Thursday 29th Dec:

Have you finished digesting the Christmas turkey and mince pies? Been to the sales and spent up to the the credit limit on your cards?

Well it must be nearing the end of the year then!

The time of year when thousands are resolutions are made to be: thinner, richer, less smokey and then just as often those good intentions fail in the first week. To make change happen ...you REALLY have to want it!

New Years Eve
We have noticed in our travels that lots of ticketed New Year's Eve events are already sold out. So if you haven't booked something for the evening, you better get cracking!


Pink Floyd voted greatest rock act
Pink Floyd have been named the world's greatest rock act of all time.

The band, which recently reunited on stage at Live 8 for the first time in 24 years, beat other rock icons like U2 and The Who to the title.

Led Zeppelin came second, followed by The Rolling Stones in the poll of almost 60,000 rock fans.

The Who were fourth, eclipsing AC/DC, U2, Guns N' Roses, and Nirvana.

Jimi Hendrix came 10th in poll carried out by digital radio station Planet Rock, after Bon Jovi.
The survey of 58,000 listeners also named the 1970s the golden age of rock, followed by the 1960s, the Spandex years of the 1980s and grunge decade the 1990s.
Pink Floyd are thought to have sold a staggering 200 million albums worldwide since forming in 1965.

Top 10 Rock Acts:
1. Pink Floyd
2. Led Zeppelin
3. The Rolling Stones
4. The Who
5. AC/DC
6. U2
7. Guns N' Roses
8. Nirvana
9. Bon Jovi
10. Jimi Hendrix

What's happening today?

Events on Thursday 29th in West Dorset & South Somerset
Moveable Feast @ Hardy's, Bridport
Freak Circus @ White Horse, Wincanton
The Party Band @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Dodgy Jammers @ Choughs Hotel, Chard
Brendon @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard

Sorry we have no events listed for the Taunton & Bridgwater areas today.

Do you want a bigger telly?
If you have ever wanted to see your favourite Christmas films at home on a big screen then Sony may have just the thing for you, an 82 inch LCD TV.













This is the Samsung version of the 82 inch screen. Coming to an electrical retailer near you very soon. Now if we just knock down the wall between the living room and kitchen...


Have a great day!

The Editor

Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all our readers!
Thank you to all the people out there who have sent us Christmas wishes. Suited and Booted only exists at all because the editors wanted to know what live music was happening locally and at that time there no way of finding out.

We continue to keep going because we believe that live music is important, because our readers are important, because our advertisers pay the bills and because we still offer the very best information and fun on the local music scene.

Whatever you are doing this Christmas, we wish you and those you care about, a very Happy Christmas.

What's Happening Today?

Events on Christmas Eve in West Dorset & South Somerset
BJ McCabe @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club
Rob Koral (lunchtime) @ No.10, Bridport
Tom Toomey (12-2pm) @ Yeovil Band Stand
Phil & Grant @ Labour Club, Yeovil
James Gibson @ Lord Nelson, Norton-s-Hamdon
Bleedin' Hartz @ Half Moon, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Unforgiven Kingdom @ Swan Hotel, Crewkerne
Perpetual Cabbage @ Railway Hotel, Yeovil
Tom Toomey @ Nags Head, Lyme Regis

Events on Christmas Eve in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
The Tree Frogs @ The Westgate Innm Taunton
Wally & Mel @ Cross Rifles, Bridgwater
The Graduates @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Cross Wired @ The Old Market Bridgwater
Barracuda @ Green Dragon, Wellington
Marc Darren @ Princess Royal, Taunton
Jive Street @ Bridgwater Sports & Social Club
Reggae Night @ The Alma Inn, Taunton

There are no music events happening on Christmas Day, but you're going to be busy right?

Christmas isn't easy for everyone.

Police trace baby Angel's mother

Police said the baby was "fit and well"Police have traced the mother of a baby girl found abandoned in a garage in Yeovil, Somerset.
The girl - named as Angel by nurses at Yeovil District Hospital - was discovered by a member of the public.
She had been found, naked and only a few hours old, near Bucklers Mead Road at about 1700 GMT on Friday.

If you feel fit
If after your Christmas dinner you are feeling particularly fit you may like to try emulating the bendy dance moves of the lady in this video clip.


Actually the adjective bendy really doesn't cover what she does...you have to check it out for yourself by clicking the headline link. (It's not rude or adult just mind boggling!)

Have a fantastic Christmas!

The Editor

Friday! Hangovers, traffic & music

Friday At Last
Apologies if you have to work this weekend but thank f**k Friday is here at last!
Loads of stuff on today as the Christmas weekend begins; check out the listings below for the full story.

Traffic Chaos Predicted
The roads are expected to be filled with happy souls going away for Christmas today. Of course they may not be quite so happy if they get stuck in the near death experience that is the 40mph roadworks section of the M5!

Bad News On Hangover Cures
With the festive season in full flow, researchers reveal what many may have suspected - hangover cures do not work.

A team from the Peninsula Medical School found "no compelling evidence" that a range of herbal and conventional treatments were effective.













A glass of finest Vino Collapso

Hangovers account for about £2bn in lost wages in Britain each year, mainly due to sickness absence.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the researchers say only abstinence or moderation can really stop hangovers.

Bugger...


Events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Swing The Cat @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Stars In Their Eyes-6 Band Night @ Alpine Village Restaurant, Yeovil
Crawfish @ Olde Poppe Inn, Tatworth
Cold Shock @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
Gut & Steel @ Crown, Bridport
Rhythm Junkies @ Westminster, Yeovil
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band @ Cheese & Grain, Frome
Storm @ Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil
Crosswired @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Flatland Boogie Band @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Steve Black @ Hardy's, Bridport

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
That'll Do @ King Arthur, Glastonbury
Rude Mood @ The Westgate Inn, Taunton
Bleedin' Hartz @ The White Hart, East Reach, Taunton
Little John @ Crown & Sceptre, Taunton
Hans On Experience @ The Flying Horse, Taunton
Bailey & Neale @ Beam Bridge Hotel

Have a fantastic day!

The Editor

Thursday: Almost there!

It's almost the end of the week. Some of you will have already finished work and be braving the crowds of shoppers...good luck!


Wild Boar for Christmas?
About 100 wild boar have been released from a farm in Devon. (surely they aren't wild then?)

A number of the boar have already been spotted on the roadAbout 100 wild boar have been released from a farm in Devon.

Police said they suspected animal rights extremists broke down the fence enclosing the boar at the farm at West Anstey in north Devon.

A number of the animals were spotted early on Thursday morning on the road between Bampton and Newbridge.

Police said the animals could be dangerous and should not be approached. They are also warning motorists to be aware of the animals on the road.

Roast wild boar for Christmas dinner...could be very nice!

Events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Crazy 88 @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Crosswired @ Choughs Hotel, Chard
Boy Le Monti @ White Room, Sherborne House, Sherborne
X-Teller @ White Horse, Wincanton
Real World @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
Stone Cold Sober @ Nelson's Ale House, Blandford Forum

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Holly At Christmas @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton (until 23rd)

More updates later today!

Wednesday:Santa, Music & Snow

Shock - Horror!
A white Christmas is unlikely unless you live in the north of Scotland. The bookies have stopped taking bets on it being a wet Christmas but if you fancy your chances you can probably get 8-1 on it being a snowy one. Of course you could just lose your shirt! Not ideal at this time of year!

Parking Ticket Santa
If you have ever got back to your car to find a parking fine stuck to the windscreen you'll appreciate this.

In Birmingham as self styled 'parking ticket santa' has been leaving money on motorists windscreens to help them pay the fine. So far £420 has been dished out by the generous gent.

Events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Abba Rival @ Chicago Rock Café
Steve Black (lunch) @ Hardy's, Bridport
On The Nod @ Harry's Bar
Muddy Funksters @ Beach & Barnicot, Bridport

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Modern Jive @ Royal British Legion
Pantopottamus @ Bridgwater Arts Centre (until 22nd)
Slade/Mud/T-Rextasy @ Wellsprings Leisure Centre

Just a few days of shopping time left to get those Christmas gifts. Thing is do you have any money left to do the shopping?

Have Fun

The Editor

Tuesday: Live music (not much), turkey, post & iPODs

In the spirit of the traditionally quiet Tuesday night there is very little (nothing we know of) happening in the South Somerset & West Dorset area tonight.

Ahh well what about listening to the Somerset County Youth Orchestra at the Tacchi Morris Arts Centre in Taunton?

