JUST NEWS - 2006
(Continued from Just News 2007)
December 2006
With the last date this year at the Milestone
on Saturday the 30th December, we are looking forward to a cracking
finish to our year, and take this opportunity to thank all our fans
and friends alike for their fantastic support through 2006 and wish
you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We thank Stephen Foster
for his help in our various ventures, Ian Bard for the web
site upkeep, Purple Studios for recording a fine album for us, which
will be launched at the Milestone March 24th 2007,
and all the venues that have booked us and support live music,
Thankyou.
PW.
November 2006
The cock Inn Diss was an excellent night and was
packed out. A really good venue and we are back there 2 or 3
times in 2007.
The Kingfisher Ipswich needs supporting more, get
yourselves up there, it could be one of the best venues in
Ipswich with a little support.
November 2006
The 6th and we played the 6 Bells at Gislingham a really nice place but
unfortunately not that well attended but to the 30 or so that were there
thanks for your support and we all had a good night.
Friday 10th we had a night off to see NBZ at the Manor
great night and we had some photos taken with them and they will be on
the site soon.
The Boys from the Blackstuff were down for the weekend 11th and 12th,
John-Rob-Bob & Rick from Freeway turned out to be a great bunch of lads
and masters of there craft. The best and most authentic sound I
have ever heard and a credit to them for keeping alive one of the true
greats from the sixties FREE.
The Manor was only about half full but that didn't dampen a good nights
entertainment. Our thanks, as ever to Stephen Foster, for being compere
for the night, for the sound thanks to Kevin and also to my good friend
Neil Hardy, founder member of THE
BEAVERS www.thebeaversonline.co.uk
from Halstead for making the two nights possible and making it happen.
The Halstead Empire was a total sell out and a fantastic night, thanks
again to all concerned, Martin Prince for the great sound and light
show, all the volunteers at the front of house, John Theedom for being
compere and lastly the appreciative audience which for us, made it all
worth while, Thank you all.
This week end we're at The Cock Inn at Diss hope to see you there.
PW.
October 2006
If you see a man in a black full length coat standing in the
corner with a bottle on a tray held about head height, that'll be
Mark Razor Sandyman Sharpe. He has a new outfit, which ,by now,
you have probably all seen and doesn't he just look the part. For
those that were at the Swann at Needham on the 6th thanks for your
support. Up to the Broads the following night and another new gig,
The Lady Of The Lake, a large venue and a great crowd. We hope to be
going back soon. Back on home ground at the Milestone on the 20th,
we just love this place, it must be the truly great audience who
always make us welcome whenever we play there and this was no
exception. Giles was with us on this occasion and did an
acoustic rendition of 9 Below Zero with Mark which will feature on
our new album which will be available soon. Sunday 22nd and it was
the turn for Wisbech Elm Hall Hotel, these people are so lucky to
have a blues club where Live Music can be seen every Sunday
afternoon. Wouldn't it be good if we had something here? No more
gigs this month as we have made space to record our long awaited new
album. It will boast 4 self penned tracks, the previously mentioned
duo Giles and Mark, and some covers, it still has to be mixed and
packaged so will be a while yet. PW
September 2006.
A bit nearer home this month starting at the Orwell Crossing,
a new gig for us, and, dare I say it, great . Ham egg and chips (sorry
Perry). The Kingfisher was the next night and it is now getting supported
well. We were up at East Harling Social club 16th, they like their Music
here, so we obliged and gave them some. Back there again in 2007. Second
time back at the Globe in Mildenhall 22nd and it was not as full as we like,
but there were other things on. The pub filled up as we were about to
finish, so, get there earlier next time. We called in at the Barrel at
Banham on the 30th this is a brilliant gig. Well done Johnty, see you in the
new year. PW
August 2006
Well, you didn't let us down at the Royal Oak Ipswich. There
were a lot of familiar faces in the audience and we would like to thank you
all for taking the time and effort to support the band. The Splitz Bar on
the 27th
July was another first for us and a good gig to play. It was a very warm
evening.
