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Scrumpy & Western The definitive guide to the West Country music |
Scrumpy & Western News Archive 2008also see old news from 2007
Tickets are now for sale for the 1st Spring Bristol Cider Festival next month - with The Mangledwurzels playing at all sessions! Chris Lilley, the brains behind CiderFestivals.co.uk, confirmed that tickets are now on sale for the 1st Spring Bristol Cider Festival, which will take place at the Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, at Temple Meads in Bristol over the weekend Friday 30th and Saturday 31st January 2009. Tickets are available from the Pavilionshop ticket office priced £6.00 in advance. Any unsold tickets will be available on the day (£7.00 on the door), but cider fans are urged to get their tickets in advance to avoid being locked out on the night. On offer will be over 80 ciders and perries including award-winning ciders from Ben Crossman's Cider, Rich's Farmhouse Cider and Thatchers Cider (Somerset), Gwatkin Cider (Herefordshire), Gwynt Y Ddraig Seidr (Wales), and Mr Whitehead's Cider (Hampshire). The Mangledwurzels will be playing a full show at each session. And as always food - in the shape of a dozen or so hog roasts and all the hotdogs you could desire - will be served up by Chris Lilley Catering. And don't forget...the 2nd Bristol Cider Festival at Temple Meads on the weekend of Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August. And the Bath Cricket Club Cider Festival on Friday 31st July - just across the road from the Bath Pavilion to help the cricket club celebrate their 150th anniversary. And finally, rumours are rife that a 2nd Autumn Bath Cider Festival (we didn't have one this year) is being planned for the Pavilion in October 2009. More details as we get them. And The Mangledwurzels will, of course, be playing a full show at each session of each festival!
Wurzels Valentine's Tour (posted 16 Dec 2008) West Country promotions company Midnight Mango have announced a four day Wurzels tour for next year which takes the band across Devon and Somerset over the Valentine's Day weekend.The Wurzels' management normally handle all their own bookings, but Midnight Mango have consistently proved themselves a good promoters for The Wurzels with their annual springtime shows (as well as having an excellent reputation in the local music business as a whole) - and 2009 sees them taking The Wurzels on a whistle-stop four-date tour across the West Country.
The tour - seasonally named the Love A Wurzel On The Valentine's Tour (which I'm not sure actually makes sense - but we get the idea!) - starts in Plymouth on the 11th February, and ends on Saturday in 14th in Plymouth. And what better way to express your feels to a loved one than buying two tickets for a romantic hoe-down with The Wurzels? Tickets are on sale now priced at £12.00 in advance and £14.00 on the door; except for the Exeter date which is a snip at £10.00 in advance and £12.00 on the door. In saying that, I wouldn't guarantee that there will be any tickets left to buy on the door. And if that isn't enough to impress the object of your affections, I'm sure that a Wurzels CD bought and signed on the night will do the job!
Support comes from Peachy Farmer (Plymouth), Jankie Fardal (Bridgwater and Frome) and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (Plymouth)
GWR FM DJs Bush and Troy's have done it again! Their new Christmas single is a parody of Wham's Last Christmas and features The Wurzels on vocals throughout the song. Also appearing are regular show guests 'Spidey Man' and 'Jack Nicholson' and for footie fans there is some lovely one-twos from Lewis Carey (Bristol City captain) and Stevie Phillips (Bristol Rovers goalkeeper). Breaking News!!! [15 Dec] George Michael has given permission for Bush and Troy to use the Last Christmas tune! This means that very soon you will be able to buy Bush and Troy's 2008 Christmas song. All proceeds will go to the GWR Big Give campaign to raise funds for the Bristol Children's Hospital. Watch this space and listen on air to Bush and Troy's radio show on GWR FM for details of where you can buy the song. The chorus goes something like this: Last
year we had champagne and wine, now it's twenty Scotch Eggs for
3.99; But if you want to hear it in all its glory, check out GWR FM's YouTube page, and the full lyrics on the GWR FM website - or listen to Bush and Troy's radio show on GWR FM! This is Bush and Troy's fourth single - previous songs were the 2004 Christmas single Feed The Wurzels (featuring The Wurzels), the 2006 World Cup anthem Peter Crouch In Lederhosen (also featuring The Wurzels) and the 2007 Fairytale of Bristol (which sadly did not feature The Wurzels at all!). And we have just uncovered a neat YouTube video (well, audio only) of the Feed The Wurzels song.