Last Posting Day For Christmas!
Yes if you want to send a card to someone you love (or just a member of the family) then do it today. It is the last day for standard post to be delivered by Christmas day. (Though you can you special delivery until the 22nd)

Did you watch the documentary on Channel 4 last night about how food (especially turkey) is produced in the UK? If you did then you will understand why turkey is now off this Christmas dinner list.














If you didn't see it then pay the extra money and buy free range, organic, British meat; honestly what happens in cheap turkey production is grim!

Getting an iPOD for Christmas?
Music lovers are being warned that the popular 'earbud' headphones worn by users of iPods and MP3 players could lead to hearing loss.

The warning comes from Dean Garstecki, a Northwestern University audiologist and professor, who said that because earbuds are placed directly into the ear, they can boost the sound signal by as much as six to nine decibels.

During the 1980s, when Walkman portable devices first hit the market, audiologists were warning users about potential hearing loss. with MP3 players topping the Christmas wish lists of people all over the world, history is repeating itself and Garstecki is urging safer use of earphones.

Personally I blame the deafness on a 1980s Status Quo concert (oops showing my age again!). My ears were buzzing for days afterwards. You have been warned kids!

A final thought from the leader of the (not so) free world:
"I want to make sure everybody who has a job wants a job." - George Bush . . . Dumb?

Have a great day.

The Editor

Monday!

Not much to talk about today. We could remind you of how few days there are left to get those gifts...but that would just be mean.

So the events today both happen in the Taunton & Bridgwater area with an open mic night at the Westgate in Taunton and Charlotte Narsden playing at the Monkton Inn.

Number One
Nizlopi's quirky "JCB Song" about bullying at school beat Irish boy band Westlife to the top of the music charts on Sunday, putting it in a strong position for next week's Christmas number one.


Is this the first chart pop song to feature farm machinery since the Wurzels 'I got a brand new combine harvester'?

Have great Monday!

The Editor

Sunday: Xfactor & live music

X Factor
The X Factor show last night saw a 21-year-old former shop assistant from Manchester, Shayne Ward, win a one million pound recording deal.









Shayne Ward

His record "That's my Goal" is already being tipped as a possible Christmas No. 1.
Second was binman Andy Abraham.

Get the full story here.

Events on Sunday in West Dorset & South Somerset
Tobacco Road @ Royal Marine, Yeovil
Dr Feelgood + Eddie & The Hotrods @ Cheese & Grain, Frome
Just Alan @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club
Cymbollix @ Mermaid Hotel, Yeovil
Tom Toomey (3-5pm) @ White Hart, Castle Cary


Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Tone Valley Jazz Band @ Bar 27, Taunton
Relocate @ The Old Market, Bridgwater

What ever you do, have a great day!

The Editor

Saturday: Very bad Santa, music & downloads

Just one week until Christmas and judging by the crowds of shoppers there are still plenty of presents to buy!

Oh dear Santa....
LONDON (Reuters) - Swanage police said on Friday they were looking for a Santa acting suspiciously -- a flasher who had repeatedly exposed himself to women, including on one occasion while dressed as Father Christmas.

Officers said the flasher had struck a number of times since December 6, and a week later exposed himself whilst wearing a Santa Claus outfit.

"I would be very interested to hear from anyone who may have seen someone acting suspiciously while dressed as Father Christmas in the Gilbert Road or surrounding areas of Swanage town centre," Police Constable Jonathan Maunder said.

"These incidents of indecent exposure have caused a great deal of upset to the women that the man has approached."

Events today ins West Dorset & South Somerset
Norman Lindon @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club
Mister Perfect @ Crown, Bridport
Alias @ Half Moon, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Pocket Shotgun @ Woods Wine Bar, Yeovil
Unforgiven Kingdom @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Richard Bloom @ Railway Hotel, Yeovil
Dodgy Jammers @ Old Barn Club, Yeovil
Turnette Doone @ Labour Club, Yeovil
Slade, T-Rextasy & Mud @ Cheese & Grain, Frome
Live Music TBC @ Hardy's, Bridport
Rooting Around @ Kings Arms, Stockland















Rooting Around performing live

Tom Toomey @ Bakers Arms, Martock
The Huckleberries @ David Hall Arts Centre, S.Petherton

Events today in the Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Christmas Bike Bash @ The Black Horse, Taunton
Small Mercies @ The Alma Inn, Taunton
Taunton Concert Band @ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton
Gold Blend @ The Flying Horse, Taunton
Hard Tack @ Princess Royal, Taunton
Chris Rainbow @ Green Dragon, Wellington
The Whole Hog @ The Old Market, Bridgwater
Real Deal @ The Vintage, Wellington
Christmas Brass @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
Stuff Stan Likes @ The Pen & Quill, Taunton
Beat Root @ Westgate Inn, Taunton
Folk Music @ Bell Inn, C.St Michael
Mean'Im @ The Eagle, South Street, Taunton
BAC Christmas Party @ Bridgwater Arts Centre


UK 'tops European download fans' (Click here to get the full story)
Mobile phones are popular devices for listening to music. People in the UK download more music than other Europeans, spending 75p per month on average, a survey suggests.
The study for Motorola said it was three times more than those surveyed in Germany, Italy or France.

Might it be that our pop music is better? (xenophobic remark 736)


Have a fun day & night

The Editor

Friday, Chickens, Gigs & Christmas USA style.

Irish police issue chicken crossing hazard alert to motorists
DUBLIN (AFP) - Irish police issued a traffic hazard alert warning motorists to be beware of chickens crossing the road.

Drivers were asked to use "extreme caution" near Ballinagh, County Cavan in the north Midlands after a truck carrying 6,500 chickens overturned and shed its load.

AA Roadwatch also warned rush-hour traffic in the area to be extra vigilant because of chickens flying loose. On RTE state radio the owner of the chickens said a team of about 20 employees had been sent to the scene and it was hoped they would be able to catch all the feathered escapees in about four hours.

Asked about reports that there was an added hazard of a slippery surface on the road as a result of some panicked chickens laying eggs he said: "That's what chickens do."


Events on Friday in West Dorset & South Somerset
Dynamo's Rhthym Aces @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
The Repercussion @ The Old George, Dorchester
Dozer, Instill, Gu MedicineThe Quiller Memorandum @ Flicks Bar, Yeovil
Joe Santiago @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
Storm @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Karl Weber @ Quicksilver Mail
Tom Toomey @ Yarcombe Inn, Yarcombe
Acoustic Night @ Cheese & Grain, Frome
Rhythm Junkies @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Real Deal @ Ship Inn, Chard

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Dynamo's Rhthym Aces @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Jive/Rock 'n' Roll @ Taunton R'n'R Club
Relocate @ The Westgate, Taunton
Christmas Crooners @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
The Excellos @ Cross Rifles, Bridgwater
Cover Up @ The Pen & Quill, Taunton
The Whole Hog @ White Hart, East Reach, Taunton
Chris Rgers @ Beam Bridge Hotel
Snakes & Bush Monkeys @ Railway Club Taunton


America is a bizarre country (part 4673)
We spotted this on a US web site.

The sign at McDonald's on the corner of Falls of Neuse and Spring Forest Road reads: "Merry Christmas, Jesus is the Reason for the Season." It is a holiday message that Amanda Alpert thinks comes on a little too strongly.














"It offends me because it specifically talks about Jesus, Merry Christmas. It doesn't give credit to anyone else," Alpert said.

Only in America (where huge numbers of people go to church every week) could such a bizarre event happen. (Unless you know different of course.)

The euphemism most Americans use for Christmas is 'The Holiday Season'.


Have a great day!

The Editor

Thursday: Little Britain, Live music & guitar tuition

Little Britain is best!
The BBC show Little Britain, the creation of double act Matt Lucas and David Walliams, was named the Best TV Comedy on Wednesday ahead of BBC Four's "The Thick Of It" and Gervais' "Extras", his follow-up to the hugely successful "The Office".















Matt Lucas & David Walliams

Events in South Somerset & West Dorset
Relics @ Choughs Hotel, Chard
Chill @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Studio 37 @ Mermaid Hotel, Yeovil
The Bowie Experience @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
The Animals @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Adequate Seven & others @ The Palace, Bridgwater
Confessions etc. @ Bridgwater Arts Centre
Meadows & Briggs @ White Hart, East Reach, Taunton
Saltmine Theatre @ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton

Are you a would be guitar hero?
We had this message arrive from local guitar man Tom Toomey:

Dear fellow guitarists!

First of all, MERRY XMAS and a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR 2006!

I am starting some private classes in April for BLUES and (not so) BEGINNERS guitarists who have been taught by me in the past few years.

