Punk legends are sure to create a buzz

Guitarist Steve Diggle and Pete Shelley form the core of the Buzzcocks, the Manchester punk pioneers who brought the sound of the suburbs up north and beyond.

With their 1970s contemporaries The Clash and The Sex Pistols, the band epitomised the attitude of the UK at that time, in a way which is particularly topical in 2011’s unsettled social climate.

Steve said: “The thing about the Buzzcocks is we had a unique sound and that gave us a direction in what we were doing, we just didn’t sound like other people and that had a certain edge to it.

“At the time there was a sound of revolution in the air, which I think could be said today, but the music doesn’t reflect that.”

And Steve promised that the Buzzcocks will bring their ‘sound of revolution’ to their headline slot at the Rhythm Festival.

He said: “Wherever the Buzzcocks go, you know there is going to be something real.

“We started supporting the Pistols and now we are headlining a huge festival 30 years on.”

Joining the Buzzcocks will be Dodgy, Toots and the Maytals, former Cream basist Jack Bruce, Imelda May and many more.

The festival will run at The Mansion House at Old Warden Park from Friday until Sunday.

To find out more and to book your last minute tickets visit www.rhythmfestival.com or call 01767 626262.

Elsewhere there are plenty of other gigs taking place to satisfy even the most demanding of music fans.

Rock covers solo artist Paul Adams will be performing at The Crown in Biggleswade on Saturday, while rock and metal five-piece Light’s Out will perform at The Rose in Biggleswade, also on Saturday.

Rhythm and blues act Tie One On will be on stage at The White Hart Hotel in Shefford on Friday, while singer and guitarist Nick Moyster will be entertaining punters at The White Horse in Biggleswade on Sunday.

There will be a disco night at The Engineer’s Arms in Henlow on Friday, while Paul Adams will also be playing at The Plough in Langford on Saturday.

Also in Langford, The Ivy Leaf Club will be hosting its annual D-fest at The Wrestlers pub.

The D-fest will run on Saturday at The Wrestlers and on Sunday at the Ivy Leaf Club, and will include performances from Acoustic Boo, Optomist, Hazard, MDG, Embrace the City and Cheesy and the Helmits.

There is also plenty of musical entertainment in Potton this weekend, courtesy of Sidewinder, who will play at The Rising Sun on Saturday, while on the same night there will also be a disco at the Potton and District Club.

Also at the Potton and District Club, Under_covered will be on the bill on Sunday.

Rounding off the Chronicle Country line-up this weekend will be pop solo artist Andy J, who is set to sing at The Crown in Shillington on Friday.

Andy, who has had vocal training with 1989 Eurovision Song Contest entrant Ray Caruana sings favourites from artists like Elvis and Will Young.