What’s On at the John Peel Centre

Sep
24
Sun
New Model Army – Sinfonia
Sep 24 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
New Model Army - Sinfonia @ John Peel Centre

On 15th July 2022 the band New Model Army performed a concert in the Tempodrom, Berlin, with the Sinfonia Leipzig featuring songs from the band’s forty years catalogue arranged by violinist Shir-Ran Yinon and conducted by Cornelius During.

The whole event was recorded and filmed and will be released on 15th December 2023.

We have been able to get permission to give a public showing of this DVD for those who could not get to Berlin for this event, for those who want to relive the experience with other fans of the band, or who just want to have a good sociable afternoon with some great music and a beer or two (or whatever your favourite social drink is).

Doors (and bar) will open 2pm

Tickets £10 adv. £12 on the door

Book Online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar / Cashless

Sep
27
Wed
Anna Erhard
Sep 27 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

ANNA ERHARD

Berlin-based singer/songwriter Anna Erhard has given her second solo album the name CAMPSITE which was released in Autumn 2022. The title track is not a longingly plucked guitar song for the campfire, mind you. On the contrary, “Campsite” has a cool beat around which it clangs and rings. The guitars create all sorts of noise, Anna Erhard recites a series of campsite memories in a voice that sounds like how you feel when awakened by the morning sun after a great but short night in the heating tent. Anna recently got high profile support from BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Deb Grant, Marc Riley (and more), a Radio X X-Posure Playlist add and first handpicks on KEXP in Seattle.

Anna has recently played her first live performance at BBC 6Music, celebrated her live debut in the UK with a great London headline show and played at the Great Escape Festival and is now coming back to the UK for her first UK tour in September 2023.

+ Support ESME EMERSON

Esme Emerson, are British-Chinese siblings who write indie-pop/indie-folk tunes from their family home in Suffolk. Their music—characterised by gentle melodies and delicate harmonies—is a careful balance of both electronic and organic elements. In tandem, they create the intimate sound and enchanting world that is, sincerely, Esme Emerson.

Their debut EP “S For Sugar, D For Dog“, has amassed over 300,000 streams on Spotify and has received support from tastemakers such as Radio 1, 6 Music and Communion Music. The beginning of 2023 brought the pair support from Youth Music in the form of the Old Jet Airspace Programme and, with a whole catalogue of new music in the works, Esme Emerson are on track for an exciting year.

 

 

 

Doors 7:30 pm

Tickets £12 in advance / £14 on the door

Book Online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed Bar.

Sep
30
Sat
LYR
Sep 30 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

LYR unite poet, Simon Armitage’s lyrics with fellow band members, Richard Walters and Patrick J Pearson’s spellbinding, ‘transcendent’ sonics on new, era-soundtracking album The Ultraviolet Age. 

Bitten by the bug of nights in tour bus bunks, equally inspired and dismayed by times of tumult and determinedly chasing the simple, soul-enriching beauty found in intricately-constructed song, LYR return with their second, remarkable album, The Ultraviolet Age on Fri 30 June 2023 via Clue Records/EMI North. For a second, compelling time, the band concocts ethereal, pulse-altering, extraordinary sounds by combining the creative powers of British poet, Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Richard Walters and multi-instrumentalist and producer Patrick J Pearson.

 

+ Elanor Moss (support)

Originally from Lincolnshire, Elanor Moss started crafting her first body of work while living between York and Leeds as an undergraduate in Medieval Literature. Although she grew up in a musical household, it wasn’t until university that she began writing and performing her own songs as well as collaborating with artists including Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Howl & the Hum, and Rosie Carney.

She began teasing her music in 2021 with ‘Soundings’, a devastating track that showcased her ability to evoke powerful emotions against spare acoustic instrumentation. The five-track EP ‘Citrus’ followed in 2022, further highlighting Moss’s knack for intricate, resonant storytelling, dealing with themes of depression, substance abuse and violence, offset by lush arrangements and delicate melodies. As dark as her songs can be, Moss always seems able to achieve balance – not just in an effort to make the songs lighter, but also to carve out space for hope and catharsis.

Moss decamped to Brooklyn to work with producer Oli Deakin (CMAT, Lowpines) on her Cosmic EP, which dropped in February 2023; four tracks displaying the remarkable and honest self-reflection of a masterful songwriter exploring their craft with confidence and subtlety.

Elanor Moss has a stark subtlety that bowls you over in its intensity“—Clash

memorable vocals deliver even more memorable songwriting“—Atwood Magazine

This mature set of songs suggests Elanor Moss is a talent worth watching, and her debut album might just be one of those rare ones that make an instant breakthrough.” —Louder Than War

BOOK ONLINE

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £15 adv/ £17 otd. 

Licensed bar.

Oct
4
Wed
Common Ground Theatre Co. Presents THE HELLGATE CLUB
Oct 4 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Common Ground Theatre Co. Presents THE HELLGATE CLUB @ John Peel Centre

THE HELLGATE CLUB

by Pat Whymark

ENTER AT YOUR PERIL!

 

Paris, 1905. A series of strange happenings have the authorities baffled. Several men have disappeared under mysterious circumstances, with no connection between them other than that they were last seen in the vicinity of the notorious Pigalle district. With no leads, the police ask retired detective, Jean Tellier to take one last case. Sensing danger around every street corner, in every dimly lit café, in every dark doorway, Tellier begins by interviewing the proprietors and staff of the local bars and nightclubs. Based on a real life case of the time, Common Ground present a thrilling murder mystery, with live music in the style of the period.

