NEWS BLOG DISCOGRAPHY GIG DIARY PHOTOS SHOP SAMPLES & LYRICS

GIG 100. 10/07/2011. THE 13 CLUB. BEIJING CHINA. (With Ju Qi and Dong Jiajia).

Celebrating my 100th solo show and the final show of the Chinese tour, I played 9 songs in this hot rock venue to a cool audience and then we ate chocolate cake! It was a great tour.

China tour poster by Li Wei.

GIG 99. 09/07/2011. KENTO'S CLUB, SHANGHAI, CHINA. (With support from Xiao Pi).

A very smart jazz club/restaurant with a really nice audience who put up with my croaky end of tour voice and my poor attempt to play Change With The Season! Another lovely show. Wo ai ni men!!!! 4 encores.

These Long Dark Country Roads live video by Resa.

Photograph by Resa.

GIG 98. 08/07/2011. THE CASTLE BAR, NANJIN, CHINA.

A cool music venue with a creaky, wobbly stage in the middle of the room. I forgot to stop playing!

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 97. 06/07/2011. ART CENTER 7, WENZHOU, CHINA.

A huge turn out in this modern art center with revolving stage and amazing sound and a microphone too heavy for the stand. A big lovely audience who didn't mind me shhh-ing them. Another of my favourite shows!! Wo ai ni men!!!

We Didn't Move A Muscle/One Day Soon live video by Desert Boat Alone.

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 96. 03/07/2011. F518 IDEA LAND, SHENZHEN, CHINA.

A really cool modern white gallery with a street passing through it! A big stage and a video back drop. Nice polite audience. 3 encores, great sound. A pleasure to play.

Photograph by Idea Land.

GIG 95. 02/07/2011. 191 SPACE, GUANGZHOU, CHINA.

Another great show, albeit a noisy one, in a lively music bar. I loved this audience even the talkers!

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 94. 01/07/2011. THE KING OF LIVE, NANNING, CHINA.

A wonderful little show and amazing audience in this sweaty punk venue in an underground car park. One of my favourite shows ever! Wo ai ni men!!

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 93. 29/06/2011. THE 173 BAR, WUHAN, CHINA.

A free last minute replacement show as the original gig at the Vox Live House was cancelled the day before by the government. They thought I was that Bob Dylan dude!

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 92. 25/06/2011. THE HEMP HOUSE, CHENGDU, CHINA.

A laid back, hippy bar with cats! I think I was heckled in Chinese.

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 91. 24/06/2011. THE SUPER FISH CLUB, SHENYANG, CHINA.

With a fresh tattoo in honour of my first tour of China, I played this lovely music bar, with the best sound I ever had, to a lovely audience.

Those Memories live video by The Tree.

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 90. 22/06/2011. THE REAR WINDOW CAFE, HARBIN, CHINA.

One of the most enjoyable gigs I ever played! A really lovely and quiet audience in this student cafe with rows of plastic chairs and cans of Harbin Beer. Wo ai ni men!

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 89. 21/06/2011. THE HERTZ BAR, DALIAN, CHINA.

A smart underground music bar where I played 14 songs whilst I drank a pint of beer.

In Your Dreams live video by The Tree.

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 88. 19/06/2011. THE FREEMAN BAR, QINGDAO, CHINA.

A small dark music bar with candles and the stage by the door. Another sweet audience. I played Hand-Me-Downs (about my two sons) for the first time seeing as it was father's day!

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 87. 18/06/2011. THE 13 CLUB, TIANJIN, CHINA.

The second show of the tour was in a small music bar way up on the top floor. Another lovely audience and a 16 song set. It was so hot they gave me a fan. I encored with 2 new songs.

Heading Home live video by The Tree.

Photograph by The Tree.

GIG 86. 17/06/2011. THE ONE CLUB, BEIJING, CHINA. (With support from Wu Ning Yae).

My first tour of China kicked off in front of a lovely audience in a large modern club in China's capital city, with a mammoth 20 song set and paper tissues to mop my brow. A great show! Wo ai ni men!

