NEWS

We have just picked up a management contract with Deuce Management. Looks like we may be on the radio soon . . . .

Month of May starts the festival season for us. No less than four spots!

May 2013 GIGS

11-May-13 Sat. Lord Ashton (funk jam), Lancaster (2-5pm)

18-May-13 Sat. Glastonbrewery! and Wolfwoodstock (See opposite - both in Lancaster). 3pm and 9pm respectively

25-May-13 Sat. Off The Tracks 9pm

26-May-13 Sun. The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon (8.30pm)

27-May-13 Mon. The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon (3pm)

31-May-13 Fri. Forfar Festival (time tba)

April 2013 GIGS

13-April-13 Sat. Lord Ashton (funk jam), Lancaster (2-5pm)

20-April-13 Sat. Lord Ashton (funk jam) ), Lancaster (2-5pm)

27-April-13 Sat. Lord Ashton (funk jam) ), Lancaster (2-5pm)

28-April-28 Sun. Penny Street Bridge Hotel, Lancaster (3-6pm)

March 2013 GIGS

02-Mar. Sat. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+). High energy deep funk, Hammond organ, Latin funk, African freestyle. All players welcome.

09-Mar. Sat. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+).

13-Mar. Wed. Penny Bank, Lancaster (9pm)

16-Mar. Sat. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+).

23-Mar. Sat. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+).

28-Mar. Thur. Old Duke, Bristol (9pm)

29-Mar. Fri. Royal Oak Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, Nr. Stroud (9pm)

30-Mar. Sat. Prince Albert, Stroud (9pm)

31-Mar. Sun. Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon (9pm)

01-Apri Mon. Two Pig, Corsham (9pm)

Feb. 2013 GIGS

02-Feb. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+). High energy deep funk, Hammond organ, Latin funk, African freestyle. All players welcome.

09-Feb. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+).

16-Feb. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (2pm-4pm+).

22-Feb. John O'Gaunt, Lancaster (9pm-11.30pm)

Jan. 2013 GIGS

19-Jan. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (1pm-4pm). High energy deep funk, Hammond organ, Latin funk, African freestyle. All players welcome.

26-Jan. Lord Ashton, Lancaster - Funk Jam (1-4pm)

27-Jan. Penny Street Bridge Hotel, Lancaster - Funk Jam (3-7pm)

Dec. 2012 GIGS

01-Dec. Gregson (private party)

15-Dec. The Lord Ashton Funk Jam, Lancaster (1-3pm)

22-Dec. The Lord Ashton Funk Jam, Lancaster (1-3pm)

22-Dec. The Sands, Grange-Over-Sands (9pm)

26-Dec. The John O'Gaunt, Lancaster (9pm)

Oct. 2012 GIGS

12-Oct. Fri. Yorkshire House, Lancaster (11pm)

13-Oct. Sat. Funk Jam at Lord Ashton, Lancaster (2-4pm)

14-Oct. Sun. Penny Street Bridge Hotel, Lancaster (5-7pm)

27-Oct. Sat. Bobbin, Lancaster (9.30pm - yep, it's a Halloween gig so we'll be in normal attire and mode of dress)

Sept. 2012 GIGS

14-Sept. Fri. Piel Castle Pub, Ulverston 9.30pm

Note: few gigs in Sept. due to Lancaster Music Festival planning and CME Autumn Tour

August 2012 GIGS

22-Aug. Wed. Old Duke, Bristol
23-Aug. Thu. Prince Albert, Stroud
24-Aug. Fri. Wokingham Festival 8pm
25-Aug. Sat. Queens Head, Box
26-Aug-12 Sun. Bell, Bath 1PM
26-Aug-12 Sun. Century, Corsham 5-7pm
26-Aug-12 Sun. Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon 9-11pm
27-Aug. Mon. Box Rocks, Box
27-Aug. Mon. Two Pigs, Corsham

July 2012 GIGS

07-July-12 Arnside Sailing Club, Arnside 9pm+

Friday 13th, Barrelhouse 211, 8:30-11:30, Davenport, IA

Saturday 14th, Private Home Party, Cedar Rapids, IA

Monday 16th, Racer's Edge, 8pm, Davenport, IA

Tuesday 17th, Clubhouse, 8-11pm, 2501 53rd Ave. Bettendorf, IA 52722

Wednesday Clubhouse, 8-11pm, 2501 53rd Ave. Bettendorf, IA 52722

Thursday 19th, Barrelhouse 211, 8:30-11:30, Davenport, IA

Friday 20th, Martyrs, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago 11.30pm (headlining)