A play with music in 2 acts


Doors open 7.00 pm

Show starts at 7:30 pm

Tickets £14 / £10 Under 21s 

Seated

Book online

(Online booking fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar

Oct
5
Thu
Common Ground Theatre Co. Presents THE HELLGATE CLUB
Oct 5 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Common Ground Theatre Co. Presents THE HELLGATE CLUB @ John Peel Centre

THE HELLGATE CLUB

by Pat Whymark

ENTER AT YOUR PERIL!

 

Paris, 1905. A series of strange happenings have the authorities baffled. Several men have disappeared under mysterious circumstances, with no connection between them other than that they were last seen in the vicinity of the notorious Pigalle district. With no leads, the police ask retired detective, Jean Tellier to take one last case. Sensing danger around every street corner, in every dimly lit café, in every dark doorway, Tellier begins by interviewing the proprietors and staff of the local bars and nightclubs. Based on a real life case of the time, Common Ground present a thrilling murder mystery, with live music in the style of the period.

A play with music in 2 acts


Doors open 7.00 pm

Show starts at 7:30 pm

Tickets £14 / £10 Under 21s 

Seated

Book online

(Online booking fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar

Oct
6
Fri
The Vinyl Lounge
Oct 6 @ 7:30 pm – Oct 7 @ 12:00 am
The Vinyl Lounge @ John Peel Centre

The Vinyl Lounge

A cracking night of listening, dancing and sharing your vinyl

+ your favourite guest DJ’s

 

Bring along your favourite 45’s & Albums and the Vinyl Lounge DJs will turn them into a show…

 

7.30pm till Midnight

£5.00 per ticket

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

 

Oct
7
Sat
Gasper Nali
Oct 7 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Gasper Nali

Gasper Nali is a roots one-man-band from the small town of Nkhata Bay on the shores of Lake Malawi. He plays a one-string home-made 3-metre long Babatoni bass guitar with a stick and an empty beer bottle, and together with a cow skin kick drum and catchy melodies, he creates the most amazing and danceable original Afro Beats possible!

Gasper’s unique style of Kwela music has received an extraordinary amount of online attention after a video of him playing by the lake shore went viral with over 20 million views. He has been featured by CNN and in the documentary ‘Deep Roots Malawi’, jammed with Joss Stone, appeared on Wired for Sound – Malawi, remixed by Aroop Roy for Sol Power Sounds and been played by Iggy Pop on BBC 6!

His debut album, Abale Ndikuwuzeni, roughly translates to ‘People, I want to tell you’. It is a fitting title as Gasper’s songs, all sung in the Malawi national language of Chichewa, talk about life and strife in the country, often including social issues such as the rich and the poor, child marriages etc.

After the successful Euro/UK tours in 2018 and 2019 Gasper has been biding his time in Malawi, writing new music and playing locally around Nkhata Bay the way he always has – but now he is very ready to re-conquer the world in 2022!

 

 

 

 

+ Michael Mountain (support)

Michael Mountain – or Mountain Mike as he sometimes goes by – is a reggae artist and small-scale farmer. The front porch of his small house in the remote village of Viboko is his favourite place, and from there he can clearly see life from a different point of view, and put his reflections into song.

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £12 adv/ £14 otd.

Standing Tickets

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

Oct
8
Sun
The Undertones
Oct 8 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The Undertones @ John Peel Centre

The Undertones are a punk rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1975. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O’Neill (rhythm guitar, vocals), Damian O’Neill (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Bradley (bass, vocals) and Billy Doherty (drums). Much of the earlier Undertones material drew influence from punk rock and new wave; the Undertones also incorporated elements of rock, glam rock and post-punk into material released after 1979, before citing soul and Motown as the influence for the material released upon their final album. The Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums between 1978 and 1983.

In 1999, the Undertones reformed, replacing lead singer Sharkey with Paul McLoone.

The Undertones remain the most successful band to have emerged from Derry, and one of the most successful bands to have emerged from Northern Ireland.

2022 and 2023 will see The Undertones roaring back with an extensive European tour to promote the release of “ Dig What You Need“, on Dimple Discs. This sees selected tracks (many remixed) from the post reformation Albums available on vinyl for the first time. There will be a matching CD and download release.

 

 

+ support t.b.c

 

Standing tickets

Doors 7:30 pm

Tickets £28

Book Online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed / cashless bar.

Oct
10
Tue
The Whole Shebang Open Mic Night
Oct 10 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The Whole Shebang Open Mic Night @ John Peel Centre

Our very own Whole Shebang Open Mic Night returns with another evening of Whimsical, Homegrown, Organic Live Entertainment.

No fire, no nudity, no animals!

Other than that we like to keep the “open” in “open mic” so no matter what it is you do, music, poetry, juggling, dance, magic, exotic bird mating call impersonations, whatever, we’d love to have you along!

Anyone interested in taking part should email adam@johnpeelcentre.co.uk with details of what they would like to do and email title SHEBANG, or come along on the night and we should be able to fit you in. Max. 10mins/3 songs per act (subject to number of acts).

Alternatively, if you are more of an observer, just come along to watch an exciting evening of random entertainment!