The Cure For Broken Hearts live video by Cntanzh. Kisses On A Plate live video + In Your Dreams live video + Slipped Away live video + Haven't You Got Anywhere Left You Can Run To live video + Look How Time Flies live video + Time I Was Gone live video + WhenYour Heart Breaks Into Many Little Pieces live video + Heading Home live video by Train To Prague. Spent Too Long Walking With No Heart To Follow live video + We Didn't Move A Muscle live video by Cactus C.

Photograph by Rock Piano.

GIG 85. 05/12/2010. THE TROUBADOUR, EARL'S COURT, LONDON, UK.

(With Ghostlight and IKO).

Much fun was had at the recording of Ghostlight's new video in this lovely and historic cellar venue.

Kisses On A Plate (live) filmed by Simone Scott Warren.

Photograph by Simone Scott Warren.

GIG 84.

04/12/2010.

THE BENJAMIN PERRY BOATHOUSE

BRISTOL, UK.

(With Houdie & The Sea, Vlad and Sarah Class).

Red lamps, balloons and ginger biscuits at this delightful little regional show by the water.

Photograph by Rob Brewer.

Flyer by ANT.

Swept along by simple, pretty guitar patterns... A wide eyed, understated & utterly charming performer... Should fit the scout hut like a Hob Nob in a hangover - BRISTOL VENUE MAGAZINE.

GIG 83. 27/11/2010. ETT NOLL ETT FEST @ PLUTO, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

(With Hell On Wheels, Jacques C, Agent Side Grinder &Twice a Man).

Celebrating the very cool Swedish music magazine Ettnollett's farewell issue with some equally cool Swedish bands.

GIG 82. 16/09/2010. KLUBB SOCKERDRICKA @ KAFE KUPAN, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

(With Anki Wallgren).

A real cosy homely hippy cafe show with my set cut short unfortunately due to my bad cold and a fit of coughing!

Up On The Downs (live) filmed by Klubb Sockerdricka.

GIG 81. 04/09/2010. The Falsterbo Bird Show, Falsterbo, Sweden.

(With Martin Holm).

Singing for the birds in a tent with Music & Migration's Martin Holm on the decks. My late afternoon set had a strong bird theme to it & included two new songs, When the Robin Spreads His Wings And Sings and Oh What A Day (Oh What A Night).

Black Swans On The Water - (live video)

Magpies - (live video)  filmed by Åse Harding.

Photograph by Åse Harding.

GIG 80. 05/12/2009. Cafe Simpan, Malmö, Sweden.

(With Pal and Thomas).

An intimate late afternoon show in the cool Malmö cafe. I gave 5 new songs their debut including Kisses On A Plate and Up On The Downs. 

Such A Pretty Sight/Up On The Downs can be seen on Youtube *here

Photograph by Krister Blad.

GIG 79. 09/06/2007. ROTA @ The Notting Hill Arts Club, London, England.

(With Jack Hayter, Houdie, Spinmaster Plantpot and James Hill).

An afternoon with friends where I was joined onstage (at my 8th Rota gig) for part of the set by Darren Hayman (Hefner) on Wurlitzer piano and James Milne (Cornershop) on bass guitar. A lovely little gig, where people sang along with me. Flyer by ANT. Photograph by Rob Brewer.

GIG 78. 25/03/2007. ZUNI, Ferrara, Italy. (With Pazi Mine).

Final show of the Italian tour. A really cool little modern bar with some great food and a drumming chef!

GIG 77. 24/03/2007. COVO CLUB, Bologna, Italy.

(With Thousands Millions).

It sounded like there were thousands millions talking ;) but I do love the rocking Covo and it's always a pleasure to play there.

GIG 76. 23/03/2007. Zion Club. Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland. (With Le Man Avec Les Lunettes).

First time in Switzerland! I did He's The Bee's Knees as a trio again with Le Man Avec Les Lunettes. Nice place, nice people.

Photograph taken by Aris .

GIG 75. 22/03/2007. Sea Fox Pub, Monzambano, Mantova, Italy.

In an English pub in a small Italian town! Nice little show but a little dark!

You can watch 2 clips in the dark from the show on Youtube:

*Those memories (live video)

*The Cure For Broken Hearts (live video)

Photograph by Sea Fox Pub.

GIG74.

21/03/2007.

La Casa 139, Milano, Italy.

(With Le Man Avec Les Lunettes).

