Band gets venue to slash ticket price
MAX JIVE, MIN COST
by

Slammers Ticket prices for a jive night in Lincolnshire have been slashed by a third following an appeal to venue bosses by the Slammers Maximum Jive Band.

The band's Neale Hobday was shocked when he learned fans were facing a charge of £15 to get into the March 20th gig at The Sands venue in Gainsborough, or £30 including a meal.

"As I told them, the price they had on the door probably didn't help.   £15 just to get in.   Even I wouldn't come and see us for that!   I managed to get the price knocked down."

Venue chiefs agreed to reduce the ticket prices by £5.   Sands spokeswoman Luisa Cacioppo-Smallwood said: "We have dropped the price in order to offer customers the best quality entertainment at an affordable price.   The gig is £10 for ticket only or £25 including an exquisite three course meal prepared by top international chefs.   We also have basket meals for only £5.50."

Elegance

The Sands
The Sands
The Sands describes itself as an impressive forties/fifties style venue with starlit ceiling, candlelit tables and relaxed, intimate atmosphere.   Visitors are promised a stylish and memorable evening with personal service and a warm welcome.

Its home is the refurbished Old Town Hall, built in 1908.   Ms Cacioppo-Smallwood said: "It has distinct claims of elegance; from the decorative tiles in the entrance to the opulent surroundings of the restaurant which seats up to 200 guests.   The tables are situated around the stage so a superb view is guaranteed, and the hardwood floor offers jivers a fantastic dancing experience."

The Sands has hosted gigs by jazz greats including Dame Cleo Laine and Courtney Pine as well as the British Jazz Awards in 2007.

The Slammers have promoted their Gainsborough gig with an extended interview on BBC Radio Lincolnshire.   Free CDs will be offered to the first few people through the door.   Neale Hobday added: "The Sands is as good as London's Rivoli Ballroom in historic looks and feel.   It just needs lower prices on the door and a bit of life in it."

The Slammers Maximum Jive Band has grown to a seven-piece with Duncan Morris on lead vocals, Claire Hamlin on piano, Gary Richardson on drums, Andy Burns on tenor sax, Sharon Doris on trumpet and Mike Doris on trombone.   Neale Hobday, who started the band in 2004, completes the line-up on double bass.

• The Sands is to open a sister venue at a prime location in Blackpool.   Owner Peter Swan is planning a £1.2m refurbishment of the Central Promenade site, which was the Lancashire resort's largest nightclub until its closure several years ago. The dance area will become a seated entertainment area with a restaurant accommodating 240 to 300 people. There will be two smaller dance floors, a large bar and lounge areas plus champagne bar and seafood bistro. 100 jobs will be created when it opens in August as "the best entertainment destination in Blackpool".




Holiday Rock presents...

• Summertime Rockin' In Torquay from June 11th-14th at the Victoria Hotel with Jive Street, Joey & The Jivers and Mark Keeley's GRT.

• The Prestatyn Jive Weekender from September 3rd-6th with Mike Sanchez, Lucas & The Dynamos, The Jets, Bobcats, Keytones, Doomsday Rockers, Kingcats, Revolutionaires, Wanderers, Rockin' The Joint, Bernie Woods and Johnnie Fox.

• The Christmas Party Hop 2010 from December 27th-30th with Lucas & The Dynamos, Jive Street and Mark Keeley's GRT.   More info on 01905 330586


The Hepcats Holiday comes to Pontin’s Pakefield Holiday Park, London Road, Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 7PF from March 12th-15th.   Bands are the Jive Aces, Bernard Berkhout's Swing Orchestra, The Swingmates, Ding Dong Daddios, Goodfellas, the Ding Dong Daddios, and Maria Vincent & The Millionaires - back together for the first time since 2006.


There's a rock'n'roll weekend at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park in Devon from March 26th-29th with Play It Cool, The Atlantics The Houserockers, Rat Pack, Furious and the Rhythm Aces.   Info on 01271 870343.


The Shake Rattle & Roll Weekender hits Great Yarmouth from March 19th-22nd with Charlie Gracie, The Firebirds, Revolutionaires, Kingcats, Rapiers, Lights Out, Eva Eastwood, Carmen Ghia, The Stingrays, Red Hot Rockers,Class of '58, Atlantics, Sundowners and Bernie Woods & The Forest Fires.   Venue is the Vauxhall Holiday Park, Acle New Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 ITB.   Phone 01493 857231.


The Remember Eddie Cochran Weekend takes place in Chippenham from April 16th-18th, exactly 50 years since the legendary American guitar-slinger died in a road accident in the Wiltshire town.

There's a warm up gig on the Friday night at the Hungry Horse pub with the Zig Zag Band.   Venue for the main event on Saturday is the Olympiad Leisure Centre SN15 3PA.   On the bill are Charlie Gracie, Pete Hutton & The Beyonders, Jean Vincent, The Flames, The House Shakers, Sandy Ford & The Flying Saucers and Carmen Ghia & The Hotrods.   On Sunday there'll be a service at Eddie's plaque at Rowden Hill.   More info on 01225 810282.


The 15th Riviera R'n'R Weekender comes to Beverley Park, Goodrington Road, Paignton, Devon from April 16th-19th with The TTs, Rock Island Rebels, The Sundowners, The Intruders, Joey & The Jivers, Juke Box Jive, Johnny Fox & The Invaders and Mark Keeley's GRT.   Info on 01803 528561


Yesterday Once More has a jive weekender in Southport on April 23rd with The Firebirds, Blast Off and The Jets.   There's a Billy Fury weekend in Liverpool on June 11th with Colin Paul, Wee Willie Harris and Darren Davis.   Elvis week runs from September 10th at Hemsby.   From October 5th it's the 20th anniversary jive holiday on the Costa del Sol.   Charlie Gracie, The Kingcats and Rockin' The Joint headline a jive weekend at Brean Sands from November 5th.   Sonny Burgess, Chris Montez and Ray Campi head a line-up of 14 bands at a special weekender in Ilfracombe on March 4th 2011.


