SMART 22 coffee meet report

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SMART 22 Coffee Meet Report. WOW!  Very busy afternoon and getting more people every time. It’s working out well with the big tables, so people can show their scrap books and albums etc. The chairs round the side are fine but as for the little tables! Always welcome any other ideas on how to arrange the room.

Among the newbies this time were Kendal Eaton,  Keith Day, and Andy Knight.  Everyone is excited about the Concert for St Michael’s on Sunday 6th September at The White Rock Theatre. Barry Taylor was plugging his Bare Faced Blues Festival at the Gecko Bar on Sunday 4th October which has been confirmed that Pete Brown will appear. Anyone that doesn’t know, Pete Brown was always considered as the 4th member of Cream and wrote the lyrics for White Room  and Sunshine Of Your Love among others. Colin Bell had with him a rare pass for the Samanthas soul club in London.  Mick O’Dowd had with him his pier cuttings and Nigel Ford had some photos he took at Hyde Park in 1971 of Humble Pie, Head Hands & Feet and Grand Funk Railroad.  More great photos of The Confederate from Peter Millington. Linda Day was talking about the album she has by Rollerball featuring Michael Baldry and produced by Terry Pack and Tony Bird. Three quarters of Factory were present and very pleased to see the page ad in this weeks Observer for the reunion gig on the 16th October.  Pete Prescott was showing some great photos of Five Bob Rocket. Roger Carey never fails to find some rare pieces and had with him leaflets and cuttings from Rumours  Club, Reading Festival, Marquee Club, Expandis play list and Vines Cross photo, Jukes photo 1983, A Minute Passed photo, Fender Hot Squad & Jon Hiseman at Bonners and A21 promo leaflet.  John Petri had photos of the bands Chain Reaction, Same Size and Stallion. Other talk was about bottle alley, 4A.M., Shaft, drum tuition, The Black Sheep (nice CD), Paul Wiseman, Battle Memorial Hall, Green Cardigan Festival, Mott The Hoople, Prog Rock Chart, 70‘s festival gigs, Jinks, Prinnys Club and Jim The Jolly Fish! This is just a small part of what I heard and can remember!  If you wish to add anything here that I missed then please do so.

Linda Day… It was good seeing lots of people attend

Mick O’Dowd… Seemed like a swarm of …. there were so many. Excellent meet. Nice to see so many new/old faces and fantastic talk .

Nigel Ford… My Hyde Park photos included “Magic Michael” on stage between bands. I seem to remember he was also at the Pier before Hawkwind. Head, Hands & Feet in ’71 preaching “peace & love” or similar when I saw them. Anyone remember him (in a long dress)?

Stuart Moir… Will try to do the next meet.

John Wilde… Very sorry to have not been present but we were preparing for that evenings gig at The Big Green Cardigan festival. Please may I ask a favour Alan, could I have a souvenier copy of this months mag? Expandis plays Flairz December 18th. See you at the next Smart meet.

John Wilde… Yes Nigel, Magic Michael was also fondly known as Jesus. He would always stand centre stage in the crowd either in a dress or baretop. He was at just about every festival I went to. Sadly rumour has it he passed away. RIP.

Tony Davis… Nice picture of the Stallion guys. Sorry I couldn’t make it but hope to see many of you at the St Michael’s gig tomorrow.

Tony Court-holmes… Phil with hair, my god.

Nigel Ford… Well I Googled Magic Michael and it seems he’s alive and kicking with his own Facebook page…

John Wilde… Well that is good news. Gawd bless Magic Michael.

Andy Qunta… Steve D. & Phil T. look almost like brothers in this photo!

Alan Esdaile… Please note the Stallion photo should be dated as 1976 not 1975. Thanks Phil Gill.

Concert for St Michael’s – White Rock Theatre 6th Sept 2015

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designed by Cliff Brooker

After the shocking fire at the hospice, Pete Prescott, Mike Raxworthy and Andy Gunton are putting together a special fund raising event on the 6th September, 2015.