The classes will be held at THE FLEUR de LYS in Stoke sub Hamdon nr Yeovil and they will be on a Monday and Tuesday evening from 7-30 thru to 9-30pm. There is a very pleaseant room for our use where we will not be disturbed! Plus all the benefits that go with a pub!

The BLUES class will be starting on MONDAY 3rd APRIL for 6 WEEKS and the BEGINNERS class will start 4th APRIL for 6 weeks.

Places are going to be kept to 6 STUDENTS ONLY ensuring quality time and each student will be asked to nominate 1 tune to learn thereby allowing everyone to have 6 tunes in their repertoire by the end of the course.I will provide a CD and TAB for all the tunes.
COST is £18 per session (£108) paid in advance cheques made payable to Tom Toomey.
If you are interested please either email or call me or write to Tom Toomey,1 Houndstone Corner, Yeovil,BA22 8TG. 01935 474359 or 07979912975

I will also be starting private tuition in April @ £25 per hour if you require 1 on 1 tuition.
please cc your reply with my hotmail address as I shall be out of the country at some point, Thanks and warm regards,Tom.
toomeytom@hotmail.com

Have a great day

The Editor

Wednesday, Folk, live music & naughty nights in!

It's a little bit quiet today on the live music front but there are some interesting things out there for you.

Radio 2 Folk Awards Nominees announced




The nominees have been chosen for the seventh BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, to be held in London on 6th February 2006. Don't forget to register your vote for Most Influential Folk Album Of All Time - you may win tickets! Click here for more details.







Seth Lakeman, one of the nominees for Best Folk Singer of 2005

You can have your say by voting directly on the BBC web site. The list of nominees can be found here.

Events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Steve Black (lunch) @ Hardy's, Bridport
Riverbrew @ Chicago Rock Café, Yeovil
Tom Toomey @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Acoustic Night @ West India House, Taunton
The Animals @ The Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Heranshaw Quartet @ The Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton
Modern Jive @ Royal British Legion, Taunton

There's money in the porn channels
Italy's cash-strapped government has decided to hike taxes on one of the country's few vibrant industries, (besides tax evasion) pornography, to help rein in the burgeoning budget deficit, government sources told Reuters Tuesday.

The "porno-tax," which imposes an additional levy of 25 percent on all income from pornography, is contained in a package of amendments to the 2006 budget to presented in the Chamber of Deputies Tuesday or Wednesday, the sources said.

Under the amendment, subscribers to hard core television channels must also pay additional value-added tax of 10 percent. Altogether, the tougher tax-treatment of porn should bring the government some 300 million euros next year.

Those nights in just keep getting more expensive!

Have a great day.

The Editor

Sunday, bull music & stuff

Get arrested for being patriotic (?)
Maya Anne Evans, a 25-year-old cook, became the first person to be prosecuted under the law which bans unauthorised demonstrations within one kilometre of Westminster after reciting the names of British soldiers killed in Iraq outside the gates of Downing Street.

She was actually standing next to the Cenotaph (a war memorial forgoodness sake) when reciting the names of the dead British soldiers.

Welcome to Tony Blair's Britain, a place where free speech is something that we used to have. If it happened in another country there would be cries of "shame" from this Government but if it happens at home we'll just call it increased security measures.
Bullshit!






Live events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Capdown, Boom In The Diamond Industry, Mybe & Encyclopedia @ Alpine Village Restaurant, Yeovil
The Conchords @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club
Battle of the Bands Final, inc Cart-L @ Porter Blacks, Yeovil
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Pete Bennett @ Royal Marine, Yeovil
Unforgiven Kingdom @ Three Compasses, Charminster
Little John @ Green Dragon, Yeovil
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Mid Life Crisis @ The Old Market, Bridgwater
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill

Have a bullshit free day!

The Editor

Back on line posting

Hi Folks
Well the last week or so has been very busy as we distributed the the combined December / January edition of the magazine and started planning for 2006.

MFA
This week an MFA musical event was held at Harry's Bar in Yeovil, which raised £400 towards the cost of providing a fresh water bore hole in Phokane. Great result! We did our bit by donating a page of advertising to be auctioned off.

Music as you lunch
Apparently Tesco are introducing a musical sandwich wrapper. The standard ready made sandwich wrapper will have a musical module built into it in a similar way to those noisy greeting cards that play a tune when you open them.
















The 'music' (it's bound to be crap) will start playing when you open the pack. Christmas tunes will feature first to suit the time of year with other seasonal ditties to follow (think valentines, mothers day etc).

Great...can you imagine any office near a Tescos at lunch time? The sound of 20 sandwich wrappers all playing the same tune at different times! We forsee death and destruction ahead as the rest of the office irritated beyond the range of sanity!

Live events in South Somerset & West Dorset today
The Wurzels @ Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
Cymbollix @ Porter Blacks, Yeovil
Dave King @ White Horse, Wincanton
Star Divas (Abba Tribute) @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
Pete Holden @ Railway Hotel, Yeovil
Ironic @ Choughs Hotel, Chard
Stress @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Midnight America @ George Inn, Uffculme
21 Tales @ Bridgwater Arts Centre
Jim Reynolds @ White Hart, East Reach, Taunton

Have a fun day!

The Editor

Thursday, a new month begins!

December is here!
If you have not yet seen your copy of Suited and Booted then fear not they are on their way!

10,000 Years of maintenance payments
An Iranian man has been ordered by a divorce court to pay his ex-wife one gold coin a month in alimony for the next 10,000 years.

Under Iran's marriage law couples sign a pre-marital agreement where the bride must stipulate the level of compensation they can demand during the marriage or in the event of separation and divorce.

In this case the Tehran woman -- who was not named -- had asked for 15 million dollars worth of gold coins, the governmental Iran newspaper said.

The court ruled that the husband should pay her the coins in single monthly installments, meaning his debt will stay with him for 10,333 years.

He might of been a bastard but this seems a bit excessive!

Singing Sheep to be Christmas Number 1?
You loved /hated the crazy frog ringtone so much that it got into the UK charts and stayed there for weeks. Now the battle for the Christmas number 1 is hotting up and a 27-year-old British record producer Charley Darbishire has released (through the Cumbria Toursit board web site) a "baa"-filled dance song.

When will this woolly thinking end?

Live music in West Dorset & South Somerset
Asere @ Bridport Arts Centre
Crawfish @ Mermaid Hotel
Sneaky Pete Und Der Vipers @ Choughs Hotel, Chard
Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne
Dodgy Jammers @ Harry's Bar

Events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Phinius Gage @ The Palace, Bridgwater
Gregorys Girl (play) @ Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton
Jungle Book (play) @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

Have a great day.

The Editor

Thursday: Sex, Stones & Gigs

Artists get more sex!
According to new research from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Open University, artists and poets have twice as many sexual partners as other people. The researchers believe that their creativity acts as a sexual magnet.

Unfortunately they are also more likely to suffer from depression. We wonder if this is true for musicians as well?

The Rolling Stones to tour Europe






The Rolling Stones will play four concerts in Britain next year at the end of the European leg of of their "A Bigger Bang" world tour, the band said on Tuesday.

The four gigs in London, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff will be their first UK performances since 2003.

The veteran rockers will play at the new Wembley Stadium on August 20, Glasgow's Hampden Park on August 25 and Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium on August 27.

The final night of the band's world tour be held on August 29 in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium.

Live music in South Somerset & West Dorset today
Blue Black @ Harry's Bar
But Seriously (Phil Collins trib.) @ Chicago Rock Café


Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Modern Jive @ Royal British Legion, Taunton


Haven't nearly all of us been here?



Have a great day!

The Editor

Tuesday, ass, music & drink (sounds a bit like Father Ted!)

Fat asses mean longer needles!
Apparently Doctors are having to buy longer needles to inject their patients. Some patients, particularly women, have so much fat on their buttocks (which happen to be a useful place to give injections) that the dose of drug delivered is less than it should be. The drug should be delivered to the muscle underneath the fat and in many cases it just doesn't get there!

















A different kind of ass

Live music today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Open Mic / Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne
Jinder @ No.10, Bridport
Acoustic Jam Night @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas

Live music in Taunton & Bridgwater areas today
Gregory's Girl @ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre (Play)
Acoustic Jam Night @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas

New Drinking Laws
A spoof brochure being distributed by Ipswich police in an effort to remind revellers of the effects of drinking too much during the first festive season under new open-all-hours drinking laws.




























Nice looking boys aren't they!

Have a sober day.

The Editor

George, Elton, Take That & live music

So it's goodbye to George Best, the original football megastar. 1946 - 2005. There will be a minutes silence to mark his passing at football grounds across the country at 3pm today.

