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Easter Saturday April13th ~
Top Hat Lisburn
Easter Sunday April 14th ~
Beechmount
Navan
Easter Monday April 15th ~
Adelphi
Dundalk
Easter Tuesday 16th ~
Portaferry
Wednesday 17th ~
Rehearsals
Thursday 18th ~
Day Off
Friday 19th ~
Ballycastle
Saturday 20th ~
Palm Beach, Portmanock
Sunday 21st ~
Dungiven
Monday 22nd ~
Rehearsals
Tuesday 23rd ~
Rostrevor Co Down
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We
had introduced into our programme a
rock 'n'
roll selection as there was yet another rock n roll revival. Also
this was a good opportunity to promote our latest record C’mon
Everybody (the old Eddie Cochrane hit). We were quite excited about
the record. Our manager Sam Smyth had arranged for Peter Lee
Sterling (ex Ivy League) to be the A&R man. Peter transformed the
song from the original version. He now introduced harmonies with a
good thumping beat. Looking at the diary
it was going to be a hectic period. Here is my recollection.
Easter Saturday13th
We set off in our transit van from Enniskillen at
4pm,arriving at the hall at 6pm.We set up our gear, sound tested and
then go for a meal, before our performance.
We took to the stage at 9.30
p.m.
We have a good young following at Lisburn and the
record and Rock medley was well received. Saturday night is a
midnight finish. Our last number is C’mon Everybody, and Paddy our
bandleader reminds the punters the record is now on sale!
Joe the road manager packs the instruments into
the van. We have tea and biscuits and return home at 3.30 a.m!
Easter Sunday14th
Here we go again. The dance is from 9 to 2am,with
a support band. We arrive at Navan at 6.30 pm. Again the usual
preliminaries before our meal. We are on stage at 11pm.We receive a
warm welcome. Our previous manager was from Navan, and promoted us
heavily in the area. The rock medley goes very well.
We start with Rock Around
The Clock, then Rock
n Roll Music,
Whole Lotta
Shakin' Going
On, High
School Confidential,
Such A Night and
finish with a ballad I’m A Fool
To Care. At the
end of this session, my shirt is drenched and I have to change it!
An enjoyable night. Back in Enniskillen at
6 a.m.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday15th
I awake at 2 p.m.
and have breakfast! We set off for Dundalk at 6.30 pm. The reception
is just as good as the previous night. We are pleased to see
three busloads of our fans from the Drogheda
area. The owner of the hall invites us to his office for a drink.
Most of us are non-drinkers but decide to join him as he always has
a good tale to tell. Flop into bed at 7a.m.
on Tuesday.
Tuesday16th
This is only our second appearance at Portaferry.
Another lively crowd and everyone goes home
happy!
Wednesday 17 th April
I awake at 10 a.m.,
very bleary-eyed. Meet the rest of the
band at a local cinema for rehearsals. Usually we will rehearse the
latest hits and the odd standard. Also have a chat about our
performance and any constructive criticism from our road manager who
is our eyes and ears at dances as he often mingles with the dancers!
Thursday 18th April
Hooray I have the day to myself! Catch up on my
sleep! I go into town to do some shopping in the afternoon. Spend
the evening watching television and fall asleep in front of the box!
Friday 19th April
We seem to have some of the youngest dancers at
this venue. They are always happy with lively rock and pop numbers,
just the occasional ballad to slow things down!
Saturday 20th April
We don’t play in the Dublin and surrounding area
as often as we would like, so delighted to be playing here. In fact
as a student I often danced at the Palm Beach or would come to
listen to the Miami. A lively crowd and we
are happy to do a few encores. We leave the stage at 2.15 a.m.
Sunday 21st April
We have not played in Dungiven for at least a
year, but thankfully the dancers are enjoying themselves. The rock
medley gets a good reception!
Monday 22nd April
Rehearsals again. The dates are coming in thick
and fast. We have to keep up with the Top
20, as we are essentially a pop/rock band!
Tuesday 23rd April
It is our first appearance at Rostrevor.
We are not sure what to expect. We have been
playing for an hour before we receive some applause! The lads think
we have won them over and by the end of the night I hear a booming
voice requesting an encore with the shout of “Once More”.
Well the show band life was not all glamour but
we did have “fun”!
© Gene Dushy Chetty 2004
©
Irish Showbands Archive 2004
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