This Friday an enhanced triad of Varmints explore the mysteries of the Orient.
Come with us as we take you on a journey through the sights, colours, smells, tastes and, yes, sounds of the Far East.
Here are some of my predictions for the show;
John Varmint will regale us with tales of how to make Birds Nest Soup with real birds nests (Tip 1: take the bird skulls out first)
Oz Varmint will attempt to persuade us that you can't get much more Eastern than Brisbane
Rob Varmint will manage to find a Chinese footy song
Dave Varmint will produce some Nam Pla flavored Haribos
I will go for a pee at the wrong moment and miss something critical
And Jimmy Varmint will tell us all to calm down or we'll get beheaded with a very sharp Samurai sword- and give us that look.
Oh and, this week, we've got an elephant in the room! Anyone caught making the obvious crack will get sent back to the end of the queue ... and, in a way, that's the point;
Borrowing (just a little) from the QI format, we've decided that each themed show will have "an Elephant in the Room" - that's to say, a track which is so obvious it deserves to be treated with a certain amount of derision, should it get played. So, in future, whoever comes up with the theme gets to also choose the EITR (can't be bothered to keep typing it) and then keeps it to themselves.
Now, during discussions about this new initiative during last week's production meeting we ended up disclosing what the EITR for The Orient Show would be - so we all know what it is (and therefore won't be choosing it) ... all except Jimmy - hurrah!
Feel free to email us and suggest what you think the EITR is / should be for this week - again, anyone suggesting one of us will get a short sharp visit from Mr Pencil!
So, having threatened most of you (you were going to do that weren't you ...) DO tune in this Friday and shake off your Occidental blues.
(Click the above thumbnail for a full-size poster)
Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 July 2010 10:43 )
Oli Brown Podcast - already online!
Written by Matt
Sunday, 04 July 2010 22:00
As a rule of thumb, Varmint Show podcasts are uploaded to this site after the interview in question has been repeated - usually that means a 10 - 15 day wait.
Since the feature on Oli aired on the Rock & Blues Circus, which has a different repeat cycle, the podcast wouldn't have been available for around 3 months - 3 whole months? No, Rob & I thought "That's just too long". Freed from our usual routine, we then pondered just how long we should wait, before letting people have another chance to listen and have decided that IMMEDIATELY is about long enough!
So, here it is for you to wallow in - please enjoy
Last Updated ( Sunday, 04 July 2010 22:46 )
Aynsley Lister @ Glastonbury
Written by Matt
Friday, 02 July 2010 13:41
For all those of you who enjoyed "The Varmints in a Tunnel with Aynsley Lister", just check out the video below.
This is Aynsley at the new Bourbon St Jazz & Blues stage at Glastonbury, with a stellar performance of Purple Rain.
Click the image below to watch the video.
Now THAT'S how it's done!
Now we just need some videos of Oli, PAUL etc - keep 'em coming ....
... and kudos to BadlyDoneEmma for the fantastic video.
Last Updated ( Friday, 02 July 2010 14:17 )
The Varmints in a Tunnel with Oli Brown
Written by Matt
Sunday, 27 June 2010 23:21
This forthcoming Sunday (4th July), the Varmints are delighted to announce that Rob's "Rock and Blues Circus" will feature a one hour special with the magnificent Oli Brown.
Recorded at The Tunnels in Bristol on the 2nd night of the New Generation Blues Tour, the interview features a relaxed Oli discussing his career to date. During the course of the conversation, we touch on Oli's introduction to the Blues, his teenage experiences touring the states, stagecraft, working with Legendary producer Mike Vernon, wardrobe choices and much, much more!
As a guide to the current trajectory of this young man's career, in the inaugural British Blues Awards 2010 he is nominated for Best Male Vocalist, Guitarist and Young Artist!
(...to vote for your favourite artists in the BBA, click HERE).
As with many of the fantastic artists we've spoken to over the last couple of years, Oli was a huge pleasure to chat with - relaxed, measured and very amusing, the time flew by all too quickly.
It's worth mentioning that, as part of this particular session, we also had a chance to catch-up with Virgil & the Accelerators & Joanne Shaw-Taylor - which was a lovely bonus - who are also nominated in a host of categories of the British Blues Awards (so go and VOTE!). That said, on this occasion, the night belongs to Oli.
So, tune in between 18.00 - 20.00 BST and enjoy Oli trying, amongst other things, to distance himself from the notion that he's "sexed-up the Blues"!
(Click the above thumbnail for a full-size poster)
We'd like to place on record our thanks to Graham Brown & Martin Lewis for organising things for us, Tunnels owner Gareth Chilcott for looking after us so well and to Oli, Joanne, Virgil, Gabe and Tom for their company - if you'd like to hear more from J S-T & VATA, click HERE for previous interviews.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:28 )
Archaeology Show Unearthed (I'm sorry ....!)
Written by Matt
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 21:42
Along with many others, I was fortunate enough to catch Monday's repeat of the Archaeology show from a couple of weeks ago, and, so fine a show was it that, as opposed to squirreling it away in the Vaults, we've decided to make it available to listen to again from right here on the Homepage - it's THAT good.
So, dig yourself a nice comfy trench, retrieve a Chateau Malescasse 1878 from the cellar, lie back, re-arrange your small finds and enjoy, you Trowelheads!