Elton John to Wed again!
SIR ELTON JOHN and his long-term partner David Furnish are to “marry” in a private ceremony with their parents as witnesses.

The couple’s big day was expected to be a star-studded occasion attended by their celebrity friends, but they have decided to keep the ceremony low-key, although they will follow it up with an evening reception.

Those with long memories may recal that last time he got hitched it was to a lady called Renate Blauel in 1984; he said he had realised before the ceremony that he was gay.

Take That are back!
Take that are back performing together (but without Robbie Williams). The question is, will anyone care enough to go and hear them? No? thought not!

What's on today?

Live music today in the South Somerset & West Dorset areas
Zig Zag @ Labour Club
Matthew Rock @ Railway Hotel
James Gibson @ Lord Nelson, Norton-s-Hamdon
Rob Koral (lunchtime) @ No.10, Bridport
Little John @ Ship Inn, Chard
Rooster @ Hardy's, Bridport
Fionbarr Factory presents 21 Tales (dance) @ David Hall Arts Centre, S.Petherton
Tom Toomey @ Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George
Mangusta @ Woods Wine Bar
Martha's Vineyard @ Bakers Arms, Martock
Storm @ Swan Inn, Sherborne
Mojo @ Half Moon, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Vinyl Monkeys @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Matthew Rock @ Railway Hotel
Free Spirit @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club

Live music today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Concert @ Wellington Arts Centre
Lazy River Quartet @ Cross Keys, Norton Fitzwarren
Groove-a-licious @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Art Shaw @ Princess Royal, Taunton
Andy @ Crown & Sceptre, Taunton
Me an 'Im @ The Eagle, South St, Taunton
Roadhouse Revisited @ The Vintage, Wellington
Brenny @ The Flying Horse, Taunton
Route 69 @ Green Dragon, Wellington
The Whole Hog @ The Westgate, Taunton
Aaron Sax @ Ruishton Inn
Live Music @ The Old Market, Bridgwater

Have a great day

The Editor

Friday music & stuff

The weekend is here and so is Christmas shopping madness; have you seen it out there?

George Best seems to be hanging on in there but he is perhaps an example to all of us of what
can happen when drinking gets out of control. It seems that all that can be done now is to pray for a miracle.

Britons happy to forge a sick note
LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly half of Britons admit to some kind of document-forging and a quarter confess to exaggerating educational qualifications for job purposes, according to a survey on Thursday.

The Dishonest Britain Study 2005 showed 45 percent of people admitted to some kind of forgery, be it underage drinkers faking ID or the work-shy faking doctors' notes.
"Dishonesty and fraud are shockingly widespread," said Danny Chapchal, Executive Chairman of TSSI Systems which commissioned the survey and which specialises in security verification systems.

"Identity fraud is now a major risk to consumers, yet our study shows that low level identity abuse and fraud is commonplace to the extent that it is almost becoming socially acceptable," he added.

The most popular forgery, at 18 percent, was ID cards, while five percent admitted to faking doctors' notes and four percent confessed to forging letters on company stationery.

Live music in South Somerset & West Dorset areas
BJ McCabe @ Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil
Alias @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Who's Next @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Speed Handbag @ Woods Wine Bar, Yeovil
Dave Green @ Hardy's, Bridport
Shindig @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
Martha's Vineyard @ Swan Hotel, Crewkerne
Krays @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon (Please call to check this gig as the band may have been changed)
CartL @ GlobeTrotters, Yeovil
Mustang Sally @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Kiss This @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
Fat Marrow Blues Band @ Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock
Viking Skull, McQueen, Offshore, The Cedar Falls & Stone From Delphi @ Flicks Bar

Live music in the Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Fetch @ Watterow ChurchHall
Lazy River Quartet @ Cross Keys, Norton Fitzwarren
Snappa @ The Westgate, Taunton
Turnette Doone @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Who's Next @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Carla @ Forresters Arms, Williton
Hobsons Choice @ West Monkton Village Hall
Lone Star Country Music Club @ Beam Bridge Hotel
Barry Paull @ Cross Rifles, Bridgwater
Excellos @ The Malt Shovel, Bridgwater
Sneaky Pete Und Der Vipers @ George, Uffculme

Have a great day

The Editor

Ultimate Christmas Gift?

Is this the ultimate Christmas gift for the music lover who has everything?



iBuzz calls itself 'the musical orgasm machine!' The music-activated vibrating bullet stimulates you in time with your favourite music. Apparently you plug it into just about any music player with a 3.5mm jack (!), turn up the sound and insert the bullet in your pocket or perhaps somewhere more personal? Different track cause the bullet to vibrate in different ways.

Don't have any suitable tracks on your iPod? No problem there are 7 built in settings to try!

There are rubber sleeves to slip over the vibrating bullet making it suitable for him or her.

Visit their web site for more details http://www.ibuzz.com.

Is there no end to British engineering ingenuity!

The Editor

Christmas Party & The photocopier gets it!

We spotted this on the Register web site and couldn't resist posting it here!
http://www.theregister.com/2005/11/23/xmas_copier_emergency/


Canon braces for arse-induced copier carnage
Xmas 'Rear-end' copying: the chilling truth
By Lester Haines
Published Wednesday 23rd November 2005 15:22
In case you hadn't noticed, Xmas, aka The Holiday Season as it is known down at Wal-Mart, is almost upon us. As ever, it is a time for good cheer, good will to all men and a good skinful of alcohol followed by an attempt to reproduce a likeness of one's buttocks on the office photocopier.
Of course, it's the stuff of legend that the photocopier's glass plate then has to break, jamming the machine with a half-resolved image of someone's backside while they explain to unimpressed A&E staff why they need 63 stitches in their arse on Xmas Eve.

Well, it's all horribly true, as a hot-off-the-press Canon press release reveals - chronicling the Yuletide travails of the company's 600 highly-trained engineeers as they struggle to cope with a surge in "non-work-related" festive copier breakdowns.

What Canon means by "non-work-related" mostly revolves around the aforementioned "rear-end copying". Engineers report a 25 per cent increase in emergency call-outs over Xmas, and 32 per cent of the long-suffering copier Flying Squad has at some time repaired shattered glass.
Mind you, there's more to a Canon engineer's life than extracting a grainy likeness of Maureen from Human Resources' posterior from a wrecked, beer-soaked machine. Midlands-based David Salt explained: "I had to repair a machine after a customer had held their pet cat down on copy glass and copied it," while Dan Hunt of the South West admitted: "I had to repair a machine that had its copy board glass smashed at a military base. They eventually admitted that it had fallen out the back door of their Chinook Helicopter."

Items retrieved from ailing copiers make interesting reading too: mice, a sleeping cat, spiders, a crab, a swarm of bees, a cockroach, a snake, a kitchen knife, a sausage roll , stockings, dominoes, and a cheque for £6,000.

Ah yes, and a vibrator and a condom. Now that must have been one hell of an office party. ®

Bootnote
We understand that Canon has recently increased its glass plate thickness from 4 to 5mm, and accordingly expects a reduction in arse-induced failure. No, that is not an invitation for drunken pressure testing. Behave yourselves.

The Editor

Thursday ranting & music

Sometimes the job (vocation?) of writing a local music magazine tends towards the completely surreal. It's not the music so much as the venues that make it seem this way. (Most musicians I meet seem to be pretty good natured easy going folks who love what they do.)

There are owners of venues who complain that they struggle to get enough punters through the door to cover the costs. But then again they don't bother to advertise (in Suited and Booted or elsewhere) that they have an event planned. If you don't tell the world, the world will stay at home!

Then there are those who try a lock a band into only appearing at their venue in a given town. (Apparently happening in Taunton). In the end this is self defeating; if someone doesn't like your venue then they probably won't go there whoever the band might be. In the end this will be stopped by the bands simply refusing to agree to this.

Then there is the actual work in putting the magazine together. Even at the deadline we still attempt to call pubs and clubs to ensure their listing are complete. This is for the most part a free service to promote the venue, unless they are a regular advertiser (in which case thank YOU!) and yet from the response you often get, you'd imagine the manager or publican had just been asked to donate a pint of their own blood!

Frankly it is no wonder that some venues struggle whilst others thrive. In the end it comes done to the quality of the management.

Here endeth the rant for today!

