Author: sipadvisor

Saturday August 26th 2023

Our first indoor concert of the year takes us to Scarborough Spa, located in Scarborough’s picturesque South Bay and is one of the most prestigious venues for conferences, exhibitions, entertainment and events on the Yorkshire Coast.

12.15 start as we need to be in Scarborough around 4pm for a sound-check so no pub stop-off.

Also no gold bus today, travelling in the car with the gear going in the van.

Just Alex to pick up as Roy & Keith went ahead separately sightseeing…

Peter & Carl are here…

Keith found a pub to stop off at in Harrogate – The Nelson Inn…

He tried a pint of the Brightside Brewery bitter…

The food was stunning…

At least we had some nice scenery to look at…

And a pit stop near Tadcaster…

Anyone tried drinking a boiling hot over-full costa coffee in a fast moving vehicle?

Meanwhile Roy had stopped off in Walkington near Beverley…

Black Sheep on draught…

Went on a bit of a crawl…

Still, we had our nice views…

Surely not far now…

Eventually we arrived in Scarborough…

We parked outside the venue…

Impressive!

Off to dump our bags…

And check the drinks fridge…

The sound-check was delayed by over an hour so we headed back outside to find something to eat…

We bumped into huge Farm fan Paul Lomax and his fiancé Belinda…

They told us there was a chippy about 10 minutes up the road…

It didn’t take us long to find Britain’s best…

Couldn’t argue…

Anyway, back to the venue…

Nu was checking the mics…

Carl & Roy checking the rhythm…

I was checking the adjoining bar…

I only had a half…

Sound check over, we’d arranged to meet guests in the town, little did we know it was a long steep climb up many steps…

We we’re heading for the Cask Inn…

We ordered 3 pints of Hophead by the Dark Star brewery…

They went down a treat, we ordered more but then had to think about getting back to the venue, thankfully our guests showed us a short cut and in no time we were back at sea level…

We were thrilled to meet and chat to our old mates from Leeds outside the Spa…

Time was pressing so we headed back to the dressing room…

A big crowd had gathered in the hall…

Time to go on!

What a brilliant crowd and great reaction…

After the show we watched Cast…

It was a brilliant gig but it was getting late and we had a long journey ahead of us…

A perfect way to end our summer of gigs.

Sunday August 20th 2023

Todays festival is the third of our Rewind gigs and we’re off to Temple Island Meadows, a blank canvas of beautifully maintained meadows located on one of the loveliest reaches of the River Thames, just outside the market town of Henley on Thames, on the borders of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Early start from our hotel in Norwich as we had to be in Henley for 12.30…

The night before we had sneaked out of the hotel to a pub called The Marsh Harrier…

Here we were greeted by zero clientele and Doom Bar😫

Staggering back to the hotel we stumbled upon a really large tree blocking the pavement…

Driving along today we passed the same tree…

Norwich to Henley is about 2 hours 45 minutes…

It was a sunny day and we had a relaxing drive…

We stopped off for some refreshments…

Then eventually saw signs for Rewind…

The festival looked enormous!

Time to get our wristbands…

All change!

I grabbed a deck chair with my coffee and biscuit…

Quickly checked the running order…

China Crisis were on first so we decided to have a tour of the festival site before they went on…

Walked all the way to the back of the site to see Temple Island…

Fortunately for us, they’d pitched ‘The Little Harp Inn’ marquee right next to it…

Our joy was short lived though with the news that ‘Mr Chubbs’ session bitter had run out…

A good alternative was the Green Man pale ale from the same brewery…

I was happy as the Maharaja IPA was still on…

Looking out from inside the tent you could see a small stage which had acts on throughout the day…

Ahoy there…

Peter had joined us to watch China Crisis…

They were great and the crowd were loving it but we needed to get back stage soon…

Last minute preparations…

What a crowd!!

Amazing scenes!!!

The gig was absolutely fantastic… and exhausting!!

Straight after the show Peter and Keith did an interview with Choose 80’s…

Then we all headed off to the catering as we were starving…

I went for the Sunday roast…

After dinner we watched some of Tony Hadley’s set…

As we were heading home soon, we went back stage to meet our agent Ed…

And on our way out we bumped into the brilliant Shane Ritchie…

Earlier on after coming off stage, we met up with our influential former agent and good friend Jack Gray…

The end of our festivals for the summer but what a fitting way to finish.

Saturday August 19th 2023

Our final Let’s Rock festival of the season takes us to Earlham Park, Norwich. The park lies 3 miles west of the city centre and covers 88 acres of open parkland sloping towards the River Yare.

