old news

9th September 2004

First off, I’d like to bring your attention to a gig happening on Saturday, September 18th at the Fulwell Arms in South-West London. It’s a fundraiser for the Shooting Star children’s hospice appeal, and is in memory of my mate Phil McDonnell’s daughter Marsha, who was brutally murdered about 18 months ago.

Phil’s friends in the musical world are falling over themselves to play on the day, meaning that there will be appearances from Nine Below Zero, Zoot Money, Snowy White, Rory Gallagher tribute band Sinnerboy, members of Clannad and Alex Harvey’s band, an all-star (and I mean all-star) jam session and more. There’s talk of appearances from some other real heavyweights of the musical world, including an ex-Rolling Stone. I’ll be playing with the Ben Waters Band.

There will be transport from Weymouth and back, picking up in Dorchester, for a mere £20, which includes admission to the gig! I’ve got tickets for the coach and the event – phone me on 01305 772944 or 07803 711438, or email me on chrislonergan@dsl.pipex.com If you’re not Dorset-based but still want to go to the gig, contact the Fulwell Arms direct on 020 8977 2698 (address 241, Hampton Rd, Fulwell, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5NG) but be quick – tickets are selling fast. The coach is scheduled to leave from Weymouth seafront at 10am, pick up at the Spa Hotel at 10.10am and at the Top o’ Town car park in Dorchester at 10.30am. It’s kid friendly as well – there will be face painters and a clown lined up. Don’t miss this one!

On Saturday 28th the Ben Waters Band regrouped in a field near Bognor Regis following Ben and Clive Ashley’s Canadian jaunt. We played at the Middleton-on-Sea beer festival, a rather alien environment for me, of course, surrounded by hundreds of gallons of fine beer. The band went down a storm - the discerning drinkers wouldn’t let us offstage. I gave my new toy an outing, a half-size bass that I bought for a song on eBay.

Then, on Sunday 29th, Little Dixie continued the field theme when we played outside the Carpenter’s Arms, Chilthorne Domer, near Yeovil, Somerset. We shared the bill with Sneeky Pete and the Vipers, an excellent swinging blues band and a great bunch of lads that we’ve known for years. Also on the bill was a bravely-named rock band called Outhouse. Bassist Pete generously let me use his lovely Ampeg rig. Chas & Dave were top of the bill, but they arrived as we were leaving.

On Saturday 4th September I enjoyed a musical reunion with chanteuse extraordinaire Jess Upton and pianist Sammy Hurden, who were bandmates with me in the wonderful and sadly-missed Jess Upton Soul Band. With Jim Dvorjac on trumpet and Chris Page on drums completing the line-up, we played jazz standards and a little soul here and there for Jess’s mate’s wedding reception. Anyone who’s heard Jess sing will not be surprised to hear that she sings jazz as wonderfully well as she does soul, and, well, everything.

The next Ben Waters Band gig is the Marsha McDonnell day, as mentioned above. That’s going to be one to remember.

As usual, the jam sessions continue at Finns, Westham Road, Weymouth, Dorset. If you want to play, contact me or just turn up before 9 pm and book yourself a slot.

Chris Lonergan

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