May Club Night 2008

The May Club Night managed an almost full house despite the fact that it was held on the first beautiful, sunny and warm evening of 2008.

Several familiar faces were absent, due to an early start to the holiday season and various illnesses and work commitments, but the performers who did strut their stuff really did themselves proud, with almost three hours of non stop entertainment which brought great applause, and more than a few cheers, from the crowd.

Special welcome to Denny who was returning to the stage for the first time in many years and what better place to do it than VSL.

April 2008

Well - we had a feeling it was going to be a bumper evening and we weren't wrong.

By 7.45pm the Concert room and the lounge were full to capacity and by 8.30pm we had almost ran out of glasses.

Such is the current popularity of Vintage Sixties Live, added to by the publicity given by the excellent full page spread in the John North column of the Northern Echo recently.

The performance programme was bursting at the seams a week before the event - and even though we managed to get the show under way a few minutes early and continued, non-stop, from 8pm until 11.15pm - several would-be performers had to be disappointed. Needless to say they all took it in good part and we will endeavour to give them priority at the next club night.

And what a programme it was. We were treated to everything from the Dixie Cups to Cream and including Tom Jones, Gene Pitney, Jackson 5 (that's Michael not Bianca) the Shadows, Ventures, Jethro Tull (complete with flute) along the way.
I intend to post a full set list shortly as the depth and diversity we have on offer never ceases to amaze to amaze me.

This is an excerpt from one of the emails I received today which just about says it all.
Hi Alan,
Everybody says it can't get any better we always say, but can it? last night was probably the best of all, the artists were brilliant a credit to you and Alan, everything was so well organised and everyone went home singing. regards Peter.

It is always wonderful to watch our regulars present an ever-changing array of songs but it was especially pleasing this month to welcome VSL "virgins" Ian and Brendan (former members of such groups as White Rabbit and the Perfidians), Peter Knowles and friends ( formerly with, would you believe, top sixties group Paul Ryan and the Streaks ). It was also great to see Baz Waller again, who had travelled all the way up from London (wherever that is :>)) Baz played with many of the top local groups during the Sixties and Seventies,and teamed up again with old mates Keith Aston and Kenny Potts for the evening.
All great sets guys and please come back soon.

Anyone Fancy having a go ? Contact us and we will do our very best to fit you in (and even provide backing if required). Go on - you know you want to.

Can't wait for Thursday 8th May when we will do it all again.

"B there or B Square"

March 2008

Earlier fears that we may be in for a quiet night were anything but true.

Even with Big Jim working in Thailand for a few weeks, Colin Ibbertson, Mark Lishman and a few of our other regular star performers on holiday or otherwise engaged - plus Colin the Orchestra taking a well deserved break - we managed a full and varied programme for the usual packed house.

It was great to meet Mike Amos, from the Northern Echo, who called in for a pint and a chat.

Thanks go to everyone who performed or applauded - it is your efforts and enthusiasm which make VSL the success that it undoubtedly is.

...to be continued

February Club Night 2008

January Club Night 2008

Start the New Year with a Twang.
Well, we certainly did that - thanks to our special guests The Shadocasters. They really did us proud with a showcase set of Cliff and the Shadows hits supplemented by a bit of good old rock and roll. Thanks to Alan and Dave and also to Martin and Jimmy who had travelled all the way from Whitby to perform.
The run-up to this club night had been a worrying time for Alan L and myself due to the number of our regulars being struck down by the latest virus but, although we were without several of the familiar faces on the night, we were still able to deliver three hours of the best of Sixties music. This, in itself, is a tremendous credit to the commitment and enthusiasm of the many performers who have taken part over the 20 months since VSL began, and keep coming back for more.

Mike Gutteridge was back demonstrating his usual relaxed technique - the result, I suspect, of a great natural talent supplemented by many years of experience.

There were also one or two very pleasant surprises on the night. Colin Howson, turned up trumps yet again by bringing along a couple of his friends to appear with him in an excellent little semi-acoustic harmony set.

The ever popular Brian Mason followed Colin on to the stage, delivering the big ballads with his big voice, to a great response from the crowd.

The Stray Dogs had a big surprise of their own for us. Gorgeous lead singer Angie could not make it this month, so they scoured the doss houses and opeum joints of Spennymoor, and managed to engage the services of some young upstart guitarist by the name of Kenny Potts - a name and face vaguely familiar to many sixties fans.

The sight and sound of Kenny and Dave Hodges playing together was something many of us had wanted to see and hear for a long, long time and they did not disappoint. Supported by Mark on bass and Kev on drums they delivered a couple of Cream numbers which were par excellence. Magic guys - pure magic!!
You can't say that you don't get variety at VSL :>)
There was even more variety to come as Robin took us right back to the early sixties with It's only make believe, Diana and the Wanderer, followed by Billy Barr, who kept the party going, reliving hits from the Box Tops and Tremeloes, backed by the Two Alans and Mike Morris, with Bill Field on bass.

Then it was time to give the boppers an opportunity for short rest (well they aren't getting any younger are they?)
This month Colin Ibbertson and the guys had come up with a couple of lesser known instrumentals - Cossack Patrol (Jumping Jewels) and Magic Carpet (Dakotas) - which were delivered with their usual flair and expertise. This part of the show is rapidly becoming one of my favourites. Everyone recognises the melody but they are driven wild trying to remember who recorded it - Hee hee hee.

