The first show of 2020 on the first day of the new decade! We looked back at some of the highlights of 2019 with some of the local acts we'll be hearing more of this year - as we proved, there's going to be plenty to chat about and go see on the Essex scene!

Idles - Mercedes Marxist

Steve Mahoney & the Milkshakes - Christmas on Credit Card

Scully Ward - Me & the Moon

Lakey Inspired - The Process

Rock 'n' Roll Andy - Watching Over You (Phoenix FM Session)

The Lightscopes - Troubled Man (Phoenix FM Session)

Lady Grey & the Earls - One Last Fight in the Tiger (Phoenix FM Session)

Laika Spacedog - Vicky the EU Worker

Last Known State - X Years' Time

The Vision - Right Now

Edd Coates - I Don't Want to Lose Myself

Parrilla - Dancefloor Messiah

Political Hesitation - Political Hesitation

Micky Niner - Dance Little Liar

Shooting Gale - Launchpad McQuack

Mark Anthony - This City

Chloe Diana - Bittersweet

Arfur Doo & the Toerags - Katy Shaw (Phoenix FM Session)

Penanceville - Ruby (Phoenix FM Session)

Osmium Guillotine - He Played Rock 'n' Roll

Tommy Vegas - Loves Your Body

Jack Found - Sundown

Kaprica - Warzone

Dirty Donations - Get Your Licks

Lost on Broadway - Rebellious Hell

Dave Stannard - My OCD (Phoenix FM Session)

Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for supporting Curveballs in 2019! For our festive special we've put together a collection of Christmas tracks you don't hear enough on the radio, a special mix of Christmas tunes by Essex artists, and a track by the DIS4U (Disability Inclusion Society) getting its first ever radio play. Many thanks to Justin and Alli from Lady Grey & The Earls for sending us the track. Hope you all enjoy your Christmas and see you on New Year's Day for the first show of a new year and a new decade!

Monty Python - Christmas in Heaven

Vice Squad - Santa Claws is Coming to Town

Sonic Boom Six - It's Always Christmas When I Think of You

Carmen Toth - This Christmas I'm Giving You Love

Marika Hackman - Driving Under Stars

The Vandals - Oi to the World

Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer - Oh, Santa!

'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Cast - California Christmastime

The Dollyrots - Last Christmas

Hold Your Horse Is - Wonderful Christmas Time

Los Campesinos! - Kindle a Flame in Her Heart

Kazoo Funk Orchestra - Crappy Christmas Song

Bis - You Wrecked My Christmas

Shred Guitar Eric - Christmas Meets Metal

One State Drive - Merry Christmas Everyone

Tall Poppies - Walking in the Air

Say Sue Me - Christmas, It's Not a Biggie

Matt Bonner - How It Used to Be

Mark Anthony - It's Time for Christmas

Rock 'n' Roll Andy - Merry Xmas Everybody (Phoenix FM Session)

DIS4U - Do They Know It's Christmas?

ESSEX CHRISTMAS MIX

The Vision - Merry Christmas (Phoenix FM Session)

Lady Grey & The Earls - Mistletoe Kisses

Death of Guitar Pop - Feeling Like a Right James Blunt at Christmas

Stuart Carr - Waiting in for Santa Claus

Sophie Reynolds - Yeah! It's Christmas Time!

Hadleigh Ford - My Time to Shine

Tom Parsons - Silent Night

Dani Walsh - Come Around

Youth Club - Coming Home

Russell & the Wolf Choir - The Compass & the Foal

Hound Doggs - Christmas Time! (Is the Best Time of Year)

The Rileys - Christmas Cheer

Ten Tigers - Christmas on Prozac

Lace & Whiskey - Christmas Time is Here

Dave Stannard - Boxing Day

Tonight I was joined in the studio, as is traditional at Christmas, by our good buddies Lady Grey & The Earls. Fresh from their recent 3-set gig (yes, 3!) at Bentwood's Essex Arms the weekend before, the foursome showcased new material we can expect from their next album, as well as a new recording of their Christmas track Mistletoe Kisses which was played in the studio a year ago! Find LG&TE and their tunes on Facebook, Bandcamp and SoundCloud. Click above to listen back to the interview - various references to tea, chickens, pyjamas, toast, unwanted nicknames and plenty more are featured within!

