Goldie's Fab Four #21

My highlights and recommendations

The Beat (HMV Empire, Coventry)

I first saw The Beat in 1981 at legendary Birmingham nightclub The Locarno. My girlfriend at the time (Bridget, a student from Windsor) dumped that night me for a bloke called Hank (!) The Beat had me dancing my tears away, so you could say I was scarred for life - and ska’d for life. Forty two years later, I have no update on Bridget (or Hank) but can report that Dave Wakeling is still delivering his ultra tuneful Brummie take on Jamaican music with as much gusto as ever - backed by a very tasty seven piece band that includes his daughter Chloe on backing vocals. While there’s sadly no Ranking Roger (RIP) these days, toaster and MC Antonee First Class is, appropriately enough, a first class replacement.

As Dave swiftly makes clear, he doesn’t appreciate punters spending the gig live streaming or taking videos on their phone. It’s all about being in the moment, participating in a communal event - and that’s just fine by me. The set list the otner night probably wasn’t all that different from that 1981 show, but that’s no bad thing. These are classic songs, whether it’s originals like ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’ or covers such as ‘Can’t Get Used To Losing You’ (Bridget are you listening?)

The Cockfields - Gold/BBC i player

Originally commissioned by Gold and first aired in 2019, this ‘comedy of cringe’ by Joe Wilkinson and David Earl has now found its way onto the BBC. Wilkinson stars as Simon, who takes his girlfriend Donna (Diane Morgan) to visit his family of embarrassing oddballs on the Isle of Wight. Mum (Sue Johnston) and her partner (Bobby Ball) both seem to be enjoyably riffing on their characters in Royle Family nd Not Going Out respectively, and while there’s humour in the neurodivergent antics of Simon’s stepbrother David (Ben Rufus Green) there’s affection too. I gather there were significant cast changes for the second series, but this introductory three parter is small and perfectly formed.

Glastonbury on the BBC

I hate camping. So much so that the only time I went to Glastonbury in 1989, I stayed in a B&B. Watching it on telly is soooo much more enjoyable. Close up views of the artists, easy access to the toilets, sleep in your own bed. No brainer really. This year, Arctic Monkeys were great, and the keyboard warriors who gave Billy No Mates a hard time are plonkers - she’s brilliant.

Wolverhampton Civic Hall

One of the THE great UK gig venues is back on action, albeit under the rather grandiose guise of “The Halls, Wolverhampton.” This place has a special place in my own personal mythology, as it’s where I caught my first major punk gig - the White Riot tour in May 77 featuring Clash/Buzzcocks/Subway Sect and Slits. Not sure why, but it has a particular magic unmatched by any similar sized venue in Birmingham. Don’t just take my word for it. Damon Albarn (who reopened the place with a Blur concert) has cited it as one his favourite smaller stages, although with the addition of a new balcony it now holds more than 3,000 people.

After more than seven years out of action thanks to the discovery of asbestos, the refurbished venue still has a few teething issues. I was puzzled to be asked for a non refundable £1 surcharge for a plastic drinks container, and even if (as bar staff assured me) the proceeds go to charity, I’m still bemused at having to pay extra for a vessel with which to hold my beer - especially it’s so pricey to begin with (£6.90 a pint).

The cost of admission has soared too, putting this Council-owned venue on a par with arena gigs. As for the audio quality? Siouxsie who I saw this week put it succinctly: “sort your fucking sound out”.

Perhaps under the management of US entertainment giant AEG Presents it will lose some of the endearing local authority charm that made it unique in the past. But this is the place where I saw The Smiths, Only Ones, Indigo Girls and (on his final UK tour) James Brown, and I’m willing it to succeed.