Our guest on this week's Sheer Isolation sets out to prove that print media isn't dead, by producing her own community publication. Kat Jones created Pseudonym Magazine after moving to Wiltshire from London, and realizing there was a gap in the market to promote the region's underground arts scene. Her team of volunteers are now working on the ninth edition which will feature articles on Wiltshire's villages, band reviews, poetry and community news. It can be ordered online or bought from several venues in mid-Wiltshire. Our music choices this week are the latest track from Hannah White, who is currently on a UK tour and recently played at Kieran's venue. Kat chooses a track from the next big band to escape the Isle of Wight (after Wet Leg), the Plastic Mermaids. We also chat about a Bath venue that's had a big refit, and a band who've been seen filming their next music video in Trowbridge Town Hall.

On this week's Sheer Isolation we talk to Phil Moakes from Visual Radio Arts in Devizes. VRA is an independent studio where local musicians and bands can record live sessions of original tracks with both professional quality sound and high definition, multi-camera video. Phil tells us how the session recordings began in the early days of Frome FM, and has since moved on, along with the technology, to become the established and respected centre we know today. Since 2016, Phil has recorded hundreds of sessions - all of which are free to view online. On the music front, Phil talks us through a showreel of some of the acts who have performed at Visual Radio Arts over the years. Meanwhile Kieran picks a track from Dean McMullen who is the guitarist in Exeter's Muncie Girls, who's about to release a solo album and will be touring it later this year. In our news section, Kieran talks of the closure of one of London's most iconic live music venues.

Lee Laverack has taken to stages throughout the world, in front of packed venues and stadia for more than a decade, and yet he's never had a chart hit. That's because he's the guy who sets up instruments, mops up spilt beers mid-performance and says those most famous words in the world of rock; "Check One Two". Lee joins us on Sheer Isolation this week to tell us about his typical working day, such as sightseeing at the Great Wall of China before heading to a venue to set up the band. He's worked with Trail of Dead, Sam Fender, Maximo Park and Level 42 to name a few. Lee also repairs guitars and makes custom components from his Leeds-based workshop. Our music choices this week are worlds apart; a new release from previous guest, chap-hop artist Professor Elemental, and Lee's choice is a grimy punk track from Yorkshire's Avalanche Party. Coincidentally, both acts are playing in our region in the next couple of months - although not on the same bill! Also, Kieran shows off his stash of new CDs and vinyl, including the hot-tipped new album from Wet Leg.

We're joined on Sheer Isolation this week by founder of the Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival, Evie Em-Jay. We spoke to Evie last year when the town's jazz nights were just starting up again following lockdown. April's Jazz and Soul Festival will only be the second time this event has been held. She successfully established it in 2019, and has been forced to cancel for the last two years. Evie updates us on the popularity of her regular music nights in venues across Swindon, and confirms who is on the bill to perform at the festival. Our music choices this week include one of the festival headliners - Ray Gelato and the Giants. We also play a Foo Fighters cover from Swindon's Bedrock. They released it during the first lockdown to support our key workers, but it feels appropriate to play it now following the death of the Foo's drummer, Taylor Hawkins. We also mention a few other gigs coming up in early April, and Kieran gives us a whistlestop tour of his new recording space.

Steampunk chap-hop rap artist and self confessed nerd, Professor Elemental, is joining us on Sheer Isolation this week. The Professor has been recording and touring his quintessentially British rap tracks for over a decade, performing in venues across Europe and the States. His unique music style and on-brand appearance has given rise to an impressive fanbase on social media. Music aside, he also guest starred in an episode of Disney's Phineas and Ferb. We talk to The Professor about his upcoming tour and new releases, how the character came to be, and somehow also go onto chat about men's mental health and self-motivational tips. We play a track from the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band which was instrumental in the creation of Professor Elemental. Kieran picks a track from Tankus The Henge who are touring the region in the near future. We also mark the sad passing of Rob Talbot, a music promoter who was well known by musicians across South Wiltshire and Somerset.

