![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3Sujquu8WpunrN-M3bQRJDXS9_pmPNBw_1bLz5w-UXk7odWN0ce1Nqi7G4RgKwjGr3xOY_iybJnZR54hmHLJz4tcd9oUb5FkFjSHTA_6_P6cYF-z9yvna-KlMJEgD-hKx4zKCItP9hXp/s1600/hughie+colin+porthole.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzdOYX_074rP7xqRA1RxSfmV4pee_ocZvjSeBAv7MM1p2Km3kUMvqaKyjC_LGxMbtMf1CrhL6dx20UF0YmIznXB7oM_mFBUmGohMEHOoZ8XaOPK1NeNH4U5Vb8OhJ4HS2GaKMcZ-LX4p8/s1600/gene+mayo.jpg)
at Pontin's Seacroft Holiday Camp at Hemsby, Great Yarmouth. When that was over, I joined the band with Chipperfield's Circus. It was a hard blow - I remember muddy Newbury Race Course, 7 hour rehearsals in cold tents and bleeding lips.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBJji36kP2I8bpXnNtycS3IW62bVsbP-NR-1V0zG67QJjUsX-2QlrWDPrdbVMWnWioL49JOmmjboz2JmJXHwdGNItkb2j5yxK-goitradoIcLQRK0UusSoAem7LvKVsZxpuJ3aRny9ahK/s1600/steve+stephenson.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LF-7MxT1evsgaGVFMLqz5O_E6CdsSQDTbpiFgTaUUHstBHPC7LJ2eexcbyb_Rz0sviyHUZSlut1TvLK0NjYdHOyImxRh2OWN-3hhUEcxmQbPDKmY7B11ZrmAgkqjweAXr3-L3gPsiBbZ/s1600/sir+john+mills.jpg)
For the past sixteen years we've been updating the world about jazz in the north east of England and updating the north east of England about jazz in the world. WINNER of the Jazz Media Category in the 2018 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Contact lanceliddle@gmail.com
Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!
Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"
Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.
July
Sat 27: BBC Proms: BBC Introducing stage @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free. Line-up inc. Nu Groove (2:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (2:50pm); Dilutey Juice (3:50pm); SwanNek (5:00pm); Rivkala (6:00pm).
Sat 27: Nomade Swing Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mississippi Dreamboats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 27: Milne-Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sat 27: Theon Cross + Knats @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 10:00pm. £22.00. BBC Proms: BBC Introducing Stage (Sage Two). A late night gig.
Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 28: Miss Jean & the Ragtime Rewind Swing Band @ Fonteyn Ballroom, Dunelm House (Durham Students’ Union), Durham. 2:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Nomade Swing Trio @ Red Lion, Alnmouth. 4:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 28: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 28: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Tue 30: ???
Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
August
Thu 01: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:30pm. £4.00.
Thu 01: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 01: Elsadie & the Bobcats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 02: Mainly Two @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free (donations). SOLD OUT!
Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. POSTPONED!
7 comments :
I'm enjoying the Road to Hong Kong; fascinating story about how music can take you all over the world!
As I have been reading about Irish showbands I was interested to see that Colin describes the Steve Stephenson band as a 'showband' which included singing, dressing up and comedy in the overall act. I was wondering if this band was unusual in the UK context as I thought the 'showband' concept was pretty much an Irish phenomenon, albeit a highly popular one. At its peak in Ireland in the early 1960s there were 500 showbands and 450 dance halls throughout the country, some holding up to 3000 dancers. Was this a common thing in the UK as well?
JC
Hi JC,
You are correct about Showbands being an Irish phenomenon many of whom also came over and played in the UK, In consequence many combos who'd previously been known as dance bands and pop groups re-branded themselves as showbands to jump on the (show)band wagon playing working men's clubs and what remained of the dancehalls or, in Colin's case, holiday camps.
Lance, you hit the nail on the head, I remember being on the road, and on gigs with 2 or 3 bands at the same function, such as The Jack Hawkins Showband & Singers, Andy Ross, Ray McVay and many others did jump on the band wagon in the 60's & 70's. also a showband would play all different types of music from Quicksteps, Waltz's, Comedy to the current pops of the time, even a little jazz & swing, of course Glenn Miller's music was still very popular in that era, as it still is today.
The Steve Stephenson Showband worked for Mecca for a short period at the Mecca Ballroom, Belfast
Yes you are right, what year was this, maybe 1960's ?? and did you see the band ??
Hi I am Gene Mayo's Grandson.
I've been searching for any info or pictures but not having much luck.
Just wondered if that is him playing the drums in the G.M picture
Cheers Dave
Hi Dave,
Yes, that is your granddad playing drums at Pontin's Seacroft Holiday Camp, Gt Yarmouth. This is where I played one summer season with him back in 1976.
I also remember his name being up at the Oxford Galleries in Newcastle back in the mid to late late 60's, when I was a kid.
If you would like some pictures of the band at Pontin's Seacroft, I would be more than happy to email them to you.
My email. aitchisoncolin@yahoo.com
Regards
Colin Aitchison.
Post a Comment