Doors: 7.30pm
FREE ENTRY

Licensed Bar – Please note our bar is now cashless.

Please note that seating is available at this event.

Oct
14
Sat
Bare Jams
Oct 14 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Bare Jams @ John Peel Centre

Bare Jams are a tight tour-de-force of experienced musical alchemists effortlessly cooking up a fusion of musical styles with a sound that is uniquely their own; a frequent must-see on festival aficionados’ lists with a reputation for tight and exuberant, yet wholesomely candid performances. 

Bare Jams consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Ollie Coombes, drummer Sam James, bassist Dave Tyler, keyboardist and backing vocals Josh Parmenter, trumpeter and backing vocals Seb Skelly and saxophonist Jake Heath.

They are currently writing, recording and releasing a constant stream of singles leading up to a compilation-style album towards the end of 2023 that will act as a snapshot of the current chapter of the Bare Jams saga.

 

Bare Jams totally owned the stage and captivated the audience. – Oliver Picken, The Edge

 

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £12.50 adv. / £15 otd. 

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar / Cashless

Oct
18
Wed
Let’s Bop!
Oct 18 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Let's Bop! @ John Peel Centre

Do you love to dance but no longer get a chance? Get your mojo back on the dance floor with Let’s Bop!

For women 18 to 80, Fun, Fitness & Friendship

Simply turn up & dance, on your own or with a friend(s)

  • No dress code; sparkle or jeans, wear whatever is comfortable for YOU
  • Women of all ages welcome
  • Great for Women’s Health and Well-being
  • 90 minutes of nonstop tracks from back in the day to current, Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B, Reggae & Cheese!
  • Friendly atmosphere
  • No steps to follow or bright lighting
  • Bar available

Doors open 7.30 pm.
Dancing finishes at 9pm.

Sessions cost £7 per person in advance or £10 on the door

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm Mon, Wed & Fri).

Normally every 3rd Wednesday of the month (occasionally this may change, so please check before travelling)

www.letsbop.co.uk
www.facebook.com/LetsBopUK
www.twitter.com/LetsBopUK

 

Oct
20
Fri
The Hanging Stars
Oct 20 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The Hanging Stars @ John Peel Centre

The Hanging Stars

+ Palomino Kings

+ Chris Wilbraham and The Larks

 

Blending folk pastoralism with swampy 60s Americana, The Hanging Stars sound like the missing link between the California desert sun and the grey skies of London Town. The album was recorded between LA, Nashville and Walthamstow, with each of these vastly different places leaving an indelible mark on the songs. Their debut album Over the Silvery Lake came out in March 2016.
The band is made up of songwriter, singer and guitarist Richard Olson, Sam Ferman on bass, Paulie Cobra on drums, Patrick Ralla on banjo, guitar, keyboards and assorted instruments, with pedal steel courtesy of Horse and Joe Harvey Whyte.

The Hanging Stars place themselves firmly as part of a long folk tradition encompassing European and North American influences – as a continuation rather than a pastiche of these styles.

On the back of their album release, The Hanging Stars played sold-out shows at The Finsbury in Manor House and London’s The Lexington for an end of year extravaganza. They also shared the stage with Teenage Fanclub at their sold-out show at Islington Assembly Hall and played at the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia.

An album with enough of a hazy, sun-dappled charm to make the capital’s dreariest weather bearable.The Times 4*s

A promising debut from London’s The Hanging Stars, who switch deftly between deliciously sentimental Americana and swaggering psychedelia.Uncut

a hazy, desert-dream of a song, nicely sharpened with steely-eyed guitars, Mersey-laced harmonies and just a whiff of the Gun Club.” – Guardian

Swampy psychedelia that recalls the Medway Delta as much as the Mississippi, the band’s new single neatly conjoins these influences.” – Clash

 

+ support from Palomino Kings

As featured on BBC Introducing and AmericanaUK, a rootsy rhythm section, dirty guitars, atmospheric country bends and hammond organ swells underpin singer Gavin’s honest, heartfelt songwriting and emotive vocals.
File next to: Ryan Adams, Dylan, The Band, Credence Clearwater Revival, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, Dan Auerbach, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers…

+ Chris Wilbraham and The Larks

The Larks, Liz Miller and Chris Wilbraham, use guitar and mandolin to complement their voices as they call on a wide range of influences and experiences to entertain their audiences. Their sets can include traditional, contemporary and original songs which can be populated by Mermaids, Nightingales or Vampires and have been known to describe a Lifeboat Disaster or warn of Climate Change.

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £12 Adv. / £14 Otd.

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

Oct
25
Wed
Dom Martin
Oct 25 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Dom Martin @ John Peel Centre

DOM MARTIN

+ Special Guests DELTA FUZE

“Dom Martin is the next rising star in the global roots scene. Jump aboard now before he passes you by.” – Rock and Blues Muse

Although a young man relatively new to the scene, it would be wrong to think Dom Martin hasn’t paid his life and musical dues. Brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland, Dom traded his craft for a time locally without a (self confessed) clue how to break into the (international) music business and possibly with too much humility to try. ‘Discovered’ by his present management, Dom has made a fairly ‘meteoric’ rise in terms of today’s industry,

His jaw dropping, entirely natural sounding and unforced/unschooled skill on acoustic guitar, matched with an authentic ‘Belfast Blues’ voice, brings to mind comparisons with many from (Glasgow born) John Martyn to Rory Gallagher, with nods to many in-between, not least perhaps the likes of Van Morrison and Foy Vance. Dom has won multiple awards for his acoustic work with a 2019 European award, UK awards in 2020/2021 and 2022 and as a result is now an inductee in the UK Blues Hall of Fame.

