More From John
20/09/07 13:51
Trentham Gardens, Stoke-On-Trent
With the warm, sunny weather holding out, this is another great open-air event, set in really nice surroundings of this old Stately home.This is the first of two shows in which we share the stage with Showaddywaddy, Alvin Stardust, Marty Wilde and The Hollies, so it’s a big show. For this show we’re joined on keyboards by good friend John Blackstock who adds another dimension to our supersonic sound(?) Although the hospitality suite is almost a bus-ride from the stage area, when we get there, we’re all well looked after with plenty of refreshment. Also, fortunately for us, we’re on first at 7.30 and with just a twenty minute set, the gig is nice and easy with a good stage set up. Also to make things easier, all the acts are ferried tpo and from the stage in chauffeur-driven Range Rovers, so it’s nice to get a bit of VIP treatment. Naturally, with every show, we like to make a good impact and as we blast off into “I’m Ready”, it looks as though the crowd of about 1200 also like some good old rock’n’roll. No sooner have we got into it than it’s time for Crying Game and The Price Of Love To finish as the crowd show their approval. Back to hospitality for some refreshment as Showaddywaddy follow us on. Tasking advantage of the early spot, it’s a quick hello to friends Toni, Jenny and Ann before we crank up the old van and set steadily (very) off through the seemingly endless stream of Speed Camera that Stoke has so graciously erected on our behalf.
Lincoln Castle
Set in the beautiful castle grounds of old Lincoln, this is the same show as yesterday. However the dressing rooms etc, are much closer with once again plenty of welcome hospitality. With the whole of the Marchetta family in tow, my wife Margaret, Dave, Marti, Tanya and Kev it’s a real family outing as we find a nice spot to watch the action.
Once again, we’re opening up and there’s around 2000 people attending and it’s a great feeling to open up and (hopefully) set the pace for the rest of the show. Once again the sound onstage is OK so we’re all feeling quite comfortable as we rock through the short set. As we’re staying over, we can relax and enjoy (?) the rest of the show. Next Showaddywaddy go on and get everybody in a party mood with their brand of doo-wop. The great Marty Wilde is next and as always does a great show that includes his classic hits as well as a rousing rendition of Rawhide (Move em’ out, run em’ in). Following a break Alvin Stardust and his band are next and looking resplendent in a tight, long-tassled leather number. Unfortunately, after just two songs, poor old Alvin had to leave the stage due to a bad throat infection. As a result The Hollies take to the stage and blast through hit song after hit with of course plenty to go at.
As the show comes to an end we gather our picnic tables, etc and head off back to various destinations, in our case, the B&B.
Weston-Super-Mare
An area that we seem to gravitate towards quite a lot as we rock around the universe, here the gig is part of a village show. Arriving early we get a chance to check out all the entries in the various categories. There’s prize-winning carrots, turnips, cakes, courgets and quiches (or as we call them – flans) most of which look quite moth-watering. Held in a large marquee, Graham and his wife Pat are the events’ organizers and thanks to them for making sure everything is to our liking, including the refreshments. As we set up the support band go through their sound and include a number of well chosen songs from quite a diversity of styles and are pretty entertaining in the process. It’s around 9.30 and for us its show-time as we assemble on the ‘adjustable’ stage. One we’re off and rolling a large part of the audience are up and dancing around like crazy wild young things, (well, we all are in our heads) and a rockin’ good night ensues.. Whilst the support band do the honours we disassemble our equipment and saddle up for the drive back to our hotel. As it’s only around ten minutes drive we’re back in time for a couple of pints at the bar before it’s bedibyes.
