Aug 2006
August
21/08/06 19:01
Saturday July 15 - SOMERTON FESTIVAL, SOMERSET
As the summer continued to blaze away, the four and a half hour van journey called for wide open windows , shorts and sandals and plenty of cool drinks. Eventually arriving at the small Somerset village, we were booked to finish off the week's festivities after they had commenced a week earlier with The Merseybeats.
All the participants were friendly and thoughtful, supplying food and drink for these weary entertainers. Staged in a large Marquee, the gig saw us sharing the honours with a magician and an impressionist, which was something of a first for us rock'n'rollers. After set-up it was time to check out the locale and one or two nice looking hostelries. Returning back to the Marquee, the impressionist seemed to be keeping everybody well amused with his take on people like Bruce Forsyth, Alf Garnett and Captain Mannering. I must add that one of the highlights of the gig for me was the portable toilets! Honest, they were quite luxurious by portable loo standards and as you walked inside you were greeted by the gentle sounds of Debussy, or was it Mozart?, quite delightful. Back to the job-in-hand (if you'll pardon the expression) and time to get rockin'(g) and as usual it didn't take the crowd long to get up and bop away to the music. As we were short of a regular sound-engineer, BEAT Magazine's David Parker kindly stepped into the breach to twiddle the knobs and make us all sound fab and groovy with the end result being another good, although pretty sweltering night.
Wednesday July 19th PARKWAY CINEMA, CLEETHORPES
When the weather is as good as this, Cleethorpes can be just as enjoyable as, say Barbados, well almost. A welcome breeze kept the weather a bit fresher as we arrived at the venue which was in fact a Cineplex. For the season one of the cinemas was being used for live theatre shows which was a hark-back to the 60's. Even moreso as also for the season we were appearing there as part of a run of 'Swingin'; Sixties' shows and joining us on this first show were our good friends The Dreamers. After sound-checks/rehearsals we took a stroll outside to the nearby pub (as usual) to meet up with some friends and a bite to eat. There's much worse places than sat outside a Cleethorpes pub with a pint on a fine sunny day and being a musician certainly gives you such opportunities. Showtime, and after a rather damp introduction by the compere, we burst forth into another rockin' set and another good night was seemingly had by all.
Saturday July 22nd. WYKEHAM SOCIAL CLUB, ANDOVER
A return trip to this venue having last been there about eighteen months ago. After a four hour drive, members of the club committee were most hospitable providing us with a nice buffet . Apparently, as this is his home-town, King Trogg, Reg Presley was made honoury Secretary of the club, but hasn't as yet made an appearance! Well I guess he'll be busy checking out those crop-circles. Providing the support were another local combo performing a suitable mix of vintage tunes that kept everybody entertained. As always, we like to look round the local area and enjoyed a leisurely stroll in town before heading back to the gig. The weather was once again very warm and as we surrounded by a row of stage-lights and pretty powerful spot, and after about half a number we were all ringing wet. Still, being the old pro's that we are(?) we battled on and had a another enjoyable set. Afterwards we made a hastily got some of the gear away before we peeled off our wet stage-clothes. Eventually cooling down we waited for the support band to finish off the night before we packed up the trusty van and headed off into the night.
Sunday July 23rd. MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk
From Hampshire up to north Norfolk is another long stretch and by the time
we arrived back at Mundsley we were all feeling a little road-weary. However, along with the continueing glorious weather, it was good to be back at this location, set right on the coast. After a quick set-up we saunted along to the dining room for a welcome evening meal. Afterwards we took a trip into the village of Mundsley and enjoyed a pint outside one of the local hostelries. A few more people were attending this show and gave us a nice reception, with one or two couples even making it out onto the dance floor. Afterwards we enjoyed a relaxing tete-a-tete and night-cap before enjoying another night's sleep in our cabins overlooking the north sea.
Sunday August 6th., MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk
Returning to this venue, we've really found it a most enjoyable place to be, although the weather certainly helps. Although a little remote, this is all part of it's appeal, and with it's facilities, this venue would certainly make for a good 60's weekender (or whatever your musical preference is) and let's hope it won't be long before it's part of the 60's circuit. After setting up and meal-time we enjoyed a stroll along the cliff top and down onto the beach as the north sea lapped its way in onto the sand as we thought how fortunate we are to be getting paid to do this! Again the attendance was about the same as last time and gave us another nice reception as we rocked their world. Although the following morning was a little over-cast, this is still a lovely part of the country to be in and hitching up the wagon we took a more scenic route back through Cromer and some of the other small villages before finding our way back onto our usual route home.
Sunday August 20th., MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk
Our fourth and final date here and once again, it's a pleasure to be here, so much so than Brian and myself have made separate journeys so we could enjoy some extra time here. Whilst the weather was much more erratic, the Norfolk countryside is still very appealing. Unfortunately the gig itself only had about thirty five in attendance, due to the apparent lack of advertising. But anyway, it was a very receptive crowd and our evening recital (or is it recycle?) went down very well. Our thanks to Barry, Wendy and staff for making us feel very welcome and a most pleasurable set of gigs. Let's hope that we can return next year
As the summer continued to blaze away, the four and a half hour van journey called for wide open windows , shorts and sandals and plenty of cool drinks. Eventually arriving at the small Somerset village, we were booked to finish off the week's festivities after they had commenced a week earlier with The Merseybeats.
