The Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra led by Dorset-based Paul Hart have just released a new version of “Jumpin’Jack Flash” on the 36th anniversary of the original Rolling Stones single. It’s a commemorative CD acknowledging the talent of footballer Jack Rowley who played for Bournemouth, Manchester Utd and England, who died in 1998. The single is just bubbling under the Top 40 and with your help can make the charts. It’s at all good record shops, so go out and buy it! “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” gets the full big band treatment recorded live with Johnny Mars on vocals and a host ot top musicians including former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor. Track 2 “All Downhill & No Brakes” is an excellent instrumental which just roars along.

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Winchester music writer and promoter Oliver Gray has collaborated with Eddie Hardin, who replaced Stevie Winwood in The Spencer Davis Group to produce Eddie’s autobiography. It’s called “Alab” (ain’t life a bastard), subtitled Thirty six years of musical mayhem. The book chronicles Eddie’s life in the music business in the 60s & 70s, his battle with the booze and his hellraising adventures. A review will follow on the Reviews section of this website in due course, but having read Oliver’s previous two highly readable and humorous books I know what to expect. If you can’t wait for that, the book is published by Sarsen Press of Winchester at £9.99 and you can order it through Oliver’s website www.olivergray.com

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Look out for a young lady called Melissa who has suddenly appeared on the Southampton music scene.
She appears at the Victory pub down by Southampton Railway Station on Friday June 25th.
A listen to her demo CD reveals a singer-songwriter with a sultry voice and an original style; the photograph next to this item was sent to me by Melissa and was titled pubcrawl.jpeg - I don’t know what this tells us!

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The Larmer Tree Festival, which takes place on 14th–18th July at the Larmer Tree Gardens on the Wilts/Dorset border, is appealing for more volunteers to help with the smooth running of  this fantastic event.
The Larmer Tree Festival is now in its 15th year so has a large bank of
experienced regular volunteers but there is a need for extra help.
In return for a few hours each day you could receive a free ticket to the
Festival.  This gives you the chance to see eclectic music from around the world, take part in a workshop or simply relax and chill out in the unique
atmosphere of  the Larmer Tree Festival.
Volunteers are still needed to join the Breakdown Crew, which involves
deconstructing the Festival. Litter Pickers are needed during the Festival to help clean this beautiful venue and maintain our recycling programme. If either role appeals the Larmer Tree would love to hear from you.
So, if you are over 18 and interested in making new friends and becoming an essential part of the Larmer Tree team, please call Becca Small on 01725 552300.  You can find out more about the Festival on www.larmertree.co.uk

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THIS summer’s free Sunday afternoon concerts at Southsea Bandstand begin on May 31 with the pairing of Arthur Brown (remember “Fire” by the Crazy World of?) and The Silver Beatles for a cracking slice of 60s music in the sun (hopefully). The line-up for June onwards is as follows:

JUNE 6 - GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA UK (SPECIAL D-DAY EVENT)
13 - PAPA NEOL & HIS AFRO-CUBAN BAND
20 - LOCAL ROCK BANDS SHOWCASE
27 - R CAJUN & ZYDECO BROS + COLVINQUARMBY
JULY 4 - CADILLAC KINGS & JOHNNY GUNNER & THE RAIDERS
11 - TBC
18 - SONNY BLACK & THE DUKES + CLAUDE BOURBON (BLUES)
25 - JAZZ ALL STARS FEATURING CHRIS WALKER
AUG 1 - SIDEWINDER + GLEN ROGERS + THE BUNCH
8 - THE SELECTER + 2-TONIC
15 - ZIMBABWEAN HOHODZA BAND
22 - BOG ROLLING STONES (pictured)
29 - MARMALADE + SHEP WOOLLEY
30 - BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL TO CLOSE SEASON

Be there by 2pm to get a good vantage point - head for the D-Day Museum on Southsea Front - Bandstand is behind it & there is plenty of parking.

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