Peoples Republic of South Devon

Kolo and the gang

You’d think that with our frankly unhealthy Aeon-inspired love for David Sanders (his album really is astonishingly good), there’d be no room in our hearts for anyone else. And you’d be dead right! However, last week, we were a bit blown away by Kolo at Plymouth’s Hub venue.

A power pop trio from Exeter, they rattled through a fantastic set of overwrought tunage and won us over with their operatic 80s vocals, a tribute to Eurythmics and their twatting around with a synthesiser. A SYNTHESISER! Yes, they were very good indeed.

In fact, we’d go as far to say they could be the next Muse (or, at the very least, the next JJ72).

Don’t believe us?

Well, check out their website to hear more or to order a free copy of their Normandy House EP.

The record boasts songs called Cambodia (nothing to do with Kim Wilde), Margarita (nothing to do with Status Quo) and Watch Your Back Jonny Boy (possibly something to do with Mean Streets but we’re not entirely sure).

We’ve got a spare copy of the EP if you want it. Just email the words ‘I am a citizen of the People’s Republic and I demand a free CD’ to info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk before tomorrow lunchtime and we’ll bung a copy in the post to the first entry out of the PRSD hijab.

Oh, and don’t forget to include your address, ya dunderheads.

Posted by Thin White Duke

September 6th, 2006

4 comments

(Sw)pan for gold

Who would have thought there would be a Genesis Centre, and that it would be in Somerset? We only mention it because on Thursday, September 7, there will be an exodus (you ever get those days you just feel a little Old Testament?) of artists from the People’s Republic to the South West’s Participatory Arts Network or SWPAN - how do you say that? Have no artists heard of Bruce Nauman and his witty flourescent light things that played with language (not those dodgy video things, or money-for-old-rope audio things? Phew, the acronyms they come up with nowadays).

The good news is that this new organisation is for artists who work with other people, in all forms of art – music, dance, drama, visual arts etc, and will offer opportunities to network and communicate, to share experiences and to make new friends. The day will also include information on training courses and a chance to determine how the network will develop and work, and what artists want to see on its website.

The basic principle behind SWPAN is that its services and activities will come from what artists themselves want and need.

For more information, a booking form, or just to be added to the new SWPAN mailing list, contact Cat Radford on 01803 861783 or c.radford@dartington.ac.uk.

Posted by Cptn

September 6th, 2006

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