At the My Honey Records Let It Bee compilation CD release show. I played He's The Bee's Knees as a trio with LMALL!! Now that was fun!

Watch it here on Youtube:

He's The Bee's Knees - (live)

ANT + Le Man Avec Les Lunettes.

GIG 73. 20/03/2007. CSO Bruno. Trento, Italy.

Very cold inside this squat/venue but with coats on a 16 song set to a lovely audience (with 4 encores)!

One of my most favourite gigs ever!!!

GIG 72.

19/03/2007.

No Fun Club, Udine, Italy.

With Fr Luzzi.

A week long solo tour of Italy by train! It snowed outside for my first show in Udine, great promotion for my album! I played He's The Bee's Knees for the first time.

The Silence Has Broken - (live video)

filmed by Giorgio Jannis.

GIG 71.

28/11/2006.

Sudstadt, Munich, Germany.

The final show of the German tour and easily the best! Wonderful crowd, great little place! Easily my favourite gig so far! 15 song set plus 2 encores and we spilt beer all over the merch!

GIG 70. 27/11/2006.

Pop Society, Jos Fritz Cafe,

Frieberg, Germany.

Jam packed cafe! Very very noisy!

But some people were listening.

And the chocolate cake was very very good!

Please Please Please let Me Get What I Want-

(live video) by Rico.                                 

GIG 69.

26/11/2006.

Stereowonderland.

Koln, Germany.

Small room, small crowd, high stage but fun nonetheless.

GIG 68. 25/11/2006. Privat Club. Berlin, Germany.

(With the Ian Fays).

Lovely sweaty modern basement room with the lovely Ian Fays and a noisy crowd!   

GIG 67.  24/11/06.

Fuldablick.

Kassel, Germany.

A nice cosy intimate room.

A very nice crowd.

Very kind.

2 encores!

Spent Too Long Walking With No Heart To Follow

-(live video) filmed by Alexander.

GIG 66.

23/11/06.

Komma.

Esslingen, Germany.

We were late, very very late (held up for hours by the police) but the crowd didn't seem to mind. Nice little room, very nice crowd.

Smile Your Best Smile - (live video) filmed by Rico.

GIG 65.

22/11/2006.

Ex Haus.

Trier, Germany.

With Rieke Deekelsen.

The German tour started in a small room in an old monastry, lit by fairy lights. I encored with a rather wonky cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.

GIG 64. 01/04/2006.

Covo Club, Bologna, Italy.

(With Pecksniff).

A great show where I played a whopping 16 song set (including 4 encores) featuring a poor attempt at She'll Be Home Soon for the first time. One of my favourite gigs!

Photo by Monia.

GIG 63. 31/03/2006.

DNA Club, Padova, Italy.

(With Bosvelt).

I played another 13 song set including the new song These Long Dark Country Roads.

Photograph by Anna Cerabino.

Flyer by DNA.

GIG 62. 30/03/2006. La Casa 139, Milan, Italy.

I was back in Italy for a short tour to promote the album.  A nice little acoustic venue where I played a 13 song set including: We Didn't Move A Muscle for the first time and 2 new songs, I Couldn't Remember The Dream and Smile Your Best Smile.

Photograph by Stefano Masselli.

GIG 61. 09/03/06.

Water Rats Theatre.

Kings Cross, London.

With Darren Hayman and The Beatnik Filmstars.

My first gig in ages was with Track and Field supporting my old band mate Darren Hayman. I played tracks from the new album (standing again) including: In Your Dreams, Those Memories and Spent Too Long Walking With No Heart To Follow. Very nice show.

Photograph by Miguel Mateo Sarribas.

GIG 60. 26/11/04. Blekingska Nation. Lund, Sweden.

With Darren Hayman.

My third visit to this very very noisy venue, this time to support my old bandmate Darren Hayman as his first solo tour of Sweden rolled into town. The crowd was even noisier than usual (especially as the buffer wall had been knocked down between the bar and the stage) but a fun show none the less. I even joined Darren at the end of his set for those Hefner classics The Librarian and The Hymn For The Things We Didn't Do.

Photograph by Åse Harding.

GIG 59. 24/10/2004.

Glassfabriken, Malmö, Sweden.