Live music today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral @ Jazz Café Fleur, Canford Cliffs, Poole
Chill @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Martin Carthy @ David Hall Arts Centre, S.Petherton
Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne
X-Teller @ Bunch of Grapes, Bristol
Barry Paull as Elvis @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
Steve 'Big Man' Clayton @ Bell Inn, Ash
Crazy 88 @ Choughs Hotel, Chard

Live music in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Dave Hughes Jazz @ Bar 27, Bridgwater
Hearnshaw/Barrett @ Cross Keys, Norton Fitzwarren
The Communicators @ The Railway, Burnham on Sea

Have a fun day!

The Editor

Back in the saddle!

Sorry about the lack of an update for the last couple of days, it has been all hands to the pumps to get the colour section of the next print edition of Suited and Booted together.

New Licensing Act starts at midnight
The much talked about new licensing act comes into force at midnight tonight. In theory at least, this means it is now possible to purchase alcohol right around the clock. In practice only about 360 outlets have asked for a 24hour licence period and many of these are convenience stores.

In practice most pubs and clubs will stay open a little longer at the weekends. It will be interesting to see how things work out!

Live music for Wednesday in South Somerset & West Dorset
Bon Giovi @ Chicago Rock Café, Yeovil
Tom Toomey @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
The B'Eagles @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill

Live music for Wednesday in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Modern Jive @ Royal British Legion Club, Taunton
The B'Eagles @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Heathfield Dance Festival @ Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton

Non-Politically Correct Joke
This joke came in from John Richards of Watchet
Two blonde girls were working for the city public works department.
One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind her and fill the
hole in.

They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved
on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest: one girl
digging a hole, the other girl filling it in again.

An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn't understand
what they were doing.

So, he asked the hole digger, "I'm impressed by the effort you two are
putting into your work, but I don't get it -- why do you dig a hole, only to
have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?"
The hole digger wiped her brow and sighed, "Well, I suppose it probably
looks odd because we're normally a three-person team.
But today the girl who plants the trees called in sick."
CF

Have a fun day!

The Editor

Saturday animation & music

Wallace & Gromit makes the Oscar nomination list!

Nominees for all Oscar categories will be announced on January 31, with the winners unveiled during the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on March 5.

Live events in South Somerset & West Dorset
Magic Mirror @ Labour Club
Blue Groove @ Hardy's, Bridport
Dr Stomp & Professor Oz @ Bell Inn, Ash
Crawfish @ Swan Hotel, Crewkerne
Ian Briggs & The Super Vampers @ Woods Wine Bar
Driver @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Paul Laming @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club
Mojo @ Tanners, Bridport
Cryin' Out Loud @ Half Moon, Stoke-s-Hamdon

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Stuff Stan Likes @ The Westgate, Taunton
Live Music @ The Old Market, Bridgwater
Trans-Mission @ Churchinford Village Hall
Dirty Money @ White Hart, East Reach, Taunton
Nikki Jordan @ The Flying Horse, Taunton
No Shame @ The Vintage, Wellington
Mike Dave @ Crown & Sceptre. Taunton
Mojo @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Roger Colome @ Green Dragon, Wellington
Simon Gee @ Proncess Royal, Taunton


Have a great weekend!

The Editor

Friday, Children in need, music & meetings!

BBC Children In Need Day




Today is Children in Need Day, the regular BBC hosted event that raises money for Children in the UK. If like many others you will be taking part to raising money at work you may wish to continue the good works in the evening. The Railway Hotel in Yeovil (and possibly other places too) has a whole night of fun dedicated to the cause.


Live events today in South Somerset & West Dorset area
Children In Need Night - music from Ian Rutter @ Railway Hotel, Yeovil
Cryin' Out Loud @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Breeze @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
Mid Life Crisis @ Hardy's, Bridport
The Jive Aces @ Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis


The Jive Aces in full swing!

Morellos @ Westminster, Yeovil
Tom Toomey @ Hope & Anchor, Bridport
Martha's Vineya @Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Crazy 88 @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Dillon @ Swan Hotel, Crewkerne
Us & Them @ Finn McCools, Weymouth
Streetlight Manifesto, Skylar, Uncle Brian & Sup @ Flicks Bar, Yeovil


Live events today in Taunton & Bridgwater area
Blues Casters @ Cross Rifles, Bridgwater
Roadhose Revisited @ The Westgate, Taunton
Real Deal @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Turnette Doone @ Brazz Bar, Taunton
Arthur Shaw @ The Malt Shovel, Bridgwater
Brian Stevens @ Forresters Arms, Williton
Richard Huish, Light @ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton

Friday work meetings may mask love trysts
According to a report carried by Reuters, employers should be warned: workers who schedule Wednesday meetings are potentially going to a job interview and regular Friday afternoon meetings could be an excuse for a rendezvous with their lover.

A survey of 167 companies revealed a growing trend of so-called "me me meetings", out-of-office meetings used to cover a more personal encounter.

The poll, by Genesys Conferencing, showed 81 percent of office workers admitted arranging meetings to fit in with personal activities.

It also showed that over half of their colleagues were suspicious of the motives behind the meetings for which many of their workmates left the office.

Genesys said the most popular reason for a "me me meeting" was to get away early for the weekend.

But the survey also showed Friday afternoons were the best for meeting lovers or to go shopping. Monday mornings were the most popular time for scheduling a meeting to mask looking after the children and Wednesdays were the preferred time for job interviews.

Who everyou're meeting have a fun Friday!

The Editor

I just spotted this and couldn't resist!

Avian Flu Warning
The Center for Disease Control has released a list of symptoms of bird flu.

If you experience any of the following, please seek medical treatment immediately:

1. High fever

2. Congestion

3. Nausea

4. Fatigue

5. Aching in the joints

6. An irresistible urge to shit on someone's windscreen.

You have been warned.

Wednesday

It's mid week day and down hill now to the weekend!

Live events in West Dorset & South Somerset
Open Mic / Jam Night @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
B'Eagles @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
The Bite @ Chicago Rock Café, Yeovil
Storm @ GlobeTrotters, Yeovil (double check that this gig is on as there was some confusion about its booking!)

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Modern Jive @ Royal British Legion, Taunton
B'Eagles @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Heathfield Dance Festival @ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton

Industry launches new Internet piracy crackdown
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The music industry's top lobby group on Tuesday launched a new wave of legal action against the illegal sharing of music over the Internet, which it says hits sales and steals money from music artists.

The International Federation for the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said it was launching 2,100 legal cases and extending the action to five new countries in Europe, Asia and, for the first time, South America.

It said file-sharers in Sweden, Switzerland, Argentina, Hong Kong and Singapore faced prosecution for the first time.

"It's the thinking of dinosaurs for anyone to believe that they can steal music after all the education and campaigns that we have had," IFPI head John Kennedy told Reuters.
He told a news conference that Sweden had been chosen for the launch of the new cases as it had a reputation as being a "haven for piracy". Sweden only recently made it illegal to download copyright-protected files.

"This is a shame for a country which has produced so much good music," he said, referring to ABBA, Ace of Base and The Cardigans.

You have been warned!

JUST ONE DAY LEFT TO SEND DETAILS OF YOUR DECEMBER & JANUARY EVENTS!

Thursday 17th is deadline day so send us all your event information by then.

If you have already given us your event information then; thank you!

The Editor

Tuesday, music, deadline & pub in a home!

What's happening today?

Live events in South Somerset & West Dorset today
Open Mic / Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne
Piano Dentists @ No.10, Bridport

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas today
Heathfield Dance Festival @ Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton
Taking Steps @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton (until 19th)
The B'Eagles @ Raleghs Cross Inn

******************************************************************************
Just two days until the deadline for the December & January edition of Suited and Booted

Contact us today to arrange your advertising and event listings for the Christmas & New Year Suited and Booted.

If you miss this one, you won't see your event details listed again until February 2006!

Contact us today while you remember!
Email us at suit_boot@yahoo.co.uk
******************************************************************************
Going to a nursing home? - Make sure it's this one!
DUBLIN (Reuters) - A nursing home in Ireland has hit on a cheering way to keep up the spirits of its elderly patients -- by providing its own pub.



St Mary's Hospital in County Monaghan, near the Irish border with Northern Ireland, believes ready access to a good pint may help its patients -- average age 85 -- actually live longer.
"We would say the whole social aspect of life does extend the years -- it means the patients aren't bored to death," Rose Mooney, assistant director of nursing told Reuters.

The pub, which opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. and charges normal bar prices, had also led to an increase in the number of visitors, she said.

Having its own bar made the hospital, which has around 140 patients, unique in Ireland, she added.

Have a great day!

The Editor

Monday...quiet isn't it

Well how is Monday for you?

Musically things are a bit thin on the ground today with Just the Open Mic Night at the Westgate in Taunton to excite you.

