With things starting to open up a bit now, I thought it was time to open up a new gigs thread.
So, I’ll get the ball rolling. Last night (Wednesday) I went to the Jamm in Brixton, the spiritual home of the Alabama 3, to see the band on the last night of their residency there. My charges Ese and Sheena were there in their now-permanant capacity as singers (they will be touring with the A3 next year).
A great show, extremely hot, almost two hours long, with plenty of old favourites but a big emphasis on the new album, which is terific. As well as the Vooduu Sistaz and Rob/Larry and the core band, there were guest appearances by Rev Be Atwell and Aurora Dawn, and debuts for new bassist Funky Al Ashton and Peter Ginger Baker (the latter just a kid, but a great drummer). Went to bed at 7 this morning!
Saw Richard Thompson at Snape Maltings last Sunday night. Absolutely superb - just him, one accoustic guitar and his current squeeze on harmonies. Trawled across his whole catalogue from Bright Lights and Shoot Out to recent lockdown songs. In pared down mode made you realise he is not just a great guitarist but a brilliant songwriter too.
Those set times are not actually correct, as there new a few last minute changes as one of the DJ’s had a nasty home improvement related fall from a ladder, and a couple more had to cancel due to covid reasons. Steve Helstrip (Thrillseekers) played a cracking set at very short notice, Maria Healey clashed with Space Brothers so we were running from one room to another as we really like them both. Sam Jones nearly killed us with a ridiculously hard set. Paul Denton’s was the set of the night though.
Best of all was meeting up with so many close friends face to face for the first time in 18 months. There were tears!
Just seen The Streets at Crystal Palace Bowl - absolutely brilliant. Mike Skinner just has a total command of the stage - fantastic set. Honestly, Palace at Selhurst Park and The Streets at Crystal Palace - am such a man of the people
Just got a refund on our Sept Genesis tickets. Shame, but don’t fancy being in a room with 20K people. Vaccinations are wearing off after 4 months, according to some research. ( Zoe).
Between now and Christmas we are running 13 concerts as well as two comedy nights and a three day beer festival. I’m just hoping we sell enough tickets to cover our costs. It will be interesting to see how the balance between keenness to see live music balances with hesitancy as the nights draw in.
Beautiful Days festival in Devon last weekend. Felt surreal, yet at the same time normal. A highlight was Hawkwind on Friday, Dave Brock’s 80th Birthday !
