New Years Eve at Roman Camp Inn Almerton

Technically this was to be the last performance by the Foot Tappers. Although the name may get used by some promoters next year we will be fulfilling gigs with our new Sky High Showband. Very cold day, had a good drive over on quiet roads via Swaffham making good time to the Hotel arriving about 6:15pm. Found my way to reception and was shown the small dance / dining area for the band. I worked out the best way to load in was from the front door into the lounge and then I brought my car round. I had just parked up when I saw Nige and Alex arrive so I met up with them and briefed them on load in. Then we went to inspect the gig. It was quite a small playing area, so Nige and I elected to use his Bose for PA and bass and I would use my spare Marshall 50 watt 10” combo for guitar. We got set up with Alex in the corner, Nige next to him and me slightly ahead and to his left. Both Nige and Alex were slightly under the weather with coldy symptoms and I was a little tired, so we downed a couple of pints as we got sorted and that raised spirits a bit. I met up with Vanessa and briefed her on our intentions for the night giving her a copy of the set plan and asked her to please let us know if there is anything special she wanted us to do (or not do). She seemed happy so we went off to get changed for the 7:30 start. We were a few minutes late starting up very quietly with a jazzy 12 bar warm up. We played through quietly for about and hour featuring jazzy buskables such as “Ipanema, Summertime, Sleepwalk etc”. Along the way we started a bit of bantering with an American family and promised to do "Green Door" and a Michael Jackson number as requests in the next set. Jenny and Laura arrived in the middle of the set and towards the end we opened up a bit with some light rock'n'roll e.g. “Be Bop A Lula” and “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” and the Everlys “Walk Right Back” sequence. After a break to say hello to Jen and Laura we resumed with a couple of 'normal' Foot Tap sets with added requests for “Green Door” and “Rockin Robin”. Although there were only about 15-20 in the dining room we were playing in, the band sound was carrying through to the lounge and entertaining them there. We tried a bit of country with “Crystal Chandelier” and that was appreciated. In general the rock'n'roll got them up and dancing and the other stuff got them bantering. I did a Shadows walk demonstration to good applause and we closed the set on a high with “Rockin Robin” which filled the floor. In the next set we tackled: “The Wonder of You” which Nige sang really well and “Sweet Caroline” where I hit the low notes – all very well received with the audience singing along, dancing along and having a good time! Jen and Laura had set off for Sheringham mid set, so we resumed after a few minutes break for the big midnight set. Starting with “Dance the Night Away” we followed the party dance sequence through to “Hi Ho” keeping them dancing all the way. Then we picked up “Johnny B Goode” to take us through to 11:55. Nige then called appropriately for “Midnight Hour” and we were all set for the countdown on my radio controlled clock. We set off into “Old Lang Syne, Okey Cokey, Knees Up” with the audience singing and dancing along enthusiastically; and then we had a go at the longer version of “Unchained” - a good choice at this point. We got a request for "Tiger Feet" which I was batting into touch when Nige offered to give it a go in D - and apart from some missing chords on the guitar it went well considering we had never played it before. We played on for another half hour or so eventually signing off with “Wonderful Tonight” to a great reception and shouts for more; so I got the boys to encore with “Shakin All Over” and our year had been completed. Nigel and I could take pride in our handing of the situation following Dave's untimely departure. With the aid of Martin, Alex and Marty on drums we had continued to deliver versatile, entertaining performances right up to the end of the Foot Tappers; culminating in this fine New Years Eve performance under the adverse conditions of a small room and troops under the weather. We were all troupers on the night, but I thought Nige, in particular, had given his all on this gig – well done lad! With not a lot of gear out we soon got packed up. I took my leave of Vanessa who was very happy with the band and the way the evening had gone. The band wished each other all the best for the New Year. Nige and I can look forward to resuming in 2010 with “Sky High”. It had snowed a little and was very cold, so I took it steady on the way home getting in just before 3am.