The People’s Lounge, Portsmouth supporting Arms Around the Child at Victorious Festival

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: August Bank Holiday 2023

Trading a glitter makeover for an interview, I discover this is Erika’s second year volunteering at The People’s Kitchen in the World Music Village, at Victorious Festival – the south coast event held on August Bank Holiday by the sea in Portsmouth.

  • Read on for reasons including more about the Global Music Village at Victorious Festival
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GIG REVIEW: The Human League, Altered Images & Nik Kershaw at Kew The Music

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 14 July 2023

SETLIST: The Sound Of The Crowd; Mirror Man; Heart Like A Wheel; The Things That Dreams Are Made Of; Open Your Heart; Seconds; The Lebanon; One Man In My Heart; Human; Behind The Mask; Love Action; Tell Me When; Fascination; Don’t You Want Me; Being Boiled; Together In Electric Dreams

Let’s just say that I went to church on Friday. The church of The Human League.

  • Read on for reasons including A Humdrum Mum’s thoughts on Altered Images and Nik Kershaw
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GIG REVIEW: Welly at the Edge Of The Wedge, Portsmouth

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 30 June 2023, tour runs until 2 September 2023

Having “discovered’ Welly on day one of Victorious Festival last year, making our whole weekend (along with the comedy), we have seen this Brighton-based (originally from Southampton) band three times now.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see the band this summer
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Live In A Village Hall by Welly (March 2023)

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

TRACKLIST: Me And Your Mates; Home For The Weekend; Deere John; Take 5; Michelangelo; Locally Made Jam; Flowers; 501

‘The sweet smell of Lynx and regret.’ Remembering. Misremembering. Nostalgia. Youth. Cities by the sea. Welcome to Welly, your new favourite singer/band.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should see Welly in a village hall because they’ll be playing larger gigs next
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PREVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 starring Kasabian, Friendly Fires & Charlatans

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

Victorious has announced its second wave of acts for Britain’s sunniest August bank holiday festival on the south coast in Portsmouth (25-27 August 2023).

  • Read on for reasons including Natalie Imbruglia, Pete Tong, Belle and Sebastian & Dara O’Briain
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GIG REVIEW: Roxy Music at The 02

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 14 October 2022

Why did I go to watch Roxy Music in a venue that normally I wouldn’t watch bands in? (Except for Soft Cell’s “farewell” gig.) Well, for the same reason. This was their 50th anniversary and farewell tour.

  • Read on for reasons including how Roxy Music influenced every band A Humdrum Mum admires
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GIG REVIEW: Melt Yourself Down at The Loft, Southampton

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

A last minute impulse buy and when the tickets arrived, we were numbers 30 and 31. Oh no, what if not many people turned up? No fear of that. Thanks in part to being heavily played on BBC 6Music of recent, it was packed. 

  • Read on for reasons including how singer Kushal Gaya spent time hugging everyone
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INTERVIEW: Former Strangler Hugh Cornwell on his movie music podcast

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

Hugh Cornwell (former Stranglers singer/guitarist) has a movie music podcast – in fact it has been going for 4 years now and has nearly 100 episodes – read on to discover more.

  • Read on for reasons including Brian Eno, Cindy Crawford and Bob Hoskins
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