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Events

The Ropemakers is a popular local venue offering regular live music, open mic nights, a monthly chese club, a weekly quiz, a meat draw, and various events throughout the year.

The Hawkmen

Fri 30th Nov - 9:15pm

The Hawkmen draw from an array of influences such as rhythm’n’blues, soul, and rock’n’roll which they bring together in a classic, rootsy, hybrid blend. The band emerged as a full, live act in 2017 following the early successes of soul 45 and Craig Charles favourite, Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover (Record Kicks), a northern soul remix of Emma Beatson’s debut single Do It (selected by Craig Charles for the second volume of his Freestyle Records compilation series) and The Hawkmen’s blazing Keep On Working EP (Mocambo) which yielded another 45 and was widely played on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 6. In 2017 Love Is Blind was released and features on the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club Vol.5 compilation and received more BBC 6 Music airplay. 2018 got of to a flying start with the release of the Chemistry Of Love single, yet more plays on BBC 6 Music, leading to a mini UK tour and concerts in Germany and France.

Lay Winwood's Maggot

Sat 1st Dec

Lady Winwood’s Maggot – 9:15pm – Sometimes an angel choir, Sometimes a silent screaming maelstrom, The Clash mating with Johnny Cash. Lady Winwood’s Maggot have been storming the south for many years with their unique style of Death Western. Fusing traditional American and Irish music with self-written songs and presenting them with an old-school punk attitude. Banjo, Mandolin and Acoustic Guitar are backed with thunderous Drums and Bass. This is a band who believes in putting on a show, with their own full scale lighting rig, stage attire and presence they bring to the audience an energetic and absorbing performance that exudes an incredible atmosphere guaranteed to liven the crowd at any venue

Skeg and Sadie Horler

Sun 2nd Dec

Since her first live appearance in 2014, Exeter based singer-songwriter Sadie Horler has quickly established herself as a popular act on the South West festival circuit. With her intricate guitar picking and effortless vocals, Sadie performs with warmth and authenticity, captivating her audience with an engaging but unaffected stage presence. Her song writing reflects a maturity and perception beyond her years, with lyrics drawing on the events and people around her, every song telling a story that compels you to listen. Sadie’s first single ‘25th’ charted at number five in the ITunes singer/songwriter category. It was followed by her much anticipated four track EP ‘Two For Joy’, which in turn led to an invitation to perform the title track on Balcony TV. Describing Sadie as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘one of the finest young female artists we have discovered’, BBC introducing in Devon have broadcast nine of her self-penned songs, twice chosen her songs as 'Upload of the Week', and invited her to perform live on the programme. And it’s not only in live performance and radio that Sadie’s been getting noticed. Her haunting vocals were used recently in a trailer for Channel 5's fantasy epic 'Emerald City', directed by Tarsem Singh and produced by Universal Television

Open Mic Night

Wed 5th Dec

Pack your talent and leave the safety of the bedroom and come on down and strut your inner rock star so that all can enjoy. All types of musician and poet welcomed. Better come early to book yer space. Hosted by the talented Nick and Si from Behind Closed Doors

Uphill and Still

Fri 7th Dec

Jon and Maddy form a powerful duo of commanding Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar and Washboard, as well as influences of home drawn from opposite sides of the Atlantic. Since their EP release (2016), they have spent 18 months busking and performing across Canada; from PEI fishing bars, to Prairie porches; from West-Coast surf towns, to festival stages in Yukon Territory, absorbing life into their sound.

Toxic Fish

Sat 8th Dec

Expect ska and reggae from these fine set of lads.

James Hollingsworth

Sun 9th Dec

South-West England-based James Hollingsworth has a passionate voice and a unique, complex acoustic guitar finger-style, reminiscent of Andalusian guitar, fusing elements of folk, blues, trance, metal and psychedelic rock. Since turning professional in 2006 he's played numerous festivals, private bookings, folk, acoustic and rock venues nationally, supported Nick Harper (twice), Cara Dillon, Hazel O'Connor, 60's legends It's a Beautiful Day and Barry 'The Fish' Melton (of Country Joe and The Fish), who said: "It was truly a phenomenal experience hearing James Hollingsworth's music, I know now that the tradition of ground-breaking music is in good hands. Thank you, James – Barry Melton." A former long-time resident of Bristol's Tantric Jazz Cafe, James is adaptable and spontaneous, picking material with his mood and that of the audience. As well as being a critically acclaimed songwriter, he performs soulful interpretations from his repertoire of 300+ covers, including solo acoustic Pink Floyd

December Cheese Club

Wes 12th Dec

Six superb cheeses all served with a selection of crackers and accompaniments. Tickets are available from the bar at £6.50 each. Get your tickets early for this popular night as we have limited spaces. Booking for this event is essential.

