he is. Never intended to be released (or given a second thought perhaps), 'Finish Your Chips' is the result of one night a while back when our hero went to Steve Grainger’s house in Brighton late at night, and after some cigarettes and a few cans of bitter woke up with an album of acoustic magic.

"There’s something truly beautiful here, like a sort of bucolic British Tom Waits without the gravel in the throat."  Subba-Cultcha.com

www.myspace.com/driftmatteaton

Cat Green Bike

Haling from Bristol, Cat Green Bike's minimal micro-epic ukelele sub-balladry brims with the wry witticisms of a closet English Eccentric. Gingerly plucked melodic lines that nod as far east as Canterbury with prog-rock spines are interwoven with a satiric, dryly humoured vocal counterpoint in hushed home-counties tones. Cat Green Bike will laugh at the slugs she pours salt on.

"Uketastic..."  Us

www.myspace.com/catgreenbike
 

Weds 15th Oct 2008

Cheltenham Literature Festival - Voices Off
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £5 on the door

Curtis Eller
Voices Off @ The Cheltenham Literature Festival in association with Calmer*

Curtis Eller

He sings about pigeon racing, performing elephants and Jesus, all of which he has seen with his own eyes.

He started his show-business career at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat in the Hiller Olde Tyme Circus in Detroit , but has since turned to the banjo because that’s where the money is. 

His biggest musical influences are Buster Keaton, Al Jolson and Abraham Lincoln.

http://www.myspace.com/curtiseller

Curtis will be joined on the night by a host of poetic performers including slam goddess Lucy English, the intergalactic Dreadlockalien and Philip's long-lost love-child, Steve Larkin.

For more information on Voices Off and the Literature Festival click here.
 

Tues 16th Sep 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Martin Stephenson
+ Brickwerk

Martin Stephenson

Formed The Daintees in 1980 and later toured with The Bluebells, Prefab Sprout & Aztec Camera.

Has appeared the likes of Roy Buchanan, John Martyn and Janis Ian, amongst many notable others.

Released 4 major albums on London Records & Capitol USA.

3 x albums with Demon Records.

Various offerings with Voiceprint....

We really don't need to say anything more... It's the legendary Martin Stephenson.

Miss this and you'll certainly be missing out!

www.myspace.com/martinstephenson

Brickwerk

Brickwerk is a side project for Mike Ward of Longstone and Kev Fox of Ninety Degrees South. It is both a recording and performing unit that allows them to explore musical styles and sound creation that may or may not overlap with their other bands. Happily utilising found and natural sounds combined with randomly acquired old equipment along side home-made - or converted electronic sound gadgets - to add to the amazing range of instrumentation available.

"A treat..."  Us

www.myspace.com/brickwerk
 

Thurs 14th Aug 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Chris T-T
+ Clayton Blizzard
+ Men Diamler

Chris T-T

Back by popular demand, CHRIS T-T is not one to keep his opinions to himself; this articulation often results in audience members being offended, outraged or otherwise aghast. He’s received earfuls from angry old ladies in hunting villages, indie crowds in Essex and a few
outraged liberals at the Leftfield stage during the Glastonbury Festival. He must be doing something right.

With his past two albums, the first two parts of the London Trilogy ‘The 253’ (2001) and ‘London Is Sinking’ (2003), as well as overtly political mini-album ‘9 Red Songs’ (2005), Chris T-T has tackled life's grand themes of war, money, politics, love, sex, and death, and has transformed them into highly personal and highly emotional songs, championed by everyone from NME to Rolling Stone, from Radio 1 to Radio 3, and 6Music.

"The genius of Chris T-T's songwriting is his ability to humanise even the most outlandish conceits. They seem instead like brilliant ideas that no-one else could've come up with..." The Guardian

www.myspace.com/christtuk

Chris will be making a personal appearance in Badlands shop at 4.00pm where he'll also play a couple of songs so why not pop along and meet him and get your tickets for the show at the same time.

Clayton Blizzard

His lyrics are incredible; he raps; he sings; he improvises but unlike some of his contemporaries he can write original tunes played with skill and ease. He speaks the truth with a dose of reality. This is what music should be about: fusion is the future. Black meets white, genre meets genre, folk and phat, inspiring and pure genius.

"Clayton Blizzard: one man, an acoustic guitar and a microphone but the exact opposite of Ralph McTell. Bristol’s own Johnny Vegas of hip hop and bastard son of Bill Hicks, Blizzard is Bristol's most politically charged hip hop artist and he's pissed off." Choke

www.myspace.com/claytonblizzard

Men Diamler

Men Diamler is a young man with a cult reputation who will not be tamed by the powers that be, reconfiguring a English/Welsh soul music through woozy operatics and wild and weird song/stories. Sweet and darkness have never sounded so close or so intense in such performer. Despite his tender age he is a channel for old thyme ways - footstompin’ blues, two string serenades, backwoods drinking hollers, horse play and pagan folk all get exorcised.


Imagine Roy Orbison with a two punctured lungs and John Fahey with a fractured hand? Well, he sounds better than that.


"Men Diamler cannot be ignored. He looks a little like electric-era Bob Dylan, and it’s just him and his guitar, and sometimes it’s just him, a cappella – not even always in front of a microphone – but his voice is so astonishing that traffic literally stops. Yes, I know what I’ve just said. He makes sure we know we’re watching a performance of spiritual-gospel-blues, but it’s authentic as it gets. Again, I know what I’ve just said, but it’s true. It’s ridiculous, in all honesty, because somebody with much more influence than I have should be writing about him." Fact Magazine

www.myspace.com/mendiamler
 

Thurs 3 Apr 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands

Chris T-T
+ Sam Holmes
+ Jim Lockey

Chris T-T

CHRIS T-T is not one to keep his opinions to himself; this articulation often results in audience members being offended, outraged or otherwise aghast. He’s received earfuls from angry old ladies in hunting villages, indie crowds in Essex and a few
outraged liberals at the Leftfield stage during the Glastonbury Festival. He must be doing something right.