I celebrated the release of the new compilation album Sad To See It's Morning, standing up again, at a very intimate Sunday afternoon show organised by Songs I Wish I Had Written, in a small cafe (the ice cream factory)  just a couple of streets away from home.

Photograph by Åse Harding.

Flyer by Songs I Wish I Had Written.

GIG 58.

11/09/2004.

ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club.

Notting Hill, London.

(With Loner).

My seventh time at ROTA. I played standing up for the first time (I'm so bored of sitting down) and previewed some new tracks from the next album, including: Slipped Away, Haven't You Got Anywhere Left You Can Run To? and Change With The Season. A nice gig as always.

GIG 57. 29/05/2004. Rundgang Festival, Wamopark, Karlskrona, Sweden.

(With Paddington DC, The Kid, Handsome Train, Second Hand Furniture, Richard Reagh, The Happy Couple, U.N.P.O.C, Corduroy Utd, First Floor Power and Jens Lekman).

It was sunny but cold and the audience seemed happy to sit miles away from the stage out on the grass.

Fly On Your Wall - (live video) filmed by Åse Harding.

Photo by Åse Harding.

GIG 56. 8/05/2004. Covo Club, Bologna Italy. (With Gordon Mcintyre from Ballboy).

An acoustic night with that talented chap Gordon from Ballboy.

A big loud rock venue, too big and loud for us, but we rocked it nonetheless.

When Your Heart Breaks (into many little pieces) - (live video) filmed by Åse Harding.

Photograph by Åse Harding.

GIG 55. 7/05/2004.

Marsalino bar, Bologna, Italy.

I was back in Italy for a solo show at this very cool restaurant & bar. A sold out room with dogs barking outside!

GIG 54. 11/04/04.

Barfly, The Monarch, Camden, London.

With Bearsuit, The Cribs, The Loves, St Thomas, The Stained Glass Heroes, The Projects, The Radio Dept and Herman Dune.

A Track and Field all dayer Pow To The People 5. I did When Your Heart Breaks (Into Many Little Pieces) for the first time to a nice audience whilst the PA system gently hummed.

Photograph by Bob Stuart. You can see more of Bob's photos at www.underexposed.org.uk

GIG 53. 5/12/2003. YAIL (Young Alive In Love) UFO. Malmo, Sweden.

With State Of Samuel.

I walked down the street and around the corner for my closest to home gig ever.

GIG 52. 28/09/03. Distro, Inkonst. Malmo, Sweden. 

With Now.

Free with fizzy pop on a Sunday afternoon.

GIG 51. 30/08/2003.

Rota, Notting Hill Arts Club, London.

With Morose.

I was back in London headlining a Saturday afternoon slot at the ROTA sessions (my sixth time there).

It was reviewed by Soundsxp, who said this: 'Every song is a feather light tale of love lost and found that should make even grown Soundsxp editors cry or smile accordingly. Any Girl Can Make Me Smile, You've Lost Your Appeal and Mountains sparkle like raindrops on a sunny day but it's the final pairing of Cry Your Little Eyes Out followed by The Cure For Broken Hearts that caps a sublime show. When it's this gorgeous, ridicule is nothing to be scared of.'

GIG 50. 24/08/2003. The Homesleep Weekender, Parco Belvedere, Ancona, Italy.

With Meets Guitar and Emidio Clementi.

A beautiful setting in a park on top of a hill overlooking the harbour. I played late in the evening, under the stars, after Meets Guitar and before Emidio Clementi, to over 700 people. It doesn't get much better than that!

GIG 49.

17/08/2003.

Malmö festivalen.

Malmö, Sweden.

I was on the lounge stage in the early afternoon summer sun. I played Mountains for the first time and used my tiny Peewee Harmonica on Not Sleeping The Same Way to a small crowd including kids, pregnant mums to be and dogs.

GIG 48.

19/07/2003.

We and You Festival, Bulltoftapark.

Malmö, Sweden.

With Niccokick, Action Biker and Gordon Mcintyre from Ballboy amongst others.

Back home in Malmö I played this sweet and very indie festival outside in the summer sunshine. It was all pine trees, rabbits and indie kids!

GIG 47.

24/05/2003.

Gojonnygogogogo3 Festival, Josephs Well.