Who's Afear'd - the self-appointed "social conscience of Scrumpy and Western music" - have stepped up their campaign to expel Bournemouth (and Sandbanks) back across the Dorset border into Hampshire where it belongs. And as part of their ongoing campaign to reverse the county border changes of 1974 and send Bournemouth back to Hampshire, Who's Afear'd have stepped up the propaganda war. Their pro-Dorset, anti-Bournemouth anthem Borderline has been entered into the Bournemouth Echo's "Battle of the Bands" competition, and they hope that their success will bring attention to our noble cause. All Scrumpy and Western fans are asked to help them and the good people of Dorset, by surfing onto the website at http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/leisure/battleofthebands and casting your vote for Who's Afear'd - they are number 1274. You can also listen to the song there, and remind yourself just why this cause should be supported. Voting can be done by email, text, telephone or postal vote, and closing date is midnight on Monday December 8th 2008. And remember you are not only voting for a song, but the history, culture and dignity of an entire county! Borderline appears on the band's debut album The Day Of The Badger, which was released earlier this year to critical acclaim (by the editorial staff of the Scrumpy and Western website, no less!). You can get your copy directly from the band; CDs are £7.00 (including p&p) and can be ordered by emailing Who's Afear'd at dorset_is_beautiful@yahoo.co.uk. Or you can buy a copy (and possibly even get it signed!) at any of the Who's Afear'd gigs.
As if you had not already had enough (which obviously you haven't!) Bill Bailey is poised to inflict yet more Tinselworm on his unsuspecting fans. As well as the long-awaited Tinselworm DVD, Bill has released Bill Bailey - The Collectors Edition 4-DVD box set AND announced another swathe of dates at London's acclaimed Gielgud Theatre. Bill Bailey - The Collectors Edition DVD box set is a four disc veritable Billalogue of a release. It provides you with twelve years of Bill Bailey in the one box set, containing Cosmic Jam, Bewilderness, Part Troll AND the new DVD Tinselworm all in one package - and cunningly released just in time for Christmas! And for those of you who missed the release of Tinselworm the DVD read about here. But better than that - Tinselworm: The West End Show (read about that here too!) goes from strength to strength with the majority of the pre-Christmas dates now sold out! So, by popuilar demand (don'cha just love that phrase!) Bill has announced more dates, extending right up to, over and after Christmas and New Year. This will be the last time you'll be able to see this show before Bill puts it to bed. I was lucky enough to catch Bill at the Colston Hall In Bristol a few years back, and can vouch that it is something you don't want to miss! The new tickets went on sale on Friday 21st November and are already selling fast. All these dates will undoubtedly sell-out too; remember...only the early bird catches the Tinselworm. Ents24 have set up ticketing links for all of Bill's London dates; click on the link and those which of the (remaining) dates you want tickets for.
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Scrumpy & Western Forum Launched Today! (13 November 2008)
We are pleased to announce the addition of a Scrumpy & Western Forum as part of the Scrumpy & Western website.
This Forum is linked, not only to the Scrumpy & Western website, but also to the Wurzelmania! website (fansite for Adge Cutler & The Wurzels), the official The Mangledwurzels website (home of Somerset's favourite Scrumpy & Western tribute band) and the Somerset Paddies (Scrumpy & Western with a gurt dash of Irish). Maybe other bands will join up too...
This forum means that you can ask your questions to Scrumpy & Western experts, share your Scrumpy & Western memories, chat with other fans of the genre or just tell us what a good (or otherwise) job you think we are doing.
I have set up the Forum so that you can send messages as a guest without needing to Register - although if you are a regular, it would be nice to have a core of registered users. And if the board starts getting too many 'difficult' guests, I may be forced to make registration mandatory. So, be nice to each other!
