COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.

Dill

Stephen Davies or as most know him in Coventry under the name Dill or Daffod ‘i’ll, is one of Coventry’s (or probably is) Coventry’s most prolific songwriter as he is about to release his 37th solo album entitled ‘Grandy’. Former frontman with local 80s (almost made it) bands Gods Toys and ‘i’, he has become something of a local legend.

His songs remain accessible yet never compromising, inventive but never too complicated. Album after album, song after song his body of work is collectively like no one else’s and I mean that in a positive way.

His CDs are available from the 2-Tone Village and Just Dropped In.

Sink or Swim x Just Dropped In present

Lots of great live music continues at Just Dropped In Records at Fargo, with two amazing local artists Batsch and Bar Pandora playing the store on Saturdaym August 6.

This will be the first time Batsch have played a show in two-and-a-half years and Bar Pandora have been making the press of late with their superb track ‘Vice, Vice, Vice’ which made Tom Robinson’s mix tape on BBC6 Music recently – check that out to see what all the fuss is about.

It promises to be a cracking gig, showcasing two of the area’s finest bands. It starts at 7pm and tickets are available on-the-door for £5 available from https://fb.me/e/2H9NztFWo

Official Commonwealth Games programme

I’m more than a little proud to see the Coventry Music Museum actually mentioned in the official Commonwealth Games programme.

It says ‘learn about the birth of the 2-Tone music scene at Coventry Music museum’.

Wow, thanks guys for including us!

Harrison Powers

Thanks to Alun at Just Dropped In Records at Fargo for passing on the new CD ‘Life’s Now’ from Harrison Powers.

This nine tracker deserves your attention.

There is an intrinsic richness to his voice, whether he is singing or rapping, his music defies pigeonholing.

The voice, the music, the production and the songs all work together creating something very special.

I’m a fan and you will be too if you give him a chance.

Roxy Music – Virginia Plain

Today, 50 years ago, a song was released that changed so many people’s lives including mine.

Roxy Music made a deal and they made it straight all sign and sealed, and what’s her name Virginia Plain.

A song and a sound like nothing ever before, their look was bizarre – each member an icon to cool.

We fought to take it all in when they lit up Top of the Pops studio and then on Saturday, November 4, we finally got to see them live at the Lanchester Poly, and then, right there it all made perfect sense, and half a century later it still does.