Sunday 29th, Kendal Calling The Calling Out Stage (12.40-3.10pm)

June 2012 GIGS

02-June-12 Hartshead Inn, Jubille Festival, Ashton-under-Lyme 6-9pm

03-June-12 Stork Festival, Conder Green 7-10pm

07-June-12 Stonewell Tavern, Lancaster 9.30pm

15-June-12 Queen Vic, Gloucester Road, Bristol

16-June-12 Lapstock Festival , Lapford Mill, N. Devon 9.15pm

17-June-12 The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon 5-7pm

22-June-12 Dentdale Music and Beer Festival 8.15pm

27-June-12 Penny Bank Pub, Lancaster 9.30pm

May 2012 GIGS

06-May-12 Yorkshire House, Lancaster 10pm

11-May-12 The Ship Inn, Arnside

26-May-12 3-5pm The Picture House, Montrose

26-May-12 10-12.30am Sharky's, Montrose

27-May-12 3-5pm B&R, Montrose

April 2012 GIGS

19-April-12 Bobbin, Lancaster

27-April-12 John O'Gaunt, Lancaster

March 2012 GIGS

Ben is playing in Brazil most of this month so we have just the two gigs at the end of month:

30-Mar-12 The Piel Castle Pub, Ulverston

31-Mar-12 The Robert Gillow, Lancaster

February 2012 GIGS

17-Jan-12 White Swan, Trowbridge

18-Jan-12 The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon

December 2011 GIGS

17-Dec-11 (8-Midnight) Funktion at the Gregson, Moorlane Lancaster:

Rov Vicar plays the deep funk breaks with members of the Convulsions, Groovecutters and Lancaster University Jazz Ensemble playing the live. A Lancaster Music Festival Fund Raiser. Suggested donation £4/3

26-Dec-11 Convulsions Boxing Day Extrav! The John O'Gaunt Pub, Market St., Lancaster 9-12

31-Dec-11 Greaves Park New Years Eve Party FREE! 9pm+ Bowerham Road, Lancaster, LA1 3AH

November 2011 GIGS

05-Nov-11 (6-8pm) The Klozet, 73-75 Seagate, Town Centre, Dundee, DD1 2EH

05-Nov-11 (11.15pm-1.15am) Legends, 16 Dock Street, Town Centre, Dundee, DD1 3DP

06-Nov-11 (7.30-9pm) John Barlycorn, 45 Strathmartine Rd., Dundee, DD3 7RW

11-Nov-11 The Queen Vic, Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8TX (9pm)

12-Nov-11 The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts, BA15 1LA (9pm)

October 2011 GIGS

Three gigs at the Lancaster Music Festival: Fri. Oct. 14th, The Merchants 9-11pm, Sat. Oct. 15th hosting the funk jam (12-3pm) and starting off the funk festival at FUNKTION at the Gregson and Sun. Oct. 16th at the Penny Street Bridge 3-5pm

September 2011 GIGS

Just the Bobbin at moment (Cable Street, Lancaster, LA1 1HH) as I (Ben) have to conentrate 100% on Lancaster Music Festival (see opposite).

August 2011 GIGS

20-Aug-11 Great Harwood Haiti Charity Bash. Noon to 10pm at Queen Vic.

25-Aug-11 Bobbin, Lancaster. Battle of Bands. Start time 9pm.

26-Aug-11 The Queen Vic, Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol. 9pm.

27-Aug-11 Sunwest Festival, Ilfracombe (Landmark Theatre- see opposite)

28-Aug-11 Coopers Arms, Pewsey, Wilts. 4pm+

July 2011 GIGS

02-July-11 Dundee Blues Bonanza: Old Bank Bar, 34 Reform St., Dundee (3-5pm)

02-July-11 Dundee Blues Bonanza: Mangos, 5 Seagate, Dundee (10pm-12)

30-July-11 Forfar Music Festival: The Old Masons Arms 135 East High Street (3-5pm)M

30-July-11 Forfar Music Festival: Bar Central 116 Castle street. (10pm-12)angos, 5 Seagate, Dundee

June 2011 GIGS

10-June-11 The Dalton Rooms, 8pm 14 Dalton Square, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1PL: Hammond Eggs Funk and Soul Night!
25-June-11 6.45pm: The Dentdale Music and Beer Festival
26-June-11 8pm: Funk Jazz and Soul evening at Mint, 34 Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1LH
01524 844 664. Funk jammers welcome. We'll be sharing the show with Huevos and hopefully borrowing their quite delicious horn section.