Tickets
Now On Sale for Bath Cider Festival 2009; new festivals confirmed
[posted 6 November 2008]
Tickets are now for sale for the 3rd Bath Cider Festival early next year - and The Mangledwurzels' input has been increased with appearances at all sessions!
Chris Lilley, the brains behind CiderFestivals.co.uk, confirmed that tickets are now on sale for the 3rd Bath Cider Festival, which will take place at the Bath Pavilion in its normal slot over the Valentines weekend 13th and 14th February 2009.
Tickets are available from the Pavilionshop ticket office priced £6.00 in advance. Any unsold tickets will be available on the day, but cider fans are urged to get their tickets in advance to avoid being locked out on the night. Over 500 unlucky punters missed out at this year's festival!
On offer will be over 80 ciders and perries including award-winning ciders from Ben crossman's Cider, Rich's Farmhouse Cider and Thatchers Cider (Somerset), Gwatkin Cider (Herefordshire), Gwynt Y Ddraig Seidr (Wales), and Mr Whitehead's Cider (Hampshire). The Mangledwurzels will be playing a full show at each session. And as always food - in the shape of a dozen or so hog roasts and all the hotdogs you could desire - will be served up by Chris Lilley Catering.
Other Festivals Confirmed
The 1st Spring Bristol Cider Festival has been confirmed for Friday 30th and Saturday 31st January 2009 at Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, at Temple Meads in Bristol. Ticket should go on sale in the next few weeks. And we will all be back at Temple Meads for the 2nd Bristol Cider Festival on the weekend of Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August.
And another date for your cider-stained diaries - Friday 31st July will see the whole cider army at the Bath Cricket Club Cider Festival, across the road from the Pavilion to help the cricket club celebrate their 150th anniversary. And finally, rumours are rife that a 2nd Autumn Bath Cider Festival (we didn't have one this year) is being planned for the Pavilion in October 2009. More details as we get them.
And The Mangledwurzels will, of course, be playing a full show at each session of each festival!
Wurzels
have the Monopoly on new Somerset game! (22nd October 2008)
Monopoly, the great property trading board game now finds its home in Somerset. You can now play the classic game with the landmarks and locations which give the county its distinctive appeal and character. And pride of place on the board are The Wurzels!
Yes, where once there was a Water Works (£150), now you will find Tommy, Pete and the rest of the band. Now that's a good use of a brownfield site!
Sadly the picture (right) doesn't show it too well. The band are in the top right hand corner in between the Yellow 'properties' of 'Cheddar Caves & Gorge' and 'Minehead', and two places short of the 'Go To Jail' square. But you will have to shell out on a copy of the game to see them in all their glory - and have your opportunity to buy The Wurzels! What would Adge have said?
The manufacturers, UK-based game firm Winning Moves, say of the game: "In Somerset you will find a wonderful mixture of countryside and coast. Inland there are many hills on which to stroll and numerous areas of natural beauty. The Levels and Moors form a backdrop to Glastonbury Tor, centre of mystery and legend. Not far from Glastonbury is Wells, England's smallest city with a magnificent 13th Century cathedral and a delightful market square. The nearby caves at Wookey Hole and at Cheddar Gorge will transport you back to prehistoric times while in Taunton Vale lies the town of Taunton. Somerset's county town has shopping, entertainment and a famous castle, now the home of the Somerset County Museum. In a County of such beauty, you'll find few squares on the board you won't want to land on, so give the dice a roll and see where the game of Monopoly takes you in Somerset, The Jewel of the South West!" For more information - including a list of all the new squares, check the World Of Monopoly website.
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The Somerset edition of Monopoly was released on 14th October and is available on the Amazon website priced at £24.99.
The
Cutlers Launch Their Christmas Appeal!
(posted 21st Oct 2008)
This year The Cutlers of Cornwall have picked the BBC Precious Lives Appeal for their Christmas Charity Fundraiser. Some readers might remember that the band held a concert earlier in the year at St Keverne in Cornwall, and with other bands helped raise around £600 for the charity. The Christmas 2008 appeal is trying to raise enough money to build a Children's Hospice here in Cornwall.