Dom is equally adept on electric with his power trio, having won the UK Blues Awards Best Instrumentalist Award 2022. The trio is always an extremely popular addition to any blues/rock festival and Dom always likes to include a Rory Gallagher song or two amongst his originals as he strives “to keep Rory’s music alive”.

“THE BELFAST GUITARIST IS A SPRAWLING TALENT– CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE

Blues in Britain Magazine says – “Now and again you stumble across a rare talent of such sheer genius that you actually wonder whether what you have witnessed can possibly be for real. Dom Martin is one such talent”

 

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Standing tickets

Tickets £15 Adv. / £20 Otd.

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

Oct
26
Thu
Andy Irvine
Oct 26 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Andy Irvine @ John Peel Centre

Andy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He has been hailed as “a tradition in himself.” Musician, singer and songwriter, Andy has maintained his highly individual performing skills throughout his over 50-year career. From Sweeney’s Men in the mid 60s, to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s, his duo with Paul Brady in the later 70s and then from Patrick Street to Mozaik, LAPD and Usher’s Island, Andy has been a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians.

 

As a soloist, Andy fills the role of the archetypal troubadour with a show and a travelling lifestyle that reflect his lifelong influence, Woody Guthrie. To quote The Irish Times, “Often copied, never equalled”, his repertoire consists of Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dances and a compelling canon of his own self-penned songs.

 

 

Andy Irvine first made his mark with the seminal band – “Sweeney’s Men” in 1966 but after two years he left and travelled ‘way out yonder’ by ‘the sunburnt thumb’ to Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia, earning his living as a street musician and absorbing the musical traditions of the Balkans.

Returning to Ireland in 1970, Andy united with Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny and Liam O’Flynn to form Planxty, fanning the flames of Irish traditional music well into the next and future generations. Planxty broke up – for the first time – in late 1975 and Andy performed and recorded with Paul Brady, making the classic album “Andy Irvine & Paul Brady” in 1976. He also worked and recorded brieefly with De Dannan before re-uniting with Planxty in 1979 until it’s second break up in 1983.

 

Tickets £18.00

Book Online

Doors 7:30 pm
Seated
Licensed, Cashless Bar
Oct
28
Sat
Jim Jones All Stars
Oct 28 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Jim Jones All Stars @ John Peel Centre

After a midnight offering at the real crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the band made the pilgrimage to Memphis, Tennessee to record with Memphis Magnetic founder Scott McEwen (JD McPherson, Nick Waterhouse) in May of 2022.​​

A bubbling swamp curse of unholy rhythm, Jim Jones All Stars is the latest project from garage godfather Jim Jones (Thee Hypnotics, The Jim Jones Revue). Formed during the pandemic, it features The Jim Jones Revue members Gavin Jay and Elliot Mortimer, drummer Chris Ellul from (The Heavy) veteran punk blues guitarist Carlton Mounsher.

The resulting LP “Ain’t No Peril” is a thick, greasy slab of ramalama rhythm and blues that highlights some of Jones most inspired songwriting ever and features guest appearances from vocal powerhouse Nikki Hill and Oxbow’s Eugene S. Robinson.

(The Swamps), and a full horn section (Tenor Saxophonist Stuart Dace and Baritone Saxophonists Tom Hodges and Chuchi Malapersona).

 

“When you’re recording within spitting distance of the Mississippi river, there’s something about that heavy Memphis air that changes the way that you hear the groove and grind,” says Jim Jones.

Jim Jones has fashioned the All Stars as a vehicle to return to the stage and reinvigorate his mojo.” Classic Rock

Jim Jones is entering his imperial phase.” Shindig

Jim Jones All Stars leave the sold out crowd in state wide-eyed excitement.” Vive le Rock

“Bigger, better and even noisier than ever!” Louder Than War

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Standing

Tickets £17 adv/ £20 otd.

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

Nov
3
Fri
East Town Pirates
Nov 3 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
East Town Pirates @ John Peel Centre

EAST TOWN PIRATES hail from Ipswich, in the depths of Suffolk, an area steeped in East Anglian folklore. These joyous, yet mostly gruesome, stories along with dark tales of smuggling, drinking, piracy and general debauchery provide ETP with an arsenal of catchy sing-along songs to stomp a foot and raise a glass to.

They have released three studio albums. The first self-titled “East Town Pirates” was followed up by “Seven Seas of Sin” and “Ship o’ Fools”.  All three albums are available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon, as well as on REAL vinyl and CD direct from the band. New material for the fourth release is beginning to be aired at their lively performances.