The Blood Arm - Do I Have Your Attention?

Decaydes - Champagne

The Foreign Exchange - Listen to the Rain

Jahi Shenu - Coming Home

Death of Guitar Pop - Feeling Like a Right James Blunt at Christmas

Sonic Boom Six - It's Always Christmas When I Think of You

Lady Grey & The Earls - Why So Serious?

LADY GREY & THE EARLS IN THE STUDIO

Lady Grey & The Earls - Tired Bones

Lady Grey & The Earls - Wise Monkeys (live in session)

The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride

Lady Grey & The Earls - False Flag

Radiohead - No Surprises

Pulp - Disco 2000

Lady Grey & The Earls - One More Fight in the Tiger (live in session)

Liam Gallagher - Once

Lady Grey & The Earls - Mistletoe Kisses

Mr B & The Wolf - Crazytown

Lace & Whiskey - Christmas Time is Here

Imperial Leisure - First Past the Pump

Political Hesitation - Detox

First up tonight I was joined by Richie and Matt from new Essex metal outfit Against the Grain.  2020 kicks off for them on January 10th when they'll be playing a special charity gig at Chinnery's in Southend, in memory of Richie's nephew Charlie who sadly passed away earlier this year. They'll be joined on the night by Walk in Coma and headliners Heart of a Coward. Listen back to them chatting about what to expect from an Against the Grain gig, the recording of their debut release, and Richie's superb taste in hats. Find them on Facebook and Instagram for more!

Next up was the return of Steven, Lee and Stanley from The Vision. Since they last joined us back in 2017, the pop-edge trio have been working on their second album, from which we heard a sample in the form of their hot-off-the-press new single Right Now, out early next year. We also got to hear stories of their matching hats, getting ID'd everywhere, random musical influences, plus we got to hear live versions of their current single Pocket Change - out now in support of homelessness charities - and their new Christmas song, which they have just released a video for on their website www.thevisionmusic.co.uk. Check their site for more album and gig news soon!

Roxette - Almost Unreal

Echobelly - King of the Kerb

Sonic Boom Six - Monkey See, Monkey Do

Edd Coates - I Don't Want to Lose Myself

Fountains of Wayne - Denise

RICHIE & MATT FROM AGAINST THE GRAIN IN THE STUDIO

Heart of a Coward - Skeletal II: Arise

Walk in Coma - Gospel

Pantera - I'm Broken

Stone Sour - 30-30/150

Heart of a Coward - Isolation

THE VISION LIVE IN THE STUDIO

The Vision - Living for the Weekend

The Vision - Pocket Change (live in session)

Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You

The Vision - Right Now

The Vision - Merry Christmas (live in session)

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

Lady Grey & the Earls - Why So Serious?

Dirty Donations - Get Your Licks

Micky Niner - Dance Little Liar

High/Low - Road (I'm Not Superman)

Tonight, for the first show of December, we got our good buddy Rock 'n' Roll Andy Hodgson to get us into the Christmas spirit with a few festive tunes (including, of course, his band Lace & Whiskey's Christmas Time is Here, played for the first time here on Curveballs many years ago!). Andy runs a series of open mic nights in his hometown of Peterborough (recommended if you're up for a road trip!) & also regularly comes to visit down south for gigs with Open Door Records and with his Guns 'n' Roses tribute act, It's So Easy. Keep updated on Andy's many live dates & open mic events at www.rockandrollenterprises.co.uk.