Joining us on Sheer Isolation this week is Gerry Watkins from the Moonlight Eclipse Project. This newly created community programme aims to support low income families, vulnerable people and the homeless in Cirencester and the south Cotswolds. Gerry has been dedicating his spare time to this and similar good causes for over 20 years, and uses his other passion - live music - as a way of raising funds and awareness for his charitable work. Gerry tells us about the lightswitch moment that turned him into a community fundraiser, and why charity gigs are his preferred method of raising funds. He picks a track from one of his favourite punk artists, Mick O'Toole. Meanwhile, Jon picks a new release from Bristol's Elles Bailey, who's album has recently medalled in both the UK Blues and Americana charts. We also give a shout out to the Glastonbury Calling and Stroud Food and Drink Festivals which are happening later this month.

Calling all musicians who are interested in playing gigs in care homes, schools and hospitals... The charity Live Music Now is looking for new acts to add to their contact list. We're joined by the Director for the South West branch, Sophie Dunn, who tells us more about their work in communities across the country, and how delivering live music to people who can't get to venues is an integral piece of the charity's DNA. Sophie picks an instrumental piece from a local duo who regularly work with Live Music Now - Alex Garden (from The Drystones) and Harriet Riley (from the Spindle Ensemble). Jon picks the other track this week, and has chosen a tune from Cirencester's Leon Daye - his band will be performing in Swindon on March 13th. In our news section we talk about the Trowbridge Kalefest, Cheltenham's Wychwood Festival and we discover that there is a limit to Kieran's eclectic musical taste!

On this week's Sheer Isolation we chat with yoga teacher, reggae fan and ex-raver, Marc White. Marc now hosts regular yoga classes in Trowbridge, but he has previously toured the world absorbing different rave and dance music cultures around the globe. He's dusting off his extensive collection of reggae vinyl for a special DJ night in the town in April. And, proving that we don't believe in boundaries when it comes to music, Kieran plays a hippy-ska-cover of a Vengaboys classic from Bristol's Boom Boom Racoon. Marc selects a reggae track from the Mighty Rudo. We also talk about the line-up of this year's Lechlade Festival, reminisce Baila in Swindon - a coffeeshop / venue which has recently closed - and look at the problems facing venues which are trying to bring international artists to the region. Kieran also makes a prediction that Sheer Isolation's very first guest, Frank Turner, will hit number 1 in the UK albums chart. Update: He did! Well done Frank!!

Our guest on this week's Sheer Isolation is the man who came up with the concept of pop-up orchestras, Swindon's very own Shaun Buswell. By approaching strangers in train stations who were carrying instruments, Shaun has successfully formed and created full size orchestras in the UK and Europe. His next performance is happening next month in London. Shaun explains where the idea came from, and what the future plans are for this unique way of making music. On the tune menu, Shaun plays a recording from his Paris orchestra session from 2018, and Kieran picks a track from Wiltshire's newest metal band, Webb. We also look ahead to local gigs in the coming weeks, and news on festival line-ups planned for this summer.

We've talked to some jokers on these shows before, but this week we are literally joined by a clown. The face of Giffords Circus, Tweedy, is our guest on Sheer Isolation. The Stroud based performers will be touring the south of England from April, clocking up nearly 300 shows in 14 venues. Tweedy has an (uncharacteristic) sensible chat with us about working with the travelling troupe of world-class artists, how Giffords stands out from other circuses, and we also talk about his one-man show which is currently touring the region. We have two laid back tunes for you this week; Tweedy picks a track from Stroud based duo, The Other Way. Kieran's choice is a fun piece of bluegrass from the Welsh based Americans who call themselves Truckstop Honeymoon. We also talk about a new music festival heading to the Forest of Dean this summer, and Kieran explains why he's sat on a large box of fliers for an event in London.