The 5 members have a penchant for names to fit the theme with a lineup of:

Rikki Rumoldew – Vocals
Kutthroat Kev – Guitar / Backing Vocals
Drew Blood – Guitar / Backing Vocals
Barnacle – Bass Guitar / Backing Vocals
Rum Runnin’ Ryan – Drums

Here’s what some other Ne’er-do-wells and scallywags have to say about us:

Clever, tuneful, historically relevant and interesting pirate stories, set to the most uproariously danceable sea shanty music imaginable – Attila the Stockbroker

Never have I had my timbers shivered so much than when I witnessed East Town Pirates in action! Punk Rock mixed with melodic old school rock, garnished with a healthy dose of Suffolk history to boot. Pirate party punk to walk the plank to – Sonny & Mel, Glastonwick Festival

The East Town Pirates are one of East Anglia’s very best bands. They have performed at many of the region’s top festivals and are guaranteed to keep everyone entertained with their unique stage show. At the heart of their music is a love of Punk and New Wave. Lyrically much of their original material has its roots in their native Suffolk. Their own songs pack such a punch that they rarely, if ever, do other people’s material. ETP put their heart and soul into their live performances and have somehow managed to bottle their live sound and reproduce it in the studio when it comes to making albums. That speaks volumes of their musical ability and commitment to the cause. No one stands still when ETP are in town – Stephen Foster, Ex BBC Presenter, now on Radio Caroline

Watching this band is both entertaining and energetic, catchy songs and great banter between band and audience. All in all it makes for a great night out – Ed, Ilkeston

With a committed crew of musicians and songwriters, the East Town Pirates have crossed the seas of Rock and Punk enhanced by the wind of shanty in their sails. Theirs is the stuff which will have you stomping your feet, thumping the table and raising your glasses, you’ll grin and know you’ve been hooked – Andrew Gibson, Norwich

East Town Pirates play aggressive shanty-punk music that brings only happiness and joy! – Dave, Dudley

Pirate Punk/Rock at it’s finest! 

www.linktr.ee/easttownpirates

 

+ Support t.b.c

 

Doors open 7.30 pm

Tickets – £8 ADV. / £11 OTD.

Standing

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar

Nov
4
Sat
JPC Record Fair
Nov 4 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
JPC Record Fair @ John Peel Centre

JPC Record Fair is back – pop in and have a browse!

Multiple independent sellers

LPs / 12″ / 7″ / Rare 45s / Collectables & More!

 

 

+ Live DJs throughout the day

Licensed Bar / Refreshments available

Free Entry!

Doors open at 10:00 am

Nov
5
Sun
Susan Santos
Nov 5 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Susan Santos @ John Peel Centre

A great passion for the music led Susan Santos to learn, in a self- taught way, how to play guitar and sing. Step by step the lefty guitarist and singer was creating her own songs and her particular style of understanding the music.

She has had intense years of performing in famous clubs and at numerous festivals around Europe,Mexico & USA, sharing scene with very important artists as Billy Gibbons.

Susan won The Best Musician Performance 2018 in The European Blues Awards & Best Female Album 2019 in The-LA Critics Awards.

She recorded 5 albums “Take me home”, (Grasa Records, 2010), “Shuffle Woman” (Peer Music,2012) and “Electric Love” (Paella Records,2014) ,“Skin & Bones” (Paella Re- cords,2016) & “NO U TURN” (TWH Records, January 2019)

The 10th of July of 2020 She released her new Single ” Dirty Money”recorded in North Hollywood, Los Angeles produced by Fabrizio Grossi & mastered by Peter Doell.The song is included in her new EP “The L.A. Sessions” that it was released in October 2020 (Self Release)

Susan’s outstanding voice and appealing guitar style, along with her strong stage presence is very refreshing in the con- temporary blues scene. Blues-rock of XXI Century.

(Blues Blast Magazine, US) “Susan Santos is a guitar hero. She has chops to spare. She is a monster in the studio, overdubbing well performed layers of guitar that sound live and immediate. Santos is also an accomplished songwriter who crafts sturdy, hook laden numbers.But, there are not any real Blues burners. There is not a traditional 12 bar pattern anywhere. However, for those purists who are loo- king for this talented slinger to lay it down old school check out some of the YouTube videos of Santos and band. She can get down and weep out a deep 12 bar Blues like nobody’s business. With this her 5th record, No U Turn is a high point for a deep soulful artist in her prime.”

(Get Ready to Rock, UK)“Spanish guitar tornado, stinging, sineous guitar lines, powerhouse riffs, sumptuous slide, great songs and a killer power trio.

She’s got an understated confidence that bubbles to the top, via snaking gui- tar lines at the core of a song-driven album, full of energetic arrangements, sparkling solos that illuminates her considerable abilities”
“No U Turn” all fit together seamlessly and flow like the best albums always do, as Susan shapes her material with the kind of gusto that has led her to 
winning the ‘Best Performer’ category at the European Blues Awards.

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £12 adv. / £15 otd. 

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar / Cashless

Nov
7
Tue
Horse Play
Nov 7 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Horse Play @ John Peel Centre

HORSE PLAY

The remarkable TRUE STORY of Sprowston Boy; athlete, companion and…well…horse.

Geoff and his childhood best friend grew up on Sprowston Road, Norwich. A sixth generation coal merchant and a salesman, they clubbed together to buy their ‘dream horse’. That horse was Sprowston Boy, and he went on to win the final and most coveted race at Royal Ascot ‘87. And was jockeyed by the first, and only, female to win it for another 32 years!

An underdog adventure with unlikely heroes, written by Geoff’s granddaughter. Pieced together using press cuttings, interviews, a scrapbook, and just a sprinkle of theatrical magic.