Freeez - Southern Freeez

The Futureheads - Good Night Out

A - For Starters

Silent Natives - Rewire

Edd Coates - Wonderland

Lakey Inspired - Chill Day

ROCK 'N' ROLL ANDY IN THE STUDIO

Billy Gibbons / Dave Grohl / Lemmy - Run Rudolph Run

Rock 'n' Roll Andy - A Winter's Tale (live in session)

Andy Hughes - Memory Lane

Rock 'n' Roll Andy - Watching Over You (live in session)

Alice Cooper & Co - Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Rock 'n' Roll Andy - Merry Xmas Everybody (live in session)

Phantom Heads - Ether

Rock 'n' Roll Andy - Christmas Time is Here (live in session)

Last Known State - X Years' Time

The Vision - Living for the Weekend

Sabiba - One More Chance

Forged in Black - Sinner Sanctorum

First up tonight I was joined in the studio by Yulia, Adam and Owen, three of the stars from new Amazon Prime drama series Days of the Apocalypse. We got to hear about some of the unusual sights that inspired the post-apocalyptic-themed drama, some amusing stories from their filming days in Hertfordshire, and what advice they'd offer to other aspiring local film-makers. The first three episodes will appear on Prime throughout December, with the remaining three coming next year. Visit their pages on Instagram and Facebook for more!

Next up it was the return of our good buddy Edd Coates. We got the chance to hear three exclusive new tracks from his new album The Crooked Fold, out next year, and how busy he's been since last joining us a year ago - including gigs in Brentwood and Stratford, his game design work and his new foray into the world of motivational public speaking. Edd will be joining us again in the new year for a live session - check out his website www.eddcoates.com in the meantime for more news!

Two Year Break - DALTITE

Decaydes - Champagne

Silent Natives - Rewire (excerpt)

Jahi Shenu - Coming Home

DAYS OF THE APOCALYPSE CAST IN THE STUDIO

Hozier - Take Me to Church

Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

Rag 'n' Bone Man - Human

EDD COATES IN THE STUDIO

Edd Coates - Transit

David Gray - Hospital Food

Last Known State - X Years' Time

Villagers - Home

Edd Coates - I Don't Want to Lose Myself

Edd Coates - I'll Be Gone

Auli'i Cravalho - How Far I'll Go

Edd Coates - Wonderland

A - Hopper Jonnus Fang

Parrilla - Dancefloor Messiah

Tonight I was joined in the studio by Last Known State frontman Adam to introduce the band's new single, X Years' Time, out now on all major download sites. After a busy year of gigs, the Essex quintet have one more gig before the year's out, at The Cove in Tottenham on December 6th, before heading back in the studio to record new material. Definitely worth staying tuned for - and you can do just that on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Incubus - Wish You Were Here

Rad Pitt - What is the Point of Piers Morgan?

Zebrahead - Worse Than This

Silent Natives - Sunlight

Kaprica - Play with Fire

The Kubricks - Human

ADAM FROM LAST KNOWN STATE IN THE STUDIO

Alter Bridge - Godspeed

Last Known State - The Edge

Last Known State - X Years' Time

Two Year Break - Change My Mind

Death of Guitar Pop - 69 Candy Street

Last Known State - Enemy in Arms

Crobot - Fly on the Wall

Last Known State - Blinded

A - Getting Around

Edd Coates - Transit

Penanceville - Old Sins

Political Hesitation - Detox

Serratone - Dreams

Agnostic Front - I Remember

Soilwork (featuring Alissa White-Gulz) - Stalfagel

Shooting Gale - Launchpad McQuack

So tonight was our good buddy Koray’s birthday, and he decided to spend it with us - party time!

First up were We Punch Tigers, one of the other bands on the bill for Koray’s birthday gig at Edge in Basildon the following night. The Pitsea/Laindon trio have three releases available on their Bandcamp page, and have a busy few weeks ahead with Southend’s The Venue on November 23rd (supporting Vice Squad) before heading back to Edge on December 19th. More news can be found on their Facebook page!