BEMIS

Fri 14th Dec

Bemis are recognised among their peers as a superb live act who can headline any bill. They are Gareth Howells, Louis Howells, Dillon Hughes, Mark Finn and Ian Scarbro. They're an acoustic rock group led by the songs of frontman Gareth Howells, with guitars played with attack, wrapped up in a punchy sound provided by a solid rhythm section. Getting an enviable reputation with their own take on the covers they perform, and their original songs heard across their albums.

Surfin' Birds

Sat 15th dec

The psychosonic constellations are clearing so open your airwaves and countenance these cavalcades of swinging surf and raucous rockabilly. Thundering their way to a gathering near you this year secreting rustic rockabilly charm, allow their guttural guitars and dynamic drums to reverberate your reason and magnify the madness. Simply throw back your hair, whirl that waistline onwards and follow your frenzied feet to the searing sounds of Dorset's musical sensation that is The Surfin' Birds.

The Lost Revellers

Sun 16th Dec

Lost Revellers play an original fusion of swinging Gypsy jazz, fiery tangos, wild dance beats and stomping folk… Lost Revellers are a London based folk-fusion band playing daringly arranged traditional tunes, alongside their own imaginative compositions. Performed on violin, accordion, drums/percussion and bass, their bold and creative sound draws from Gypsy jazz, swing, tango, folk and more....

The Sunset Cafe Stompers

Mon 17th Dec

The Sunset Cafe was a top night-spot on Chicago’s infamous South Side. Al Capone owned it, Louis Armstrong starred there. The Sunset Cafe Stompers do play the music of that period... great tunes from Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller... but the band’s wide repertoire also features songs made famous by artists as diverse as Patsy Cline, Marilyn Monroe, the Inkspots, Fats Domino... even Elvis. Beneath it all, one can sense the elusive, shifting, pulse which defines the sound of New Orleans. In that city, ever since the 1900s, bands have been hired to attract a crowd, or to add spirit and generate excitement for all kinds of occasion. Throughout the last twenty years we have followed in that tradition: playing jazz clubs, concerts for churches, arts centres, village dances, weddings, festivals, funerals, garden parties... from our Dorset/Somerset base, down to Cornwall and up to Cumbria.

Skimmity Hitchers

Thu 20th Dec

Skimmity Hitchers – 9:15pm – Rising from the cider soaked floors of Dorset’s back street boozers, the Skimmity Hitchers now roam the full girth of the West Country and beyond. Bringing their dry and fruity blend of Scrumpy & Western music to venues, festivals and fairs, these Scrumpy swillin’ reprobates appeal to young and old, and everyone from folkies to cider punks, beardy badgers to shifty blaggers. The ‘Hitchers blend razor sharp parodies and original material with a raucous stage show, spontaneous audience interaction, cheeky banter and general cider shenanigans… In their quest to bring proper job drinkin’ music to the masses the band have stolen the show at events of all types and sizes. Highlights include Camp Bestival, Boomtown Fair, Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and headline slots at the Great Dorset Steam Fair and OutCider Festival, but there’s simply nowhere these four fruity fellas can’t instigate a good time. They have Christened children, tamed hordes of hairy bikers and even serenaded Tony Benn with his own personal number. Oh, and believe it or not they’re the first Scrumpy & Western band EVER to play the USA having toured Oregon, Washington and Vancouver BC in February 2016.

The Legendary snakeSNAKEsnake

Fri 21st Dec

The Legendary snakeSNAKEsnake are a musical Burrow hill-billy three piece from Somerset featuring guitar, banjo, melodica and cello. They describe their sound as Johnny Cash meets Hayseed Dixie and The Ramones. A sort of country, cowpunk, vaudeville, mish mash. Chris (Vocals and Guitar) and Kev (Banjo, Melodica, Vocals) first played together in rowdy ska-punkateers Bucket* where they shared their love of cider, road movies and celebrity baiting. After a few years it was felt that perhaps they were ‘too old’ for punk and they turned their attention to the next logical musical step for white trash: country. Kev picked up a banjo and having long been fans of Johnny Cash, they began playing some of his songs along with other country and bluegrass numbers before beginning to work on their own compositions. They named the band after a variation on the snakebite drink (instead of cider and beer, three different ciders together).

