old news20th September 2004Marsha’s Fun Day, the all-day gig at the Fulwell Arms in Twickenham on Saturday 18th September in memory of my mate Phil McDonnell’s daughter, was a resounding success. Phil’s friends from the music world did him proud. There were wonderful performances from Nine Below Zero, Zoot Money, Snowy White, Raven’s Taunt, Sinnerboy and tons of others, including, of course, the Ben Waters Band. Our set went down really well, and we had lots of positive feedback from punters and members of the other bands. A million thanks to everyone that made the effort to come up on the coach from Weymouth – it was obviously very important to Phil that his home town was represented at the event. On Sunday 19th, I was privileged to witness a ‘secret’ P.J.Harvey gig at Evershot Village Hall in Dorset. Polly Harvey’s mum Eva invited me to the event a couple of weeks back, but I was sworn to secrecy, hence the lack of previous notice on this site. Polly arranged a similar event last year, but it was scuppered because somebody posted it on the internet. The P.J.Harvey concert on that night was a joy to behold, an inspirational event. Polly’s current band is a seriously tight unit, and you get the impression that she’s very happy with the way the band is interpreting her songs. The whole band appeared to be having a great time on stage. Was it Polly that persuaded her guitarist and bass player to sample the delights of the notorious Red Cider, destroyer of countless West Country brain cells? We may never know. Their performance was obviously unimpaired (enhanced, perchance?) by their enthusiasm for local libational delicacies. Polly’s band’s encores consisted of versions of blues/r&b standards like Hip Shake and Wang Dang Doodle, an acknowledgement perhaps of the music with which she grew up. Her mum Eva, Val Crabbe and Colin Browning, amongst others, have for decades persuaded the very best UK and USA practitioners of blues/roots music to head to the West Country to perform at venues like Evershot Village Hall, the Bell Inn at Ash in Somerset and the Eype’s Mouth Hotel and the Westpoint Tavern, both near Bridport, Dorset. Performers at those venues over the years included appearances from Ray Harvey’s mates Ian Stewart (the ‘sixth Rolling Stone’), Diz Watson and USA boogie/blues/New Orleans piano icon Dr John perhaps some of the main influences on the musical direction of the young Ben Waters. Next Saturday, Saturday 25th September, I’m playing with the Barrelhouse Blues Band at a private party in Corfe Castle, Dorset, my last gig before I set off for a tour of Germany with the Ben Waters Band. We’re doing the launch party in Munchengladbach for Henning ‘Scooter’ Otte’s new album, which we recorded at Derek Nash’s studio last February, followed by a series of gigs for the wonderful folk at Sound’s Promotions. Details at www.benwaters.com or at www.sounds-promotion.de 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 p.m. and book yourself a slot. Chris Lonergan |
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