Had a good run over with Jacqui and Claire aboard and Jack and George following. The Green Park Centre is on an old US air base and much of the site is dilapidated. One minute you are in the civilised Norfolk countryside, the next you are in this scene of devastation reminiscent of 'Mad Max'. Anyway we de-car'd and strolled past the burger bar bumping into Jenny who looked very well considering. Going on into the building I found Nigel and Charlie (and his mate Rick) working on the PA.
They had been there since 9:30am and were just about to power up. Just off the stage, and touchingly, Steve was in the final stages of setting up Dave's kit and some wigs as a display, we had an emotional man hug! Next I found Alan and said hello - he seemed in remarkably good shape considering his recent ailments and was quietly confident all would go well! Some country boys had started to arrive; including 'Boomerang' who had travelled up from a gig in Hampshire! They started tripping over Charlie's multi-core and soon got him to shift it to run over the over the door to the artistes dressing room – a good move I think! I brought my guitars and bits and pieces in and started to wire up the CD player and radio mic. Met up with Bobby Graham who gave me his backing track CD so we could test it out and it all seemed well. Next up we set the radio mic receiver on top of the CD player. When I tested this out I made a mistake asking Charlie for too much middle on the radio mic for Claire's announcements. Of course, Claire is a radio personality not a rock'n'roll close mic user and because the JTS rapidly loses bass proximity, we had to go back to Charlie's original setting - doh! Claire went off to interview artistes and I went over to see how Ms J was doing. I found her with Jenny and Hilly doing a roaring trade selling entrance and raffle tickets. In fact the hall was filling up rapidly and it was clear there would be a shortage of tables and chairs. Jenny and Martin set off to organise more furniture while Steve organised a big pot for the raffle tickets. Then Dan and Michele made their entrance - having been to the wrong Green Park (Rural) Centre first. Poor Michele was suffering from a bit of a cold but said she would still do a few numbers. Meanwhile Gordon James was due to be first on at 2pm, time was getting on and he was nowhere to be seen? With about 20 minutes to go he appears armed with a suit and a CD. We quickly sorted out his song sequence and he went off; I thought to get changed! After a few minutes time was marching on, and he still wasn't ready for Claire's 'cue' but eventually I found him the 'queue' for the bar. So I said 'leave that to me mate, you go and get sorted for your start!' So I got his drink and looked round - he had gone missing again! It turns out he was outside having a smoke... Finally he was ready to go, Claire started her welcome announcement, cue'd Gordon on and he starts up only a few minutes late – we were off! And from the off Gordon sounded the best I've heard him. Charlie had got a great vocal sound and the CD backing was clearer than Gordon's usual mini-disc set up. He got a big reaction from the capacity crowd appreciative of a close to on time start and soon had the country folk up and dancing. All went well through his set, and as he completed his spot, the afternoon settled into a pattern of Nigel / Rick setting up artistes, Claire introduction, artiste on for 20 or 30 minutes. My role being co-ordination and direction. Here is our Running Order and Compere's notes as directed by Alan, padded out by Nige and adjusted by myself:
RUNNING ORDER
Gordon James (20 mins) (2-2.20)
Gordon and Dave were friends in Weybourne as children and got up to many escapades together. One was Dave falling out of Gordon's boat. Gordon would sometimes do a couple of numbers with the Foot Tappers when he attended a gig.
Terry Edwards & Boomerang + Christine (40 mins) (2.23-3.06)
Dave played with popular country band 'Boomerang' many times. A studio recording CD of Terry and Boomerang with Dave as the drummer is available for purchase. Christine was lead vocalist in Dave's early/first? band 'Crystal Wood'. She is a well-known solo country singer/keyboard player. As Christine will appear halfway through Boomerang's set they will introduce her.
Bobby Graham (20 mins) (3.09-3.29)
Bobby has been a friend of Dave's for many years. They played together in 'Mississippi Delta' Last song: 'We won't forget you'
Winston The Singing Farmer
(20 mins ) (3.32-3:55)
A local legend. Dave played at Winston's farm a few years back with Alan Cannel and John Derek in the band 'Stealer'. I switched Winston up from the original order because Kenny and Hustler were delayed en route.
Kenny Lee & Hustler (4.05-4.25)
Kenny and most the boys took to the stage with a stand in drummer, 'cos their drummer was delayed. Anyway he arrived about 3 numbers in and did his bit. Dave has been friends with the band for many years - spending many hours chatting about music and bookings with lead guitarist Mick Breame. Dave and rest of the Foot Tappers played at Kenny's wedding bash in 2008 Last song: True Love Ways
Hi Definition (4.28-4.58)
A new band for 2010, four friends of Dave: John (lead guitar) lives in the same North Walsham street; David (keyboards, guitar) played with Dave in Tequila Sunrise; Mark (bass) may even be a distant relative; Martin (drums) went to the same school as Dave. When Dave saw Martin learning the drums on the suitcases and saucepans , he let him have a go on his kit - It was the first time Martin played a real kit. Special thanks to Martin for standing in as dep with The Foot Tappers so well. Last song: Crocodile Rock
RAFFLE (4.58-5.05) Alan had cunningly arranged for the ladies to draw the tickets and stuck them to the prizes, so we gained some time as self service of prizes could go on while the event continued.
