Music-Fest.co.uk Cliffe Music Festival

MUSIC FEST 2006

Kick off 3.15 pm.  What a great start to our marathon of music.  The Peninsula Big Band got us swinging from the rafters throughout their one hour 30 minutes performance.  The crowds’ toes tapped and many hit the floor for a quick step or two.  Thanks to the group of 13 from Crusader Court, Dartford, who were treated to a great display of swing band talent.  At the height of the performance all four committee members of Music-Fest got on the floor for the James Last melody including Amarillo Peter Kay style,(Oh how we puffed). Thanks again to Bev and the rest of the big band for a great start to the festival.

Following swiftly on the Folkestone Teeny Boppers were the perfect contrast for our early bird crowd.  What a pleasure to watch the young rock ‘n rollers jiving away.  Many of our senior citizens in the crowd I’m sure would have been doing the same steps back in the 50’s. Great respect to the Teeny Boppers whom in this day and age are still finding young people to keep the rocking and a rolling into another generation. Respect! And see you next year.

After short interval Paul Barton  eased us into the early evening with a superb mix of latin numbers.  Thanks Paul, it’s his third year at the festival and always supported the cause.  With the early evening approaching and always the most difficult slot to fill, Paul did the business, respect to the guy who gets you up samba style at 6.00 p.m.  Thanks again, see you next year too.

This is where some of our senior citizens left and our younger audience  got rocked.  Stolen were our next group up.  Once again a rocking performance from the North Londoners.  If the doors and windows were not shaking before now, Stolen did the business.  We may have witnessed the final performance of this band due to two band members’ injuries and did they rock!!  Special thanks to John Bell the drummer who spent all day Friday setting up his awesome sound and lighting equipment, all day Saturday as sound/ lighting/ technical wizard, played in the band then continued sound/lighting until the early hours, spent all day Sunday de-rigging, all for nothing.  They don’t make ‘em like that any more.  John Bell Music Fest hero No. 1. 

 Next up and  new to Music Fest, local Gravesend Boys, 3BOBNATION.  Great mix of their own composition and old rock favourites.   We can certainly say we had a diverse range of music from Rock ‘n Roll to Swing to Hard Core Rock to the unique vocal talents of 3BOBNATION.  Thanks again from Music-Fest.

 Next up Release the Peach treated us to many of their own tracks available on their website www.releasethepeach.co.uk  With the crowd fully flowing by now Release the Peach did not disappoint with the stunning vocals from Judy Spicer (Stevie Nicks looky-likey.)

They don’t come more local than the next band, Cliffe lad James Catamole.  Awsome vocals, chilling acoustics really did do the job for me.  The performance of the evening so far, I could have listened to James all evening chilling out to now packed Memorial Hall.  Thanks again to James and the crew absolutely awesome.

After the quickest raffle and presentation we have ever had due to us being over one hour over schedule,

Chris Ansty was next up.  At just 16 he is at his third Music-Fest.  The last two years the crowd have been in awe of his superb lead guitar talents, so Chris this year gave us our first helping of his acoustic and vocal talents.  Tracks from Nirvana to Wish You here Here by Pink Floyd and self-composed numbers grabbed the crowd by the nuts and demanded attention. This just may be the last visit to Music-Fest due to Chris moving down under.    Watch out Aussie bands  Crowded House, Jet etc., Chris Ansty  is coming to kick ass!  Thanks Chris for your support over the last 3 years. 

Now we had chilled the crowd enough we really raised the roof with Face To Face.  I really don’t need to write any more, just two words would do.  Flipping Amazing.  From the first number to the third encore the dance floor was packed.  Cliffe woods must have slid down the hill closer to the B2000 by a couple of feet!!!!!  The foundations shuddered and my ears are still ringing, absolutely MEGA!!!

Now approaching 1.00 am, you would have expected the crowd to have either gone home or collapsed but oh no.  Handle With Care smashed the last of the windows in the hall with the performance of the evening.  They waited 3 long hours to get on stage and were not gonna leave without sapping every last bit of energy left in the crowd. Thumping performace lads.  I for one will not be waiting  a whole year to see Handle With Care,  I can see in the near future the Kent boys on a trip to the Great Metropolis to get another ear blasting from this band massive.

That leave us with the Thank You’s

Unfortunatley at this time I don’t know all your names but you know who you are.

To name just a few,

All our sponsers (inc Cliffe Spice--- 5-2 Tom!!!),Cliffe Village Club, All the Bands, All The bar staff, Friends of St Helens for the BBQ, The tea and cake department, All the people behind the scenes setting up and clearing away.

Our tireless committee inc Tom Harvey, Reg Higgins, Geoff  and Me Lee Cooper.

And  John Bell, he should be Sir John Bell for his continued support of this event.

Oh, How could I forget Peter Moore, if anyone has got a picture please email me it for the website  info@music-fest.co.uk  . This fine figure of a man got his kit off for charity and raised loads of money with people pleading with him “ Get em back on!!!!!!!)

See you all next year

Music Fest 2007

www.music-fest.co.uk