Twelve Swindon bands are challenged with playing two Christmas cover songs in front of their contemporaries and assembled fans. Every year sees the madness and hilarity of artists from all genres performing seasonal songs at The Victoria, with everything from acoustic pop to punk and thrash metal, melodic electronica to dubstep and beyond.
A cross section of Swindon’s musical community are set to play at the event this year:
2 Sick Monkeys, formed in December 2000, as a live two-piece bass and drums. If their Facebook page is all you go by, the picture of a punk rock fan screaming atop a human pyramid at the front of the small stage pretty much gives you an idea of what to expect from their Christmas song choice/arrangement.
The Incredible Disappearing Boy is the new outlet for Samuel Bates, local songwriter, producer and all around nice guy. Fresh from his solo support slot for Conrad Keeley (…And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead) in Devizes, if the full band versions of his songs from that night are even half as powerful, his band will have no problem reimagining a holiday classic for your enjoyment.
Sahara Heights bring their Indie rock/alternative/heavy pop (as they describe it) to the lineup, and having become regulars around Swindon, you’d have to say their cover will be the most left-field of the night.
Raze*Rebuild have been born from the embers of Coasters, and draw influence from multiple genres (they tell us). Really, they are a rock outfit with a firm grasp on melody and hooks to get you humming all the way home in the car. So they will have two choices as far as we can see: pick a Christmas song and put an unbelievable guitar riff in it somewhere, or play ‘Don’t Let the Bells End’ by The Darkness!
But that‚Äôs not all! This year’s line up also includes:
British Harlem, The Harlers, SN DubStation, Ruby Confue, YVES, A Way With Words, Josie and The Outlaw, The Mobile Funk Unit.
All this for the ridiculous price £6. Tickets can be found at: http://www.seetickets.com/event/12-bands-of-christmas/the-vic/928670