All the participants were friendly and thoughtful, supplying food and drink for these weary entertainers. Staged in a large Marquee, the gig saw us sharing the honours with a magician and an impressionist, which was something of a first for us rock'n'rollers. After set-up it was time to check out the locale and one or two nice looking hostelries. Returning back to the Marquee, the impressionist seemed to be keeping everybody well amused with his take on people like Bruce Forsyth, Alf Garnett and Captain Mannering. I must add that one of the highlights of the gig for me was the portable toilets! Honest, they were quite luxurious by portable loo standards and as you walked inside you were greeted by the gentle sounds of Debussy, or was it Mozart?, quite delightful. Back to the job-in-hand (if you'll pardon the expression) and time to get rockin'(g) and as usual it didn't take the crowd long to get up and bop away to the music. As we were short of a regular sound-engineer, BEAT Magazine's David Parker kindly stepped into the breach to twiddle the knobs and make us all sound fab and groovy with the end result being another good, although pretty sweltering night.
Wednesday July 19th PARKWAY CINEMA, CLEETHORPES
When the weather is as good as this, Cleethorpes can be just as enjoyable as, say Barbados, well almost. A welcome breeze kept the weather a bit fresher as we arrived at the venue which was in fact a Cineplex. For the season one of the cinemas was being used for live theatre shows which was a hark-back to the 60's. Even moreso as also for the season we were appearing there as part of a run of 'Swingin'; Sixties' shows and joining us on this first show were our good friends The Dreamers. After sound-checks/rehearsals we took a stroll outside to the nearby pub (as usual) to meet up with some friends and a bite to eat. There's much worse places than sat outside a Cleethorpes pub with a pint on a fine sunny day and being a musician certainly gives you such opportunities. Showtime, and after a rather damp introduction by the compere, we burst forth into another rockin' set and another good night was seemingly had by all.
Saturday July 22nd. WYKEHAM SOCIAL CLUB, ANDOVER
A return trip to this venue having last been there about eighteen months ago. After a four hour drive, members of the club committee were most hospitable providing us with a nice buffet . Apparently, as this is his home-town, King Trogg, Reg Presley was made honoury Secretary of the club, but hasn't as yet made an appearance! Well I guess he'll be busy checking out those crop-circles. Providing the support were another local combo performing a suitable mix of vintage tunes that kept everybody entertained. As always, we like to look round the local area and enjoyed a leisurely stroll in town before heading back to the gig. The weather was once again very warm and as we surrounded by a row of stage-lights and pretty powerful spot, and after about half a number we were all ringing wet. Still, being the old pro's that we are(?) we battled on and had a another enjoyable set. Afterwards we made a hastily got some of the gear away before we peeled off our wet stage-clothes. Eventually cooling down we waited for the support band to finish off the night before we packed up the trusty van and headed off into the night.
Sunday July 23rd. MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk
From Hampshire up to north Norfolk is another long stretch and by the time
we arrived back at Mundsley we were all feeling a little road-weary. However, along with the continueing glorious weather, it was good to be back at this location, set right on the coast. After a quick set-up we saunted along to the dining room for a welcome evening meal. Afterwards we took a trip into the village of Mundsley and enjoyed a pint outside one of the local hostelries. A few more people were attending this show and gave us a nice reception, with one or two couples even making it out onto the dance floor. Afterwards we enjoyed a relaxing tete-a-tete and night-cap before enjoying another night's sleep in our cabins overlooking the north sea.
Sunday August 6th., MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk
Returning to this venue, we've really found it a most enjoyable place to be, although the weather certainly helps. Although a little remote, this is all part of it's appeal, and with it's facilities, this venue would certainly make for a good 60's weekender (or whatever your musical preference is) and let's hope it won't be long before it's part of the 60's circuit. After setting up and meal-time we enjoyed a stroll along the cliff top and down onto the beach as the north sea lapped its way in onto the sand as we thought how fortunate we are to be getting paid to do this! Again the attendance was about the same as last time and gave us another nice reception as we rocked their world. Although the following morning was a little over-cast, this is still a lovely part of the country to be in and hitching up the wagon we took a more scenic route back through Cromer and some of the other small villages before finding our way back onto our usual route home.
Sunday August 20th., MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk
Our fourth and final date here and once again, it's a pleasure to be here, so much so than Brian and myself have made separate journeys so we could enjoy some extra time here. Whilst the weather was much more erratic, the Norfolk countryside is still very appealing. Unfortunately the gig itself only had about thirty five in attendance, due to the apparent lack of advertising. But anyway, it was a very receptive crowd and our evening recital (or is it recycle?) went down very well. Our thanks to Barry, Wendy and staff for making us feel very welcome and a most pleasurable set of gigs. Let's hope that we can return next year