May 2011 GIGS

03-May-11 The Junction, 44 Bondgate, Otley, W. Yorks, LS21 1AD
11-May-11 The Dalton Rooms, 8pm 14 Dalton Square, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1PL
14-May-11 The Mill, Mill Street, Ulverston LA12 7EB
15-May-11 The Dalton Rooms, 14 Dalton Square, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1PL
28-May-11 Montrose Music Festival 8-10pm The Market Arms
28-May-11 Montrose Music Festival 12-2am The Picture House
29-May-11 Montrose Music Festival 2-4pm Rock Star Bar
29-May-11 Montrose Music Festival 6-8.30p The Yard

April 2011 GIGS

10-April-11 Dalton Room, Lancaster (funk club). Downstairs in the club room (8pm+)

20-April-11 The Bell, Bath

21-April-11 The Old Duke, Bristol

22-April-11 The Palladium Club, Bideford

23-April-11 Queens Head, Box

24-April-11 Coopers Arms, Pewsey

March 2011 GIGS

04-Mar-11 1725, Lancaster 10pm to midnight (unplugged)

13-Mar-11 Dalton Rooms, Lancaster (hosting the funk jam - players welcome, especially horn players). 8.30pm to 11pm. Vinyl spins of deep funk the breaks

Feb. 2011 GIGS

02-04 Feb-11 Stockholm University

05-Feb-11 Wirstroms Pub, Stockholm

13-Feb-11 Hosting Funk jam at Dalton Rooms, Lancaster

25-Feb-11 Dalton Rooms, Lancaster

Jan. 2011 GIGS

16-Jan-11. We host the funk jam at Dalton Rooms.

Finished recording the demo!

Dec. 2010 GIGS

12-Dec-10 8-midnight. We host the funk session at the Dalton Rooms, 14 Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1PL Tel: 01524 845 785

20-Dec-10 9pm+ Private Party Blackpool

26-Dec-10 9-11pm John O'Gaunt Boxing Day Special, Lancaster

27-Dec-10 9-11pm Two Pigs, 38 Pickwick
Corsham SN13 0HY Tel: 01249 712 515

28-Dec-10 9-? A farm near Melksham (15 Green Road SN13 9TW ). All welcome!

29-Dec-10 9-11pm The Queen Vic, 426 Gloucester Road Horfield Bristol BS7 8TX Tel: 0117 987 3725

30-Dec-10 9-11pm The Old Duke, 45 King St
Bristol, Avon BS1 4ER Tel: 0117 927 7137

31-Dec-10 Greaves Park, Bowerham Road
Lancaster LA1 3AH Tel:: 01524 389 335

Nov. 2010 GIGS

06-Nov-10 9.30-11.30pm The Piel Castle Pub, Ulverston

09-Nov-10 9-11pm The Junction, Otley

14-Nov-10 8-11pm The Dalton Rooms, Lancaster. We're hosting the Lancaster Funk Club at the Dalton Rooms new Sunday jazz series

Nov. 17th - 20th. Sweden (see above)

Oct 2010 GIGS

Lancaster Music Festival as above - rest of the month we're concentrating on the new recordings. Normal service resumed Nov.!

Sept 2010 GIGS

10-Sept-10 9pm John O'Gaunt Pub, Market Street, Lancaster

17-Sept-10 7pm Main Stage Smokie Blues Festival, Arbroath

August 2010 GIGS

15-Aug-10 Sun Fletcher Christians (4-7pm) 55 Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9JS
20-Aug-10 Fri Patriots MC Main Street, Crumlin, S. Wales NP11 4PQ
21-Aug-10 Sat Palladium Lower Gunstone, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2DE
22-Aug-10 Sun Coopers 39 Ball Rd., Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5BL
23-Aug-10 Mon Bell Walcot St., Bath, BA1 5BW
24-Aug-10 Tue White Hart Atworth, nr. Melksham, Wilts, SN12 8JR
25-Aug-10 Wed Old Duke 38 Pickwick, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 0HY
27-Aug-10 Fri Royal Hotel, Silverdale, LA5 0RA
28-Aug-10 Sat Great British RnB Festival 4.30pm Rugby Club, Colne
28-Aug-10 Sat Great British RnB Festival 10pm Colne Legion