Leeds, England.

With Hyper Kinako, Milky Wimpshake, The Language of Flowers, Yumi Yumi, The Loves, Antihero, Zombina and the Skeletones, The Blue Minkies, Bilge Pump, The Motherf***ers and The Seven Inches.

Loads and loads of cool bands. I did Up Sticks And Go again to a real nice polite audience, while my acoustic guitar sounded like it was made of metal. Sound guy's first day??

GIG 46.

23/05/03.

Jug of Ale.

Moseley, Birmingham, England.

(Quite a culture shock having just played in Italy), The venue was just across the road from the Fortune and Glory offices so no excuses for Hendricks not showing up! I played a brand new song in the set called Up Sticks And Go to a small but surprisingly loud chattering crowd!

GIG 45. 18/05/2003. The Thermos, Ancona, Italy.

I finished the mini tour by playing an intimate solo show  with a mammoth 14 song set to a very polite audience who kept wanting more.

GIG 44. 17/05/2003.

The Container, Bologna, Italy.

(With Catpower and Women And Children).

I played Floating On The Breeze for the first time to a crowd of over 500 people most of whom were talking about Catpower! Not an easy gig! I spent ages waiting for a soundcheck, then spent ages soundchecking the guitar (the sound guy was real picky) and all for nothing as I forgot to tread on my EQ pedal at the start of the show, so the guitar must have sounded awful! I blame the surprise burst of applause as I walked on stage for my uncharacteristic memory lapse!

GIG 43. 16/05/2003.

Cox 18, Milan, Italy.

(With Trumans Water).

I was lucky enough to do my first Italian shows in May, thanks to the wonderful Homesleep records. I messed up the end of the opening song The Trick due to a sudden crack of feed back (sound guy asleep already??) and somehow went into the end of You've Lost Your Appeal instead! The whole performance was captured on video by the venue through a small mic placed next to the vocal mic. I haven't seen the footage but I'm guessing they'll be a few good shots of my fillings and my gold tooth!

GIG 42.

21/02/2003.

Blekingska Nation,

Lund, Sweden.

I went on a bit earlier this time but I swear it was even noisier! Those Swedish students like to drink and talk loudly about it! I did There Are Grey Clouds In This Sky Too.

GIG 41. 21/12/2002.

ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club.

Notting Hill, London.

(With Meets Johnson (Gavin from Meets Guitar and Carolina from Jet Johnson) and Azalia Snail).

My fifth visit to ROTA and as nice a gig as always.

History - (live mp3) sound desk recording by Alessandro (assisted by Mr David Moore).

Photos by James Moore.

GIG 40. 19/12/2002. Track and Field, The Betsey Trotwood, London.

With Jack Hayter and Michaelmass.

Downstairs this time at the Betsey with Darren and John from Hefner on DJ duty. I played Cry Your Little Eyes Out for the first time.

GIG 39.

29/10/2002.

Vinylbar.

Malmo, Sweden.

With Pelle Ossler.

I was supposed to be supporting J Mascis in the big venue KB but he went down with a kidney stone the previous night so I somehow ended up playing in the small bar instead. Nice though and probably just as well!

GIG 38. 23/10/2002. Smålands Nation. Lund, Sweden.

I played another students only gig to another noisy crowd and a 12 song set with the drum machine featuring The Silence Has Broken and Every Drop Of Rain.

GIG 37. 08/08/2002. Emmaboda Festival, Emmaboda, Sweden.

(With Mull Historical Society, Quickspace, Moneybrother, The Clientele and The Bear Quartet).

On the main stage this time. I did ten songs in sunshine so bright that I couldn't see the numbers on my drum machine.

The Smålandsposten newspaper had this to say:'His voice is tiny compared to his big body, only accompanied by a guitar and a drum machine, surely the big stage seems a bit empty but his pleasantly, sleepy pop actually fills it up quite well. The little he plays from 2 year old EP Cures For Broken Hearts are the most straightforward, the other songs have a bit of difficulty breaking through the festival noise. A pity, for ANT, in all his simplicity, is charming.'

And the Aftonbladet newspaper said this:'Apart from the well known names, some of the more noticable ones were... ANT, from British band Hefner, with his gentle guitar pop.'

GIG 36.