“You see, it is all true…well, most of it”.

Presented by Norfolk Arts Awards nominee The Whiting’s On The Wall. With original music by Skinny Boy Tunes, as featured on BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 6. Supported by Arts Council England, The Garage Norwich and National Horse Racing Museum.

 

“Mixing nostalgia with playfulness, humour and poignancy”

EASTERN DAILY PRESS

 

“Extraordinary! Like nothing I’ve seen before quite honestly”

Audience review, ‘Voices of Norfolk’ 2022

 

Age Suitability: All ages welcome – Parent advisory due to mild swearing

 Running Time: Approx. 70 mins (no interval)

 

Tickets £12

Doors 7:00 pm / Starts 7:30 pm

Theatre Style Seating

Book Online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

 

Nov
8
Wed
Iago Banet
Nov 8 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Iago Banet @ John Peel Centre

Iago Banet

“The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar”

“A master of the guitar”, Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3

Listed as ‘Highly recommended artist’, DKOS, Celtic Connections 2023

‘An absolute genius talent on the guitar… Magical’, Kate Justice, BBC Hereford and Worcester

 ✭✭✭✭ “Nothing short of phenomenal”, R’n’R Magazine (new album, TRES, review)

Iago was born in Galicia in the north-west of Spain. As a teenager, he found a classical guitar at home and set about learning to master it. From that moment, there was no going back: guitar became his passion, his obsession and his future. After moving to the UK in 2014, Banet was involved with several bands of diverse style; touring and recording. These included The Boo-Hoos, JFK Blue and Deep Blue Sea.

Since 2018, Banet has been building an impressive career as a solo fingerstyle acoustic guitarist, showcasing his immense talent and receiving rave reviews along the way. With two studio albums and a live album under his belt, Banet redefines the boundaries of the instrument; creating stories without words and enthralling audiences as he does so.

Banet released his third studio album in March 2023 and, in it, he takes the acoustic guitar to its limits. The album features new levels of skill, complexity and versatility, fusing styles, including gypsy jazz, blues rock, country, dixieland, swing, pop and folk. Iago’s technique and approach to performance have captivated crowds across the UK and Spain. A one-man-band on acoustic guitar not to be missed.

“Amazing”, Max Reinhardt, Soho Radio

“Not to be missed… I can’t think of anyone else to match. A rare talent indeed”Trevor Turley (Musician and music journalist)

“Mesmerisingly special as you will see… In a word AWESOME. Fantastic original music and incendiary finger picking acoustic guitar”, Tony Corner (Radio DJ)

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Seated event

Tickets £12 adv. / £15 otd. 

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar / Cashless

Nov
15
Wed
Let’s Bop!
Nov 15 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Let's Bop! @ John Peel Centre

Do you love to dance but no longer get a chance? Get your mojo back on the dance floor with Let’s Bop!

For women 18 to 80, Fun, Fitness & Friendship

Simply turn up & dance, on your own or with a friend(s)

  • No dress code; sparkle or jeans, wear whatever is comfortable for YOU
  • Women of all ages welcome
  • Great for Women’s Health and Well-being
  • 90 minutes of nonstop tracks from back in the day to current, Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B, Reggae & Cheese!
  • Friendly atmosphere
  • No steps to follow or bright lighting
  • Bar available

Doors open 7.30 pm.
Dancing finishes at 9pm.

Sessions cost £7 per person in advance or £10 on the door

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm Mon, Wed & Fri).

Normally every 3rd Wednesday of the month (occasionally this may change, so please check before travelling)

www.letsbop.co.uk
www.facebook.com/LetsBopUK
www.twitter.com/LetsBopUK

 

Nov
17
Fri
The Great Malarkey
Nov 17 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The Great Malarkey @ John Peel Centre

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is The Great Malarkey.

Releasing their second album in early 2017 on Batov Records, ‘Doghouse’ delivers not only the continued raucous energy of their live shows, as showcased in their first album ‘Badly Stuffed Animals’, but the eventual bruising, vulnerability of the morning after the night before.

Influenced by the likes of Tom Waits, The Pogues, Beirut, Nick Cave, Fanfare Ciocarlia, The Dead Brothers and Toots and the Maytals (the latter of whom they supported with only their third gig), The Great Malarkey are riotous mix of musical styles and genres delivered in a “multicultural train of fast beats and trembling slams of punk-folk spirit” – rhythmpassport.com

Drawing on their experience of over eight years of extensive touring, with shows at Bestival (UK), the London Olympics, Boomtown (UK), Colours of Ostrava (CZ), Tønder Festival (DK), to name but a few, and mainstream airplay in both the UK and Denmark, The Great Malarkey continue to delight audiences across the UK and Europe with their explosive, “balls to the wall”, high energy live shows. In February 2019, “Gimme Sugar” from “Doghouse” was chosen by Tom Robinson as BBC 6 Music recommends track of the week, getting played by daytime DJs Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq and Mary-Anne Hobbs.

The Great Malarkey do not disappoint. They bring their whole heart to every song, every show, every album and anyone who wants to listen.

 

A wild, multi-gendered gang of rebels brimming with deviant energy and fun – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music

Rambunctious and right on the edge of control… one of the freshest sounds I’ve picked up this year – Music-news.com

They do sound like they’d be very good live, (like) they’d brew up something of a storm – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £10 adv. / £12 otd.

