Another weekender fiasco
BANDS SAVE THE DAY
by

Four kind-hearted bands saved the day by playing for free when a Somerset weekender hit the rocks.

Yeovil flyer Barely 200 people turned up for the start of the £40-a-head two-day Rock'n'Roll Extravaganza at the Westland Leisure Complex in Yeovil.   On the bill were the Boogie Bop Boys, Reservoir Cats, The Wanderers, The Thundertones, Graham Fenton's Matchbox, Memphis 56, Greggi G & His Crazy Gang, Cat & The Hot Tin Trio, The Kingcats, Rockin' The Joint, Rat Pack, Sneaky Pete & The Vipers, Sandy Ford's Flying Saucers, Crazy Jay & The Partytimers, the Rhythm Aces, Ponchartrain and the Memphis Rockers.

Even though it became clear that none of the bands were likely to get paid, Memphis 56, Greggi G, The Kingcats and the Boogie Bop Boys decided the show had to go on.

Greggi G said: "Basically there was a very poor attendance which meant no one was going to get paid! The PA company was going to pull out.   I had a chat with The Kingcats and the Boogie Bop Boys.   We all decided, what the hell, let's save what's left of the disaster and go ahead and perform, basically just to save the day for the people that had turned up.   The PA company joined in.   (Matchbox declined to perform.)

"Also at the last minute, the venue very kindly gave the three bands some diesel money to get home with.   Sadly the Sunday part of the weekender was cancelled.   It's a real shame as it was a cracking venue."

Whingers

Dave Miller, a friend of organiser Bill Stock said: "No one was more upset than Bill.   He's asked me to pass on a message of thanks to the bands, DJs and everybody who carried on for free.   The crowd that stayed on and contributed to the collection were all stars.   Memphis 56 played for two hours and kept the dance floor full.   Wild Bob Burgos did a great job as compere.   And the DJs Ian, Graham, Stack O'Wax, Dave, Leon Oddsocks and the Big Bounce.   I only wish it had gone better for them.   To the couple of whingers: maybe they would like to take a gamble like Bill did.   It turned out to be a great night."

Mark Limb of The Thundertones also had words of sympathy for Bill Stock.   "Yes it was his first time trying to do something like this and down here in Somerset most of us think he bitten off more than he could chew.   Too many bands booked etc.   Bill has been working at this gig for well over a year.   Our own band was booked in August 2008 for the event.   He's put his heart and soul into this gig for his love of the music, bearing in mind he's been on the rockin' scene all of his life and has just turned 65.   It wasn't about making money.   It was more to do with gathering his comrades for a weekend to remember.   All I ask is don't be too quick to point the finger at Bill Stock.   Things were taken out of his hands by Westlands management.

"OK, perhaps he should have had the money in his pocket to cover all expenses and perhaps it was lunacy to try this on a whim.   From what I've been hearing for many months now, though, is Bill has come up against nothing but hurdle after hurdle the whole time.   He spent a fortune on advertising and often found his adverts and banners obscured, ripped down or pasted over, especially on the Westlands site.   15,000 full colour posters went out and the gig had plenty of plugging.   Dell Richardson and Geoff Barker both announced it on their radio programmes.   Plus many of the bands plugged it on their websites etc.   Personally I think he should have started off a bit smaller, perhaps an all-dayer or at least a few gigs to kick it off.   Such a shame it had to end up like this."

There was more disappointment for festival-goers who chose to camp.   At one site vandals cut the guyropes on a number of tents during the night.   A musician attending the weekender was among the victims.

The failure of the Yeovil event on July 25th came less than three months after the Beerfest weekend near Plymouth was cancelled at the last minute.   Then, Mike & The Rhythm Stars and The Outsiders played for free on the first evening, but the rest of the programme failed to materialise.   The distraught organiser walked into nearby woods and drank a cocktail of harmful chemicals, ending up seriously ill in hospital.



Holiday Rock presents...

• The Christmas Party Hop from December 27th-30th at the Carrington House Hotel in Bournemouth with The Revolutionaires, Mark Keeley's GRT and Rockin' The Joint.

• Rockin' In The Caribbean in the Dominican Republic from January 11th 2010 with Mark Keeley's solo show and other entertainment.