Meanwhile, the dancers had almost recovered and were raring to go, and who better to get them rocking than Rock of Ages, who were also making a welcome return to VSL. Mike and Co performed a great little set which left them gasping for more, but as we were rapidly approaching the witching hour I thought we had better get Paula on stage. She had enjoyed a quiet night by her usual standards but that was soon rectified with the old Chris Montez number Let's Dance followed by an unexpected cracker - Diana Ross's Chain Reaction.

By then it was time to wrap up another great night and who better to do that than Alan Wakes with his much requested version of the Marmalade hit - Reflections of my Life.
Thanks to all the performers and to everyone who supported the night. It really got 2008 off to a great start.
See you all next month.

B there or B square

December Club Night - Part 3

Ten o'clock was the time set aside for the most eagerly awaited reunion since the Spice Girls - and what a reunion it was.

Marie and her old group the Sapphires were back on stage together for the first time in 42 years.

They started with a classy arrangement of the old Tina Turner number "I can't stand the Rain" followed by a stompin' rendition of "Mustang Sally" during which Marie was joined on stage by Emma and Joanne - who had been recruited only minutes before as backing singers following a quick rehearsal - IN THE LADIES!!

They finished their short set to enthusiastic applause with the classic "House of the Rising Sun" which left no-one in any doubt as to why Marie has had such a successful career in clubland and beyond.

Don't leave it another 42 years before you come back guys.

With such a hard act to follow it was no surprise that Catherine was more than a bit nervous. It was her first time EVER singing with a live backing. She was joined for her first number "Da Do Ron Ron" by our Paula - who never seems nervous about owt - and what a fantastic job they made of it. Then the tempo changed for her solo debut singing "Dream a little dream of me" with the beautifully sensitive backing supplied by the ever versatile Kenny, Colin W, BillyF and Mike.

As the cheers for Catherine died down her place was taken by AlanW. Alan can always be relied upon to choose a great track to perform and his great delivery of the Lovin' Spoonful's Daydream" fitted the bill perfectly.

Mike remained on stage to be joined by Brian Jones Alan Burnigill and Pete Lodge who had the floor rocking again with Alan's vocals on "I fought the Law" followed by a very seasonal choice of "Rudolph" and "Winter Wonderland" by Pete during which the stage was invaded by something which resembled a cross between Rudolph, Santa and Paula - complete with flashing nose, short Santa costume - AND SUSPENDERS!

Pete's face was a picture. He did not know whether to run or jump but, being the trooper he is, continued with the show regardless and soon recovered to rock the house with a couple of Chuck Berry favourites "Promised Land" and "C'est la Vie".

By now it was after 11pm and time to wind up three hours of top class non-stop entertainment. What could be better to end on than Kenny, Paula and AlanW's absolutely brilliant accapella - "After the Goldrush".

There were over 30 performers on stage tonight. Over the eighteen months since we started VSL many of them have become close friends. Heartfelt thanks to them and to the packed audience for their time and enthusiasm. Many thanks also to Tudhoe Victory Club management and staff.Between us we have proved that there is still a demand in clubland for quality entertainment. We are especially pleased that so many young(er) people have taken us to their hearts and entered into the spirit of the Sixties which we try to create.

It is often said these days that there is nowhere where a young performer can learn their craft in front of a live audience with live backing. There is - here at Vintage Sixties Live - and it won't cost them a penny.

See you all next year.

December Club Night - Part 2

After Jim and Don we had the first apppearance of the evening by Kenny following his recent guest appearance in Bishop Auckland General Hospital. He was accompanied on stage by Paula and AlanW and, as this talented trio have performed everything in the past from heavy rock to close harmony, it was no surprise when they pulled off an excellent version of the old classic "Reeling in the Years".

Next up was Regular Robin - a reference to his VSL appearances not his bowel movements. He, together with AlanL on harmony vocals, slowed the tempo down with the old Jim Reeves number "He'll Have to Go" then brought it back up again with the Monkees "I'm a Believer" followed by "Knock on Wood". Great stuff.

It was at this point that all hell broke loose when the stage was invaded by three "chavs"- who were anything but Middle of the Road - intent on causing irreparable damage to Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (see picture). Hmm...I'm sure I recognised their faces

Happily order was soon restored just in time for Colin Ibbertson's sensational versions of the little heard instrumentals Sandstorm and Because they're Young with Colin Woodland, on guitar synth, adding the "orchestra" and the rest of the accompaniment being provided AlanL, Mark and Brian on drums.

The same line-up then helped Emma and Joanne to really excel themselves this month with their little set of Jimmy Mack, Rockin' around the Xmas Tree and Dance to the Guitar Man which soon had the crowd shouting for more.

During the course of the evening I couldn't help but notice the popularity of backing singers this month. I had probably started it by asking AlanW to help me out on Brown Eyed Girl.

Leo went one better by having AlanW AND Alan Burnigill for Juliet.

BrianM - also had two - Emma & Joanne - but they were much better looking.

Robin had THREE - Kenny, Paula and AlanL.

It was now time for a couple of vocals from Gentleman Jim . Would he use backing singers? Would anybody dare get up with him?

As usual Big Jim did not disappoint - HE HAD SIX!! (He would have had more but we couldn't get them on the stage.) What a star!

Jim never fails to delight and his renderings of Sha La Lee and Bits and Pieces, interspersed with his usual banter, soon had the audience stamping and singing along.

Still more to come ...