Michele Summers
(20 mins) (5.20-5.40) Poor Michele was suffering with a cold so reluctantly thought it best to contract to a 3 song set. Rather than find a way of amplifying her guitar, Winston kindly lent his. Michele elected to start off with just a guitar and no backing with "Wind Beneath My Wings" and that went very well considering the cold. She had asked for the backing track for “Old Fashioned Girl” but we had a problem pausing the player so she continued without and it sounded just fine. We finally found a way of getting tracks cued and she finished with the song she did for Dave and Jens big 15 wedding anniversary: “Evergreen” complete with backing track. Michele's little spot made a nice complementary contrast to the other stuff on the show and was much appreciated by the audience now settling down to their tea.
Tequila Sunrise
(20mins) (5.43-6.13) One of the area's top country bands. Dave played with these for quite a while in the past. Last song: Six days on the road. Nigel particularly liked these boys and they certainly got the country dancers going.
Marc James
(20 mins) (6.16-6.36) A good friend of Dave's, often called in on Foot Tapper's rehearsals. Marc did a fine set and afterwards I approached him after to come up and do a few with the Foot Tappers. on our musical tribute to Dave section.
Shake Rattle 'n' Roll + John Jarvis
(40mins) (6.39-7.24)
Shake Rattle 'n' Roll are a top rock'n'roll band. Alan Cannell (lead guitar) is Dave's brother-in-law and the 'Main Man' organising the event. John Jarvis will come on halfway, so Alan will introduce him. For info, he is best known as Norfolk's Big 'O', lead vocalist with East Coast Rock and currently 60s duo Fick'n'Finn.
Foot Tappers
(30mins) (7.30-8:00)
Nigel and I took to the stage with Marty Baldry of The Peppermint Men on drums (thanks also to Marty for depping with us at Norwich). We rattled out “Foot Tapper and Just One Look”. The guitar sound in the monitor was loud and distorted, but I assumed (rightly) that Charlie would have it OK out front because we got a great reception. The three of us then donned the wigs one more time for a Beatles medley. I mistakenly missed out “Nowhere Man”, but the boys followed me courageously! We then rearranged to bring on Dave Brooks (ex-Tequila Sunrise) now bass player with popular 60s group 'Kenny and The Beat Merchants' and founder member Dan on guitar - playing my spare Godin. Opened up with “Heartbeat”, a bit lonely vocally without Nigel but it got them dancing. Then Dan and I went forward in our original waistcoats to do the Shadow's walk to “Apache”. This got a huge reception and whilst that 'thundered on' we rearranged to bring Dave Ainsworth up on bass and put Dan on vocal to do a dedication of “Under the Sun” to Dave. Got off to a weird start to accommodate Dan's slightly delayed arrival at the mic, but we got through the verses OK. We gained a bit of time as Dan curtailed the solo's and we rallied to an end. I was pleased to bring Nigel back on (with an unplugged guitar to hide behind) so we would have his harmony vocal for a slightly slower “Lying Eyes”. Maybe I got it a tad too slow but it went down well enough as a country crossover piece. Both the Daves had done a fine job on bass, but it was now time for Dave Ainsworth to depart and Nigel to get back on bass for the finale. Earlier in the event I had asked Marc James if he would come up and do lead vocal on the finale and he duly obliged by coming up on stage to join us. We got underway with “Sweet Caroline” and Marc did a great job belting out a smooth vocal Dave would have been proud of. And with strong backing harmonies it went down just great with the crowd. I asked Marc to stay and help us do “Unchained” as our dedication to Jenny. We know this would be hard for Jenny because Dave always dedicated this song to her, so we did the short version with one middle section running to an emotional end. I asked Nige what the time was? – 8pm he says, time to wrap up says I. So we got the crowd primed to do “Walk Alone” with us. Marc started it off and we joined in (still reading the chord sheets I'm afraid) and we brought the show to a huge sing-a-long climax. Marc was just perfect standing in on lead vocal and I shook his hand and thanked him profusely for standing in to help us out with those big finale numbers. Note: We had hoped to bring on Charlie (of Zebra Express) to do a number. Charlie depped on bass with the Foot Tappers several times. Of course Charlie was providing the PA and he wouldn't risk leaving the desk – good man!
Finally Jenny and Alan came on to thank everyone and close proceedings. A lot of money had been raised for charity. Jen gave a brave and tearful thanks to all for coming and to Dave for 18 years or marriage and then the event was declared closed.
We packed up our bits and pieces and were away by just after 9 pm. The others had to soldier on to after 10pm to get packed and loaded up. All in all a great send of for Dave that will bring some closure to many.