July 2010 GIGS

Sat. July 3rd: Grad Bar Extrav, Lancaster University 8pm

Sun. July 4th: The John O'Gaunt, Market St., Lancaster 9pm

Tues. July 20th: The Junction, Otley 9pm

Sat. July 24th: Dukes Corner, Dundee 3-5pm (Dundee Blues Bonanza)

Sat. July 24th: Guager, Dundee 10-12pm (Dundee Blues Bonanza)

Wed. July 28th - Mon. Aug. 2nd: Wirstroms Pub, Stockholm, Sweden

Sat. July 31st: Gula Villan, Svante Arrhenius Väg 33, Stockholm, Sweded (University campus)

May 2010 Ukraine Tour slide show is <here>

June 2010 GIGS

Sat. June 19th: Charity Bash at Royal Hotel, Silverdale (5-6pm)

Sat. June 19th: The Piel Castle Pub, Ulverston (9pm - late)

The Meadowlands Festival was wet but what a gig! Released some of the new material and it went down a storm. Maybe a bigger stage next year???

May 2010 GIGS

Ben is running the CME Spring UK Tour with Red Gap from Isle of Man and Miss Quincy from British Columbia May 6th - 15th but we will be joining both acts Friday May 14th at Crows in Lancaster

Fri. 14th, Crows, King St, Lancaster 9.30pm - 1am (with Red Gap and Miss Quincy)

Sun. 16th, John O'Gaunt, Market St. Lancaster - Honka Monka Club deep funk jam & vinyl spin 3pm - 6.30pm

Sun. 23rd, John O'Gaunt, Market St. Lancaster - Honka Monka Club deep funk jam & vinyl spin 3pm - 6.30pm

Fri. 28th, A barn party in North Wales (seriously). Contact us for invite

Sat. 29th, The Meadowlands Festival - see flyer opposite. 2pm

Sun. 30th, The Bassetts Arms (part of the 'Blindhouse Reject Tour 2010'). Contact us for invite!

April 2010 GIGS

Wed. April 7th: The Porter Club, 3-A Mishugi str., Kiev, Ukraine

Thur. April 8th: Agata Club, 11 Pevolution str. Kharkov, Ukraine

Fri. April 9th: The Liverpool, 131-A Artema str., Donezk, Ukraine

Sat. April 10th: Dikiy Club, 66 Preobrazhenskaya str., Odessa, Ukraine

Tues. April 20th: The Junction, Bond Street, Otley (9pm)

Sun. April 25th: The John O'Gaunt, Market St., Lancaster

Fri. April 30th: George & Dragon, The Quay, Lancaster

Sun. 11th, 18th, 25th: John O'Gaunt, Market St. the Honka Monka Club deep funk jam & vinyl spin 3pm - 6.30pm

March 2010 GIGS

Sat. 6th: Grad Bar, Lancaster University

Wed. 17th: Penny Bank, Lancaster

Sun. 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th: John O'Gaunt, Market Sq, Lancaster - the Honka Monka Club deep funk jam & vinyl spin 3pm - 6.30pm

January 2010 GIGS

Sun. Jan. 17th: Hosting Honka Monka Club Funky Sunday at John O'Gaunt Pub, 53 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1JG (3.30pm - 6.30pm)

Thurs. Jan. 21st: The Grad Bar, Lancaster University, LA2 0PF (9pm - 11ish+)

Sat. Jan. 23rd: The Piel Castle, 37 Market Street, Ulverston LA12 7LG (9pm - late)

Sun. Jan. 24th: Hosting Honka Monka Club Funky Sunday at John O'Gaunt Pub, 53 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1JG (3.30pm - 6.30pm)

Thurs. Jan. 28th: John O'Gaunt Pub, 53 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1JG (9pm - 11pm)

Sun. Jan. 31st: Hosting Honka Monka Club Funky Sunday at John O'Gaunt Pub, 53 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1JG (3.30pm - 6.30pm)

December 2009 GIGS

7-Dec. Wed. Grizedale College Christmas Party

22-Dec. Tues. The Junction, Otley 9pm

26-Dec. Sat. John O'Gaunt, Market Street, Lancaster 9pm to 12

27-Dec. Sun. Palladium Club, Lower Gunstone Lane, Bideford. 9.30pm

28-Dec. Mon. Two Pigs, Corsham, Nr. Bath. 9-11pm

29-Dec. Tue. Queens Head, Box, Nr. Bath. 9-11.30pm

30-Dec. Wed. Old Duke, Bristol. 9-11pm

31-Dec. Thu. Gregson Centre New Year's Eve Party with Real Music, Moorlane, Lancaster. Tickets £10