Standing tickets only – If you have any access needs please contact the box office on 01449 774678

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar / Cashless

Nov
18
Sat
Dave Pearce – 90’s vs 00’s Dance Anthems
Nov 18 @ 7:45 pm – 11:45 pm
Dave Pearce - 90’s vs 00’s Dance Anthems @ John Peel Centre

Dave Pearce – 90’s vs 00’s Dance Anthems

Dave Pearce is coming to Stowmarket!!!

Get ready for a host of 90s 00’s dance tracks from the likes of Gala, Sandy B, Crystal Waters, N-Trance, Ultra Nate, Livin Joy, Groove Armada, Faithless, Darude, SASH, Paul Van Dyke, The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Fat Boy Slim, Daft Punk and much much more, in the wonderful John Peel Centre.

Party the night away and re-live the best, most influential musical eras of our times.

This is an over 18’s event only

Doors/Start: 7:45pm / Finish approx 11:45pm

BOOK ONLINE

Or book in person at the Box Office or call 01449 774678

Nov
19
Sun
Jazz at the JPC: The Jazz of Dudley Moore – Chris Ingham Trio
Nov 19 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Jazz at the JPC: The Jazz of Dudley Moore - Chris Ingham Trio @ John Peel Centre

The Jazz of Dudley Moore  Chris Ingham Trio

Beloved comic actor Dudley Moore (1935-2002) was also a dazzling jazz pianist and a composer of wit and depth. The Chris Ingham Trio revisit Dudley’s fabulous 1960s jazz in an entertaining presentation packed with fascinating anecdote and gorgeous swinging music, as heard on their acclaimed CD Dudley. With Chris Ingham (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and George Double (drums).

Swing, humour and poignancy, a jazz joy” **** MOJO

A vibrant and moving homage” DOWNBEAT (USA)

Dudley would have been delighted” **** OBSERVER


Doors open 2.30pm

Seated

Tickets £13 adv/ £15 otd.

Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

Nov
24
Fri
The Kubricks
Nov 24 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The Kubricks @ John Peel Centre

Formed in London, The Kubricks are a seven-piece band who mix ska, reggae, and infectious melodic pop.

After surfacing in 2013 with their debut EP, ‘Wasters & Wannabes’, The Kubricks soon became one of the must-see ska bands of this generation. Tracks from their debut release were supported by Huey Morgan on BBC Radio 2, and Tom Robinson (BBC Introducing – 6Music), and The Specials’ bassist, Horace Panter championed the band, claiming “I can hear Madness, The Ruts, Squeeze and The Clash in there…” The timing was perfect, and coincided with a new interest in ska music, as many of UK’s festivals began dedicating entire stages to the genre. Riding on the back of this wave, the band soon found themselves supporting legends such as UB40, Bad Manners and The Toasters.

Produced by Toby Davies of Gentleman’s Dub Club, the band’s first album ‘The Heist’ was released in 2017. The UK’s longest running skazine, Do The Dog, commented at the time that it was, “A very strong contender for album of the year”, whilst Bucketlist in Canada called it, “A gem of an album that makes ska and reggae seem like a perfect fit with 21st-century musical trends.” Tom Robinson (6Music) immediately shared the track ‘Down With the Dogs’ with his listeners, and BBC Introducing in Essex soon began supporting the album, inviting the band in for a live session.

Following two autumn UK tours, the band released a brand new album in December 2022 titled ‘Between Antipodes’. Their most ska-pop record to date, production duties were taken by Tom Donovan – producer and musician from hip-hop act, Monster Florence.

The Kubricks have honed their commanding live set, headlining their own shows and playing festivals across the country.
They have played to tens of thousands over the years with appearances at the Isle of Wight Festival, Boomtown Fair, Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering, Wickerman (Scotland), Godiva, Dance Ska La (France), and The London International
Ska Festival, amongst many others…

 

 

Event information

Doors 7.30pm

Tickets £13

Standing tickets only

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

 

 

Nov
25
Sat
Beans on Toast
Nov 25 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Beans on Toast @ John Peel Centre

The captivating troubadour known as Beans on Toast embarks on a joyous musical escapade this Winter. Captivating hearts and minds with his tales of love, politics and the human experience, Beans is unafraid to challenge the status quo with his irreverent wit and soul-stirring lyricism.

Like a modern-day minstrel, Beans on Toast takes to the road on a captivating journey across towns and cities of the UK. His songs, the celebration of the human spirit and a call for unity resonate deeply in the hearts of listeners, leaving them inspired and moved. Inviting us to reflect, laugh and remember that amidst the chaos, there is still hope and beauty to be found.