We opted for an earlier start than needed to fit in a pub stop.

Carl & Keith at the ready…

Peter sorting out the float…

Weather overcast but getting better!

First off picking up Alex & then Roy…

Film for the day is Seven Psychopaths…

Quick stop for a bacon bap…

Then back to the film…

Weather improving…

Our stop-off village of choice today is Wymondham…

Making good time…

Eventually we arrived in Wymondham…

Our pub of choice is the Green Dragon…

Take your marks…

Keith chose the Dizzy Blonde…

While the rest of us had the Oakham Citra…

We ordered our food and went outside into the beer garden…

Fish & Chips all round…

We had another pint then made our way back out front…

Then back on the bus for the remainder of the journey…

Wasn’t too long before we arrived at the park…

Time to collect our wristbands…

Some relaxation with tea and biscuits…

Had a quick look at the line-up…

We went out front to watch Neville Staple…

Then headed over to the VIP bar…

We ordered Atlantic Pale Ale while watching the crowd being entertained by Nathan Moore…

Carl was meeting his brother Barrie who was on holiday in Norwich…

As time was getting on we had a last photo in the VIP before heading off backstage.

On the way we bumped into Dee, a lovely Farm fan…

Now backstage, Carl is explaining to Keith how bad the Atlantic Pale is this week…

At last, time for us to go on…

Fantastic crowd!

It was a great atmosphere at the festival and very thirsty work!

Time to get a bite to eat and enjoy a mellow moment…

Watched some of Heaven 17 from side of stage…

Then the Happy Mondays from the VIP…

Back stage with Bez & Rowetta…

And Neville Staple…

Time for us to leave as we were staying over in Norwich and playing Rewind South in Henley the following day.

What a great day out we had!

Sunday August 6th 2023

Our second Rewind festival takes us to Capesthorne Hall, a country house near the village of Siddington, Cheshire, England. The house and its private chapel were built in the early 18th century, replacing an earlier hall and chapel nearby. They were built to Neoclassical designs by William Smith and his son Francis.

Much shorter journey today as the venue is only about an hour away so we met up about 10.30…

We have to top up the rider at Rewind so a couple of packs of Peroni bought early doors…

Rain with sunny spells was forecast throughout the day and pretty soon the heavens opened…

In no time though, we were off the motorway and passing through the town of Knutsford…

At last signs for the venue…

Traffic was building up…

Eventually we turned off the road into the entrance to the gig…

Big queues!

A vehicle stuck in the mud!

At last back stage…

into the artists area…

and into our dressing room…

We were having publicity shots taken so we dumped our bags and went back outside…

We headed into the catering tent…

Menu looked great!

Peter and Keith were staying back to do interviews…

Quick look at the running order…

Roy, Carl and I decided to check out the festival site…

Rain had kept off up to this point so we decided to visit the ‘Little Harp Inn’ (see previous blog Rewind Scotland.)

Carl went for his favourite Mr Chubbs bitter from the Renegade brewery…

Roy and I went for the Maharaja IPA…

The beer was spot on and China Crisis had just come on stage so we went to watch them…

A few spots of rain were beginning to appear so we ordered a couple more of the Renegade beers and rushed back to watch from the side of the stage…

Meanwhile Peter and Keith were doing an interview with Helen Barnes…

Interview over, it was a short walk to the stage and we were ready…

The Doctor gave us a great introduction…

On we go…

‘All Together Now’ 🥳 @TheFarm_ at @rewindfestival yesterday #rewindnorth #80s. pic.twitter.com/8myU2GfA5V

— Helen Barnes (@Loving80sMusic) August 7, 2023

What a fantastic crowd!

Coming off stage we bumped into one of our very first fans and our ex manager and owner of SJM Concerts, Simon Moran!

Earlier on in the day Roy was chatting to Sonia…

Peter with Gary from China Crisis…

and Alex with ‘The Doctor’…

Carl and I went back out front to meet our guests…

I took my grandson Tommy backstage to eat sweets and we bumped into Keith…

I wanted to show him the stage and we watched the Earth Wind & Fire experience…

It was too loud for Tommy though so I took him back and headed to the catering tent to grab my Sunday dinner…

Just time to watch some of Heaven 17…

Before finally setting off home…

What a fabulous day we all had!

Saturday July 29th 2023

Today’s festival takes us to Lydiard Park, Swindon, a 260-acre country park at Lydiard Tregoze about 3 miles west of central Swindon, Wiltshire, near Junction 16 of the M4 motorway.