Next up it was the birthday boy himself. Since Koray last joined us on Boxing Day last year, he’s popped up a few times on the gig scene, but we could well expect a lot more soon, as long as he makes it out of his birthday gig intact – as we found out, there was already one possibility courtesy of We Punch Tigers that left our Koray a little nervous... Assuming he survived, find him on Facebook!

The Bluetones – Bluetonic

De Staat – Sweat Shop

The Trusted – Boy

Benny Andersson – Thank You for the Music

WE PUNCH TIGERS IN THE STUDIO

The Sweet – Wig Wam Bam

Terrorvision – Pretend Best Friend

We Punch Tigers – Modern Day Slavery (live in session)

Blink 182 – Carousel

We Punch Tigers – Unchaned Melanie (live in session)

William Shatner – Common People

Political Hesitation – Political Hesitation

KORAY IN THE STUDIO

Harry & the Chicks – Time

Evanescence – My Immortal

Koray – Second Star to the Right (live in session)

Jordan Hemmingway – Little Lights

Koray – The Magic’s in the Mystery (live in session)

Bowling for Soup – High School Never Ends

Koray – In the Cold Sobering Light of Morning (live in session)

Last Known State – Blinded

Silent Natives – Sunlight

Unit 33 - Destiny

Tonight I was joined in the studio for a second time by three-quarters of Political Hesitation (l-r Alex, Conor,  George). Since their first appearance on the show back in May, they’ve  recorded a new EP, from which we heard a selection of tracks tonight,  and started gearing up for plenty more gigs. Their next gig is at  Chinnery’s in Southend on November 21st, where they’ll be supported by Defy, The Penny Antics and The Red Steves. Head over to their Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp pages for more news and to hear the EP!

Click abve to listen back to the interview, including their varied influences and  the recording of the EP (and the story behind the random screams  featured on one track!).

The Living End – What's on Your Radio?

Sunna – I'm Not Trading

Super Furry Animals – Do or Die

Tommy Vegas – Loves Your Body

New Town Kings – Pack Up Bye Bye

Zero 7 – Home

Political Hesitation - Political Hesitation

POLITICAL HESITATION IN THE STUDIO

Political Hesitation – Detox

Iron Maiden – Aces High

Political Hesitation – Jump & Scream

Marmozets – Born Young

Political Hesitation – Where Do We Go from Here?

Metallica – Enter Sandman

Political Hesitation – No More War

Skunk Anansie – Charlie Big Potato

The Bluetones – Marblehead Johnson

The Clockworks – Bills & Pills

Osmium Guillotine – He Played Rock & Roll

Walk in Coma – Subhuman

Parrilla – Dancefloor Messiah

Steve Hewitt (featuring Orfila) - Pieces

Gen Irving – Philosophical

Archipelago – More Bamboo Less Pandas

Tonight I was joined in the studio once again by Tommy Vegas, showcasing his debut EP, recorded inbetween his busy gigging schedule! We chatted about the recording of the EP, where his unusual stage name came from, and some random gig stories thrown in for good measure. The EP will be out soon, and in the meantime Tommy can be found on YouTube and Instagram, as well as spotted at his weekly residency gig at Sheesh reataurant in Chigwell!

Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

Sonic Boom Six - Strnge Transformations

Baddies - Open One Eye

Parrilla - Dancefloor Messiah

Chloe Diana - It's Time

Dave Stannard - Damned at the Disco (Phoenix FM Session)

Operator Please - Ghost

TOMMY VEGAS IN THE STUDIO

Arctic Monkeys - Four Out of Five

Tommy Vegas - The Chills

John Mayer - Gravity

Tommy Vegas - Stay Calm

Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky

Tommy Vegas - Loves Your Body

Jeff Buckley - Vancouver

Nora Anna - Over the Moon

Political Hesitation - Detox

Shooty & the Bang Bang - Just Friends

Gen Irving - Philosophical

Dodgy - So Let Me Go Far

Salad Undressed - Evergreen

My Life Story - World Citizen

Republica - Ready to Go