What’s On

One of Cambridge’s favourite pop covers bands – back for another night of fun.
Expect bangers. Expect mashups. Get ready to sing your heart out and dance ’til you drop

One Dan, 88 Keys
An electrifying night of amusing piano pop-punk. If you like the energy of McFly, the wit of Bowling for Soup and the timeless influence of Elton John then newcomer, Dan Sutton will make the perfect Friday Night out for you.

Joining him is the incredibly talented solo artist Angelkidd known around East Anglia for his crazy energy, catchy tunes and brilliant set of original tracks.

Sibel Tuzan represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with her hit song “Superstar” and has been captivating audiences with her performances in London, Oxford, Manchester, and Liverpool ever since.

Wigan band, the Stanleys arrive at The Portland Arms, fresh from supporting Richard Ashcroft, Cast and Shed Seven across the UK – and their recent headline show at the 950 capacity Manchester Academy 2, which sold out in minutes!

Having also been on the road with the likes of The Libertines, The Lathums, The Sherlocks, Jamie Webster, The View and Inspiral Carpets, it’s only a matter of time before the Stanleys are as well-known across the UK, as they are across Manchester and the North-West.

“Well thought out musicianship” and “well on the way to making
something special” – BBC Radio Manchester

Support comes from two bands destined for a big future, Afterdrive and The Portland.

Afterdrive
In just a short time, Ipswich band, Afterdrive have already become admired for their perfect blend of pop and indie music and receive regular airplay on prestigious national platforms like BBC Radio 1 and Radio X.

The Portland
The Portland are definitely one to keep an eye on. With influences as diverse at The Pixies and Bill Callahan, The Portland are going places.

EP release celebration show.

‘Prima Queen’s ethereal sound, which shimmers with delicate vocal interplay and glacial instrumentation, takes them to regal heights’ NME

Transatlantic indie experts Prima Queen announce debut LP ‘The Prize’, packed with effusive, empathic melodies, ‘The Prize’ represents a fresh era for a band primed and ready to truly assert their individuality. The songs of Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden play like a love letter to the radical power of friendship; to the fans who have revelled in the band’s bitingly charismatic storytelling, qualities which are showcased vividly throughout their entire debut record.

Described, accurately, by McFadden as an album that ‘screams empowerment and strength,’ ‘The Prize’ uses the pair’s fateful connection as a North Star for their shared journey towards growth. Tapping into the shimmering pop sensibilities of Haim and Jenny Lewis, an openness of spirit defines the 12 tracks, partly inspired by the euphoria the group experienced on stage over the past year while touring with the likes of Olivia Dean, Wet Leg and Whitney.

Having built a glowing live reputation through appearances at the likes of Glastonbury, SXSW and Pitchfork Paris in recent times, Prima Queen have already attracted plaudits from all corners of the press landscape (The Guardian, The I Paper, The Independent, The Times, NME, DIY, Dork, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash), whilst their previous five singles have all landed on the BBC 6 Music playlist (Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Lauren Laverne, Craig Charles) to widespread praise.

Wesson (TBC)

80s parody spandex band back to the Portland for the first time in 3 years.

Arthur Brown is synonymous with his 1968 hit “Fire” and the Hammond-driven “Crazy World” line-up which spawned it. However, his ‘God of Hellfire’ burned out fast and, in 1970, he returned with a new project: the prog-festival freak-show Kingdom Come followed by a varied solo career. Those initial four band albums, by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and by Kingdom Come are thrilling, as tend to be Brown’s cameos on other peoples’ projects.

Best known for his flamboyant theatrical performances and his powerful, wide- ranging operatic voice. He has been a major influence on a wide range of musicians due to his outstanding vocal ability and wild stage persona and concepts. He is considered a pioneer of shock rock and progressive rock and influential on heavy metal music.
He associated with Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Frank Zappa, Hawkwind, Klaus Schultze and Alice Cooper and made a cameo appearance in the cult film “The Committee” and also “Tommy”. His countless collaborations include The Alan Parsons Project, The Stranglers and The Prodigy.
His best-known single “Fire” hit number 1 in the UK singles chart and Canada, and a number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album “The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown” had top ten success on both sides of the Atlantic. Following “Fire”, the press would often refer to Brown as “The God of Hellfire”, in reference to the opening shouted line of the song.
Arthur shows no signs of stopping or slowing down and continues to record and release hugely inspiring music, including his most recent release “Long, Long Road” (2022) and the launch of his new multi-media show “A Human Perspective”.

https://www.thegodofhellfire.com

https://www.facebook.com/arthurbrownmusic

ProgRock/Metal night

Mardy Bums – Arctic Monkeys Tribute
Doors 8.15pm
Show 9.00pm

Brought together by their shared passion for the music of Alex Turner & co, they have built a fantastic reputation on the live venue and festival scenes. With their raw energy and authenticity, their sensational live performances have been rocking crowds of all ages all over the UK with the best hits from the UK’s very own rock legends.
With true dedication for the creation of an authentic Arctic Monkeys experience and playing all of the most iconic tunes with a few B sides thrown in for good measure….
Mardy Bums are coming. You’d better get on your dancing shoes!

The Jexit (The Jam covers band)