Pete Prescott… I would like to thank Mick Burt and his band VEXED who just gave me £100. They received it for playing at the funeral of Colin Murphy.  It’s going towards the concert I’m organising with Mike Raxworthy and Andy Gunton. Its at the White Rock Theatre on Sept 6th 3.00.till 10.00.(the theatre have given us the day free of charge and the staff have volunteered their services on the day ) some of the top local bands will play (Rockitmen, Soul Express, Kid Kapichi, Liane Carroll and Roger Carey, Marie White and band, The Do They’s,  The Tabs,  Rich Lown , The Pete Prescott Band, Dr Savage and the Fat Tuesday 2nd line, Soundwaves ) All proceeds will go to the hospice.

Yvonne Cleland… Sounds like a cracking gig for a great cause ))) xxx

Bob Shoesmith… Some very familiar faces Yvonne

Lucy Pappas… Brilliant! Wonderful music for a great cause xx

Vicky Rosling… How can you purchase tickets?

Alan Esdaile… This gig is not official announced until next week and I expect tickets will be available from The White Rock Theatre. Hope to have confirmation of this in the next few days.

Pete Prescott… Yes that’s correct. Pay on the door.

Andre Martin… As Carnival FM is supporting St Michaels – lets have some more details and we can get a few mentions going during the week of transmission I am sure.

Andy Gunton… Concert for St Michael’s is a benefit gig to raise much needed funds for St Michael’s Hospice in St Leonards On Sea. Admission is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16’s, payable at the door. Tickets are not available in advance. Wristbands will be issued to enable you to come and go during the event. Concert for St Michael’s runs from 3-10pm, doors open at 2.30pm. All musicians are giving their services for free.  Acts and running times are subject to change and alteration. There will be a raffle on the day, with some great prizes already donated. The organisers would like to thank everyone who has helped get this event off the ground at such short notice, we appreciate it. More details coming soon, but in the meantime put the date in your diary.

Paul Merison… Also The Do They’s have been added to the bill.

Andy Gunton… Confirmed running order. It’s a little different to the poster and, as with all events like this, it is subject to change and alteration.
3pm – Soundwaves Choir
3.25 – Rich Lown
4.00 – Pete Prescott Band
4.35 – Marie White Band
5.10 – Dr Savage
5.45 – Rufus Stone Band 6.20 – Kid Kapichi
6.55 – The DoTheys
7.30 – The Tabs
8.05 – Liane Carroll & Roger Carey
8.45 – Soul Express
9.25 – 1066 Rockitmen

Philip John… Had to whip back early from the Concert for St Michael’s but was lucky enough to catch Pete Prescott’s set. Pete was on sparkling form and the band was tight as spandex trousers ! The addition of the sax player worked really well with some of the more jazzy numbers especially the BS&T Spinning Wheel some good blues too, especially liked their version of ‘Born under a bad sign’. Worth the ten quid just to see that band, then along comes ‘Kid Kapichi’. Recommended to me by Andy Gunton I was not disappointed. Saw them at a beach concert and thought they were OK but tonight they were scorching!  Great to see a guitarist with an AC 30 amp real clean sound. Good image, especially liked the bass player, a sort of prowling Wilko Johnson with one serious hair cut . Don’t know most of their numbers but really enjoyed ‘Murder on George Street’ and the following three numbers. Surely it’s only a matter of time before they move on up. The last band I caught before heading home to finish off pressing computer work was ‘The Do Theys’ .Excellent covers band, the lead singer is a real showman and had I stayed for one more number I’d have had to get up and shake it all about with all the wild women down the front. Still haven’t been able to shake ‘Blame it on Sunshine’ from my head. Have to say it was good to see a bunch of young guys up and dancing along side the ladies.

Alan Esdaile… Agree on the Pete Prescott Band, Philip. Blood Sweat & Tears Spinning Wheel was excellent. Great to catch up with a few people today. Some amazing talent on stage and Liane Carroll and Roger Carey were sensational.

Andy Gunton… I know I’m biased, but would have to agree about Kid Kapichi. They’ve certainly come on in the past year. I was saying to them afterwards, in the dressing room, how they now come across as a real ‘band’. The music, image, on stage interaction etc has all clicked into place.
Glad you mentioned ‘Murder on George St’, as I think that’s a cracker, as is ‘Ice Cream’ another new song.