August 10th
and we were at The Walnut Tree Shades in Norwich. The last time we played
there was 10th June 1999. A great little venue. The next night we packed out
the Milestone. The new management and the bar staff were kept busy. Mr
Foster was in attendance. We also have some video footage and may, at a later
stage, put some on the site. The third night of our weekend tour finished up
in Peterborough at Charters Bar - Blues On The Boat .
After playing to a full house we arrived back home at 3am, shattered after a 3 day bash.
The
following Thursday 17th we arrived at The New Crawdaddy Club in
Billericay. This club is run by
a group of
music lovers who also have there own band called The Heaters check it out
at-
It's well worth a trip to this well run venue and they do have some fine acts
every week. Saturday 19th we were well out in the sticks at Cotton, Nr Mendlesham at The Trowel And Hammer and I have to say what a great pub.
We
shoe horned ourselves into a corner, although not a small pub, and the place
filled up around us. Thanks again to the people who took time to follow us
to such an out the way place. M&M were in attendance and going away to
the sun.
Now we were in Festival mode and kicked off at Stalham, Norfolk Saturday 19th
for the Straithfest 2006 we played for about an hour in the large marquee
and were well received by the crowd.
Next morning we made our annual trip to the Great R&B festival in Colne,
Lancashire, of course we had full english on the way, it's rude not to. Every
year it gets better and the sound guys at this event really know there
onions. It's staged in a huge hall within the leisure centre, the massive PA
and lighting rig they use is just awesome, just before we went on stage at
5pm one of the security guys said they may have to restrict entry on the
front doors as they were nearly full, and this is a seriously large place. We entertained a full house (approx. 1000+ people) for about an hour and
loved every minute of it from the first note to the full band bow at the
end. Special thanks to all the guys that took time to take some truly
wonderful photos of the band and I will be making up an album for the site
in the near future. PW
JULY 2006
OK, so it's a little late but I have been a busy chap
with my other life, that's the one where you have to go to work etc,
Well, we have played a few gigs since I last made up
the news page. The Bell at Brandon a couple of times, the last one
July 1st was that day England had a mishap and Brandon High street
was like a war zone, but we played a good gig regardless.
The Riverside bar unfortunately has ceased due to
lack of interest, which is a shame, it was a nice intimate atmosphere.
We have been to Frinton at the Skipper, Kingfisher Ipswich, Trimley
Social Club, Elm Hall in the Fenns was yet another success with a
well appreciative audience in attendance, Sible Snooker Club
suffered due the World Cup as did most of July but there were some
die-hards noticeable at most events M&MB you know who I mean, we
went to the Railway great gig, shame about the end, but there, that
sort of thing hopefully only happens once in a bands life, Norwich
Brickies was a cracker Charlie had the PA cooking (smoking even)
looking forward to the return, Needham Swann always a good night.
Christchurch Park was a great success, a beautiful
sunny day, thousands of people, plenty of good music, this makes the
recipe for a great days entertainment and the BBC Radio Suffolk
Stage was no exception. Our thanks to Stephen Foster for inviting us
to perform, it was our pleasure, and thanks to all who came to see us
forgive me if I don't name you all.
July 12th we were at The Spread Eagle at Bury and the
15th at Cock Inn Diss a very hot evening in more ways that one. This
weekend sees us at The Royal Oak Ipswich and we hope to see some of
you regulars there, bye for now PW.
6th May The Brewery Tap
Oulton Broad
A great gig to play and a good in house PA looking
forward for a return visit.
26th April The Spread
Eagle Bury St Edmunds
Our Second visit to this venue and its becoming a
good Wednesday Blues haven. They have some good acts booked for the
coming weeks and months so check it out. It was nice to see some
familiar faces the Mayor and Mayoress were in attendance.
22nd April The Bell
Brandon
Another first for us and a well appreciative crowd we
had to use the small PA again but still achieved a good sound, we
are back again Friday 12th May we hope to see the place packed out.