With his past two albums, the first two parts of the London Trilogy ‘The 253’ (2001) and ‘London Is Sinking’ (2003), as well as overtly political mini-album ‘9 Red Songs’ (2005), Chris T-T has tackled life's grand themes of war, money, politics, love, sex, and death, and has transformed them into highly personal and highly emotional songs, championed by everyone from NME to Rolling Stone, from Radio 1 to Radio 3, and 6Music.

"The genius of Chris T-T's songwriting is his ability to humanise even the most outlandish conceits. They seem instead like brilliant ideas that no-one else could've come up with..." The Guardian

www.myspace.com/christtuk

Sam Holmes

Cheltenham based singer, Sam Holmes, is equally at home fronting her band at the Cropredy Festival or, as in this case, singing intimate solo sets with the aid of an acoustic guitar.

Her songs are "filled with tenderness, poignancy and a beautiful frailty" and excellently delivered with cool, angelic, vocals.

"...delicate, romantic songs, perfect in their simplicity and melody..." musicOHM.com

www.myspace.com/samholmes06

Jim Lockey

Another locally based performer, Jim sings articulate and intelligent songs of pure power and honesty - resonantly resonated through his resonator guitar.

Having made his name with thehollah, Jim is now making his solo Calmer* debut tonight and we are really pleased to have him... I'm sure you're all going to love this set too!

"...f**king excellent..." Us

www.myspace.com/jimlockey
 

Thur 6 Mar 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands
 

Red Deer Club Featuring
Liz Green
+ George Thomas

Liz Green

Liz Green spent last year collecting accolades and making friends wherever she played: from winning the Glastonbury New Talent competition and playing on the Pyramid stage to being awarded BBC Manchester’s Single of the Year for her debut Bad Medicine, Liz has been compared to everyone from Judy Garland and Peggy Lee to Karen Dalton and Jolie Holland...

“…a musician with a finger-pickin' guitar technique and haunting vibrato from another time, another place, capable of summoning up at will the ‘real’ spirit of folk, acoustic blues and bluegrass…” The Guardian

www.myspace.com/lizgreenmusic

George Thomas

George Thomas is a pretty unique character. His voice ranges around his tunes like a lost sheep, while he writhes and curls himself slowly behind the microphone, as if a trip to the little boys’ room ahead of the show would have helped.

His songs don’t so much ring out, as drift away into the ether, offering no insistence to be heard and happily settling for the mere possibility of stumbling into your ears unexpectedly.

“…heart-wrenching songs, a self effacing maverick…” The Guardian

www.myspace.com/georgethomasandtheowls

Tues 19 Feb 2008
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £6 on the door
£5 advance from Badlands
 

Vialka
+ Safetyword

Vialka

The dynamic duo of Marylise Frecheville and Eric Boros have been lugging their nomadic turbo folk sound and modus vivendi all over the planet since the turn of the century.

Vialka's music is based on the frenetic interaction between Marylise's syncopated drumming and singing and Eric's orchestral guitar playing - and is delivered with ecstatic energy, humor and an all consuming lust for life...

'…fiddly European folk band at high volume and velocity in a White Stripes sort of way…' Stewart Lee (Sunday Times)

www.myspace.com/vialka

Safetyword

Safetyword, four Manx swains who write songs about medieval torture devices and the common handshake...

Need we say more?

'Safetyword are a band that defy classification...'

www.myspace.com/safetywordmusic

Mon 10 Dec 2007
Exmouth Arms 
Cheltenham

Doors 8pm
Admission £5 on the door
 

Curtis Eller
+ Men Diamler

Curtis Eller + Men Diamler

Calmer* will be hosting  a pre-Christmas special featuring the return of the  wonderful Curtis Eller, ably supported by the mercurial Men Diamler on Monday 10th December 2007, upstairs at the excellent Exmouth Arms on Bath Road, Cheltenham. Doors at 8pm with tickets a festive £5. Be there!

More on Curtis at www.myspace.com/curtiseller

More on  Men D at www.myspace.com/mendiamler

...And you can find more info on the acts and the evening here.

Wed 22 Aug 2007
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 on the door
 

Diane Cluck
Barry Bliss

Diane Cluck

New York based singer/songwriter affiliated with the anti-folk scene back home but, arguably, more sophisticated than many artists of the genre.

Contagiously introspective, joyfully declarative with bewitching harmonies, she sings the kind of songs that make you want to fall to your knees.

Influenced by Kate Bush, Chopin and Satie, Diane's album 'Oh Vanille / ova nil' ended up #2 underground album of the year in Mojo 2005,

'Just a voice, a guitar, and some of the most spellbinding words you’ll hear anywhere' – Mojo

‘I’m so happy to be alive at the same time she is because I get to see her perform’ Devendra Bahnhart

www.myspace.com/dianecluck

Barry Bliss

He was born in the '60s to a woman that sang a lot and a man that fished and climbed water towers. He never wanted for anything and was much loved. His mother later bought him his first 12-string. He later quit music and lived hiding in the woods and getting his food out of grocery store dumpsters. He then stopped doing that, returned to music, and became the living legend that he is today. Hey-Ho.

www.myspace.com/barrynowbliss

Thurs 7 Sep 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £6 in advance
£7 on the door
Buy online here

Scott Matthews
+ Edd Donovan

Scott Matthews

We heard Scott Matthews earlier this year and couldn’t believe he wasn’t incredibly famous.

Well, he practically is now, but we persuaded him to come back for a one-off special Calmer*

A blinding musical hybrid of bottleneck blues, a sprinkling of Shankar-esque sounds and implausibly soulful lyrics. The best thing to come out of Wolverhampton, well, ever.

