Back From Wallingford & Halstead & onto COAM!

Military Vehicles at Wallingford!

Once again I’m in something of a dash to try and get my blog out today. I’ve shows everyday this week and I’ve so much to prepare, before sailing out to Normandy on the 3rd for the D-Day Commemorations.

On Stage with Robert!

There’s so much to do and sort out with regards to music and costumes and I’m still making last minute adjustments to my show plans as I want everything to be perfect for Arromanches. Last Thursday I was able to pick up my new opening track from the recording studio which I can now reveal is “The Longest Day”. A lot of thought and work has gone into this track as it opens with Churchill and Eisenhower’s address which I hope will add great impact to my D-Day show.

Meeting Up with the WW2 Re-enactors

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of performing at Wallingford Railway for their Military Vehicle event with my new sound engineer Rob Bailey. It was the first time Rob and I had worked together and I have to say he did a fantastic job. People often take sound and the mixing of it for granted but it’s a job which requires a great deal of skill. When it’s done right you don’t notice, but when it’s done badly it can be devastating and make or break the show.

Last Sunday was my first visit to the Cholsey and Wallingford railway and it was a pleasure to

On Stage at Petals Tea Room!

perform for them and have Rob on sound. I had already been booked to perform that afternoon for another event in town so both jobs clicked together perfectly plus it was a great opportunity for Rob to try out my sound system for the first time. We couldn’t have wished for better weather as I performed two 30 minute sets in ATS uniform which included a selection of British, American and French songs. The event attracted a lovely crowd of people which also ran simultaneously with Wallingford’s Vintage Car Rally which was taking place just down the road. Many of the visitors came by the railway so we had the best of both worlds.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of performing for a beautiful Vintage Wedding in Halstead, Essex. Once again we were blessed with gorgeous weather as the wedding reception took place at Petals Tea Room which is part of a garden centre. It

The Happy Bride and Groom!

made for the perfect setting as the reception was able to take place out-side in the court yard of the tea room which was dressed with pretty flowers and surrounded by cabins.

I felt very honoured to be invited by the bride and groom Diane and Daniel Edwards who knew me from having seen me perform at 1940s events. My brief was to perform a 1940s sing-along and vintage songs which people could sing along and dance to, so I put together a wonderful program of songs from the 1940s, 50s & 60s. After all who doesn’t know The Lambeth Walk, Run Rabbit,

The Wedding Reception!

Summer Holiday and the Hokey -Cokey! I finished my final set with a Best of British sing-along which seemed to go down really well with all the guests who sang and waved flags

It was a truly beautiful day and fortunately my dress matched with the pretty Petals Tea Room setting as I set up my equipment in the Sweet William cabin. Memories are made of this and I wish Diane and Daniel lots of happiness for the future.

This Saturday Robert and I will be performing at The Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont

High Tea Wedding Reception at Petals Tea Room!

St Giles, Bucks, HP8 4AB. I’m booked to perform 3 x 40 minute shows entitled “Bound for Normandy” at 11.15am, 1.15pm & 3.15pm. This will be a sneak peak of some of the music and shows I will be taking out to Normandy for the 80th D-Day Commemorations. It will be a chance for me to try out some of my new musical arrangements including “The Longest Day” and “Accentuate the Positive” which is a great dance track and I hope we might get a few people up dancing as a result.

Please click the link for more details:- https://www.coam.org.uk/events/boundfornormandy

Chiltern Open Air Museum – 25th May!

On the 27th May I shall be back in Leighton Buzzard singing for the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gage Railway’s “Diesel Gala with a Hint of Steam” event. This time I will be performing a mixture of vintage songs from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s over 2 x 45 minute sets with more details available by clicking the link below:-

https://www.buzzrail.uk/special-events/diesel-gala-with-a-hint-of-steam/