< WINTER - January 2007 > < NEW DVD OUT NOW !!! > The DVD of the band's performance at the Wurzel Bush Folk Club, Brinklow, co produced by Stringbean, is available now! Please send cheques for £14.99, made payable to to the Armpit Jug Band, to Jazz who will begin dispatching the DVD's early in the New Year. Please send to: Email Enquires - whirledinajug@yahoo.com < WINTER - January 2006 > < BAD NEWS > In June 2005 T-Bone had decided that he would regretfully be leaving the band at the end of the year. This was because of the difficulties of playing with the ever increasing burden of advancing arthritis. Probably unknown to fans he had frequently been playing in considerable pain for some years [no cheap jibes please!] and had often taken days to recover from a gig. At the same time Dr Groove announced he would be leaving in sympathy [though Jazz thinks the green hat he had to wear in Mickey's Son & Daughter may have had something to do with it]. This left Bean, Jazz and Lips with a problem, ironically just as the band was having its busiest time for years! However Pete Townsend a multi instrumentalist who had played bass on the latest album, 'No Laughing Matter', agreed to join for 2006 and practices began with the new line-up. Unfortunately during the dark days of December Bean decided that he too wouldn't be playing in the new year. As usual a crisis meeting was held at The Coach, Coleshill but Bean was not to be swayed by the persuasive arguments of Lips and Jazz. Thus, after thirty-six years in the business, 11th March sees the band's final gig at Brinklow British Legion Club. Early booking is advised for anyone wishing to witness the occasion. Both T-Bone and Dr Groove, together with founder member Pete 'Gilbert' Lawrence will be there to mark the passing. As to the future, who knows? This is not the first time that the band has folded. [Remember Wang Dang Doodle.] In the mean time both Jazz and Pete are talented multi instrumentalists looking for another [jug] band. Lips is an instrumentalist also looking for another [jug] band......... you have the contact numbers! < AUTUMN - 2005 > < FOLK CLUB RETURNS > On September 23rd the band returns to the Star and Garter in Burton for a gig at the Brewtown Folk Club // For Info - phone Carol 01283 760575 On October 14th the band returns to The National Forest Folkclub at the Miners Welfare club in Moira. In November the band once again teams up with Bernard Wrigley in Market Drayton. This time the venue is the Market Drayton Festival Centre and the date is the 12th. Geoff Vernon can supply futher info on 01630 654444 < LATE SUMMER - SEPTEMBER 2005 > < GIG NEWS > Tickets for the bands local gig at Nether Whitacre Ex-servicemens Club on Saturday 24th September are availble by contacting Lips 01827 873471 or rob.haines92@ntlworld.com PRICE £7.50 - Including Refreshments // Doors open 7.30 - Admission by Ticket Only More Gig News To Follow shortly < WEB NEWS > Welcome to www.armpitjugband.co.uk !!!!! Due to circumstances beyond the band's control, www.armpitjugband.com is currenyly unavialable. However the website should be able to be accessed under both .com and co.uk later this year. Sorry for any inconvience while the website was offline. < SPRING - April 2005 > < CHANGE OF DATE > The National Forest Folk Club gig is now Friday 14th October. < TICKETS > Tickets are available for the following gigs from the organisers listed below. 20th May - Willoughby Village Hall: phone Brian 01788 890134 1st July - St Mary's Centre, Lichfield: phone Celia 01543 253805 23rd September - Brewtown Folk Club, Burton: phone Carol 01283 760575 24th September - British Legion Hall, Nether Whitacre: phone Elaine 01827 873810 < BANBURY > Playing the birthday gig at the Ride a Cock Horse FC last week prompted Lips to research band appearances in Banbury. The Band's first performance in the town was on the 3rd December 1972 at General Foods with a show that contained three numbers [San Fransico Bay Blues, Sweet Sue and Coney Island] included in last Wednesday's gig. Since then the Band has played ten further venues in Banbury, the most frequently visited being the Football Club. The complete list is: General Foods The Prince of Wales North Oxfordshire Polytechnic The Adult Training Centre Banbury Football Club The Reindeer The Unicorn Banbury Upper School Alcan Sport's centre The Railway Men's Club .......... and of course, Spiceball Mill < EASTER 2005 > For added enjoyment, visit Stringbean's web blog, " World in a Jug " at . . . http://worldinajug.blogspot.com < SPRING - February 2005 > < YORKSHIRE TOUR > After another resounding success playing Burns Night at Nuneaton Rugby Club, the Band is already booked for the same date and venue in 2006. Another far distant gig is an appearance at Bedworth Folk Festival in Nov 2005. In the nearer future, the Band returns to Yorkshire in early March with gigs on Saturday 5 th and Sunday 6 th . Saturday's gig is at the Victoria Hall in Settle and advance tickets are available from Promoter Pete Lawrence – contact no. 01729 822696. Pete has always enjoyed the AJB's comedy numbers and with old favourites such as ‘Bes' Friends', ‘I wish I could Shimmy like my Sister Kate' and ‘Tiger Rag' now firmly re-established in the Band's repertoire, the audience should be in for a treat.