We were headlining the show tonight so we met up around mid-afternoon at Sort where we were pleased to find the Gold Bus waiting for us…

Most of the band and crew were together today…

Team Mullin had left earlier as they were staying the night in Swindon…

All aboard…

We headed off to pick up Alex & Roy and then set off on the journey south…

No service station stop today but at least we were able to watch a brilliant film!

We all enjoyed the film very much and we’re now well into our journey…

We were heading to Chedworth in Gloucestershire for our tea…

Very soon we arrived at our pub of choice, The 7 Tuns!

Great looking pub we went straight in and ordered 4 pints of Hooky…

Going down a treat!

Food was very good too…

Plenty of time for another pint so I tried the Otter Amber…

We really enjoyed the pub and were now only half an hour from the venue…

Today’s concert was a community event to raise funds for Julia’s House – the only children’s hospice building in Wiltshire. Their outstanding care reaches far beyond the hospice walls. They provide free respite care for the most seriously ill children and their families however they need it most – in their home, at the hospice and in the heart of the community.

We arrived at the venue…

Keith & the canines were waiting for us…

We went out front to meet up with some friends…

Enjoyed a few pints of Good Old Boy by the Renegade beer company…

It was soon time to go on so we headed back stage…

We’re on!

Brilliant crowd!

As it was dark we arranged for our guests to come back stage…

Hammer Horror…

Carry on Drinking…

Reservoir Dogs…

We had a great laugh but it soon became time for us to head off on the long journey home.

What a fantastic day!

Saturday July 22nd 2023

The first of our Rewind festivals takes us to Scone Castle, a Category A-listed historic house near the village of Scone and the city of Perth, Scotland. Built in red sandstone with a castellated roof, it is an example of the Gothic Revival style in Scotland. Scone was originally the site of an early Christian church, and later an Augustinian priory.

Dismal weather, an early start and no vans prompted glum faces as we met up at Sort rehearsal rooms en route to Scotland…

Soon enough though, our transport arrived so we threw in our bags and climbed aboard…

No Roy to pick up as he went ahead yesterday sightseeing so…off we go!

Carl, like in the previous blog brought reading material in lieu of videos…

I spoke about my recent holiday in Northumberland…

Forecast at the moment is wet wet wet…

but clearing up later on in Scotland.

Time for some breakfast…

Floury baps…

Moving on…

Carl found an ingenious way of watching a video…

While I recalled a fine pint I had along Hadrians Wall at the Twice Brewed Brew House…

Weather getting worse rather than better as we hit Scotland…

Time for some home made banana bread…

Through Glasgow now and weather improving…

Starting to see some nice scenery…

An encouraging road sign…

Then at last some nice weather!

We must be nearly there…

Yes!

Wristband time!

Into the artists tent…

To our dressing room.

We had a walk over to the catering…

Roy had half a banana🍌

A quick look at the running order…

We came out front as Disco Inferno we’re playing…

Carl was meeting his brother Barrie who was in one of the Rewind bars ‘The Little Harp Inn’…

We tried some real ales from the Renegade Brewery, Carl & Barrie had the Mr Chubbs Session Bitter…

I had the Green Man Pale Ale…

Meanwhile Peter and Keith were doing an interview with Perthshire Local Media…

It was time to head back stage and we caught Slim Jim Phantom performing his classic rock n roll…

We all headed back…

Then into the dressing room.

It’s time to go on stage!

The crowd were fantastic!

After the gig we went back out front to watch a couple more acts…

Then Peter and Keith did another interview, this time with Local 80’s Music…

We also got in on the photo😃

We just had time to watch Soul ll Soul from the side of the stage…

Before grabbing a bite to eat and heading off home.

Another fantastic day out!

Saturday July 8th 2023

Our fifth Let’s Rock festival of the season takes us to Southampton Common. The 365 acres features woodland, rough grassland, ponds, wetlands, lakes and parkland and is a much loved and well used green open space in the centre of the city, popular for informal leisure activities as well as large events.

Another early dart as we have to be in Southampton for 1pm, again it’s a van for the gear…

and a people carrier for us.

I’m also taking the Groovy Grain beer that I brewed about a month ago.

Off we go…

Weather is unpredictable today…

As there’s no DVD’s, Carl brought some reading material…

I was worrying how the beer would react to the 5 hour journey!

Making good progress though…

Time for some breakfast…

Good choice by Keith…

Off we go again…

Skies still dramatic…

A short pit stop in Chilton…

Not far now…

Backstage to get our wristbands!

I quickly found a quiet spot outside to sort out the beer…

Then set it up in the artists area…

A quick check on the running order…

Neville Staple sounded great out front…

Time for our weekly trip to the VIP bar!