15/06/2002.

Starke Adolf, Cronan.

Gothenburg, Sweden.

With the Meta Band.

I did That Shining Smile for the first time.

GIG 35.

10/05/2002.

Blekingska Nation.

Lund,Sweden.

A students only gig where I played a 12 song set with drum machine to one of the loudest talking audiences ever! Hard work but much fun.

GIG 34.

1/05/2002.

Kickstart, Inkonst.

Malmö, Sweden.

With Achordian.

On 27th April I moved to Sweden. Wasting no time, my first gig was a late one for Kickstart at Inkonst in Malmö.

GIG 33.

20/04/2002.

Toynbee Hall Arts Cafe, Track and Field.

London.

With Bromide and Pre War Yard Sale.

An 11 song set also with the drum machine.

Photo by Henrik Mårtensson.

GIG 32. 13/04/2002. ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club, Notting Hill, London. (With Jack Hayter and Byrne).

Celebrating the release of my debut album A Long Way To Blow A Kiss. I played a 12 song set, including April Rain, using Zoom, my new Japanese drum machine. The show was reviewed by Soundsxp who said this:'He strums his guitar like a bedroom troubadour, avoiding eye contact and addressing his girlfriend in the front row. His voice is gentle and the songs delicate and full of emotion, reflective, sweet and soulful. The loveliest song is Any Girl Can Make Me Smile which lyrically continues 'but only you can make me cry' which pretty much sums up where ANT resides musically. One for late nights, before deep conversations and for men in touch with their feminine sides.'

It was also reviewed sweetly by Paul at Siverjuice fanzine:'What can you say about Mr Harding?! Songs to die for and then to die for again. Sweet strawberry syrup laden tunes sung by a tall, broad man with a voice that you really don't expect to come from such a gentleman! The word sweet was invented for this man's muse. Anyone who can sing "any girl can make me smile but only you can make me cry" and not make you projectile vomit on the spot deserves some kind of gong. If you see that this man's on in London go and see him. You'll come away heart in mouth and a gibbering mass of emotions. He's converting the doubters into devotees by the day.'

GIG 31.

13/12/2001.

Cushy Productions, 12 Bar Club.

London. 

Wth cushy regulars Rhatigan, Lianne Hall and Micheal J Sheehy.

I finished off the year with the christmas Cushy. Always a pleasure.

Tongues - (live mp3) recorded off the sound desk by the sound guy at the 12 Bar Club.

GIG 30.

15/10/2001.

12 Bar Club.

London.

With Bromide.

My thirtieth show. I played Today As Yesterday for the first time.

GIG 29.

14/06/2001.

12 Bar Club.

London.

With my old pals Rhatigan and Jack Hayter.

My set featured the debut of the song When I Need You To.

GIG 28.

06/06/2001.

Dublin Castle.

London.

With Parachute, Rube and Science.

I played Waste The Days Away, A Long Way To Blow A Kiss and I Always Hurt The One That I Lovefor the first time.

I was described on the flyer as ...

- 'A dark horse of the tearjerkin' Nick Drake, via anyone on Cherry Red circa 1982, kind. Very nice.'

GIG 27.

24/05/01.

Betsy Trotwood.

London.

With Jack Hayter.

I tricked Jack into headlining by saying I only had enough songs to play for twenty minutes! Ha! Ha! Jack rose to the occasion of course and stole the show.

GIG 26.

07/04/2001.

ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club.

London. 

With Neil Halstead.

Third time back at Rota.

GIG 25.

15/03/2001.

Hope and Anchor.

Islington London.

With Bromide and The Eulipians.

At the legendary punk venue, I played my 25th gig, on an acoustic night supporting my mate Simon and his band. Double basses galore!

GIG 24.

09/01/2001.

Track and Field Winter Sprinter, Toynbee Hall Arts Cafe.

Aldgate East, London.

With Birdie and Lincoln.

I started off the year with a Track and Field 'Winter Sprinter' to a sold out room that also sold pizzas. The gig was nicely reviewed by Ben Clancey for NME.COM

- 'File away your copies of Hefner's latest sex obsessed album, and realise that there's a passionate songwriter in the band. It's Ant, the drummer, who moonlights with his guitar, exploring all of those lovelorn issues he's spent hours contemplating while hugging a tear stained pillowcase. One man, one acoustic guitar and many moments of poignant introspection with a cool poise. Recommended listening, oh yes.'  

