Band Of Holy Joy go right back to their electro soundscape origins to reinterpret More Favourite Fairytales, their first ever cassette release, which was issued by the Pleasantly Surprised label in 1984. That cassette and others from that time were released as a box set by the Vinyl on Demand label and the band are playing this set of songs at the VOD festival. The Water Rats will be the first time to hear these songs for many years.
Special Guests – Glaxo Babies
In the annals of Bristol music history Glaxo Babies could have a book and a zone of greatness all of their own. Singles and EP’s such as ‘Christine Keeler’ and ‘This Is Your Life’, along with the seminal ‘Avon Calling’ compilation John Peel recorded session version of ‘It’s Irrational’, stormed the zeitgeist of late 70’s, early 80’s UK post punk.
Four decades on, in 2025, another great leap forward brought the story to a stunning new destination with the vinyl and digital release on Bristol Archive Records in conjunction with their own imprint Liberated Sound Development of ‘Men of Stone’, the band’s first new album in some forty years.
It’s a major chapter telling of reinvention, restructuring and in no way taking stock. For this missive the Glaxo’s use not one, but two new vocalists adding their own voice to a collection of songs mainly written by long-time Glaxonian and original guitarist, Dan Catsis. Dan was also a massive part of nationally recognised Bristol luminaries, The Pop Group and Maximum Joy.
Other Bristol notables come into the new material’s mix with Steve Bush, main-man of former NME faves Essential Bop, contributing lyrics to the darkness descends vibe ofsecond side opener ‘I Don’t Want to be Loved’, while Massive Attack producer and collaborator Neil Davidge adds a sonic sound-bed sheen to the track.
Two of the new band members have an important Bristol back story. Bassist Steve Street was a centre-piece of studio recording at his SAM set-up in the city, and drummer Jamie Hill played with early Nellee Hooper/later Roni Size drummer linked percussion powerhouse outfit Mouth and later with ex Pop Group/Cortinas/Clash driven Virgin 80’s act Head.