Belfast or Bust!

The day started pretty well when we all turned up on time at Stansted and then Ryanair decided to fart in my face and turn the start of my birthday upside down.
When you know you have done something but then doubt is cast….you start questioning your sanity. Enough said that150 quid lighter and all personnel and a couple of Fender guitars are ready to depart for Belfast – I was then informed that it would have been cheaper for me to buy two seats for the instruments.

We land to be met by Darren ‘The General’ Boyd and after a couple of minutes we are in our hired bus heading for The Stormont Hotel.
After spending the last few years working with Howard Hastings and the Hastings Group – whose Hotels include The Europa, The Culloden, The Slieve Donnard and The Stormont – I am extremely privileged to have a great working relationship with them.
Tonight’s gig is at The Waterfront in Belfast and guess what……we’re sold out!
The gig is a stormer and made even more special by Sam Davidson – from Rory Gallagher’s Taste, tremendous guitarist and top mate – joining us on stage for the final three songs. Between Sam and Leigh, Sweet Home Chicago took off and really created some magic. I wish we had recorded this one!
Well, all aboard the bus CBB and back to the Stormont for a well needed night cap or three!

Wednesday 25th and half the motley crew are partaking in The Culloden Spa and the rest are scattered between Belfast City and walks up to The Stormont Castle.
3pm and we’re heading out of town to Armagh to a venue we played a couple of years ago, The Market Place Theatre. Top techies at the theatre – Shane, Rodney and Kyle – gave us some great lighting. TOP GIG!!!!!
A major thank you has to go to Dougie from Belfast who supplied all required PA & Backline, thanks Mate!
I won’t even go into my rants at Belfast Airport at the nearest Ryanair Rep. Enough said that they proceed to put hurdles and obstacles in places that effectively catch the proverbial knackers!
Bottom line….CBB will be back next spring to The Waterfront (Belfast), The Market Place (Armagh) and…..The Millenium Forum (Londonderry), Cork, Dublin, Killarney and Castlebar!!!
Looking forward to 2010 already and you’re all invited to join us in the CRAIC!

Cheers- Pete

Photos show (top) a very poorly Mike being comforted by Pete, (middle) a bewigged and coiffured Dave being conducted by Pete and (bottom) the Belfast audience being entertained by Pete in an outfit he borrowed from a passing motorway serviceman.

Next time- some photos without Pete in them! Maybe! L.H.

Will the true Jake step forward…..

I am really proud and pleased to welcome to the role of JAKE – direct from the hit West End production of The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers and 2 subsequent tours of Europe – MATT HEWITT.

In addition to being a fine singer and tremendous performer, this 3rd Dan Karate Champion brings to the show all his flexibility and agility. Watch out for his cartwheels, back flips and box splits!

Matt takes over the mantle of Jake in the show on the 8th March at Hunstanton. I for one am really looking forward to the next era of The Chicago Blues Brothers, and I know his partnership with Mike Hyde will take the show into a new dimension.

Pete
Producer

One Door Closes and Another…….

Hi Guys,

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Mario Megaro is no longer with the production and we wish him well as he forays into ‘corporate’ and ‘wedding’ land!

For the immediate future…..yes you’ve guessed it…..I will make another return as Jake.

As much as I truly enjoy the ‘Management & Production’ aspect of the show, nothing replaces the buzz of standing on stage, in front of undoubtedly the most talented band on the planet! The short term pleasure will be all mine.

When I said short term, I meant it as by mid-March the role will be filled by very talented and capable shoes. The ‘reveal’ of this person will be at The Princess Theatre, Hunstanton.

The show moves on up to yet another level….

Pete

Noise annoys

As a quick follow up to Pete's last posting I'd like to thank him for stepping in and unplugging my amplifier just in time to stop me from taking my Pete Townshend obsession to it's logical conclusion! I took it to Roger the amplifier repairman who left it running for 2 days during which it didn't make one single untoward sound- he replaced some valves and their seatings (the bits they plug into- that's about the limit of my technical knowledge!) to be on the safe side, and it sounded fine at last weekend's gigs, at The Millfield Theatre in Edmonton and a corporate show for the Seddon company at The I.C.C. in Birmingham. The latter was a interesting evening as Pete, Mike, Dave and myself played a set in the foyer as the guests arrived (if you've ever wondered what it sounds like when an old punk like me attempts to play swing and jazz standards this was your chance to find out! Here's a clue- you didn't miss much from me, but Dave played brilliantly) and company chairman Stewart joined us on stage for 'Mustang Sally'- I bet he regrets asking who owed the Telecaster...

Cheers- Leigh.