And Track and Field had this to say - ' Ant has just taken to the stage and the sold out signs have been posted. I'd never thought a solo set by a drummer could be so moving but ANT proves there's more strings to his bow than simply tub thumping for Darren Hayman. You've Lost Your Appeal is the best Hefner song never played by Hefner.'

GIG 23.

04/10/2000.

The Betsey Trotwood.

London.

With Long Good Luck.

In the tiny upstairs room on an Evil World Records night with Darren Hayman & Baxendale djing.

GIG 22.

15/09/2000.

Cronan.

Gothenburg.

With The Subteranean Pop Orchestra.

A sold out show with the Swedish popsters.

GIG 21.

12/08/2000.

Emmaboda Festival.

Sweden.

With Trembling Blue Stars, Harvey Williams and Spearmint amongst others.

My first show outside of London and the first outside in the fresh air. I was on the small stage in the afternoon rain in the middle of the pine forest. I played; You've Lost Your Appeal, The Queue To Your Heart, Where Happiness Begins, Not Sleeping The Same Way, The Cure For Broken Hearts, I Hope You'll Always Be There and Fly On Your Wall. My set was recorded by P3 Radio and later broadcast several times on national Swedish radio. I was also interviewed by Ika for P3POP in the carpark of the Hotel Amigo.

GIG 20.

15/07/2000.

ROTA Notting Hill Arts Club.

London.

With Dakota Oak Trio, Jeb Loy Niccols and Discordia.

This time on the Saturday afternoon slot with lots of talking.

GIG 19.

08/06/2000.

12 Bar Club.

London.

With Rhatigan and Fiel Garvie.

I played Maybe Love Will Return again.

GIG 18.

24/05/2000.

The Spitz.

London.

With Kathryn Wiliams and Neville Clay.

A sold out show where you could hear pins dropping & critics tutting.

GIG 17.

16/02/2000.

Poetry Cafe.

London.

With Jack Hayter.

I did a ten song set including a new song with the working title Our Hearts No Longer Burn which later became Maybe Love Will Return.

GIG 16.

10/02/2000.

12 Bar Club.

London.

With Woodbine and Suzanne Rhatigan.

A very late show for the drunks.

GIG 15.

17/01/2000.

ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club.

London. 

With Jeb Loy Nichols and Willis.

A cool white room with no stage.

GIG 14. 13/01/2000.

12 Bar Club.

London.

With Rhatigan and Long Good Luck.

I played a set largely consisting of brand new songs, The Gentlest Kiss, Come To The Phone, Take Me Away and Safe Warm Love, all of which were later ditched, except Come To The Phone (which now features on the Acuarela mini album These Long Dark Country Roads).

GIG 13. 27/09/99.

12 Bar Club, London.

(With Rhatigan and guests).

My set included three new songs History, Any Girl Can Make Me Smile and  Not Pleased To See Me.

GIG 12. 03/06/99.

12 Bar Club.

London.

(With Rhatigan, Ray and Spectacle).

Again Johhny Viola and his magic fingers joined me onstage for the last four songs. The set included a new sad song called Pathway. Around this time, I started to get my first mentions in the listings: 'Ant, Hefner's drummer doing tortured indie'.

GIG 11. 17/05/99.

Poetry Cafe, London.

(With Eugene).

To celebrate the release of my first 7" single, I played a special show in the jam packed basement of the Poetry Cafe, to family and friends. I played a nine song set where Johnny Viola joined me on stage for Tongues, Easy, Spoil and The Queue To Your Heart. Support was from Long Good Lucks charming frontman Eugene.

Flyers by Poetry Cafe & ANT.

GIG 10. 18/01/99.

12 Bar Club, London.

(With Rhatigan , White Hotel and Gina Birch).

Another busy year Hefnering so just 4 shows in 1999 and for my tenth show I was back at the 12 Bar Club. My set list included Where happiness Begins.

Flyers by Suzanne Rhatigan & ANT.

GIG 09. 19/03/98. 12 Bar Club, London.

(With Rhatigan, Bromide and The Clientele).

