TICKETS for the Larmer Tree Festival 2003 have been selling like mad before the line-up has even been announced. Held in the exotic Larmer Tree Gardens at Tollard Royal, the festival takes place between July 17-20, opening with a Thursday evening concert featuring Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

This year’s festival is preceded by a special pre-festival concert on
Friday July 11, when Van Morrison will perform. As usual the Larmer Tree Festival will host a huge line-up of music acts from around the world, plus free workshops for adults and plenty of activities for kids including the huge fancy dress carnival procession on the final day.

Artists booked so far include: BOOMCLICK, CROFT NO FIVE, ELEYO, JOOLS HOLLAND RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA, HUCKLEBERRIES, ROSE KEMP, JACKIE LEVEN, JOSEPH AND ONE, LITTLE BIG SESSION, DERREN NAUENDORF & DAVE DOWNING, OI-VA-VOI, OYSTERBAND, VALERIE SMITH & LIBERTY PIKE, PRONGHORN, PAPE & CHEIKH, RON SEXSMITH, SHOOGLENIFTY, SKINNY SUMO, ALI SLIMANI, AMY WADGE & WAI (pictured).

As well as artists from the UK there are acts from Israel, New Zealand,
Cuba, Algeria, Canada, USA, Ireland, Australia, and Senegal. Tickets can be purchased online via www.larmertree.co.uk or by telephone
on 02380 711820.

******************************

       The Copthorne Hotel at Effingham Park near Gatwick has got together with Horsham Live Music Alliance to set up The Music Store, regular live music sessions in the Museum Suite at the hotel.  The next Music Store event happens on Thursday April 24  when Sarah Stone, Rachel Hawker, Neil Pyzer, John Ramon, Jamie Marshall, and Melanie Lewis will entertain.
  Tickets for the event which takes place in a luxurious 600-capacity suite are £5 and doors open at 7.30pm. For more details ring 01342 714994.

******************************

       PETE BOOT who was the drummer with rock band Budgie back in the 70s, has been struggling with Parkinson’s Disease for the last five years. Pete, also known as “Booty” has no intention of giving in to the disease and is focussing on raising money for the Parkinson’s Disease Society through a two-day rock festival to be held in the Midlands on Sun and Monday, May 25/26. The festival, Fill Your Head With Rock showcases 20 bands including Joe D’Irso, Eric Blakely, Micky Kemp, Susan Gibson, Trevor Burton Band, Rise, Nowhere Near The Garden, Dizzy Lizzy and many more.
The event takes place at Willenhall, West Midlands; more information is
available through www.fillyourheadwithrock.com. Pete Boot can be contacted on 01902 635885 or on his mobile 079891 32805.

       BLUES fans can look forward to a feast of moody music in April, if they fancy travelling to Southsea or Basingstoke.
  Bullfrog Blues Club, which meets in the Albert Bar on South Parade Pier in Southsea, has got the cream of American and British blues lined up for its’ Thursday night sessions, with USA singer/guitarist Little Toby Walker making his debut in the UK on April 3, with another American singer Adrian Byron Burns doing his thing the following week.  John Crampton produces blues of the footstomping variety on April 17, while the last gig of the month on April 24 features Amor, the storming blues rock outfit led by ex-Hoax guitarist Jon Amor.  For more details ring 02392 436267.
  There will be a white-hot evening  at The Anvil in Basingstoke on Friday April 25 when the American Festival of the Blues storms in.  Singer Louisiana Red, guitarist Bobby Parker, top female vocalist from Chicago, Deitra Farr, and the Otis Grand Big Band complete with a stunnning horn section line-up to get down to some blues.  The box off ice is on 01256 844244.

******************************