Sheer 108 - Jimmy Watkins Pt.1 (Running Punks)

We're joined by author and musician, CJ Thorpe-Tracey on this week's Sheer Isolation. His loyal fanbase know him better as Chris TT. Over two decades, Chris released ten albums and over a hundred songs. The Huntsman Comes A-Marchin' was frequently covered by Frank Turner in his early days of touring. Chris has now published his first book - Buried in the English Earth. It's a lyric book that features every one of his published songs, along with detailed notes and analysis of the meaning. He tells us that he has retired as a songwriter, but is now turning his attention to novel writing. Music this week is provided by post-punk poet Bristolian, Emily Breeze, and Chris picks a track from Jim Bob; a band fronted by James Morrison from indie punk chart-toppers, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine. We also cover the news that previous guest, Thomas Haynes - aka Grasslands - has created his own local music magazine in print, and the Wiltshire wurz-rap artist, Corky, has announced in EP launch - some 15 years after his debut album!

It's about time we interviewed the man behind Sheer Music on this show! In this episode Jon talks to Kieran... He tells us how he caught the bug for organising and promoting live music, how he's spent close to 20 years supporting Wiltshire's venues and festivals, and also tells us what he's planning to do next! We play a couple of new tunes courtesy of Swindon rockers NervEndings, and Bristol based indie songwriter, Billy Nomates. We also chat about how local festivals are already trickling out news of their 2023 headliners, and how a Government grant could be used to create a new community venue in the centre of Trowbridge.

We're playing out Part 2 of our Jimmy Watkins interview this week. Previously, Jimmy was telling us about how he set up the Running Punks - an online community which supports mental health by combining music and running. This week he talks more about his previous incarnations - including his time playing in alt-rock band Future of the Left, and then the Vega Bodegas. He also explains why he embarked on a music career, as at the time he was a Welsh record holder for the 800 metres and starting to prepare for a place at the Olympics! Our music choices also have a Welsh theme this week - we play a track from Jimmy's band, the Vega Bodegas, and Kieran chooses a new release from Welsh songwriter, Tom Jenkins. We also talk about a growing trend for people to move away from streaming services in favour of physical discs, and we look at some of the gigs taking place in towns across the West in the coming week.

This week on Sheer Isolation we're joined by Mercyful Fate bassist, Becky Baldwin! That is THE Mercyful Fate - the iconic Danish metal 80s band. Originally from Trowbridge, Becky will soon be joining the band as they tour America; filling in for their usual bassist, Joey Vera. She tells us how this once-in-a-lifetime chance came about thanks to her social media accounts, in particular her YouTube videos. Her online showcase has created a fantastic platform to show her skills as a session guitarist. If you're into your classic metal bands, you may have already seen Becky play in one of her regular groups, Fury and Hands Off Gretel. Our music choices this week include one of Fury's latest releases, and Kieran plays a tune from electro-pop duo, Pecq. In our news section, we discuss the latest developments that are delaying much-needed renovation work at Swindon's Oasis Centre.

Our guest on Sheer Isolation this week competed for Team GB in the 800 metres, and was in Welsh alt-rock band Future of the Left. But those stories will be told another time... This week, Jimmy Watkins is talking to us about a series of YouTube videos he made, and how they led to the creation of a new running club with a difference. Jimmy created Running Punks after he and a friend discovered first-hand just how important regular exercise is for helping overcome mental anxieties. During lockdown, he was encouraging musicians and music-lovers to follow his lead and go for a run. Two years on, and Running Punks has become a worldwide tribe of amateur athletes, with clubs operating in countries across the globe. Jimmy tells us of his surprise that his music video reviews, recorded while out running, became such a big hit on YouTube, and how the Running Punks name is continuing to gain momentum and popularity. Jimmy's choice of track is our first Welsh spoken song on Sheer Isolation courtesy of female rock trio, Adwaith. We also play the latest release from Chippenham/Bristol group the Erotic Secrets of Pompeii, who filmed the video for this tune in Kieran's workplace. We also talk about upcoming gigs in the region, and how Kieran has very unreliable gig buddies, leaving him with plenty of spare tickets for shows!