Scott’s much anticipated debut album ‘Passing Stranger’ was released on 17th April. Since then, Scott has had a wealth of radio play, including five different tracks played on national radio, including BBC Radio 1 (Zane Lowe/Jo Whiley), Radio 2 (Mark Radcliffe/Bob Harris/Janice Long), XFM and BBC 6 Music. Scott’s debut single ‘Elusive’ was single of the week on iTunes and appeared on BBC 6 Music and XFM playlists.  Elusive is being re-released in late August.

Chances are you'll be buying his album sometime soon. And this will be the VERY last time you get to see him in such an intimate venue.

www.scottmatthewsmusic.co.uk
www.myspace.com/scottmatthewsmusic

Edd Donovan

Calmer* favourite and local folk shakespearo.

He has a big bag full of heart warming, belly tingling, soul touching songs. Enchantingly intimate performances. "Tunes that will touch your soul" say the BBC, "We just love him and he makes us cry" we say.

www.edddonovan.co.uk

www.myspace.com/edddonovan

Thurs 14 Sep 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

Charlie Parr
+ My Two Toms

Charlie Parr

One man, one guitar and a heap of songs songs about drinkin’ and killin’. This ain’t no retro rehash – this is honest blood and guts - country blues straight from Austin, Minnesota.

‘Charlie Parr is one of the greatest musicians and human beings I know’ - Alan Sparhawk, Low

His albums received critical acclaim and have sold well into the thousands. He’s toured the UK and Ireland twice to sell-out shows.

‘In an age of commercialism and celebrity and the turn of a quick buck, the soul saving melodies of Parr are like a breath of fresh air, timeless and majestic, princely and magnificent’ Losing Today

Don’t take our word for it, come and see him play. You’ll be glad you did. We promise.

www.charlieparr.com

My Two Toms

Tom Cops and Tom Stubbs play purty banjo, guitar and ukulele instrumentals. If you like your Bonnie Prince and your O Brother, you're going to love this.

Bristol based duo, their first two albums are being re-released in October 2006.

Charlie Parr, Herman Dune and Phillip Roebuck LOVE them, you should too.

www.mytwotoms.com

www.myspace.com/mytwotoms

Mon 9 Oct 2006
Festival Tent 
Cheltenham

10-11pm
Admission FREE

at the Cheltenham Literature Festival joins forces with Calmer* to presents two shows featuring some of our favourite artists from the past year....

Thomas Truax

He makes his own instruments. He’s the illegitimate son of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and  a mad scientist. He’s from New York but claims to be from Wowtown, a place which exists only in his imagination.

‘Beguilingly bizarre’ Uncut

Garage rock songs, cabaret show tunes, full of whistles, toy pianos, ice cream chimes and invented instruments. Shades of Tom Waits’ storytelling, Nick Cave’s theatricality and Lux Interior’s howling-at-the-moon-madness.

Prepare to be introduced to the hornicator, “…more akin to a William Burroughs style hallucination than an instrument..." Propertop.com, sister spinster and the beatmaster.

"...not of this earth...I still can't think of a single show I've seen that was as beguiling or as charming or as plain bananas as this one." Gigwise.com 

www.thomastruax.com

Fri 13 Oct 2006
Festival Tent 
Cheltenham

10-11pm
Admission FREE

The Sam Beer Band

Sam Beer

Back by hugely popular demand and this time with a band. We are so excited to host this folk/blues legend to be. The word is spreading fast about Sam Beer.

Inspiring energy and presence, melodic blues guitar and hard hitting poetic missiles.

“He’ll knock you down then lift you back up again with music shimmering in sunshine” - Half Moon. Go and have a listen www.myspace.com/sambeer and then come and enjoy.

www.sambeer.com

Sun 27th Aug 2006 
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

The Wiyos
Phillip Roebuck

It’s Bank Holiday Sunday so bring your shiny dancing shoes and prepare yourself for possibly the most joyous Calmer* ever...

The Wiyos play and compose music inspired by the early American musical idioms of the 1920s and '30s. Gleefully subverting genre distinctions, their music comes from a time before commercial formatting separated blues from country, ragtime from gospel and swing from hillbilly.

With washboard/harmonica/kazoo, resonator guitar/banjo, upright bass and three harmony vocals they create a visual spectacle in the tradition of vaudeville-esque performers such as Fats Waller, the Hoosier Hotshots and Uncle Dave Macon. Their on-stage physical comedy recalls the silent films of Laurel & Hardy, Keaton and Chaplin.

They’ve shared the bill with Gillian Welch & David Rawlins, Foghorn Stringband, Woody Mann and the Old Crow Medicine Show amongst many, many others.

The Wiyos charm everyone from urban hipsters to barefoot hillbillies to your sweet old grandma.

See them here.

www.thewiyos.com
www.myspace.com/thewiyos

Phillip Roebuck

Following a now legendary performance at All Tomorrow's Parties in 2004 and Peel session, we are very excited to have Phillip Roebuck play Calmer* as part of his first full UK tour.

A one man band for the modern age, armed with banjo, bass drum, incredible songs and a frenetic pace, he has entertained the world from the streets of New York City to huge stages sharing the bill with diverse acts such as Shellac, American Music Club , Nina Nastasia and Ralph Stanley.

"He plucks that banjo like a madman, like the devil himself." -New York Press

"Phillip Roebuck put an invigorating twist on the one-man-band set-up. With a mean banjo, and bass drum strapped to his back, he swept away any day-three cobwebs in a terrifically energetic punk-folk style." - The Independent

See him here or here.

 www.philliproebuck.com
www.myspace.com/philliproebuck

Thurs 10th Aug 2006 
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

A Hawk and A Hacksaw  +
Jonquil

A Hawk and A Hacksaw 

This accordion-wielding, mariachi-loving, instrument-swapping act soundtracked last summer when everyone went gypsy, and is proving to be unmissable live.

