20-03-2023 – Hello, 2 Gig Steve

Yo homeys!

Well, that was an extremely enjoyable weekend of noisy mayhem!

The intent was that Saturday night would mark the debut gig for our new bass player Steve – but in fact, it marked his second gig with us.

We had a request come in midweek to play at the bar in the Rovers ground on Saturday afternoon after the match; two gigs in one day was a big ask for a first-timer, but Steve heroically said “Hell, yes, why not?” Abby was a little concerned about running out of voice; she said she’d like to do it, but was “not sure it would be wise”. That settled it; we now have to do it, I’m not having anyone accusing us of being sensible. READ MORE

13-03-2023 – Ben And The Big Boo Hoo!

Mornin all!

And we have an exciting week coming up on the rock’n’roll rollercoasterTM; you may recall, many moons ago, we announced our resident Viking bass player Ben was planning to leave us, having finally tired of mine and Stuart’s company after thirteen or so years (I know, right? No stamina, some people).

Ben had very kindly agreed to carry on gigging until we found a suitable replacement and got them up to speed. Due to an unfortunate, protracted and complex sequence of events, this took far, far longer than any of us anticipated; but Ben has gamely soldiered on until now, at last, we finally have a new player on Team AUF. READ MORE

08-03-2023 – Delightful Tom And The Broken Leg

Ahoy there, me hearties!

And a warm welcome to this week’s edition of random nonsense – interspersed, if you’re lucky*, with the occasional deep and profound insight which will illuminate your soul, bringing a small oasis of comfort and peace amidst the complexity and confusion of modern life.

Saturday night and an appointment at the Cider Press in Bishopston looms. I have to admit that, after a somewhat hectic day, I wasn’t really looking forward to making the effort tonight – but second-rate guitarists gotta do what second-rate guitarists gotta do… READ MORE

05-03-2023 – Missed Again (Not Fluffy Kittens)

Hello my darlings!

Mornin all!

Once again, I find myself hoisted by my own petard and, having become distracted by the myriad possibilities that the many-hued tapestry of life offers, utterly forgotten to pen in advance a suitable missive for your delectation and delight – or, more likely, your disputation and disappointment.

Actually, even more likely, your utter indifference.

Anyroadup, I find myself with just the scantest of moments to tell you about this week’s upcoming rawk’n’rollTM endeavours. And yet here I am, frittering it away on florid language and pointless rambling. READ MORE

20-02-2023 – A short One … Apparently

Hello my darlings!

Just the briefest of missives this week; since, due to a tactical planning error, I utterly forgot to write this week’s batch of nonsense.

With a gig-free weekend just gone by, there’s really very little to say except to warn you of our upcoming midweek outing: –

Thursday 23rd – Royal Oak, Chipping Sodbury

Nice cosy little local gig, we like them, they seem to like us, and they sell beer. Any questions?

Finding myself currently devoid of inspiration, and just a tad pushed for time, in the words of my old pal Mr Gump; that’s all I have to say about that. READ MORE

13-02-2023 – Ring O’ Belles Experience

Hello boys and girls

It’s time for another story.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…*

It was Friday night, and time for a keenly anticipated jaunt down to the quaint ickle village of Ashcott in deepest Zummerzet, to play for a long time and much-loved band fam member Cara, who is now running the Ring O’ Bells down there.

Ben and I arrived first, were delighted to see our heroine again, and rather pleased to find a large function room with plenty of room to jump about and fall over if necessary. READ MORE

06-02-2023 – Lizard Truss (it ain’t politics, it’s aliens)

People of Earth

Having been watching your puny planet for some years now, we, the Thargzoids, have decided that we can no longer bear to witness your pathetic and incompetent attempts at self-governance, and have duly decided to take over control directly.

The consequent enslavement of the human race will be effective immediately, and is, of course, entirely for your own benefit.

Accordingly, one of our sleeper agents, who until now has been placed undercover on Earth to observe you, will emerge to assume complete control of the day-to-day running of the planet. READ MORE

30-01-2023 – Disorganised Law Enforcers

Wassup dawgs!

And welcome to another fun-packed episode of the mighty Angel Up Front’s weekly-ish gig alert/vanity publishing exercise…

The gig last Friday down at the Crab Apple in Clevedon was vastly improved by the presence of some old chums we haven’t seen in far too long, so a big shout out to Scotty, Wendy and the rest of the gang, and we have made a definite arrangement to catch up with them again in a few weeks, at a gig we’re particularly looking forward to. You’ll be hearing about that one in due course. READ MORE

23-01-2023 – Guitar Tech Let Down

Mornin all!

Well, gigging for 2023 is now officially underway, and as joyous and chaotic as anybody could wish for!

We rolled up at the Crown in Staple Hill at the allotted hour and were pleasantly surprised to find the pub was jam-packed full already.

Ah, the footy is on, that explains it. Fortunately, the delightful bar staff have made sure that the corner where we’re to set up has been kept suitably clear of customers, so once we’ve shimmied all the kit in, we can get ourselves organized, punctuated by the occasional burst of shouting as somebody on telly scores a bullseye, or whatever it is they do. READ MORE

16-01-2023 – Another Post For Time Travellers

Ahoy there shipmates!

We trust you all had a suitably splendiferous festering season, although for me at least, it is but a distant memory.

But then again, so is yesterday, and so is my drive in to work this morning. In fact, it’s not even a memory at all. I’m not entirely sure how I got here. Perhaps an alien abduction scenario is afoot. I wonder if I should call the local paper and alert them… (Although they currently have many exciting local stories already. A couple of days ago – and I swear this is true – they reported that a man was fined £588 for dropping a fag end in Thornbury High Street, as witnessed by one of the council’s “street enforcement officers”). READ MORE