The band are donating one of their songs Snowflakes Are Kisses From Angels to the fund. This can be downloaded from iTunes at a cost of 79p.
All monies raised will be passed to the band through the CD-Baby.com in early January through Paypal. At which time they will announce the final figure; and this method keeps everything transparent. The band would be pleased if all of their friends would support us in this appeal, and spread the word around the Internet and beyond,
Fans of the band will be able to see The Cutlers performing Snowflakes,
and many other songs, at their debut Bristol gig in November. The
band are playing a Thanksgiving Day Scrumpy and Western
Spectacular at
the Bristol Bierkeller on Thursday 27th November. Tickets are on
sale now from Bristol
Ticket Shop priced £11.00 including booking fee.
Bill
Bailey Tinselworm DVD
and London Dates!
(posted 15 Oct 2008)
Bill Bailey is poised to inflict more Tinselworm on his unsuspecting fans. Monday 10th November sees the release of the long-awaited Tinselworm DVD; and also marked the start of a two month residency at London's acclaimed Gielgud Theatre.
Tinselworm the DVD is your chance to experience Tinselworm in your own home - a visually stunning comedy and music extravaganza. Filmed at Wembley Arena at the end of a sell-out tour of the UK, it is everything you expect from Bill, and more. Using huge screens, films and animation by award-winning film-maker Joe Magee, plus Bill's trademark musical inventiveness and verbal brilliance, this is quite simply the most spectacular one-man comedy show ever staged in the UK. The DVD is released on 10th November 2008; and those nice chaps at Amazon are already taking advanced orders on the DVD - to be shipped on the release date. Hey - you can't get better than that!
Tinselworm the West End Show is for those of you who want to experience Bill in the flesh. Following a sell-out arena tour of the UK in 2007 and a sell-out tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2008, Tinselworm returns to the UK for a run at The Gielgud Theatre from November 10th. As in any Bill Bailey show, the subject matter is broad ranging; tattoos, marketing, doorbells, Emo, creationism, post-war banking secrecy, travellers' tales and the alternate reality that is Bill's world - spun together with the sparkling thread of a seasonal invertebrate. It has all the trademark Bailey elements; lyrical dexterity, tangential silliness and musical brilliance plus animation by award-winning film maker, Joe Magee, all of which combine to make this a verbal and visual treat.
This will be the last time you'll be able to see this show before Bill puts it to bed. I was lucky enough to catch Bill at the Colston Hall In Bristol a few years back, and can vouch that it is something you don't want to miss! This show will undoubtedly sell-out; remember...only the early bird catches the Tinselworm. Ents24 have set up ticketing links for all of Bill's London dates; click on the link and those which of the (remaining) dates you want tickets for.
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The Mangledwurzels become TV celebrities! (posted 8th Oct 2008)
Earlier
this year, The Mangledwurzels were involved in the filming of the
ITV programme Britain's
Best Dish. While most of Bristol (well, the red half anyway)
was cheering on the City at Wembley, the band were at The Watershed
as the Bristol auditions for Britain's Best Dish was filmed.
The Mangledwurzels were filmed arriving at the venue, registering for the competition and generally making fools of themselves for the cameras before entertaining the waiting contestants with live renditions of I Am A Cider Drinker and Combine Harvester. Unfortunately keyboard player and budding chef Jethro Tool's attempts at convincing Jilly Goolden and her sidekicks that Scrumpy & Western Casserole should be Britain's Best (Main) Dish failed to impress; much to Jethro's relief!
And on Wednesday 8th October 2008, ITV broadcast the Bristol auditions show - and The Mangledwurzels appeared as part of that show bringing Scrumpy & Western music (and casserole) to the nation. Fearing that it might be a blink-and-you-missed-it appearance - the band were overjoyed to see a good little featurette on the show.
Not only were The Mangledwurzels band shown performing I Am A Cider Drinker, ITV also showed Jethro pitching his dish to the judges. The show did insinuate that Jethro was bribing them with glasses of scrumpy - Thatcher's Traditional Cider, as most connoisseurs would have recognised! - but Jethro felt that misrepresenting him as a dubious cider-swilling blackguard was much better that his feeble half-baked attempt at explaining how to make a venison and cider casserole!