From New Mexico, USA, A Hawk And A Hacksaw is a hugely joyous and bewitching act who manages to meld traditional middle eastern with American folk and 21st Century atmospherics.

 Non-traditional world music for the digital age.

"Superb..Darkness at Noon. displays an astonishingly diverse array of musical voices. Barnes's project boldly proposes a new art music for the
21st century." The Irish Times

They’re only playing big festivals and very select one-off shows this summer so make sure you don’t miss out.

www.brokenheartfoundation.org.uk/hawk
www.myspace.com/ahawkandahacksaw

Jonquil

Jonquil is/are an Oxford bedroom recording project turned band, centered around Hugo Manuel. 

Their debut album, ‘Sunny Casinos’, released on 26^th June 2006 on Try Harder records, and started with a desire to use acoustic instruments. Influenced by the likes of Joan Baez, The Microphones, Akron/Family, Swans and Stars Of The Lid, Hugo spent a year collecting melodicas, reed organs, glockenspiels, dulcimers, whistles…

The result is a late night listening album of beautiful & engrossing dark gentle songs, dense summer drones, fairground field recordings and creeped-out dusty attic music. 

They are at once fizzing & clattering & wheezy… and slowly blossoming & twinkling & gossamer-like. Think Animal Collective at their most sun-dappled, Hood at their most intimate and some stumbled-upon eerie eastern European folk

www.myspace.com/jonquiluk

Thurs 20th July 2006 
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

Flipron  +
Misterlee

Imagine a man in a pink suit, sitting on a box, spluttering Neo-Dickensian rants about being chased by pensioners as he plays a cheap accordion to a band that sound like the Bad Seeds playing The Jungle Book. Or The Specials playing Jacques Brel. Or The Crazy World of Arthur Brown playing Western Swing on Waikiki Beach. Or the Kinks locked in the London Dungeon with a barrel of ale and Thomas De Quincey’s personal stash.

Imagine all these things and more because once you have stepped into the mystical world of Flipron, you had better be ready for one or two surprises.

 ‘It’s a treat to encounter a genuinely uncategorisable group’ The Observer Music Monthly 4/5

www.flipron.co.uk
www.myspace.com/flipron

Misterlee

Misterlee will lullaby and then petrify you. This is not a gig for the feint hearted.

"Misterlee makes a fucking terrifying sound" Tastyzine

Armed with a drumstick in one hand and a microphone in the other: Pinning you to the wall with giant lo-fi beats only to turn on a sixpence and absorb in unsettling almost-silence with lyrical snapshots of the human condition.

Quintessentially English; Misterlee, both individually and severally, profess independence and originality.

"I'm not sure exactly where he's coming from but it's definitely somewhere that Syd Barrett and Captain Beefheart have been; Tom Waits goes there on his holidays and The Beatles drove past there in the later years of their collective trip" Freqzine

www.misterlee.co.uk
www.myspace.com/leeallatson

Weds 17th May 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

Jana Hunter
Marissa Nadler
Wooden Spoon

Texan singer/songwriter and rising star.  A 40's blues diva trapped in the body of a slightly geeky indie girl full of soulful, intoxicating eeriness.

She released a split LP with Devendra Bahnhart last year (she’s over in the UK to play on his day at All Tomorrow’s Parties).

Deceptively simple and concise, a striking voice that traces smoke rings against her stark guitar playing. Music that’s slightly creepy, slightly menacing yet utterly magnetic.  

“I’d go and see her at the first chance you get” Space City Rock

www.myspace.com/janahunter

Marissa Nadler

New York folk siren who recalls fading beauty queens and lost souls in dark nights.  ‘Uncommonly lovely’ The Guardian

Willowy, entrancing and faraway melancholic sounds. She brings the all-encompassing sense of winter; dense fog rolling off the moors, misty mornings in the forest.

Imagine a young Stevie Nicks as Devendra Banhart’s geisha. Or Mazzy Star meets Leonard Cohen at their mostly hazily narcotic. Or maybe Neko Case swathed in black.

'Gorgeous…..A benchmark for the new psyche folk underground’ **** Uncut

www.marissanadler.com
www.myspace.com/songsoftheend

Wooden Spoon

Wooden Spoon is Owen Hills. He produces the most beautiful, Basho tinged folk. Quite astonishing.

They released a cd-r last year on Digitalis’ Foxglove imprint and feature on Bo’Weavil Recording’s ‘Free London’ compliation.

 ‘This is the kind of music you fear is not made anymore, if it ever was’ The Unbroken Circle

www.myspace.com/blindspoon

Thurs 11th May 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

Calmer* presents a triple headline bill:

Sam Beer +
James Blackshaw +
John Smith

Back by hugely popular demand and this time with a band. We are so excited to host this folk/blues legend to be. The word is spreading fast about Sam Beer.

Inspiring energy and presence, melodic blues guitar and hard hitting poetic missiles.

“He’ll knock you down then lift you back up again with music shimmering in sunshine” - Half Moon. Go and have a listen www.myspace.com/sambeer and then come and enjoy.
www.sambeer.com

John Smith

Unremarkable name for a quite remarkable guitarist and singer/songwriter.

 “A singular talent” The Times

You may have been lucky enough to catch him supporting John Martyn at Cheltenham Town Hall in April.  He’s taking a night out of this tour to come and play for us at Calmer*. His debut album, ‘The Fox and the Monk’ has just been released.

 “This young man is the future of acoustic guitar music” – John Renbourn

www.myspace.com/johnacousticsmith
www.acousticsmith

James Blackshaw

He’s shared the stage with Josephine Foster, British Sea Power, Sir Richard Bishop and Jack Rose; this is a warm up to his US tour with British folk heroine, Sharron Kraus, in the summer.