Marine Hall, Fleetwood
Once again it’s time for our string of dates tagged as the ‘60’s Night Out and this year we’re sharing the bill with 60’s harmony combo, Marmalade. This is our third trip to Fleetwood and thankfully the sunny weather still held out. Arriving early we help our rockin’ colleagues in with their apparatus and as we’re using their gear, I help drummer Glyn to set his kit up. Due to other commitments, young Johnny Marchetta is missing from this gig and his place is another youngster, Martin Gregory who last played with us about five years ago and did a sterling job too. Enjoying a pint before the show we have a chat with Jean and her party who are here for the show. Going on first is the way we like it and an early show at 7.30 saw us playing in front of another large crowd. The area of Blackpool still holds some great memories for Dave and myself when he and the Cruisers used to play at the charistmatic Picador Club and it was good to know that some of the audience felt the same way as we did. After our set Dave and I went out into the foyer to meet the fans and do some selling and signing. Finishing early we set off for home and arrived back around 11.30.
Prince Of Wales Theatre, Redditch
A new venue for us and after we’d eventually found our way to it we found that some of the guys from Marmalade were already there. After checking out the gear we made our way to the nearest pub for a swift half and had a chat with Ann.
Although it appeared like a relatively new building outside, the interior looked more one of the older theatres with a nice cosey atmosphere. On again at 7.30 and we’re into with a vengeance twangin’ up a storm with a mix of 50’s and 60’s fair which gets the desired effect with the audience. In one of the songs Dave does a bit of conjuring with his glass of water, earning the name of The Great Grundini. Intermission time and in the foyer a good crowd of interested fans take home a bit of Dave’s music with them.
Arts Complex, Solihull
This is another venue we’ve played a number of times set within a new shopping and arts complex and usually have a good night. There’s a nice pub nearby as Jason and I do a bit of bonding with Marms drummer Glyn. Back at the venue, its good to meet up with good friends Judith and Cliff Tibbett as well as young Toni and Jenny adding their usual ambience to the evening. Another 7.30 start sees us out there giving our usual recital of rock, bebop, twist and raup. Unfortunately, for me, all this rock-a-boogie music is particularly tiring on this occasion and by the end of the set I’m ready for a lay down in a dark room. Instead I join Dave again out in the foyer where a healthy crowd have gathered to buy some more wampum. Afterwards, a quick pint before we board our time machine and travel back through time to a place where time has stood still, Renishaw.
With the warm, sunny weather holding out, this is another great open-air event, set in really nice surroundings of this old Stately home.This is the first of two shows in which we share the stage with Showaddywaddy, Alvin Stardust, Marty Wilde and The Hollies, so it’s a big show. For this show we’re joined on keyboards by good friend John Blackstock who adds another dimension to our supersonic sound(?) Although the hospitality suite is almost a bus-ride from the stage area, when we get there, we’re all well looked after with plenty of refreshment. Also, fortunately for us, we’re on first at 7.30 and with just a twenty minute set, the gig is nice and easy with a good stage set up. Also to make things easier, all the acts are ferried tpo and from the stage in chauffeur-driven Range Rovers, so it’s nice to get a bit of VIP treatment. Naturally, with every show, we like to make a good impact and as we blast off into “I’m Ready”, it looks as though the crowd of about 1200 also like some good old rock’n’roll. No sooner have we got into it than it’s time for Crying Game and The Price Of Love To finish as the crowd show their approval. Back to hospitality for some refreshment as Showaddywaddy follow us on. Tasking advantage of the early spot, it’s a quick hello to friends Toni, Jenny and Ann before we crank up the old van and set steadily (very) off through the seemingly endless stream of Speed Camera that Stoke has so graciously erected on our behalf.
Lincoln Castle
Set in the beautiful castle grounds of old Lincoln, this is the same show as yesterday. However the dressing rooms etc, are much closer with once again plenty of welcome hospitality. With the whole of the Marchetta family in tow, my wife Margaret, Dave, Marti, Tanya and Kev it’s a real family outing as we find a nice spot to watch the action.