Just 3 days till the Christmas & New Year deadline!!!!!

The deadline for the combined Christmas & New Year edition of Suited and Booted is this Thursday 17th November.

Send us details of any and all events you know are hosting, organising or planning by Thursday 17th November. Remember this one edition covers both December and January!


Microwave your bra to stay warm this winter
TOKYO (AFP) - We know that ladies ofetn feel the cold but this seems like an extreme preventative measure. For the woman who wants to stay both warm and environmentally conscious this winter -- and isn't bothered by extra bulk under her shirt -- a lingerie maker has unveiled a thick bra that can be heated in the microwave.


Triumph International modeled the bra in Japan which has launched a "Warm Biz" campaign urging people to bundle up to save on heating.

The bra pads are filled with an eco-friendly, reusable gel that can be heated up in a microwave or with hot water. For good measure, a pendant of a hot pepper dangles from the front.
But the bra isn't for those favoring understated attire. A long strap flows down from the back, which is meant to be wrapped around like a boa to keep one's neck warm.

"We hope this will not only help prevent global warming but also provide a little fashion chic to the office," Triumph's Japan branch said in a statement.

Have Fun Folks

The Editor

Sunday, Brief Encounters Film Festival & Music

Brief Encounters Wednesday 23rd till Sunday 27th November
Bristol's annual celebration of the short film - is the leading competitive short film festival in the UK. It combines extensive film exhibition, including a range of premieres and new talent from all over the globe, with education and training from respected industry professionals and an array of special events and parties. Brief Encounters is also the place to discover talented new filmmakers and meet key people from the film industry.

The first Brief Encounters festival of short film took place in 1995. It was originally seen as a ‘one-off’, part of the international celebrations marking the centenary of cinema. But it proved so successful, it has now become a key event in the film festival calendar.

Since its launch Brief Encounters has not only consistently showcased a fantastic array of shorts but has also presented a full programme of special events which have featured key industry figures such as : Andrea Arnold, Jack Cardiff, Terence Davies, Damien O’Donnell, Mike Figgis, Terry Jones, Mark Kermode, Andrew Kotting, Anthony Minghella, Shane Meadows, Nik Powell, Martin Strange-Hansen, Royston Tan, Alan Yentob and many more.


Programme Introduction by Mark Cosgrove, Creative Director
It is my view, and justly represented by the films in this year's festival, that the short film is more than a cinematic footnote to its younger offshoot the feature film. Indeed the short film provided the very source of experimentation at the birth of cinema in the work of Lumiere and Méliès.

This pioneering spirit of experimentation and adventurous filmmaking continues today whether it’s making work with new technologies or providing filmmakers with a creative space away from the increasingly formulaic constraints of the feature film.

The range of films in this year's programme demonstrates that the short film can surprise, bewilder, delight and provoke (sometimes all at the same time). In a packed five days you can journey through a myriad of lives from around the world and experience an exhilarating mix of styles and cinematic visions.

They may indeed be brief but I can assure you they will also be memorable encounters.
Mark Cosgrove, Creative Director

Visit the BRief Encounters web site for more information http://www.brief-encounters.org.uk/index.php

What about live music locally?

Events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Crooked Furrow @ Lord Nelson, Norton-s-Hamdon
Jamming with Mutter & Gareth (3.30pm) @ Ropemakers, Bridport
Jason Chant @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Live Music @ The Old Market, Bridgwater
Red Room Jazz (lunchtime) @ Cunninghams, Taunton


Have a great Sunday!

The Editor

Friday, Armistice, Jesus Juice & music

Today is Armistice Day; the anniversary of the official end of World War I, November 11, 1918. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." While this official date to mark the end of the war reflects the ceasefire on the Western Front, hostilities continued in other regions.


Jesus Juice
An ingenious US couple is moving to bottle and sell pop icon Michael Jackson's high-profile child sex trial -- in the form of an irreverent brand of wine dubbed "Jesus Juice".

A journalist who covered the four-month trial and his actress wife have applied to trademark the name for a full-bodied merlot, inspired by claims by Jackson's teenage accuser that the star plied him with wine decanted into a soft drink can that he dubbed "Jesus Juice".

In documents posted on the website thesmokinggun.com, Bruce Rheins and Dawn Westlake sought to register a "Jesus Juice" logo featuring a photograph of a scantily-clad man in a crucifixion pose, wearing a Jackson-like sequined glove and a black fedora obscuring his face.

They just get more and more bizzare over there!

Musical events today - There are a huge number of events on this evening so there should be something for everyone!

Live events in West Doret & South Somerset
The Great Pretender with Brian Rock as Brian May @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Smith 'n' Moore @ Woods Wine Bar, Yeovil
Tree Frogs @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Hondo Maclean, Devil Sold His Soul, & Second Smile @ Flicks Bar, Yeovil
Bleedin Hartz @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Bad Obsession (Guns & Roses trib.) @ Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
Live Music @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
Hells Bells (AC/DC trib) @ Bottle Inn, Marshwood



Hells Bells playing at a gig in Scotland

Stone Cold Sober @ Crown Inn, Marnhull
Barry Paull as Elvis @ Bakers Arms, Martock
Vinyl Monkeys @ Red Lion, Beaminster
Storm @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Martha's Vineyard @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
Tree Frogs @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
X-Teller @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Soul Commotion @ GlobeTrotters, Yeovil

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Lone Star Country Music Club @ Beam Bridge Hotel
Juliet Turner @ SCAT Atrium, Taunton
The Great Pretender with Brian Rock as Brian May @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Real Deal @ The Westgate, Taunton
Paul Gough @ Forresters Arms, Williton
Actiontrack Show @ Tacchi-Morrs Arts Centre
Jive/Rock 'n' Roll @ Taunton Rock 'n' Roll Club
Studio 37 @ The Malt Shovel, Bridgwater


Studio 37 pose by a wall of self daubed graffiti

36FF @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Tree Frogs @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Music & Song @ West Monkton Village Hall
Blazing Stump Folk Club @ Royal Oak, Lux.
Fat Bottom Queens @ Cross Rifles, Bridgwater
Three's Company @ Porlock Village Hall
Frankly Sinatra @ Goathurst Village Hall

Have a great start to the weekend!

The Editor

Thursday, Moose, Music & Bacon!

There's A Drunken Moose Loose!
They rarely have problems with drunks or rowdy animals, but residents of a home for the elderly in southern Sweden had to deal with both when a pair of intoxicated moose invaded the premises.



The moose - a cow and her calf - had become drunk over the weekend by eating fermented apples they found outside the home in Sibbhult, southern Sweden, said employee Anna Karlsson.

Police managed to scare them off once, but the large mammals returned to get more of the tempting fruits.

Events today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne
Krays @ White Horse, Wincanton
Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral @ Jazz Café Fleur, Canford Cliffs, Poole
Real World @ Choughs Hotel, Chard
Kate Axten (Shania trib.) @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard
X-Teller @ Harry's Bar
Connie Lush & Blues Shouter @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill

Events today in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Franjly Sinatra @ East Quantoxhead Village Hall
Craig Milverton Qurtet @ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre
Acoustic Music Night @ West India House, Taunton

We had the following news from the Makin Bacon Blues Band.
The Makin Bacon Blues Band - Back In The Blackmore Vale Tour
Yes, we are back in the Blackmore Vale with raucous Rhythm & Blues & traditional Rock 'n Roll.

The sad news is that our great singer Clare Perry has left us to pursue her professional singing career with the comedy duo "Mockingbirds". Good luck Clare - I'm sure you will be back with us occasionally.
The glad news is that the lovely Angie Young has taken up the torch as the band's resident diva, and that we have been joined by Rockin' Del Bates on tenor horn & keyboards.

We are back at our favourite pub, "The Antelope" at Hazelbury Bryan on Saturday November 12, and at The Crown Inn Marnhull on Friday December 2. We hope to be appearing In Blandford early in the New Year and will confirm the gig later.

Unfortunately our arrangements for New Year's Eve have fallen through so if you need live music for your New Year's Eve bash, give us a shout. As ever we are ready to play for any occasion demanding live music such as wakes, birthdays, christenings, weddings, divorces, bar mitzvahs, or remission of sentence. Contact Jit Davies on 07951 014517.

Have a great day!

The Editor

Wednesday, Jazz in Bristol, Homer & live music

There are no performances at Sherborne Jazz Club this month.
Their next gig is Sue Kibbey with Gilad Atzmon's Quartet on Saturday December 3rd. You can find out more about this and details of advanced bookings on their website. (Click here).