21st April The Globe Mildenhall.
This was a small PA gig, and what a great crowd,
they made us welcome and loved the music we played. Hi also to the
guys from the Stonkin Blues Band who were out for a pint, and thanks
for your positive comments, we look forward to the return soon.
FREE FANS
I'm sure like me there are many fans of the
legendary "Free" I personally followed this band before their
heyday in the late 1960's and have many memories of being only yards
away from Paul Kossoff at The Barn, Little Bardfield, in Essex, Peter
and I used to walk there most Saturdays to see many bands.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce to Ipswich a truly fine tribute
band from The North East of England,
FREEWAY
fast becoming one of the most authentic reproductions of a Classic band,
Free! And we have arranged two dates one at the Manor Ballroom Saturday
11th November, and Sunday 12th November at The Halstead Empire Essex,
both dates we will playing support so get behind it and relive some
classic memories or just come and see a great band, ticket info to
follow in local press and Radio.
April 15th The Barrel Banham Norfolk
A big thank you to all that made us welcome and the
fantastic crowd for their positive comments. What a brilliant
venue. Our first visit and hopefully not the last. The place was
rocking. These people like their Music (Well done Johnty we were
impressed)
April 1st The Milestone Ipswich
Well! what can I say. Sometimes there are good gigs
and sometimes there are better gigs, but this one stands out from
the rest. The audience were just fantastic, that's why we love to
play this place. It was quote "wall to wall people and sound" .
Sandy mentioned that he thought the new bins were ok, so did Giles.
Oh! and Giles, magnificent. The acoustic 9
below with Mark was outstanding and must be a strong contender for
our forthcoming album ,we are working on for release later this
year, I may have to give Mark the second nickname of Clyde, all he
needed was a Machine Gun, he had the suit. PW.
March 31st The Romany Norwich
Great pub and good music venue, good crowd although
its a shame that the Australian Pink Floyd were on the same night,
otherwise we were told the place would have been full.
March 11th The Royal Oak Ipswich.
This is fast becoming a great venue of a good size and
the people that I spoke to liked the place and had mostly defected from
other venues, there are some good acts booked in the coming weeks and
months so give it some support we need more venues like this.
March 4th The Falcon Felixstowe.
Good
turnout and another good night. Giles came up for a guest spot and
did the business as usual. Back there again later in the year.
February 19th Elm Hall Wisbech
The last gig of the month and wow the PA and sound
was exceptional. We had so many people come up afterwards and compliment us
on the sound, that it was well worth the time and effort put in over
Christmas to improve it. Elm hall is a well established Sunday afternoon
gig, set in the ballroom at the Hotel. Mark showed them he is still a
formidable force to be reckoned with and for my money he was man of the
match.
See you at a gig in March.
PW
February 18th The Kingfisher Ipswich
Yet another new gig. Good appreciative crowd, we tried out
the full PA here as it is a larger venue. There was gear everywhere, but
sounded good.
February 11th The Cock Inn Diss
This was a good night. Used the small PA. We are back again
later in the year.
February 8th The Spread Eagle Bury St. Edmunds
Another new gig for us, this will be a good music venue in
time, give it some support.
February 3rd 2006 The Swan Needham Market
This was a stonker and for those that were there and witnessed it, the harp
playing from both Mark and Giles was truly amazing and I feel privileged to
have been a part of it. it was nice to see some of our more regulars in the
audience. Its always a good gig.
PW
February 2nd 2006 The White Lodge Attelbourgh
A new gig for us. A great venue and a good pub as well and worth a visit. The
food here is first class. Our first gig of the year with our brand new line
up. The place was packed and they appreciated all we threw at them, we'll be
back there later in the year.
PW
January 2006
This month we are rehearsing hard for the start or our new working year and
its coming together well. We have lots planned for the year, with new venues
and festivals coming in the pipeline, including a new CD for August which we
will keep you up to date with as it transpires.
PW
( next page - Just News 2005 )