Just had the one pint of Atlantic Pale…

Headed back stage to the artists area to open our ‘bar’…

First up we’re Martyn Ware & Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17…

Next up the guitarist from Slim Jim Phantom…

Then Carl came over with the bassist and drummer of the Neville Staple band…

Various musicians continued to stop by…

It was beginning to get busy…

Beer was going down well…

Too well! I’d forgotten the time and we were due on stage in 10 minutes!

Great crowd again!

Biggest crowd yet!

After our set we went back stage to grab a bite to eat and finish off the beer…

Nathan Moore joined us for a pint but the beer was quickly running out…

Heaven 17 we’re getting ready to play so we all went to the side of the stage to watch them…

They were brilliant!

Sadly it was time for us to head off as we were driving home but again another great day out!

Saturday July 1st 2023

Our fourth Let’s Rock gig takes us to Powderham Castle in Devon. Located in a unique, picturesque setting within an ancient deer park beside the Exe estuary, just south of Exeter.

Very early start as we have to be there by 1pm but no bus???

One of the drivers was taken ill but found us a replacement at very short notice…

No video’s this week but as it was still very early we had some quiet time.

After an hour or so we stopped off at services…

Coffee and cake!

Back on the road…

Carl mentioned a film he’d watched recently…

Mutated wasps😳

I mentioned I’d been on a bike ride along the Wirral Way calling in at the Red Lion in Parkgate…

finishing in The Magazine pub in New Brighton where there was a great view of Everton’s new stadium.

We sped on and were making good time…

Saw a hill in East Brent😳

Then came off the motorway down country lanes…

We suddenly saw our other van travelling in a different direction

Stopped to ask an official where we were – apparently some road workers had removed some of the signs…

More confusion…

Eventually we found the correct entrance and arrived at the artists area back stage.

Dumped our bags and had a quick look at the stage times..

As usual we went out front for a look around

You guessed it… the VIP bar

More auctions…

and of course the Atlantic Pale

No sign of Nathan though and no stage, maybe he’s on later

Walking around we caught some of the Beat’s set

Then headed backstage as we were on early this week

Again a big crowd

Great reaction!

What a gig!

Next on were the Undertones!

They were brilliant and we met them just after…

Next on Midge Ure…

OMD…

Soft Cell…

What a great festival it was!

It was too far to drive home so we were staying in Taunton…

After a good nights sleep we set off home via Bristol and went over the Clifton Suspension. Bridge…

Here we had a chippy breakfast…

and a quick half as it was Roy’s birthday!

Roy had Guinness…

I had Gem from Bath Ales…

Saw this on the way out of the pub…

What a great couple of days we had!

Saturday June 24th 2023

The third of our Let’s Rock gigs takes us to Dalkeith Country Park, a stunning destination just a few miles from Edinburgh’s city centre.

It’s a 9.30 meet at Sort as it’s a good 4 hour journey to Edinburgh.

We have DVD’s so fingers crossed we’ll be able to watch them.

Off we go…

our first film was ‘In Bruges’…

we all thoroughly enjoyed the film.

By now we had entered Scotland…

it was a very hot and humid day so we opened the window as some of us were wilting🥵

Some nice scenic views to take in.

We decided to stop off at Biggar for our lunch…

The Crown Inn.

We ordered 4 pints of Jarl by the Fyne Brewery.

Nice pint!

The food was good as well…

Keith of course went for the Pornstar Martinis😀

All in all a good place to eat and drink!

Time to be on our way.

Some more lovely scenery…

a council estate…

then at last Dalkeith Country Park!

Time to pick up our wristbands…

and to prepare for our performance!

A quick look at the running order meant we had plenty of time.

We went out front for a look around…

and met up with Carl’s brother Barrie.

We thought we’d show him the VIP bar.

A rather more realistic review of the Atlantic Pale that we also had last week…

Fortunately, Slim Jim from the Stray Cats was about to perform…

The band were great!

Meanwhile Barrie bumped into a couple of his work friends who we chatted with…

Next the Beat we’re on!

Alex came looking for us to watch them…

We got a better view from the side of the stage.

They were really great but time was passing us by and we had to get back stage!

Some were checking the gear…

while others were chilling out!

Eventually we all met up ready to go on – this week there’s footage of us walking on to the stage😀

The crowd were going mad!

What a fantastic audience!

The gig was brilliant, we just had time to have a bite to eat and watch the brilliant Midge Ure before we set off home…

One pit stop…

then homeward bound with a couple more films…

and the rest of the rider!

What a great day out we had!