In the meantime they recommend an outstanding gig this coming weekend at The Tobacco Factory in Bedminster, Bristol. The Sherborne Jazz Club sometimes collaborate with the Tobacco Factory and The BeBop Club in Bristol and this event links both of these venues as it is a performance by Andy Hague's Big Band and, as you may know, Andy not only runs Bristol's BeBop Club but is also a wonderful composer as well as being one of Bristol's leading trumpet players and one of the most in-demand drummers.

So there are many reasons to enjoy this gig. Not the least of which is the musical one - Andy always composes accessible; swinging (and sometimes quite hilarious) compositions and also the fact is that composers writing original material for a big band these days are very few and far between. So to quote the Tobacco Factory: "This promises to be one of the jazz highlights of the year.

Here are some details from the Tobacco Factory
Sun 13th Nov Andy Hague's Big 40 Band £10.00/9.00

To celebrate both his 20th year in Bristol's music scene & his 40th birthday, trumpeter Andy Hague has assembled an all-star big-band to play new arrangements of his own compositions. Trumpets - Derek Lawrence, Dave Ford, Gethin Liddington, Andy Hague. Saxes - Ben Waghorn, alto, Keith Morgan, alto, Jake McMurchie, tenor, Ruth Hammond, tenor, Kevin Figes, baritone. Trombones - Vince Ford, John Cornick, Nick Attwood, Alex Stewart. Piano - Jim Blomfield, Bass - Dave Goodier, Drums - Simon Gore.

Bad News for Homer Simpson
'Violent' Homer upsets Russians. Russian politicians are warning TV stations to cut back on violent shows if they want to avoid censorship.

The number one show they have mentioned is The Simpsons.


Minister Yelena Afanasyeva said: "The Simpsons is crammed with violent and aggressive episodes. These cartoons also introduce antagonism between children and parents." Doh!

Live events in West Dorset & South Somerset today
Blue Black @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
The Sinatra Years (tribute) @ Chicago Rock Café, Yeovil
Catfish Keith @ Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi

Events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Incredible String Band @ Oake Village Hall
Catfish Keith @ Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi
Modern Jiove @ Royal Britsih Legion, Taunton
Craig Milverton Quartet @ Tacchi-Morrs Arts Centre, Taunton
Acoustic Music Night @ West India House, Taunton

Have a great Day

The Editor

Tuesday, music and Take Art play on tour

10 Days till the December / January edition deadline!

Yes you have just 10 days to send us all your events for both December and January. (It will be a combined edition as usual.)

Remember we can design your advertisment for you for FREE!

Events today in West Dorset & South Somerset
Jim Reynolds @ No.10, Bridport
Open Mic / Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne

Events in Taunton & Bridwater area today
Putting it together @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton, (until 12th)

Take Art Live presents: Third Space in “Born to Run”
a new play by Amanda Whittington




at Bruton - Sexey’s School Tue 15 Nov at 7:30pm. Tel: 01749 813393
Clapton & Wayford Village Hall Wed 16 Nov at 7:30pm. Tel: 01460 74849
Hornblotton Village Hall Sat 19 Nov at 7:30pm. Tel: 01963 240282

Third Space begins its South Somerset tour of “Born to Run” at Sexey's School on Tuesday 15th November. This new play specifically made for village halls and untraditional venues, from one of our brightest playwrights, is a story about love, hopes for the future, of when to stay and when to let go.

Set on Hayling Island where Pete and Louisa run a seafront café. In between Louisa teaches baton techniques to the juniors of the ‘Hilight Twirlstars’ while Pete tries to get his beloved narrow gauge railway up and running. When one Christmas eve Joe, Pete’s long forgotten brother, returns from 15 years traveling on route 66…..

Gavin Stride, the director of the production, commented that ‘When Amanda and I first spoke about creating a new play we talked about the pressures and choices particularly facing young people outside a major city- the pull of the city, the sense of belonging, the perception of the country. We where also drawn to exploring communities at the edges of the country. Which led us to Hayling, and to the decisions we make in our lives.’

Born to Run is in many ways an old fashioned play with three people, in one place, with a story to tell, a charming, gentle 90-mminute play suitable for everyone over 10 years old.

Have fun!

The Editor

Music, deadlines, rates & Jokes!

Another Monday and of course since it is Monday there are very few live events happening. To get your musical kicks tonight visit the Westgate in Taunton and take part in their Open Mic Night.

Web Site Update
The web site has been updated again and you should now be able to download copies of the gig diaries for both West Dorset-South Somerset & Taunton-Bridgwater areas in PDF form.

Christmas & New Year edition of Suited and Booted.
We would like to remind all the bands out there that the deadline for the combined December and January edition of Suited and Booted is Thursday 17th November. Please send us your Decemebr & January gig information before Thursday 17th November to make sure that your gigs get listed.

Some of you may wish to advertise and our rates are very competitive and you get a wide magazine distribution for your money.

Rates for 'Black & White'

Quarter Page £28.00

Half Page £56.50

Full Page £90.00

Rates for 'Colour'

Front Page 'Earpiece' £35.00 (sold for Dec/Jan)

Quarter Page £33.00

Half Page £65.00

Full Page £108.00

Back Page £125.00
These price are all inclusive (we are not a VAT registered business) and we will even produce the artwork for free!

Just call us on 01935 477596 for the West Dorset-South Somerset edition or 01823 400222 for the Taunton-Bridgwater edition to find out more or send an email to suit_boot@yahoo.co.uk.

Chicken Joke...
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: WHO CARES!!! It's probably got bird flu... RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!

Love & Marriage Joke
Husband and wife are waiting at the bus stop with their nine children.
A blind man joins them after a few minutes. When the bus arrives, they find it overloaded and only the wife and the nine kids are able to fit onto the bus.

So the husband and the blind man decide to walk. After a while, the husband gets irritated by the ticking of the stick of the blind man as he taps it on the sidewalk, and says to him, "Why don't you put a piece of rubber at the end of your stick? That ticking sound is driving me crazy."

The blind man replies, "If you would've put a rubber at the end of YOUR stick, we'd be riding the bus... so shut up."

Have a great Monday!

The Editor

Sunday, Christmas , music & rain

Non Stop till Christmas!
With the annual celebration of bonfire night over, get ready for the run towards Christmas. Take part in the annual debate on who will be the Christmas number one and argue about the best TV Christmas special ever; the holiday season is here!

Meanwhile the November rain is doing its best to drown any enthusiasm for getting out and about but there is music out there today. At least pubs are generally dry!

Events on Sunday 6th November

Events in South Somerset & West Dorset
Capdown, Boom In The Diamond Industry, The Scrub, Farcue & Overthrow 69 @ Cheese & Grain, Frome
David Clifford @ Yeovil Ex-Services & Social Club

Events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Keith Little Hot Six Jazz @ Bar27, Bridgwater
Live Music @ The Old Market, Bridgwater
Scarlett Room @ The Railway, Burnham On Sea

The Editor

Friday: Bridgwater Carnival, music & Banjos

Bridgwater Carnival tonight
Bridgwater Carnival that celebration of light, music and colour happens today. If you have never experienced the event then do take the time to go and see the spectacle, it will amaze you! It starts at 7pm tonight but you would be well advised to get there early, park the car and grab a bite to eat; traffic does get a bit chaotic. Click the headline above to go to the officail web site.

This is the Gremlins Carnival Club entry for 2004 'Rio'

Staying local for the music?

Music & live events today in West Dorset & South Somerset
Creechers @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon
ITV @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Richard Digance @ Cheese & Grain, Frome
David Miles Band @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Jongleures @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
Nick Ryan @ Ship Inn, Chard
Julie @ Railway Hotel, Yeovil
Bleedin Hartz @ Red Lion, Beaminster
No Comply, Anyway, Quit Your Day Job & Mercury League @ Ski Lodge, Yeovil



Sirius B @ Woods Wine Bar, Yeovil
Bleedin Hartz @ Red Lion, Beaminster

Music & live events today in Taunton & Bridwater areas
Milverton Music Club @ The Victoria Rooms
Rude Mood @ The Westgate, Taunton
R-Tel @ Forresters Arms, Wlliton
Stuff Stan Likes @ Greylake Inn
4 Men On The Job @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Backwater @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton (until 5th)
Jeremy Huggett's Band Of Gold @ George, Uffculme
Western Rendevous @ Royal Britsh Legion, Taunton

Just For Fun
Follow this link for some fun duelling banjos (yes really!). Think Dukes of Hazzard, and remember to have your speakers on!
<http://www.topeuro.co.uk/blagger/the_duel.html>




Have a great night wherever you spend it!