November 2009 GIGS

14-Nov. Sat. The Stonewell Tavern, Lancaster, 9.30pm (free)

21-Nov. Sat. The George & Dragon, Lancaster, 9pm (free)

October 2009 GIGS*

03-Oct. Sat. One Planet Festival Concert, The Park Hotel, Bowerham Road, Lancaster, 9.30pm (FREE)

09-Oct. Fri. Lancaster Music Festival, The Park Hotel, Bowerham Road, Lancaster, 9.30pm (FREE)

11-Oct. Sun. Lancaster Music Festival, The Gregson Blues Festival, Main Hall, 8-9pm (£5)

11-Oct. Sun. Fletcher Christian, Cockermouth, Cumbria, 5pm - 7pm (FREE)

September 2009 GIGS:

02-Sept. Wed. Penny Bank, 51 Penny Bank, Lancaster. 9.30pm

13-Sept. Sun. Birmingham Artsfest 2009, Victoria Stage, 12 noon. Also playing at Rhubarb Radio After Festival Party Sat. 12th, late night time and venue tba

20-Sept. Sun. Afternoon Funk Jam with Honka Monka Funk DJs and band . Penny Bank, 51 Penny Bank, Lancaster. 4-7pm

August 2009 GIGS:

Sun - Tues, August 1st - 3rd: Stockholm, Sweden

Fri. Aug. 7th: Dickie Doodles, Strickland Gate, Kendal
9.30pm - late

Sat. Aug. 8th: The Central, Egremont
9pm - 11.30pm

Tues. Aug. 11th: The Junction, Otley
9.15pm - 11.20pm

SW UK Tour:

17-AuMon. Aug. 17th: Two Pigs, Corsham, nr. Bath
Tue. Aug. 18th: TBA
Wed. Aug. 19th: The Bell, Wolcott St., Bath
Thurs. Aug. 20th: Old Duke, King St. Bristol
Fri. Aug. 21st: Queens Head, Box, nr. Bath
Sat. Aug. 22nd: Miners Arms, North Molton, Devon
Sun. Aug. 23rd: Coopers Arms, Pewsey, nr. Marlborough

Fri. Aug. 28th: Peterborough Beer Festival (see opposite)

Sun. Aug. 30th: Great British RnB Festival - The Dresser's, Colne. 9pm - 12

July 2009 GIGS:

Tues. July 7th, Park Hotel Function Room
- Jam, Rehearsal, Ales -
8pm - Midnight

Tues. July 14th, Park Hotel Function Room
- Jam, Rehearsal, Ales -
8pm - Midnight

Sat. July 18th, Piel Castle, Ulverston
9.30 pm - Midnight

Tues. July 29th - Tues. Aug. 4th Stockholm, Sweden. Thanks to Big Walker and the Blues Souls!

June 2009 GIGS:

Fri. June 5th: Keswick Beer Festival

Tuesdays in June: Rehearsal at the Park Hotel, Lancaster with gig option after (7-11pm)

Fri. June 19th: Grad Bar Beer Festival, Lancaster University (SW Campus)

Wed. June 24th: Penny Bank Pub, Penny Lane, Lancaster (9.30pm)

Sat. June 27th: Dundee Blues Bonanza - 2-4pm The Doghouse, 10pm+ Nether Inn

Tues. June 30th: Junction, Otley, 9pm

Older News:

June 6 2012 Confirmed Australian tour for next Sept. in partnership with excellent funk and reggae band Kindread

Dentdale Music and Beer Festival was excellent but MUDDY. They do want us back though for next year so that's a plus- next up Dundee Blues Bonanza Sat. July 2nd

March 2011:

HUGE thanks to Neil Gowland of Absolute Recordings, Mo Whittam, and Barry and Chris of Firehouse Studios.

THE VIDEO IS DONE! Thanks to Chris of Arun Productions
Click here or link above right

May 2010: We have some demos from the Park Sessions! Get Your Groove On! Joker Man, Hole In The Head. The full studio session starts Jan. 2nd

Sweden was EXCELLENT. So good in fact we're probably going back in February (yes, geographically seasonally confused as we are - should be about -20C by then). Thanks Erik the Beard and Derrick and all you snowballing cats at Stockholm Uni! The eyeball will apparantly recover from the blurring corneal scratches of exuberant snow!