On this week's Sheer Isolation we play out the second part of our Johnny Black interview. In this part, the Devizes based music journalist talks about the time he joined a new team of writers to create the Smash Hits brand. The publication team, which launched it's first magazine in 1978, went on to produce other titles such as Mojo and Q. Johnny tells us about his Time Machine feature for Mojo - an 'On This Day' section which still lives on through his personal website. We also play the new single from The Streets which features Jazz Morley; a singer and pianist who's been performing in venues across the south west for years, but more recently has been supporting household names in cities across Europe. Our other tune is from alt rockers InAir who are performing at this year's Swindon Shuffle. Jon and Kieran also mention Wiltshire musician, Kirsty Clinch, who's new album is lighting up the iTunes charts.. We also have an update on Bristol icon Big Jeff who is on the road to recovery following a house fire.

Every band needs merch. Corporate events need merch. People love buying merch! Our guest on this week's Sheer Isolation has been making merch for local and international artists for years. Nathan Gregory runs Hartmoor Merchandise from North Wiltshire - primarily printing T-shirts and the like, but if you want a logo put on something, he can help. He tells us how business is booming, explains why international bands prefer using UK printers while on tour here, and tells us about the weirdest thing he's ever seen a logo stamped on! Our music choices this week include a silly song with a serious message from Sweetchunks, and Nathan picks a track from one of his recent clients, Blackbear. In our news section we talk about how the 2022 festival season is coming to a close.

40 years ago, our guest on this week's Sheer Isolation was hanging out with the likes of The Beach Boys and Tammy Wynette, and writing features for magazines such as Smash Hits! Johnny Black has gone from village life in rural Scotland, to the bustle of London's music industry in the 80s, and now lives among the rolling hills of Wiltshire. In this first of two parts, we talk to Johnny about his history, including how he became the press officer of some of the most iconic names on the CBS label. Music choices this week include a punk rock artist, Arms and Hearts, who's stopping off in Wiltshire on his mini-tour, and Johnny picks one of his own tracks because, in his own words, musicians make songs for them to be heard. In our news section we pay respect to KTor Stretch - a young Bristol rapper who was recently killed in London. We also cover the latest festival news in the region.

Our guest on this week's Sheer Isolation is a sound and electronics engineer who's travelled the world over four decades designing, operating and repairing some seriously large and expensive sound desks and speakers! These days, Danny Kitainik is the man behind a modest little production company in Wiltshire, Serenity Audio. But Danny was behind many of the sound systems installed in London's iconic nightclubs during the eighties, toured with the likes of Simple Minds, K D Lang and Toto, has set up systems for TED talks and World Cup VAR reviews, and was cited as saving the day when things went wrong before an iconic Happy Mondays gig. This interview hardly scrapes the surface of Danny's story, but we cover key events from the time he was given first soldering iron, to the heyday of working with some of the world's biggest artists, to supporting his family with their own musical and art endeavours. We also give a shout out to a couple of previous guests of Sheer Isolation... Seth Bye was playing as part of the Giffords Circus travelling band when we spoke to him. He's just performed at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony with Birmingham twelve-piece, The Destroyers. Also, congrats to Florence Espuit-Nickless. We spoke to her soon after her first performances of the semi-autobiographical play about growing up in small Wiltshire towns. She's taken Destiny to this year's Edinburgh Fringe! In our music choices this week, Danny picks a track from Amie K, and we also play an upbeat instrumental piece by The Destroyers.

It's not very often you come across a chap who has built his own amphitheatre so he can showcase live music and theatrical performances in his garden. But that's exactly what Dave Hartland has done at the Cotswold Sculpture Park. He's spent nearly three decades turning a field of weeds in the surroundings of the Cotswold Water Park into a unique trail of artwork and statues, with visitors travelling far and wide to view (and sometimes buy) the pieces on display. With his DIY amphitheatre project now complete, he's opening the park's doors for evening performances with musicians, actors and storytellers. We talk to Dave about his journey, his own artwork, and what he's planning next. We play an instrumental piece from one of the performers due to play at the Park this summer - Xavier Leret. Kieran also chooses the latest release from Deux Furieuses, who are playing in Trowbridge this week. We also talk about how some venues change their usual listings to cater for a different crowd during the summer holidays, and we also mention a couple of local festivals due to take place in early August - Festival on the Farm near Swindon, and Valleyfest on the edge of the Mendips.