• The Valentine Weekend from February 12th-15th 2010 at the Conrgess Hotel in Eastbourne with Mark Keeley's GRT, The Kingcats and Bernie Woods & The Forest Fires.

• Springtime Rockin' from April 23rd-26th 2010 at the Victoria Hotel, Torquay with Mark Keeley's GRT, Blast Off and Rockin' The Joint.

• Summertime Rockin' from June 11th-14th 2010 at the Victoria Hotel, Torquay with Mark Keeley's GRT, Jive Street and Joey & The Jivers.

More info on all these events at www.holidayrock.co.uk or call 01905 330586


Strollin' Steve Strollin' Steve presents...

• The Bournemouth Rock'n'Roll Party No. 6 is at the Heathlands Hotel, Grove Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AY from November 27th to 30th with Linda Gail Lewis, The Tonemasters, Rockin' The Joint and Some Like It Hot.   Price is £185 per person half-board.

• The Seacroft R'n'R Party No. 1 takes place from March 5th-8th 2010 at Seacroft Holiday Park, Hemsby, Beach Road, Norfolk NR29 4HR with The Firebirds, Jive Romeros, Kingcats, Porky's Hot Rockin' and the Rock Island Rebels.   Prices from £139.

• Country Meets Rock'n'Roll is at the Heathlands Hotel, Grove Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AY over the Easter weekend of April 2nd-5th 2010 with the Swing Commanders, Henry Smith Band and Mark Keeley's Good Rocking Tonight.

• 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 2010 with the Jive Romeros, The Kingcats and the Rock Island Rebels.   Price is £185 per person half-board.

• Bournemouth Bounce Jive Weekend No7 happens from October 2nd-5th 2010 at the Carrington House Hotel, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth BH1 3QQ with Big Boy Bloater, Juke Joint Jump and the Swing Commanders.

More info on all Strollin' Steve events on 01638 712187 / 07808 340776 or visit www.strollinsteve.co.uk


The 16th Blackpool Rock'n'Roll & Illuminations Weekend happens at the town's Savoy Hotel from October 29th to November 1st with Lucas & The Dynamos, The Kingcats, Jive Romeros, Crazy Jay & The Partytimers, Danny & The Seniors, The Aces and The Sandiagos.

Also make a date for Jingle Bell Rock at the Savoy Hotel from December 3rd-6th with Linda Gail Lewis, Mark Keeley's Good Rockin' Tonight, The Firebirds, The Spitfires, Phil Haley & His Comments and The Revolutionaires.   More info on both events from Brian Amos on 01332 872320

There's a Swing/Jive Turkey & Tinsel Weekend from November 6th-9th at the Barceló Imperial Hotel in Blackpool featuring the Jive Aces, Swing Commanders, Crown Top Kings, Kevin Fitzsimmons and The Cheatles.   Cost including half board accommodation is £249.   Info from Lesley on 01292 269859 or see the LP Travel website.


The Rhythm Riot returns to Pontins Camber Sands from November 20th-23rd.   Clarence Frogman Henry headlines with the Collins Kids and Big Jay McNeeley.   Also on the bill are Benny & The Flybyniters, Barrence Whitfield, the Ray Collins Hot Club, The Travellers, Baboons, Ragtime Wranglers, Domestic Bumblebees, Boppin' Steve, Harmonica Sam, Blue Rhythm Boys, Roomates, Revolutionaires, Jessie & The Orbits, Paul Paterson, Jim Carlisle and the Union Canal String Band.


Ritchie Gee's Christmas Rock'n'Party weekender hits Pakefield Pontins in Suffolk from December 4th-6th with Matchbox, Travis Le Doyt, Lennerockers, Furoius, Rat Pack, Bobcats, Spitfires, Rockhouse, Red Hot Rockers and Danny & The Seniors.   Info on 01530 455657


Swing In The Mood has 40s weekenders from January 15th-17th 2010 in Blackpool (sold out); from January 22nd-24th at Donnington Manor, Sevenoaks, Kent; from February 5th-7th at Rockingham Forest, Corby, Northamptonshire; from February 26th-28th at The Woodcroft, Bournemouth, Dorset.   More info on 01580 820123


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.


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 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.  








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