The Editor

Thursday!

Kind of a late in the day entry on the blog today!

Live music in South Somerset & West Dorset
The Crack @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil
Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne
John Debarra @ Choughs Hotel, Chard

Live music in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Jazz Jam session @ Bar 27, Bridgwater
Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes @ Square & Compass, Windmill Hill, Ashill
Steve Ashley @ Ritz Music Club, Burnham on Sea

We spotted this at the Daily Mirror online site 31 October 2005
OUTRAGE OF PUDDLE SPLASHER JASON COMES TO YEOVIL COURT!
By Richard Smith

A MOTORIST was fined for splashing two workmen as he drove through a puddle at 15mph.
IT consultant Jason Evans, 34, was tailed by police for two miles before being booked.
He said yesterday after being hit with a £150 penalty and three points on his licence: "It's unbelievable this ever came to court.

"It was an accident. I was only in second gear. I couldn't have done anything different unless I'd pushed the car through the puddle.

"I didn't even notice what I'd done until I saw a man in my mirror raising his fist. I wanted to stop but was intimidated by the police car behind me."

The workmen were clearing leaves from a ditch in Charlton Mackrell, Somerset, when Evans splashed past.

Prosecutor Iyan Stephens told Yeovil magistrates: "The water was about two inches deep. Evans drove through at such speed one of the workmen's jeans was soaked."

The incident was seen by a police patrol officer. Evans, of Yeovil - who said he drove 40,000 miles a year and had a clean licence - admitted inconsiderate driving.

Police said: "All motorists have a duty to show consideration for other road users and pedestrians."

No spashing now!

The Editor

Alto Sax Player Needed

Alto sax player needed for successful Funk/Soul band Groove-a-licious.

Successful person must be able to attend weekly rehearsals. All music provided. If you're interested, please ring Richard on 07881588409.

The Editor

Wednesday

Apple iTunes sells 1m videos in 20 days
Apple has sold more thana million videos through its iTunes music store in thefirst 20 days after launching the service, the company has reported.

"Selling a million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests that thereis a market for legal video downloads," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs.

"Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods."

Music today in South Somerset & West Dorset
Just A Girl @ Chicago Rock Café, Yeovil
Smith 'n' Moore @ Harry's Bar, Yeovil

Music today in the Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Modern Jive @ Royal British Legion Club, Taunton
Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes @ Raleghs Cross


Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes

Comedy Club @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

Not hard enough, moaned female customer
A mail-order porn video outfit has been stung for £4,000 by Dorking magistrates for failing to measure up in the hard-core department, the Mirror reports. Pabo Ltd was fined the four grand plus £2,044 costs and ordered to pay £75 compensation to a female customer who moaned that explicit rumpy-pumpy on the covers of three videos she'd bought did not appear in the final, censored cut.

Of the unnamed smut aficionado, Surrey County Council said: "The company had not shown any interest in the consumer's complaint, so the purchaser turned to Trading Standards." Peter Denard of Trading Standards added: "Consumers are often embarrassed to complain about purchases such as these and companies take advantage of them."

Have a great day


The Editor

Tuesday music & psychics

Did you enjoy your halloween night?
Here we are on the first day of November and the sun is shining. This being a Tuesday, things are little quieter than the average but there are still good things out there to listen to.

On the topic of things spooky:
Psychic didn't see attack coming-A woman who apparently had a grudge against self-professed psychics severely punished a palm reader in Maryland who failed after being put to a test.
Police say the woman approached 38-year-old Kevin Patrick Miles, who owns the Zodiac Zone kiosk, and said, "So, you're supposed to be a psychic?"
Miles says the woman then pulled a soda bottle from her purse, threw it at his head, and asked "Did you see that coming?" before leaving.

Live music in South Somerset & West Dorset
Tom Toomey @ No.10, Bridport
Kent Duchaine @ Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi


Kent Duchaime posing with his famous guitar 'Leadbessie'

Jam Night @ Antelope, Crewkerne

Live music in Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Tiverton Folk Club @ The Racehorse Inn, Tiverton
Kent Duchaine @ Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi
Sacconi String Quartet @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

Have a great day!

the Editor

October 31st Halloween

Grim Halloween
We saw this on Yahoo.
The apparent suicide of a woman found hanging in a tree in the US went ignored for hours because neighbours thought it was a Halloween decoration.

The 42-year-old woman's body was suspended 15 feet from the ground at the side of a busy road in Delaware from Tuesday night, police said.

Locals noticed the body early on Wednesday morning but dismissed it as a Halloween prank.

(Didn't they check their diary? Ed.)

Sweet little Children
No doubt hordes of sweet young children will come to your door demanding their treat or they play a trick on you. As these children grow up they become the spotty faced proto-thugs that demand money and run a key down your car if you don't cough up.

Sounds a lot like blackmail to me and we encourage it??



Events on Monday Night
As far as we can tell the only live music event tonight in the area is the open mic night at the Westgate in Taunton. We do know that many pubs will be running Halloween themed evenings though.

Have fun spooky evening

The Editor

Saturday stuff!

Lots of events on for you to enjoy today.

If you would like to comment on any of our posts then use the comment feature at the bottom of each post or email us at suit_boot@yahoo.co.uk


Live events on Saturday in the West Dorset & South Somerset areas
Live Music TBC @ Hardy's, Bridport
Farfisa @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas
Simon Gee @ Lord Nelson, Norton-s-Hamdon
Little Dixie @ Woods Wine Bar, Yeovil
Rhythm Junkies @ Half Moon, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Memphis 56 @ Labour Club, Yeovil
Rusty Razor @ Bottle Inn, Marshwood
X-Teller @ Swan Inn, Sherborne
Real World @ Nags Head, Lyme Regis
The Riverbrew @ Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil
Live Music TBC @ Westminster
Unforgiven Kingdom @ Royal Oak, Ilminster
Roadhouse @ Ropemakers, Bridport
Seth Lakeman Trio @ David Hall Arts Centre, S.Petherton

Live events in the Taunton & Bridgwater areas
Yanagai! Yanagai! @ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
Loza Fitzgibbon @ Bridgwater Arts Centre
Rosie Shaw @ Flying Horse, Taunton
Farfisa @ Green Dragon Combe St Nicholas
Jim Reynolds @ Vintage, Wellington
Cold Shot @ Wellington Football Club
Live Music @ The Westgate, Taunton
Flaggon @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Excellos @ Old Market, Bridgwater
That'll Do @ Volunteer, Honiton
Silverback @ Hutton Village Hall
Dave Gale @ Green Dragon, Wellington
Les Martin @ Princess Royal, Taunton

Have a great weekend!

The Editor

Freaky Friday, Blair & music

Print edition of magazine out now
The South Somerset & West Dorset edition of the magazine is making its way out to you right now. If you don't yet have your copy it will be with you soon!

Blair is the scariest!
A latex Halloween mask of Tony Blair is more popular than every other ghoulish design, a fancy dress company has said.



The Prime Minister's image has out-sold former gruesome favourites Dead Eye the Pirate and Charlie the Skull. A mask of US President George Bush is the sixth best-selling design, with a scary Margaret Thatcher mask trailing in ninth place, Angels Fancy Dress said.

Just over two-thirds of the 750 online orders for Tony Blair masks were placed by people living in the north of England and Scotland.

What's happening today?

Live events in West Dorset & South Somerset on Friday
Howard’s Alias, Sonic Boom Six, Buzz Kill & Andy Fiction. @ Flicks Bar, Yeovil
Storm @ Plume of Feathers, Sherborne
Ironic @ Poulett Arms, Lopen Head
BJ McCabe @ Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil
The Lost Boys @ Swan Hotel, Crewkerne
Tom Toomey @ Fleur de Lis, Stoke-s-Hamdon
Smith 'n' Moore @ Woods Wine Bar, Yeovil

Live events in Taunton & Bridgwater areas on Friday
Llangoed ~ Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
Love Letters @ Bridgwater Arts Centre
Live Music @ Malt Shovel Bridgwater
Whisky Position @ The Westgate, Taunton
That'll Do @ Market House, Cullompton
Barracuda @ George Inn, Uffculme
Turnette Doone @ Pen & Quill, Taunton
Elton John Tribute @ Cross Rifles, Bridgwater
Linda Gail Lewis @ Royal British Legion Club, Taunton
Poppa J @ Beam Bridge Hotel
Heart Beats @ Bridgwater Sports & Social Club

A quick reminder that the next edition of Suited and Booted will be the combined December and January monster. To make sure you are in the magazine please send us all your gig information by 17th November!!!

You can email us at suit_boot@yahoo.co.uk

The Editor