 

 

WEBSITE – http://www.beansontoastmusic.com/

INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beans.on.toast/

YOUTUBE – https://www.youtube.com/beansontoasttube

SPOTIFY – https://open.spotify.com/artist/6fVeXD7D2RpFoR6bzNEDPo?si=UrUqMVOQR4KhYzaitSkjeg

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £16.50

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

 

Nov
29
Wed
Crow Black Chicken
Nov 29 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Crow Black Chicken @ John Peel Centre

This power trio combine elements of folk and hard rock with the blues rock of bands like Gov’t mule, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin. The band was formed in 2009 in Cork city when lead singer Christy O’Hanlon met the former rhythm section of Clonmel Punk Rock outfit Aural Ammunition, Stephen McGrath ( Bass ) and Gev Barrett ( Drums ). The band immediately jelled and went on to perform on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2011. The band released their first raw blues rock and roll album in 2012 which was produced by Producer Philip Magee ( Kodaline, Aslan, The Blizzards ). The bands second album Rumble Shake was released in 2014 and debuted at number 12 in the Irish album charts. Recorded in Westland Studios Dublin, this album was a more roots and blues affair than the first record, heavily influenced by the bands work with Texan Americana singer Ray Wylie Hubbard and legendary Austin Producer the late George Reiff. In 2015 the band went on to release their first live album entitled Deep South which was voted top 5 live albums of 2015 by Classic Rock Blues. In 2016 Crow Black Chicken opened for ZZ Top at the Marquee in Cork which brought them face to face with the Texan compatriots whom they often drew so many comparisons to. Always determined to create a sound all of their own the band continues to tour all over Europe and have since released a 4th studio album Pariah Brothers in 2017. Winners of the Introducing stage at Skegness Rock and Blues (UK) 2019 and Minehead Giants of Rock (UK) in 2020 and set to headline HRH Blues in the O2 Sheffield in 2021 the band continues their extensive touring of the UK. After the release of their latest Live Record South Roman Street the Crow Black Chickens 5th studio album is already in the pipeline.

“These guys do the nasty blues like the devil hisself was hurting and rock like they’ll skate come judgement day” Ray Wylie Hubbard

“CBC could save rock and roll” Alvin Youngblood Hart

 

+ HOT TRAMP (support)

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £12 adv. / £15 otd.

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.

Nov
30
Thu
Martha Tilston
Nov 30 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Martha Tilston @ John Peel Centre

“She has the power to draw an audience into her world, leaving all those present with a smile, and a few issues to ponder, too”- Time Out

With a pure silken voice and lyrics that inspire and captivate, Martha Tilston has developed a successful musical career with a large and loyal following. She has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and festivals, recorded and released several critically acclaimed albums, gained a nomination for BBC best newcomer, appeared as a guest vocalist for Zero 7, toured internationally and worked with the some of the world’s most inspiring performers including Damien Rice, Nick Harper, Kate Tempest, Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera) and Zero 7.

The past few years have seen Martha venture into the world of film making, gaining nominations for best arts film for The Clifftop Sessions and recently releasing her first feature film (with an accompanying Soundtrack Album)-The Tape-which is garnering much praise and excitement. Withher long-time collaborators and musicians Matt Tweed and Matt Kelly, among others they entwine raw vocals, sparkling melodies and thought-provoking lyrics with filmic movements and earthy baselines. To see them live is to connect with longed-for parts of ourselves…“Sharp, original songs that dissect the modern world. She captures both the harshness and enchantment of life” ~ The Guardian

 

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £16.50 adv. / £18 otd. 

Seated & standing tickets available

Book online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar / Cashless

Dec
3
Sun
Ian McNabb
Dec 3 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Ian McNabb

Ian formed The Icicle Works in 1981 and became part of the Liverpool renaissance movement of the eighties, alongside acts such as Echo And The Bunnymen, Dead Or Alive, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and China Crisis.

A versatile musician, and Mercury-nominated solo artist, Ian has toured as bass player with Ringo Starr, and played keyboards with The Waterboys; he has co-written and recorded with Crazy Horse, The Lightning Seeds and Peter Buck, to name but a few.

Ian’s solo acoustic shows are an intimate opportunity to share over 2 hours of greatest hit songs, and stories, from his 40+ year career.

 

Listen on Spotify

 

 

Book Online

Doors 7:30 pm
Seated
Licensed, Cashless Bar
Dec
6
Wed
James Yorkston & Nina Persson
Dec 6 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
James Yorkston & Nina Persson @ John Peel Centre

James Yorkston and Sweden’s The Second Hand Orchestra had no real plans to do a follow up, but as James visited his studio in Cellardyke, Fife everyday in early 2021, he began to start writing songs on the piano as opposed to his usual guitar as he gazed upon the sea outside his window.

After sending the first five or six songs to Karl-Jonas Winqvist (the leader/conductor of TSHO), they began to discuss working on the music together. With Yorkston’s shift from guitar to piano, they thought about what other changes they could make to their process which led to the involvement of a guest singer and the legendary Nina Persson (The Cardigans) was brought into the fold.

Today, they release the first song from the forthcoming album, “Hold Out For Love”, a kind of Fife-gospel anthem with Yorkston and Persson’s vocals interwoven together over the lyrics: “You’ll have no regrets / If you hold out for love / Don’t sell yourself short / For the sake of a moment.”

James Yorkston, Nina Persson and The Second Hand Orchestra were joined by Philip Selway (Radiohead) to record a live version of the song, directed by Dah Dit Dit.

Stream “Hold Out For Love” here.

Watch the live version of “Hold Out For Love” here.

Whilst there is a lightness in sound to The Great White Sea Eagle, there is a dark humour throughout and the album conveys a rich message about life and grief, family and nature. James’ song for Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison, “A Sweetness In You”, being one such moment.

The Great White Sea Eagle follows the release of Yorkston’s second novel The Book of the Gaels, recently declared Book of the Month in The Times.

 

Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £16.50 Adv. / £18 Otd.

Book Online

(fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).

Licensed bar.