 “When UK-native James Blackshaw plays guitar, something spiritual takes place…..This unassuming 24 year old is transformed into a guitar god whose name belongs alongside the likes of Jack Rose, Steffen Basho-Junghans and Glenn Jones”  Foxy Digitalis

He consistently breaks boundaries in what could be seen a limited medium (12 string). Inspired by free-jazz, drone, ethnic music; this is aural magic. Waves and waves of beautiful layers punctuated by raga like flurries.

Close your eyes and prepare for a full on assault on the senses.

www.myspace.com/jamesblackshaw
www.jamesblackshaw.com

Thurs 27th April 2006 
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

Calmer* presents a remarkable show of sheer wonderment to celebrate May holiday weekend:

Richard James (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci)
Soft Hearted Scientists
Andrew Hockey

Songwriter and sometimes singer from long running, cult Welsh band, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, ‘one of the finest and most delightfully quirky bands in the business’.

He goes solo with an exquisite debut album, 'The Seven Sleepers Den', released on Boobytrap records on April 24th.

He's playing a selective tour and we're very, very excited to have the opportunity to welcome him to Calmer*.

www.richardjames.uk.net
www.myspace.com/richardjamesband

Soft Hearted Scientists
They say:
'WE WILL create music with a sense of wonder: like the sound of stars flying off the end of a wand or, if it were possible, the sound of plucking a spider's web encrusted with dew drops. Nothing less will do’

The press say:
'A new legal high is unleashed' 8/10 NME

'Deft, inspired storytelling…melodies that burrow into your brain like a caterpillar’ Uncut

'A magical little fairyland of a record' Mark Radcliffe, Radio 2

We say:
We just fucking love them. And their video. Click here. 

www.softheartedscientists.com
www.myspace.com/softheartedscientists

Thurs 20th April 2006 
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£6 on the door
Buy online here

Baby Dee 
Pantaleimon
+ James William Hindle

Legendary transgender singer/songwriter from NYC, classically trained harpist, circus and street performer; Baby Dee is possibly the most curious musician in the world.

One time member of Antony and the Johnsons and described by Antony as ‘the muse who helped realise much of the music performed by the Johnsons’. “One of the best and truest songwriters I have ever heard” David Tibet.

Having spent  time as musical director for the Catholic Church in the Bronx, in the circus as a bilateral hermaphrodite at Coney Island and in the Kamikaze Freak Show touring Europe , Baby Dee then became a familiar sight on the streets of New York riding a giant tricycle with harp attached. 

The Antony comparisons are easy to make, the songs are every bit as grandiose, the singing similarly sublime and the emotions expressed nothing short of devastating. Themes of love, nature and precious childhood expressed with a naked fragility which is enchanting and very slightly uncomfortable.

“Truly gorgeous music” Foxy Digitalis

For those who are fans of Antony & the Johnsons, attendance is absolutely compulsory. We are privileged to welcome her, and her harp, to Calmer* and to Cheltenham.

Pantaleimon

Pantaleimon is Andria Degens, a floating member of Current 93. After travelling through Asia for 2 years she returned to England in 1998 and formed Pantaleimon releasing her debut album ‘Trees Hold Time’ wholly inspired by her travels.

Haunting, minimalistic, meditative and healing compositions driven by Appalachian dulcimer, Tibetan singing bowls, bouzouki and vocals.

Drone based lullabies which sounds as ancient as the hills. Pure, beautiful and gently knowing in its simplicity, performed with “a contemplative grace” Wire

She has performed with Will Oldham, Current 93, William Hindle amongst many, many others and features on the Médecins Sans Frontières CD 2006 along with Isobel Campbell, Devendra Bahnhart, Allen Ginsberg.

www.pantaleimon.com

Very special guest....

James William Hindle

British singer/songwriter whose beautiful, beautiful, beautiful third folk-pop album, Town Feeling, was made with an array of the current folk hall of fame: Espers, Vetiver, Ladybug transistor, Currituck Co.

Imagine Belle and Sebastian playing Simon and Garfunkel, with the introspective English sensibilities of Nick Drake but the American pastoralism of John Denver.
‘6/6’ – Babysue.com
“Pure Americana ” Mojo

http://jwh.hinah.com

Weds 15th March 2006 
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5 in advance
£8 on the door
Buy online here

Calmer* brings their warped imagination to race week with:

Thomas Truax
+ Smokehand

He makes his own instruments. He’s the illegitimate son of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and  a mad scientist. He’s from New York but claims to be from Wowtown, a place which exists only in his imagination.

‘Beguilingly bizarre’ Uncut

Garage rock songs, cabaret show tunes, full of whistles, toy pianos, ice cream chimes and invented instruments. Shades of Tom Waits’ storytelling, Nick Cave’s theatricality and Lux Interior’s howling-at-the-moon-madness.

Prepare to be introduced to the hornicator, “…more akin to a William Burroughs style hallucination than an instrument..." Propertop.com, sister spinster and the beatmaster.

"...not of this earth...I still can't think of a single show I've seen that was as beguiling or as charming or as plain bananas as this one." Gigwise.com 

www.thomastruax.com  

Smokehand

‘Dark Loungecore’ 4 piece from Cardiff .  Eclectic exploits of jazz, Latino, classical and pop create a post-modern Film Noir soundtrack that is one minute sinister and the next, Sinatra.

Dark, brooding and breathtaking. The voice of the real musical underground calling up from a Parisian cellar bar or seedy, city tenement block. 

See them here.

www.myspace.com/smokehand

Thur 23rd Feb 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Devon Sproule
Scott Matthews
Jeff Martinez

Devon Sproule

Remarkable 23 year old Virginian singer/songwriter returns to Cheltenham and the UK following an outstanding Calmer*  last March with now husband, Paul Curreri. 

The sweetest country blues. Increasingly jazz infused, folk-pop. She holds her own with anyone from Joni Mitchell to Gillian Welch and has shared the stage with the likes of David Gray and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Her live concerts capture her at her best; candid, poetic and youthfully charming.

