For those of you who live within easy travelling distance of Tamworth UK, you may like to know about a festival Tina and I have organised for this weekend. Here are the details: This is taken direct from the press release, so forgive anythings that looks a bit odd.

The show I am particularly thinking of is the afternoon affair Sunday 8th January with Tina, Phil, Guy Maile and more. It looks as if Willo may be coming. As is Joy from Sheffield and possibly Ian & Liz Westwood from Wolverhampton. We would love to see more of the Geldof contingecy there. As it is an afternoon show it might be quite a nice relaxed affair.


The Royal British Legion in Aldergate, Tamworth has been serving the town for many years. But now the club needs help itself. They have turned to local arts activist Ian Gibbons to see if he can put together a programme of events which will help enable to club to survive. Ian said ‘The problem I have, quite frankly is that with the work I do I have to limit what I can do to be effective. But not so long ago my good friend Paul Mortimer pointed out that The British Legion was in need of assistance. I then received a call from two other friends, Ken & Maureen Gant, who expressed their concern that the club may have to close. They asked if I could help and of course I then set aside some time to make a few calls to see what could be done. I am delighted to say that my calls have received 100% backing from all of my arts, music and business based contacts. We now have enough events in the pipeline to last for about 6 months.

The easiest thing for me to do was to set about organising a folk/acoustic festival weekend as Tina and myself have contacts through the UK. I am pleased to say that on the weekend of 7th & 8th January, Tamworth will be a mass of music and arts events, all in aid of the Royal British Legion. Musicians from all over the country have agreed to help out. Top blues guitarist Roger Sutcliffe who is based in Whitby, North Yorkshire is making a 600 mile round trip to help out. Roger regularly tours throughout Europe with his one man show. Rik Mayall’s cousin, Guy Maile, who is now a big noise on the acoustic theatre and festival scene is now heading to Tamworth for that weekend to help out. Local artists have been tremendous; the Tamworth Folk Club based at the Gamecock in Birchmoor immediately responded to my pleas for assistance as did top Irish band Patton & Kelly. Along side of these artists will be Paul Mortimer, Edgar Mortimer, Vic Mortimer, John Garforth, Geoff
Stevenson, Ian Gibbons, Tina McBain, Mark Brindley, Adam Cukrowski, Julie Thurman, and more artists are being added on a daily basis.

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart, the artists who have agreed to take part in the event at very short notice.’

The itinerary at present is as follows but being added to on almost an hourly basis:

SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY
The Royal British Legion, Aldergate, Tamworth
12 NOON - 4:30PM
POEMS, PINTS, WORDS AND MUSIC
Artists include, Guy Maile, Roger Sutcliffe, Glen Buglass, Paul Mortimer,
Edgar Mortimer, Vic Mortimer, John Garforth, Geoff
Stevenson, Ian Gibbons, Paul Mills, Mark Brindley, Adam Cukrowski,
Julie Thurman, plus a whole lot more.
ALL MUSICIANS AND POETS WELCOME FOR THIS
SINGAROUND EVENT - ADMISSION FREE!
TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, LET’S PACK THE LEGION TO
THE RAFTERS AND DRINK THE BAR DRY!

AN EVENING OF FOLK AND BLUES
SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY
The Royal British Legion, Aldergate, Tamworth
With The Old Castle Band, Roger Sutcliffe, Guy Maile, Tina McBain,
plus more to be announced.
Our good friends at Tamworth Folk Club have kindly agreed to present an evening concert. The full line up to be announced, but one thing is for sure, it will be a great night, not to be missed.
Tickets £4.00 from the Tourist Information Centre
Doors open 7:00 pm

SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY AFTERNOON CONCERT
TINA McBAIN HOSTS
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – PHIL BATES, NIGEL BULLOCK, STEVE EDKINS, ROGER SUTCLIFFE, GUY MAILE, MARTIN KELLY plus more to be announced.
at the Castle Hotel, Ladybank, Tamworth
12 noon til 4:30 pm
For the benefit of The Royal British Legion, Aldergate, Tamworth. One of Tamworth most respected vocalists, Tina McBain is hosting a major afternoon concert. Tickets are £12 and will include an afternoon tea of finger sandwiched, cakes, scones, tea and coffee. Tickets from the Castle Hotel 01827 317700 or the Tourist Information Centre, 01827 709618

SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY
A WILD IRISH NIGHT WITH
PATTON & KELLY
No doubt about it, Patton, Kelly and Haywood are one of the biggest Irish acts in the midlands. They have been packing venues and theatres for more years than we care to remember. This is one concert that no self respecting Celtic music fan would want to miss. Be prepared for outbreaks of spontaneous dancing, stamping of feet and clapping.
A real Wild Irish Night is guaranteed. - Ian Gibbons

Tickets £4.00 from the Tourist Information Centre or on the door.
Door open: 7:00 pm

Ian continued ‘I cannot believe how this has all come together so quickly. Another major plus is major sound engineer Alan Caves who for many years worked for UB40 will be recording many of the events. This means we will be able to release a CD, again helping to raise further valuable funds. But of course we are against the clock. It will need to be very much a word of mouth thing. I would appeal to any musicians, artists who are reading this who would like to take part, especially in the Saturday afternoon event to get in contact with me. It has occurred to me that all this hard work in such a short period of time should not go to waste. I am overwhelmed by the response. But then again it’s hardly surprising. I am intending to make this event an annual festival in the coming years, why not have the first major festival of the season in Tamworth? But of course that is for the future. Right now we just need to get on with the job in hand. All those years ago, young men and women gave their lives so we could live in a free democratic society – lest we forget! If you are interested in helping, please contact me on 01827 314994.

Tickets are on sale now at the Tourist Information Centre in Market Street. 01827 709618

Stop Press Music Box
The young bands, the youth culture of the town are also doing their bit for the Legion on Sunday 8th January and for this reason the opening of Tamworth’s newest live music venue Decadence at the Castle Hotel, Ladybank, Tamworth has been brought forward by 3 weeks. Ian Gibbons said ‘Decadence was due to open as a live band venue at the end of January with the Cavern competition, but I am pleased to say the pop and rock culture of this town have responded magnificently and a benefit gig will now launch the Decadence venue. The Jones Project, Lost in Vegas, The Virtues, Johnny Action Finger, have been chosen to open the venue, DJ Glen from the Skull Club has offered to coordinate the DJ-ing. Slackers have also indicated they will be more than happy to help with the DJ duties.

It is so good to see the younger element of the music scene taking part in this event. How I approached this was to tell them that many years ago young men and women were prepared to put their lives at risk to protect our freedom. Many of them as you may have read in your history books gave their lives. 100's of 1000's of them. That is why people like The Pistols, Geldof, Rap Bands, even loudmouths like me can do what we do. There is also another issue. All Tamworth musicians and audiences must know what its like to lose a venue – the fact that the arts culture just lost 2, the Media Centre and the Arts Centre. So perhaps you can feel some affinity to the ladies and gentlemen of the ex. servicemen, losing theirs. They all reacted positively.

I am pleased to announce the details as follows:

The line up in no particular order for the opening night of Decadence is as follows:
Date: Sunday 8th January
Venue: Decadence, Ladybank, Tamworth
Billing: The Jones Project, Johnny Action Finger, Lost in Vegas, The Virtues. DJ-ing organised by Glen of the Skull Club
Doors: 7:30pm
Tickets: £4 from The Castle Hotel Reception 01827 317700
First band on stage: 8:00pm
Finish time: Late

Tickets for this gig will be £4. Door open 7:30 pm

Please note that all profit after production costs of the pa and security and hospitality will go to the Royal British Legion