Once again, we’re opening up and there’s around 2000 people attending and it’s a great feeling to open up and (hopefully) set the pace for the rest of the show. Once again the sound onstage is OK so we’re all feeling quite comfortable as we rock through the short set. As we’re staying over, we can relax and enjoy (?) the rest of the show. Next Showaddywaddy go on and get everybody in a party mood with their brand of doo-wop. The great Marty Wilde is next and as always does a great show that includes his classic hits as well as a rousing rendition of Rawhide (Move em’ out, run em’ in). Following a break Alvin Stardust and his band are next and looking resplendent in a tight, long-tassled leather number. Unfortunately, after just two songs, poor old Alvin had to leave the stage due to a bad throat infection. As a result The Hollies take to the stage and blast through hit song after hit with of course plenty to go at.
As the show comes to an end we gather our picnic tables, etc and head off back to various destinations, in our case, the B&B.
Weston-Super-Mare
An area that we seem to gravitate towards quite a lot as we rock around the universe, here the gig is part of a village show. Arriving early we get a chance to check out all the entries in the various categories. There’s prize-winning carrots, turnips, cakes, courgets and quiches (or as we call them – flans) most of which look quite moth-watering. Held in a large marquee, Graham and his wife Pat are the events’ organizers and thanks to them for making sure everything is to our liking, including the refreshments. As we set up the support band go through their sound and include a number of well chosen songs from quite a diversity of styles and are pretty entertaining in the process. It’s around 9.30 and for us its show-time as we assemble on the ‘adjustable’ stage. One we’re off and rolling a large part of the audience are up and dancing around like crazy wild young things, (well, we all are in our heads) and a rockin’ good night ensues.. Whilst the support band do the honours we disassemble our equipment and saddle up for the drive back to our hotel. As it’s only around ten minutes drive we’re back in time for a couple of pints at the bar before it’s bedibyes.
Marine Hall, Fleetwood
Once again it’s time for our string of dates tagged as the ‘60’s Night Out and this year we’re sharing the bill with 60’s harmony combo, Marmalade. This is our third trip to Fleetwood and thankfully the sunny weather still held out. Arriving early we help our rockin’ colleagues in with their apparatus and as we’re using their gear, I help drummer Glyn to set his kit up. Due to other commitments, young Johnny Marchetta is missing from this gig and his place is another youngster, Martin Gregory who last played with us about five years ago and did a sterling job too. Enjoying a pint before the show we have a chat with Jean and her party who are here for the show. Going on first is the way we like it and an early show at 7.30 saw us playing in front of another large crowd. The area of Blackpool still holds some great memories for Dave and myself when he and the Cruisers used to play at the charistmatic Picador Club and it was good to know that some of the audience felt the same way as we did. After our set Dave and I went out into the foyer to meet the fans and do some selling and signing. Finishing early we set off for home and arrived back around 11.30.
Prince Of Wales Theatre, Redditch
A new venue for us and after we’d eventually found our way to it we found that some of the guys from Marmalade were already there. After checking out the gear we made our way to the nearest pub for a swift half and had a chat with Ann.
Although it appeared like a relatively new building outside, the interior looked more one of the older theatres with a nice cosey atmosphere. On again at 7.30 and we’re into with a vengeance twangin’ up a storm with a mix of 50’s and 60’s fair which gets the desired effect with the audience. In one of the songs Dave does a bit of conjuring with his glass of water, earning the name of The Great Grundini. Intermission time and in the foyer a good crowd of interested fans take home a bit of Dave’s music with them.
Arts Complex, Solihull
This is another venue we’ve played a number of times set within a new shopping and arts complex and usually have a good night. There’s a nice pub nearby as Jason and I do a bit of bonding with Marms drummer Glyn. Back at the venue, its good to meet up with good friends Judith and Cliff Tibbett as well as young Toni and Jenny adding their usual ambience to the evening. Another 7.30 start sees us out there giving our usual recital of rock, bebop, twist and raup. Unfortunately, for me, all this rock-a-boogie music is particularly tiring on this occasion and by the end of the set I’m ready for a lay down in a dark room. Instead I join Dave again out in the foyer where a healthy crowd have gathered to buy some more wampum. Afterwards, a quick pint before we board our time machine and travel back through time to a place where time has stood still, Renishaw.