JOHN
Beland may not be a household name but there are numerous reasons for going to
see him when he plays in the Albert Bar at South Parade Pier, Southsea on Monday
May 19.
For starters, John was a member of The Flying Burrito Brothers, one of the
greatest American country rock bands during the 1970s and 1980s. He has also
recorded with members of The Eagles and The Byrds, Kris Kristofferson and Dolly
Parton to name but a few. As a songwriter, his work has been recorded by
artistes as diverse as Joe Cocker and Engelbert Humperdinck. John was also
chosen to replace James Burton as lead guitarist in Elvis Presley’s band in the
early 1970s, but James decided to stay on. Tickets are £7 via Barking Spider
Promotions on 02392 436267.
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EASTLEIGH
could hardly be described as a music mecca, but that is all going to change for
six days later this year. Eastleigh Summer Festival takes place from July 29 to
August 3, and a stellar list of names just announced will have music fans
flocking to Eastleigh. Among the artists appearing in a “Big Top” at Leigh Road
Recreation Ground are Bob Geldof, Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young, The
Drifters, Real Abba Gold, The Levellers, The Saw Doctors, Rolf Harris and Spike
Edney’s All Stars otherwise known as The SAS Band with guests including Midge
Ure and Leo Sayer.
There is also a special performance by Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues
Orchestra at Manor Farm Country Park on Thursday July 31. Tickets for all events
are now on sale through The Point Arts Centre at Eastleigh on 02380 652333 and
The Brook, Southampton on 02380 555366.
FREE
live music sessions at Southsea Bandstand begin again later this month with a
Bank Holiday Monday party featuring Doctor & The Medics and Chicory Tip. The two
bands, best known respectively for the hits “Spirit In The Sky” and “Son Of My
Father” will entertain fans in West Battery Gardens on the evening of Monday May
26.
Thereafter weekly Bandstand sessions will kick off at 2pm on Sundays,
starting with some country rockabilly with The Rimshots on June 1 and
continuing with some husky acoustic blues by Kelly Joe Phelps a week later.
Other guests during the season include folk star Kathryn Tickell, The Soul
Brothers, The Brasshoppers and many more acts covering a wide range of musical
styles.
All shows are totally free, and there is plenty of parking nearby, just aim
for the D-Day Museum on Southsea seafront.
SOME
big names have been booked for Rock Island 2, the Isle of Wight Music Festival
which takes place over the weekend of June 14-15. Bryan Adams, Iggy Pop,
Counting Crows and Starsailor head the line-up, and tickets are already on sale.
Ticket prices are £50 for the weekend and £30 for a single day; a weekend
camping pass costs £10.Isle of Wight residents get a discount - it’s £40 for a a weekend ticket (£37.50
concessions) or £24 for a single day (£22 concessions). Tickets are available at
Wight Leisure’s Head Office, 17 Quay Street, Newport, at Medina Leisure Centre,
Fairlee Road, Newport, at The Heights Leisure Centre, The Broadway, Sandown, or
a the Waterside Pool, Ryde Esplanade.
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).