As Hefner became busier and busier, there was less time to do solo gigs, so I played just once in 1998, back at the 12 Bar Club. Not Sleeping The Same Way featured in the set and I was joined onstage for the first time by Johnny Viola Greswell with his viola for two songs, The Queue To Your Heart and Tongues.

Flyer by ANT.

GIG 08. 11/12/97.

12 Bar Club, London, England.

(With Rhatigan, Nick Lewis, Tiny Too and Paul). 

I returned to play the christmas Cushy show with the wonderful Rhatigan, the super energetic Nick Lewis, the not so tiny Tiny Too and Paul the girl. Classic Cushy!

GIG 07. 24/09/97. Rheingold Club, London. (With Snowy).

My first show away from the safety of the 12 Bar Club was a support for Snowy at an old strip joint off Oxford Street in London. I remember there was a comedienne and a poet in support. My set featured The Queue To Your Heart for the first time.

GIG 06. 21/08/97. 12 BAR CLUB, LONDON, ENGLAND.

(With Rhatigan, Umbrella Heaven and Snowy).

For those of you who have never been there, the 12 Bar Club is really tiny and has a balcony looking down onto the stage from which you can only see the performers head if they stand up. Downstairs you can only see their legs! Some nights there you could bring the whole place to an eerie hush, other times it seemed as if nobody even noticed you were up on stage, there was so much chatter! But you could always hear Suzanne going around sshing people. Those were the days!

Flyer by ANT.

GIG 05. 17/07/97. 12 BAR CLUB, LONDON, ENGLAND.

(With Rhatigan, Spongefinger, Port Friendly and  Peachfuzz (featuring Erlend from Kings Of Convenience and Carolina from Jet Johnson).

I was joined on stage by Suzanne with her new short haircut and an equally short skirt! She sang backing on Easy and Your Heart Got Bored. The moment was caught in a cheeky review by Cushy Productions season ticket holder Scott...

- 'Cushy regular Ant played some of his gentle solo songs. He was joined on harmony vocals by Suzanne Rattigan on 'It's Too Late'. The latter stealing attention from the audience as she bent over to adjust the amp. Ant's set was perfect to relax and meditate to. Most people not talking through it.'

Flyer by ANT.

Photograph by Suzanne Harding.

GIG 04. 26/06/97.

12 BAR CLUB, LONDON, ENGLAND.

(With Rhatigan, The New Bad Things and Hefner).

I played a very quiet set including the songs The Only Girl and Fly On Your Wall.

There's a video recording of the whole concert in a box in my closet! 

Flyers by the New Bad Things & ANT.

GIG 03. 15/05/97.

12 BAR CLUB, LONDON, ENGLAND.

(With Rhatigan, Spongefinger (featuring Jack Hayter) and Julie Anne McCambridge).

I played a new song called No One's Looking but fortunately most people were.

Flyer by Suzanne Rhatigan.

GIG 02. 17/04/97. 12 BAR CLUB, LONDON, ENGLAND.

(With Rhatigan, Nick Lewis, Shoshone and Simon Breed).

My set included the new songs Easy, Spoil and Not The Best We Could Do, the latter really wasn't the best I could do and was later binned. Although a demo does still exist.

Flyer by ANT.

GIG 01. 20/03/97. 12 BAR CLUB, LONDON, ENGLAND. (With Electrascope, Hefner and Rhatigan).

My first ever show as ANT, (if you don't include the one song, fuzz guitar, whisper and drum machine performance in the lecture theatre at Maidstone Art College) was at the tiny 12 Bar Club off of Denmark Street, London, on a Cushy Productions night. My five song set consisted of; The Cure For Broken Hearts, Faithful, You've lost your appeal, Tongues and The Trick. (Faithful now only exists as a 4 track demo). I think it went well as Suzanne Rhatigan, who had a monthly residency there, kindly invited me back to play on the next five Cushy nights. I was off...

Flyer by ANT. Photograph by Suzanne Harding.

Sings sensitive like a glass of strong water would lay him dead - SELECT MAG.

Recommended listening, oh yes! - NME.COM. Bittersweet acousto-pop - THE GUARDIAN.

Gorgeous lo-fi love songs - CLICKMUSIC.