She releases her fourth album, 'Keep your silver shined' in summer 2006. 

www.devonsproule.com
www.myspace.com/devonsproule

Scott Matthews

A blinding musical hybrid of bottleneck blues, a sprinkling of Shankar-esque sounds and implausibly soulful lyrics. The best thing to come out of Wolverhampton, well,ever.

His debut album has been mastered by the same team as Ziggy Stardust and is released on March 13th.

 Catch him now while you can, he's incredible. We mean that. Incredible.

Take a look here

www.scottmatthewsmusic.co.uk
www.myspace.com/scottmatthewsmusic

Jeff Martinez

Thur 2nd Feb 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Calmer* presents a night of mayhem:

Curtis Eller's American Circus
Filthy Pedro
Mr Bliss and Nelly

warning: strong language and yodelling can be expected

New York's angriest yodelling banjo player. 

He sings about pigeon racing, performing elephants and Jesus, all of which he has seen with his own eyes.

He started his show-business career at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat in the Hiller Olde Tyme Circus in Detroit , but has since turned to the banjo because that’s where the money is. 

His biggest musical influences are Buster Keaton, Al Jolson and Abraham Lincoln. 

www.curtiseller.com

Filthy Pedro



The dirtiest lo-fi-diy-punk-folk artist. Originating from an unprounouceable rural out back of Angelesey and rumoured to possess mysterious druid-like powers.

An imp of the perverse and pioneer of the UK anti-folk scene.  Filthy can regularly be seen on the Antifolk scene in London, and has played at the New York Antifolk Festival in 2005 as well as in Toyko. Filthy has recently been joined by the multi-talented ‘Thee Intolerable Kidd’ on bass and saw.

With subject matters ranging from Lancaster Bombers to kinky tales of antiquity, he explores these obsessions with wit, humour and surprising poignancy.

www.filthypedro.com

Brendan Bayliss and Nelly

An entertaining introduction to harmonica playing by a Pie and Mash regular.
Amazingly talented, he'll brings sounds of morris dancers, steam trains and some dirty ole blues.

If we're lucky, he'll be joined by Nelly, his singing dog.

 Yes. Really.

Wed 18th Jan 2006
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

In association with Men Diamler...

Simon Finn 
+ special guests

The guy is simply a legend. His 1970 album “Pass The Distance” is considered a classic in the “psychedelic-folk” genre – sweet poetic love songs sit next to intense, lysergic visions of the crucifixion and dialogues with the devil.

After many years out of music, Simon has thankfully returned with a wonderful new album of spre, heartfelt folk called Magic Moments.  Incendiary, spiritual, humorous and refreshingly human, this show (his first UK gigs in 30 years!) will be an unforgettable treat. Accompanied by Joolie Wood (Current 93)

****/5 - Uncut
"Brilliant is the understatement of the year….it will blow your mind" -Digitalis Zine
"a black magical Devendra Banhart" - Pitchfork
'Authentic ''lost'' psyche folk legend... Slightly too dark to be pure hippy, slightly too thunderous to be pure folk, this is truly a rediscovery to look into'- Melting Vinyl.

http://www.simonfinn.co.uk/

Men Diamler (formerly Mario Vendredi)

Cheltenham’s unpredictable Enfant Terrible returns, a warm up for his first UK tour in March.  A Calmer* regular, you may hear his delicate requiems to departed pets, walking trees and starving horses, or pounding blues spirituals.  

Oh, and a spot of unrequited love in there somewhere.  A larger than life voice accompanied by his unique “John Fahey with broken fingers” guitar style.

“an enlightening experience” - Nham magazine.

+ a special guest

Shhh. It’s a surprise.

Sun 18th Dec 2005
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Christmas Calmer*

Carolina Herrera

 The Alex Ward and Chris Cundy Show

James Blackshaw

Carolina Herrera

Following a now legendary mid-summer show, she returns for an extravagent Christmas Calmer* performance. 

Discovered on Charlie Gillett's Saturday night BBS show last year, she was a surpirse hit at last years's WOMAD. She's now a well recognised rising star in world music. 

Darkest Columbian folk-flamenco. Provocative, powerful and utterly engaging.

A sensory indulgence is guaranteed.

Alex Ward and Chris Cundy

Alex Ward and Chris Cundy make up the typically unconventional and often unfashionable saxophone section of emerging pop phenomenon, Guillemots. The six piece  tour with Rufus Wainwright in December playing their gleeful pop banter.

It may, then, come as some surprise when you learn that they both have long established musical roots in experimental electro-acoustic music and the British free improvisation scene. But just as Sun Ra once said '"this is music of the cosmos disguised as jazz".

Together they play a more unruly take on the music of the spheres with a raw and gutteral approach to improvisation. If you listen carefully enough to this chorus of saxophones, hooters and bendy clarinets you may even be lucky enough to hear the sound of a bird's beak opening.

www.alexward.org
www.guillemots.com
www.ochre.co.uk

  
  James Blackshaw

An acoustic folk guitarist who takes his primary cues from the holy trinity of the near mythical - John Fahey, Robbie Basho and - along with recent adherents to the weird Americana/new folk sound, Jack Rose.



Blackshaw's twelve-string guitar resonates to produce unbridled raga-like flurries, bursting with energy yet harnessed with enough melodic definition to their fluid motions.

Bo'Weavil (Shirley Collins, Sir Richard Bishop) have just released his LP on vinyl. He spent a few months touring the world with Josephine Foster this year and is touring the US with Jack Rose next year.

This will be something very, very special.

http://shoryobuni.f2g.net/sunshrine

Thurs 8th Dec 2005
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Marissa Nadler, John Harris, Men Diamler

Marissa Nadler

New York folk siren who recalls fading beauty queens and lost souls in dark nights 'Uncommonly lovely' The Guardian.