< WINTER - December 2004 > < COLLECTOR'S ITEM! >
< FOLK CLUB DATES> Confirmed Folk Club dates for early 2005 include: 14th January: Wurzel Bush FC at Brinklow 24th February: The Rising Sun FC at Willington 6th April: Ride a Cock Horse FC in Banbury 15th April: The National Forest FC at Moira < AUTUMN - September 2004 > < THE RETURN OF THE GOSFORD ARMPIT BAND > On Saturday October 23rd, the Band will be reverting to its original name of the Gosford Armpit Band when it performs at the Coventry College of Education 1966 - 1969 Reunion at 'The Village' in Coventry. [It was in the Gosford Hall of the college that the band started, hence its original name]. Not only will the band be playing some of its early numbers but it will also feature a guest appearance by Pete Lawrence who played full time with the band until the end of 1974 and who will be deputizing for T-Bone. Hopefully other former members of the band will be appearing on stage during the course of the evening including Pete Willsher who is organizing the reunion and who can be contacted on 0161-6201887. The week prior to this on October 15th, the Band plays the Cannon Pub Folk Club in Newport Pagnell, one of the Band's few folk club appearances this autumn. < SUMMER - June 2004 > < JAZZ RETURNS > Jazz has arrived back from work in France to lead the Band at a return gig at The Weaver's Arms in Bulkington on Friday June 18th. On July 10th the Band plays a gig at St James C of E School in Shirley and details of this gig can be found on the school's website. On Saturday September 5th the band is booked to appear at Wallingford Bunk Festival. This apparently has nothing to do with sleeping but instead, is very much to do with steam and beer. Details can be found on the festival website at www.bunkfest.co.uk < SPRING - March 2004 > < OLD FAVOURITES > After 20 or so years, the Band has revived long time favourite, 'Fishing Blues' and is currently working on an update of, 'I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate', this time featuring Lips on tuba. Notable gigs in April and May include a return to the Dovehouse Theatre in Solihull on St George's Day and another visit to Banbury Folk Club on May 5th. < WINTER - February 2004 > < ENFORCED 'BREAK' FOR ARMPITS > In the recent freeze in Birmingham, Dr Groove was forced to abandon his car and walk home, only to slip on the icy pavement and fracture his arm. Jazz was heard to mutter darkly that had it been Lips there would have been no problem. However, with Dr Groove being a real musician the Band has been forced to cancel all of February's gigs. The next gig is now March 5th at St Mary's Church in Lichfield. Tickets and further details for this event are available from Celia Sedgwick on 01543 253805 Later in March the Band returns to one of its old stomping grounds, 'The Fletch' in Coventry, scene of the photos on the sleeve of 'No Sweat'. This gig is Tuesday March 30th. < WINTER - December 2003 > < SEASONAL CHEER & GREETINGS FROM THE ARMPITS . . . > The Bands 14 track CD "No Laughing Matter" is on sale NOW and makes a wonderful Xmas gift. Order directly from Jazz Beasley at the special web price of £10.00 (inc P&P) to receive it in time for Christmas. Cheques, payable to the Armpit Jug Band, should be sent to Jazz Beasley, 3 Wimbourne Close, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 9QW. * Club Organisers - Book the band for a gig in 2004 and receive a FREE CD. Phone Jazz now on 02476 397624 STOP PRESS. The Band return to Bulkington, scene of many triumphs over the years, on Saturday 6th December when they are appearing at the Weavers Arms. Other December Highlights include National Forest Folk Club in Moira on December 12th and the Great Night Folk Club in Northampton on December 16th. < SUMMER - AUGUST 2003 > < USA TOUR ON HOLD . . . > The Band was delighted to receive an invitation from the USA to play the 'Old Spice Festival' in Battle Mountain, Nevada in August. Unfortunately, after checking with US customs, both the tuba and jug have been deemed to be 'weapons of mass destruction' and the band has reluctantly had to cancel the gig. < NO LAUGHING MATTER > After the band recorded additional material in April, Graham Bradshaw recently completed a second mix of the album. Barring unforeseen problems, the CD should be released late Summer / early Autumn. < ARMPITS RETURN TO FOLK ROOTS > Following Bedworth Folk Festival the Band has two further folk club gigs in December, appearing at the National Forest Folk Club in Moira on December 12th and the Great Night Folk Club in Northampton on December 16th. < SUMMER - JUNE 2003 > One of the highlights of forthcoming gigs is the Beer Festival at the Royal Oak, in Flore near Weedon on Friday 27th June. This is a welcome return to such festivals after many years performing at the Burton Beer Festival. The band plays a different king of festival when they appear at the Bedworth Folk Festival in November, heading the bill on Friday 28th. < EASTER 2003 > 8450 Days On and the Band reach Cyberspace ! < NEW ALBUM ! > The band's latest recording, 'No Laughing Matter' will shortly be available on CD. The bulk of the material was recorded in January with Graham Bradshaw of Folksound Records engineering the sessions. Graham's label is also releasing the album, which is dedicated to the memory of 'Wedge' Beasley who sadly passed away in September 2002. Treats in store for Armpit fans include old favourites such as 'Coney Island Washboard' and 'Choo Choo Ch' Boogie', tuba tunes 'She Wouldn't Give Me None' and 'Careless Love' and new jug numbers, 'Ask Me No Questions' and 'Jug Band Man'. As series of promotional gigs is planned and details will be available soon. Remember to book the band by checking out the contacts page . . . |