The Bournemouth Rock'n'Roll Party No. 7 is at the Heathlands Hotel, Grove Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AY from May 7th to 10th with the Jive Romeros, The Kingcats and the Rock Island Rebels.   Price is £185 per person half-board.   Info from Strollin' Steve on 01638 712187 / 07808 340776 or visit www.strollinsteve.co.uk

Hemsby 44 runs from May 14th-17th with Jack Earls, Don Woody, Roc La Rue, Charlie Hightone & The Rockits, Truly Lover Trio, The Sureshots, Infernos, Fretones, Borderlines, Boogie Children, Rockin' 8 Balls, Mischief, Frantix, Mary Jean Lewis, Carmen Ghia & The Hotrods, Relentless, LP & His Dirty White Bucks.   Venue is the Seacroft Holiday Site, Hemsby, Norfolk NR29 4HR   Info on 01522 752453


The Rockabilly Rave returns to Pontins Cambers Sands from June 17th-21st with Jack Scott, Sleepy Labeef, Deke Dickerson, The Bellfuries, Ma Bell & The Misfires, The Slapbacks, Eddie & The Flatheads, RJ & The Tritones, Jessie & The Orbits, Rudy La Crioux & The All Stars, Lynette Morgan & The Blackwater Valley Boys, The Fret Tones, Dale Rocka & The Volcanoes, The Tennessee Boys, Nick Gilroy, Kieron McDonald, The Domestic Bumblebees, Spo Dee O Dee, The Radio Ramblers, Kansas City Cryers, The Sureshots, Bill Fadden, The Hillbilly Boogiemen and Rusti Steel & The Startones.   Info on 01435 812508


The Wildest Cats In Town weekender hits Pakefield Pontins in Suffolk from July 2nd-5th with music from Marty Wilde, Sonny Burgess, Rocky & Pat Burnette, Boppin' Steve, Crazy Cavan, The Lennerockers, Ervin Travis, Furious, Metrotones, Sandy Ford's Flyin' Saucers, the Long Black Jackets, Vernon & The GIs, Porky's Hot Rockin, Danny & The Seniors, Red Hot Rockers, Rhythm Aces, Skyrockers, Rat Pack, Jive Romeros, The Kingcats and The Fireballs.   Info on 01530 455657


There's another Hepcats Holiday from July 2nd-5th at Sand Bay Leisure Resort, Sand Bay, Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.  


The mighty Americana weekend celebrates its 30th anniversary from July 9th-11th at the Newark County Showground with Paul Ansell's No9, The Revolutionaires, Hicksville Bombers, Roomates, Sandiagos, Fret Tones, Carmen Ghia & The Hotrods, Hi Voltage, Glenn Darren & The Krew Katz, Greggi G, Kay & The K9s, Rebel & The Renegades, Relentless, Ian Calford plus country bands and 70s pop bands including Darts, Smokie and The Rubettes.


The Twinwood Festival runs from August 28th-30th at Clapham near Bedford.   Saturday features the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Kai's Cats, the Clover Sisters, Peter Donegan and the Lonnie Donegan Band, the Jive Romeros, The Revolutionaires and Mike Sanchez.   On Sunday it's John Miller & His Orchestra, Ian Calford & The Railmen, the Sentinels Of Rhythm, Laura B & The Moonlighters, Blue Harlem, The Kremlinaires and the Ben Waters Band.   Monday's line-up is Chris Smith & His String Of Pearls Orchestra, the Red Stripe Band, the Swing Commanders, the Ding Dong Daddios and The Firebirds.   Info on 01923 282725


Savoy Seaside Swing returns to Blackpool from September 3rd-5th with the Crown Top Kings, Ray Gelato and Sticky Wicket.   Details at www.katz-korner.com


Strollin' Steve presents the Bournemouth Bounce Jive Weekend No7 from October 1st-4th at the Carrington House Hotel, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth BH1 3QQ with the Swing Commanders, Ding Dong Daddios and Juke Joint Jump.   More info on all Strollin' Steve events on 01638 712187 / 07808 340776 or visit www.strollinsteve.co.uk

The 17th Blackpool R'n'R and Illuminations Weekend takes over the town's Savoy Hotel from October 28th-30th with music from Charlie Gracie, Class of 58, The Atlantics, Colin Paul & The Persuaders, Razzle Dazzle and Glenn Darren & The Krew Katz.   Info from Brian Amos on 01332 872320


Bristol Jive Club has a Halloween Jive weekender from October 29th to November 1st at the Redcliffe Hotel in Paignton, Devon with The Kingcats, Rockin' The Joint and The B17s.   Half board accommodation is £178 based on 2 adults sharing.   More info at www.bristoljiveclub.com


The Rhythm Riot rocks Pontins Camber Sands from Novmber 19th-22nd with The Cleftones, Eddy Clearwater, Sonny Burgess, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Lil Gizzelle, Bobby Brooks Hamilton, The Seatsniffers, Lil Linn & The Lookout Boys, the Ballroom Kings, Nico & The Rhythm Dudes, Bo Weevil Blues Band, CC Jerome's Jetset Revue, Mike Sanchez, Si Cranstoun, Carmen Ghia & The Hot Rods, Sugar Foot Stomp, Big John Carter and Top Shelf Jazz.






If it jumps, jives, bops or strolls we want to know about it.   or call 07833 703189.