Pronghorn

Sat 22nd Dec

In 1992 when grunge was what every self-respecting alternative music fan was into, a group of friends who decided to go against the grain formed a band that the likes of Dorset and the world had never seen. 20 odd years ago they started off by busking outside Debenhams in Bournemouth and then played their first gig at the Brunswick Hotel in Charminster. It was after that gig they received their first ever review too- on collection of their gear the following morning, they discovered the landlord's dog had left a rather large message by the drum kit. The band was put together from the ashes of skiffle outfit 'Hoedown at Hanks'. a Cult tribute band ' Blue Rain' and local upstarts 'the Crunchy Tractors and quickly went onto busking outside more salubrious locations, Amsterdam Central Station, Copenhagen Homeless Hostels and Cherbourg docks to name but a few. As the band's sound evolved with a mash of punk, country and rockabilly which brought together the band’s very own genre “Cowpunk”, proper gigs soon followed and then the festivals came calling..

Ben Morgan-Brown

Sun 23rd Dec

Ben Morgan-Brown - 4:00pm – Exeter-based singer/songwriter & guitarist Ben Morgan-Brown writes intimate & reflective songs featuring open-tuned guitar, ethereal vocals & obliquely personal lyrics that tip the hat to Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Michael Chapman et al whilst still maintaining a unique musical style & identity. His new E.P. ‘Cold Rooms’ features five songs written in the last 18 months, a time during which Ben has reflected upon the past few years of his life – turbulent years that have seen him lose both his grandparents, get married & divorced within two years, spend a month in hospital after catching salmonella in Morocco & which culminated with the death of his father in November 2016. Released in December 2017, ‘Cold Rooms’ has received radio play across the UK and 2018 sees Ben promoting the E.P. with live performances across the South West and beyond including performances at Bridport Folk Festival, Cornwall Folk Festival, How The Light Gets In and support slots for John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) & John Smith.

The Husky Tones

Fri 28th Dec

This blistering Bristol-based duo hit with the force of a much bigger unit. A stand-up drummer who also delivers keening vocals, and a crunchy, dextrous, raging guitarist – the perfect girl/boy, punk-blues alchemy. Husky Tones’ punk blues style favours the common rawness, simplicity and emotion shared between the punk and blues genres. Live it is delivered by the unique set up of standing singer-drummer Victoria Bourne and guitarist Chris Harper. Formed as a duo in August 2016 Husky Tones’ approach to punk blues mirrors what they love as audience members: inventive, individual and fully aware of tradition without being a slave to it. Husky Tones’ musical, lyrical and sonic influences include contemporary and classic punk blues acts such as The Bonnevilles, Miraculous Mule, Bob Log III, The Gun Club, punk legends Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, the music of the North Mississippi Hill Country artists such as R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Cedric Burnside, and alternative rockers Morphine, The Black Keys, Nick Cave, and PJ Harvey. Husky Tones’ songs have been played on national radio including the BBC Radio Two Blues Playlist and by Paul Jones on BBC Radio Two as well as international radio. Their 2017 album ‘Who Will I Turn To Now?’ has been album of the week on radio stations in the USA, UK, and Europe. They have been described as ‘Artist to watch’ in ION Indie Magazine USA with ‘Momentum’ as a featured video. They have built a reputation for intense live shows performing headline shows at places such as London’s 100 Club, Fiddlers Elbow and Blues Kitchen, Brighton’s Latest Bar, The Fleece in Bristol and national UK festivals. Always captivated by raw, cathartic music and with a keen eye on current events Husky Tones’ politically charged punked up blues is coming to a juke joint near you.

ExBoss

Fri 29th Dec

Like that time when Roni Size met Nirvana on a beach in Jamaica. Live drum ‘n’ bass / punk / dub 3 piece.

New Year's Eve with DJ Santa

Mon 31st Dec

Get your glad rags out and get some ska incider