old news

8th December 2004

The Ben Waters Band’s second visit to the Storyville Club in Helsinki, Finland was a great experience. We flew out of Heathrow on a fairly mild winter’s morning and arrived in Helsinki where it was pitch dark by 4pm and snowing. It was like flying into the depths of winter.

Helsinki kind of makes more sense in winter, it seems more suited to it. Temperatures over the weekend got down to –3, -10 taking wind chill factor into it, but it was a dry cold that was fine if you were wrapped up properly. The city looked beautiful in a coating of snow and ice.

Werewolves of London guitarist and all-round good geezer Tony Farinha was playing with the band, and the gigs went really well. It was a kind of endurance test, though, playing two hour-and-a-half sets and third set of half an hour on three consecutive nights at Storyville, the same club that we played last May. The excellent food and free beer helped, though. All in all, a great weekend. I’m bloody knackered now, though.

Next Friday 10th December I’ve picked up a gig with John Burden, the inimitable Roger Bastible and my great mate of 25-odd years Paul Fancy on drums. It’ll be a night of full-on rock’n’roll to bluesy funk, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Advance notice once again of the one-off reunion of the Jess Upton Soul Band at Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport on Saturday 18 th December. The gig will feature eight of the original band’s line-up, and may well be a sell-out. Contact me via this site for information/tickets or contact the Arts Centre’s box office on 01308 424204.

Sadly, trumpet virtuoso Matt Barge won’t be on the gig, as he and his family were victims of an accident that left Matt with serious facial injuries and his 10-month-old son in intensive care. Matt and his son are both well on the mend now, but Matt doesn’t see himself playing again until the New Year. I’m sure you’ll want to join me in wishing them speedy recoveries.

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





Valid CSS! Valid HTML 4.01!