Willowy, entrancing and faraway melancholic sounds. She brings the all-encompassing sense of winter; dense fog rolling off the moors, misty mornings in the forest.

Imagine a young Steve Nicks as Devendra Banhart's geisha. Or Mazzy Star meets Leonard Cohen at their most hazily narcotic. Or maybe Neko Case swarthed in black.

'Gorgeous...A benchmark for the new psyche folk generation' **** Uncut

John Harris

A wonderful harpist and a very rare treat. Folk music re-defined.

He tours the world playing harp in one of the 'finest contemporary folk bands around' and is coming to Cheltenham all the way from Stonehouse to play a one-off for Calmer*.

Men Diamler 

A fiercly unpredictable, emotionally exhausting yet wholly enchanting set from Cheltenham's finest.

A man with split personalities and possessed by a huge, operatic voice sings chants, lullabies, blues and spirituals in jaw dropping sytle.

Naked soul giving and strange stories; you will never forget the first time you saw him live.

'An enlightening experience' Jem Cox, 'Nham Magazine

Sun 13th Nov 2005
Slak 
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Paul Curreri, Rachael Dadd, Sam Beer

Paul Curreri

A ruffled gypsy cowboy. He returns from Charlottesville, Virginia with the most incredible country blues and lazy back porch drawl.
Tales of trains and tumbleweeds and rivers and love.
Spontaneous live performances, spirited wordplay and stunningly expressive guitar work. ‘Exquisite’ The New Yorker Magazine .

You really, really, REALLY cannot miss this.

 www.paulcurreri.com
 

  Rachael Dadd 

An absolute beauty.

One third of Glastonbury ’s runaway acoustic heroes, Whalebone Polly, she’s the author of a deft and charismatic brand of folk.  
Making “extraordinary observations of extra ordinary human life' Decode. Quiet understatement and poetry from a subtle web of freshly formed emotions.

Beauty has not sounded so good in a very, very long time.

 www.rachaeldadd.co.uk

Sam Beer

Astonishing and timeless songwriting from one of London’s best folk-blues performers.  

Melodic blues guitar, a bit of double bass and hard hitting poetic missiles.

He plays for today’s youth in the same vein as Davy Graham and Dylan and will ‘knock you down flat, and then lift you right back up with music shimmering in sunshine.” – Half Moon.

www.sambeer.co.uk

Sat 22nd Oct 2005
The Hub (map)
Cheltenham

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Danny Schmidt - Virginia’s finest and an emerging folk-blues legend. ‘Astounding guitar player. Monumental blues man and a true poet’ (Paul Curreri) The intensity of a solo Neil Young, the subtle songwriting craftsmanship of Leonard Cohen. He reduces grown men to tears.

 www.dannyschmidt.com

Pellumair - Sparkling folk-pop. Two young men from Southhampton producing heady, swirling MBV and Simon & Garfunkel infused melodies. All set to ‘woo the nation into a state of dreamy happiness." – Glasswer. Following a year touring supporting the likes of Kasabian, the Delays & HAL their debut album is released on Rough Trade’s Tugboat label on 3rd October. 

Tipped by the Fly as ‘One of the best finds of 2005’.

www.pellumair.co.uk

Rose Kemp -   A set simmering with a frustration born of fighting her inheritance (Rose is daughter of folk legends Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp). "Spine tingling songs" The Fly; "audacious and unapologetic" Metro. Threatening Carina Round/Polly Harveyness.

  www.rosekemp.co.uk

M.P.E. Band, The Cornfed Girls, Edd Donovan

M.P.E. Band - They're back from Philadelphia and we can't wait. 'Down-home, farm-city, junk-music' featuring two members of pioneering Philly hip-hop band, The Goats. Zappa meets Abba, Beatles meets Sonic Youth, Joni Mitchell meets Ween.
Undefinable, unclassifiable, just stunning.
A world class live band in Cheltenham again? What the f**k's going on? Get in there!
www.mpeband.com

The Cornfed Girls -  Heart liftin' bluegrass duo all the way from West Michigan. Original. Inventive. Downright beautiful.

Edd Donovan - Local anti-folk shakespearo. Chill out music for the intelligent listener. Homecoming gig following a summer touring the UK. "Tunes that will touch your soul" BBC. 
Unmissable. 
www.edddonovan.co.uk

Josephine Foster - Opera school dropout.  Bent and intuitive supernatural balladry.  Josephine's one of America’s most adventurous and pioneering songstresses. On her way to headline at the Greenman Festival we're honoured to have her perform here in Cheltenham - http://www.locustmusic.com/josephinefoster.html 

Mi and L'au - Mira and Laurent - a fashion model from Finland and soundtrack musician from France. Austere, minimal music for voice and acoustic guitar. Amazing new album (we've heard a promo :-) out on Young God Records in Oct. Tender, beautiful sounds.

Carolina Herrera, Rose Kemp, Annette Buckley

Carolina Herrera - We first heard her in the early hours of the morning on Charlie Gillett's BBC World Service show. Stunning. It's taken us over a year to track her down and book her for Calmer*. You are in for such a treat. Colombian folk/flamenco at it's darkest and most powerfully beautiful. You know that bit when Bowie goes 'Whhhyyyeuld................... (pause).........is.........the wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuuund' it's THAT good and THAT'S a promise. If you only make it to one Calmer* show this year make it this one. 

Rose Kemp - A set simmering with a frustration born of fighting her inheritance (Rose is daughter of Folk legends Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp). "Spine tingling songs" The Fly; "audacious and unapologetic" Metro. Threatening Carina Round/Polly Harveyness.

Annette Buckley -  'Beth Orten/Heidy Berry territory...Soothing music for a sore Sunday morning head.' Decode Magazine. 'Divine', Hot Press. On tour from Ireland and luvin' it.

