We try really hard to seek out the three genuinely most exciting Notts gigs of the week but we also like to mix up the venues to ensure some variety in your gig life. Every now and again though one venue just totally owns things for a week and over the next seven days of March it’s all about the Bodega with three incredibly Notts-tastic line-ups.
GIG ONE
REACH FOR THE MIC CHILDREACH CHARITY GIG featuring CHESHIRE AND THE CAT, FRANKIE RUDOLPH, CHRIS REEVE ESQ, FROM SMALL ACORNS, JAKE BUCKLEY (THE MONEY) and RICHARD HOWELL at BODEGA on March 22nd.
We all love live music and we all love helping out a charity so why not come down and have a drink and a boogie all in the name of a good cause!
CHESHIRE AND THE CAT are self described as ‘2 Tone/Alternative acoustic duo from Nottingham and Kuala Lumpur’. These guys are bringing back the old school 90s philosophies of rap. Watch out for lyrics about Wetherspoons and gash and I guarantee you’ll have the tunes stuck in your head for weeks. Check out our recent Future Session with them HERE.
FRANKIE RUDOLPH has only been playing live and writing songs since mid-august but already the music is mature beyond his years. He takes inspiration from the likes of BEN HOWARD and COLDPLAY which has influenced his sound into a distinctive style which he describes as being “somewhere in between soulful acoustic and indie folk”. Unmissable melodies and brilliant afro. Also holds the record for the youngest ever person to land our REWIND feature on the podcast.
CHRIS REEVES ESQ is Nottingham’s own banjo strumming maestro. A tunesmith who plays his songs with his heart on his sleeve and mixes influences from both rock and bluegrass genres with traditional folk.’ His foot tapping style will have you ready for a barn dance, while his songs about certain suburbs of Nottingham will leave you curiously wanting more…
FROM SMALL ACORNS are an acoustic pop/rock/folk brother and sister duo – BECKY LOVATT has been on the Nottingham scene for around a year enchanting audiences with her chilled out soulful voice. Now she’s teamed up with her brother Cal to bring you some cutting edge acoustic riffs mixed with 50’s influenced pop rock, and a bit of modern pop thrown in for good measure… should be an interesting set!
JAKE BUCKLEY is ¼ of Nottingham’s stylish indie rock outfit THE MONEY. Jakes solo style is an wicked combo of heartfelt lyrics, impressive song writing and onstage hilarity. Singing a contrast of fun, and honest songs, you really never know what you’re going to get next. It could be anything from a song about his ‘pet’ crocodile, to a beautifully honest love song, this really could go either way… Not to mention his brutally honest song ‘My names Jake, and I’m an alcoholic.’
RICHARD HOWELL performed a stunning set at Acoustickle at THE MAZE recently and we can’t wait to see him wow the crowd again at BODEGA. With his band behind him, he effortlessly mixes honest lyrics with a catchy melody leaving you humming his songs long after his set has finished. An absolute treat to end the night!
GIG TWO
Next up we have RONIKA, HARLEIGHBLU and NINA SMITH at THE BODEGA on Friday the 23rd.
Prepare to dance, dance, dance ‘till your dead, to the fresh and funky electronic beats of RONIKA at THE BODEGA. Combining sunny, synthy melodies with a knack for doing the impossible and making neon jumpsuits look hot, RONIKA is being hailed as Nottingham’s answer to MADONNA – minus the cone bra. If you’re a fan of retro electro or just fancy donning a bright pink one-piece, this is one not to be missed!
Supporting RONIKA are jazz-funk sensation HARLEIGHBLU. Taking influences from a range of artists as diverse as STEVIE WONDER, NINA SIMONE and CHAKA KHAN, HARLEIGHBLU’S pumped up big brass hooks, jazzy keys and stylish image revamps vintage sounds for the modern ear. Backed up by an all swinging all dancing band to add to the electric vibrancy of their live performances, this will be a gig you won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
Soulful songstress NINA SMITH is also on the fantastic line up. Nina’s breath-taking silky vocals will take you through a loop of feeling like you’re floating on clouds down to a deep, intense moment of reflection and back again in a matter of seconds. Prepare to be moved and utterly charmed. Announced to play the SPLENDOUR FESTIVAL again, you can wet your appetitite for Nina’s performance in both Wollaton Park and The Bodega by listening to her on the latest PODCAST.
Price: £5.75
Doors: 7pm
GIG THREE
Finally we have JAKE BUGG at THE BODEGA on Saturday the 24th.
Catch Zane Lowe’s new best chum and rising local star JAKE BUGG. On first listening to songs such as ‘Someone told me’ and ‘Love me the Way you do’, you’d be forgiven for believing this was the voice of a focussed performer with years of worldly experience on their shoulders – not of a rough n’ ready lad from Clifton who’s only just reached the legal drinking age. Influenced by the likes of DYLAN and THE BEATLES, Jake’s achingly raw vocals tinged with a subtle hint of maturity are combined with intricately woven melodies that will have you rooted to the spot. Add to that an old school rock n’ roll attitude and possession of the carefree confidence of someone 10 years his senior, Jake has completed the arduous task of making country/folk music cool again. Trust me; this is one gig date to slot in your diary immediately.
Price : £5
Doors : 7pm
Yours in Love of New Music,
Tom Hadfield and Cerys Owen x