We played at the Lancaster Music Festival (opposite) both under our own name (Penny Street Bridge, Sat. Oct. 9th 9-11pm) and as host of the Lancaster Funk Club jam session (Crows, Sun. Oct. 10th 2-6pm). Thank you to the nearly 200 folks who turned up at Penny Street Bridge!

Ukraine Tour slide show is <here>

And we're going back 2011

Isle of Man Blues Festival feedback pending - by heck what a groove!!! Thank you Val and Barry (Red Gap and Jeceris) for an unforgettable weekend and superb music! XX

We've been invited to play the New Year's Eve gig at the Gregson Centre, Lancaster which would be our first choice in this town!

Honka Monka Club - every Sunday afternoon at the Penny Bank (4.30-7pm) we get together with other musicians to play deep funk and 60's garage. Yours truly spins old funk and soul records in the breaks

We have a Bluesbunny Review for Lancaster Music Festival! Click on the the bunnies!!!

Hmm, we appear to be on Last FM - not sure how that happened! http://www.last.fm/music/The+Convulsions

One Planet Festival a blast too! Though knackering as most of it was powered by bike (by you know who - with some guest legs the loveliest of which were Dawn's from One Planet Festival's committee who managed to power an entire song before we reverted to mains electricity)

Birmingham Art Fest a succes. The trio went over there too.

Work starts on the re-recording of Hole in the Head for the video. Recording starts in Oct. and hope to have the video mastered by December.

We have a spotter looking for a possible deal for us.

Peterborough Beer Festival - what a superb organisation. Thanks so much to Mike Lane for being a superb host. We came, we played, we drank an awful lot of excellent ale. Hard life, someone has to do it!

SW Tour. This band keeps getting weirder and weirder. Wondering why my right arm was a bit stiff today I remembered it was probably due to swinging from a lamp post with it while playing gobiron with the left Sun. 23rd. Then there was the traffic cone on the head during 'Don't Need No Doctor' (no, just a psychiatrist) a constant stream of inane babble. A third of a bottle of port preceeding, two pints of Twiddly Dike right before then double brandy redbull and pickled egg during. When in the SW of this country it's hard not to go native and join in the exuberant strangeness and good humour that survived the Celts, the Romans, the Anglo Saxons, the Danes, Normans and grockles of the twenty first century in craven caravans.

The Swedish tour was a revelation. Thanks very much to Derrick Walker of Big Walker and the Blues Souls for putting us up and up with us and the same to the marvelous Wirstroms Pub in Gamla Stan (Old Town) of Stockholm - Ian you were a life saver, Royce you're a chef par excellence (fish and chips in an Irish pub in Sweden and the fish comes from New Zealand!) and Sigfrid you are the most sparkle barmaid in northern Europe!

We also learnt to play a new style. The first night we had no guitarist (Mo couldn't do the tour so Derrick was to provide us Diamond Dogs, ex Johnny Thunder rocker Stevie but was his birthday). It worked so well, we developed so many on the fly technique we chose to play the entire week without a guitarist.

And it WORKED! Boy, did it work - we even wrote two new songs on the spot and created a 12 minute funk medley narrative involving a bit of Memphis Soul Stew, Money, Shake Your Money Maker and Land of 1000 Dances!!

Lips are still scarred though!!!

he last installment of the Bristol video shoot. Very "sweet and sour experience" (bad pun - see "China Gets It" by way of explanation in appalling taste)

What next? Re-record the song with the new lineup that's what (and a few new ones to boot - great that Mo's actually an engineer)

They liked us in Dundee (Dundee Blues Bonanza - June 27th 2009!

"Sat Late at The Nether Inn
Was recommended by a colleague to drop in to catch a band called The Convulsions. Am soooooooooo glad I did. I have never seen anyone playing a harmonica at that speed or anyone play a Hammond organ at that speed. But Ben the lead singer did both AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!.

This is a band that puts so much effort into their performance, it simply defies belief. They delivered an astonishing blues and funk mix in a style that I would describe as having a large helping of Dr Feelgood and another of The Ramones. My mate and I both stood there like the rest of the audience, grinning from ear to ear at a jaw dropping performance that kept us there right to the end. The audience were absolutely spellbound by a band that we sincerely hope will be back next year.

One of the biggest highlights for me, simply awesome!!!"

We've been picked out of over 100 acts to perform at the Peterborough Beer Festival on August Bank Holiday Friday (see opposite). And having found the camping bug at Off the Tracks last month we're bringing the band tent!

Actually, beer festivals seem to be a new niche for us. Keswick Ale Festival June 5th went down really well (as did the superb ales)!