Annelies Monsere -  We were right, Annelies is Belgian and currently living in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Delicate, beautiful, piano, glock, melodica melodies. Touring the UK to promote new album 'Helder' released on BlueSanct. Think Movietone, Tara Jane O'Neil.  www.annelies-monsere.tk

Men Diamler - He's not mad.....he's highly evolved, he's also the best thing to have come out of Cheltenham since the A40. With Mario Vendredi confined to a jar and Melville Cloghill locked in the cellar it's all down to Men Diabler. Only he can save us.

M.P.E. Band, Peter Hunter, Longstone 

M.P.E. Band - 'Down-home, farm-city, junk-music' from Philadelphia. Featuring two members of pioneering Philly hip-hop band The Goats. Friends of/fans of Jeff Buckley. Zappa meets Abba, Beatles meet Sonic Youth, Carpenters meet Crazy Horse. A world class live band in Cheltenham? What the f**k's going on? Get in there! www.mpeband.com

Edd Donovan - Stepping in at late notice manfully. Urban altfolk strictly for the feint hearted. Less a wall of sound, more a trellis. Think Cat Stevens, Grandaddy, Ween, Lennon. Bring it on.

Longstone - Phatt phuturistic butt shakers. Architects of sound. All electro acoustic experimentalists. Mary Anne Hobbs, Peel, Future Music favourites. 'Top drawer stuff' - Losing Today. www.longstoned.co.uk

Jon Gomm - Stunning. A one man freakout from Leeds. Haunting vocals, beats, bass and mind altering guitar. 'Sheer bloody genius' - Sandman Magazine. You have GOT to see this guy to believe it. www.jongomm.com 

Nathan Filer - A comic genius of insatiable libido and lyrical elasticity. From the Cheltenham Literature Festival to Glastonbury Festival he's reduced audiences to tears of helpless laughter (sometimes deliberately). Slam winning surreal rhymes, verbal dexterity, wit and charm. 

Vintage Chimps  - An exciting, new and highly bent Vintage Chimps set. The eagerly awaited reformation. 'Like a coastal sunset committed to sound.' - BBC. Name-checked by Ween, guestlisted by Elephant Gun - cool as.

Paul Curreri
A ruffled gypsy gutter cowboy. Spontaneous live performances, spirited wordplay and stunningly expressive guitar work. 'Exceptional song writing' - The New Yorker. 'My favourite living musician' - Kelly Joe Phelps.  On tour from the States. A MUST see country blues legend to be. http://www.paulcurreri.com

Devon Sproule
Her melodic ambitions bring to mind Bjork, her forays into the dark Michelle Shocked' - Village Voice. Showcasing songs from her new City Salvage Records, Upstate Songs.
'Perhaps the sweetest and most honest folk-pop album recorded this year, Sproule's vocal and lyrical beauty is unmatched' - Rolling Stone. http://www.devonsproule.com

Jeff Martinez 
The nights first American. Pure, quality song writing. Think straight Evan Dando, twisted Paul Simon. 

Doors 7.30
Admission £5

Map

Chloe Poems

90 Degrees South
Wonderfully compelling electonica. Filmnoir seduction and intrigue. The antidote. Future Music 10/10. 

Edd Donovan
Urban altfolk strictly for the feint hearted. Less a wall of sound, more a trellis. Think Cat Stevens, Grandaddy, Ween, Lennon. Bring it on.

Sat 18th Dec
The Hub (map)
Cheltenham 

Earnest Cox
A Full band set. Fabulous death-defying songs of love, uncertainty and disappointment in a Redhouse Painters, Tindersticks, Nick Cave on a pogostick vibe. www.earnestcox.co.uk

Pronefoal Vs Urban Space Epics
A Girl of the Year straight outta Prague meets American/Icelandic micro experimentalist DJ. Lateral soundscapes. Literal experimentation

 Special Guests

Admission only £4 on the door. 
Doors 7.30

The Flaw Set : A chaotic collision of live music, performance and poetry - alternative for the 21st century. Think 'Phoenix nights meets the Old Grey Whistle Test.'

'Cabaret that can't be trusted and you wouldn't want it any other way' - Venue Magazine.

Introducing............................

Rachael Pantechnicon
Amazing, award winning, cat-fixated author Rachael Pantechnicon will be reading poems about elves, shelves and the importance of looking after your coccyx. Previewing the manuscript of her latest childrens book 'The Three Coalscuttles'

Derehctub
An experimental orgy of electronic sound expressed through the medium of the drum kit. You've never seen or heard anything like it - www.koept.net 

The Special Guests
A collision of performance, live art and theatre. The Special Guests invite you into the banality and faded glitter of tacky, seedy and forever entertaining city centre Saturday night culture - www.thespecialguests.co.uk

Melville Cloghill
With Mario Vendredi now confined to a jar on the mantlepiece in his bedroom anything could happen. Always unpredictable, increasingly experimental, invariably brilliant. Expect the unexpected.

Knowledge of Bugs
'the sound of Matmos snoozing on an autumn afternoon' - Roughtrade.com. 'Like a warm e'd up love in with your maths teacher' - Choke Magazine. - www.knowledgeofbugs.co.uk

Richard Walters
Maintaining the great tradition of Oxford singer/songwriters. Elegant and articulate. A Beardmuseum man - www.beardmuseum.com/richardwalters.htm

Mat Gibson 
A retro-alternative  man. Think Pavement, Rufus Wainwright, Tom Waits - www.matgibson.com

Caroline Martin
A John Peel session and Calmer* favourite. "Dark, disturbing, haunting music with a beautiful expressive voice and a rare lightness of touch", Choke Magazine - www.smalldog.co.uk

Bella Emerson
Experimental, contemporary, outstanding cellist. Five Radio 1 sessions, a guest of British Sea Power, John Peel and Radio 3.