Once someone explains how the technology works, The Mangledwurzels will add a video clip of this historical moment to their website...
A
Giant Portion Of Jethro Available In October (posted 8
Oct 2008)
Cornish comedian Jethro is poised to release his annual DVD entitled A Giant Portion Of Jethro.
Jethro has been releasing his annual live show since the VHS video days of 1993. 16 years on, that pattern is only slightly changed, with the format being DVD, and the accompanying audio release being on CD instead of cassette.
A Giant Portion Of Jethro is his 2008 offering, due for release on 27th October 2008. This captures the glory that was his 2008 UK tour - at present we don't have much information where an dwhen it was filmed, but I'm sure those of you who were at the gig(s) will be able to tell me!
As well as the standard DVD, Jethro has also put together a 3-disc DVD package entitled Jethro's Big Comedy Feast. This contains the 2008 A Giant Portion Of Jethro, as well as his 1995 show What Happened Was... and the decidedly ancient A Portion Of Jethro from 1993.
Jethro's official website does not have any information on the release - and I notice that their online shop appears to have disappeared; but don't worry because those nice chaps at Amazon are already taking advanced orders on all three products - to be shipped on the release date. Hey - you can't get better than that.
The Mangledwurzels are poised to become TV celebrities - possibly! (posted 7 Oct 2008)
Earlier this year, the band was involved in the filming of the ITV programme Britain's Best Dish. While most of Bristol (well, the red half anyway) was cheering on the City at Wembley, The Mangedwurzels were at The Watershed as the Bristol auditions for Britain's Best Dish was filmed.
And while Jethro Tool's attempts at convincing Jilly Goolden and her sidekicks that Scrumpy & Western Casserole should be Britain's Best (Main) Dish failed, the band was filmed playing a couple of songs for the waiting contestants.
WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER sees the broadcast of the Bristol auditions show - and ITV have told us that The Mangedwurzels will appear as part of that show. Of course it might just be a blink-and-you-missed-it appearance - but you (and indeed the band) won't know until it's been broadcast!
The show starts at 5pm. Don't let anyone interrupt you - and you might just be rewarded with our latest TV appearance!
..and don't blink - you might miss it!
Who's
Afear'd Release
Debut Album
(posted 25 Sep 2008)
Dorset's wayward sons Who's Afear'd have been found guilty of allowing their debut album 'The Day Of The Badger' to escape into the countryside.
Government scientists and local vets have been scouring the Dorset countryside in the hope of containing this incusion, but a MAFF spokeman admitted earlier today that it was a hopeless task.
"Copies of The Day Of The Badger have been seen all over the county, and it is only a matter of time before they arrive in the surrounding areas!", he admitted.
The Scrumpy & Western editor was heard to add: "I hope so - Kev has promised to send me a copy!"
This musical masterpiece has been crafted and honed and moulded and buggered-up to make it just right for all you discerning lovers of Dorset Toss. Featuring a staggering 11 new songs and a lovely new version of an old favourite, it's sure to bring many tears to many eyes.
There are 12 tracks on the album:
- Weymouth Quay
- Cider Riot
- Mr Sandbanks
- My Willy's Getting Hard
- Owermoigne Dead Body
- All Along the Esplanade (Far Corfe mix)
- Danish Tundra
- Dorset is Beautiful
- Borderline
- Scrumpy Drinker
- West Country Girls
- I've Been Everywhere
The Day Of The Badger was recorded on reel-to-reel 8 track in a pub skittle alley in Dorset in August 2008, and was released on the Ryme Intrinseca Records; cat: RYME002. You can get your copy directly from the band; CDs are £7.00 (including p&p) and can be ordered by emailing Who's Afear'd at dorset_is_beautiful@yahoo.co.uk. Or you can buy a copy (and possibly even get it signed!) at any of the Who's Afear'd gigs.
Country
Radio Station Features The Cutlers (posted 22 Sep 2008)
Cornish Scrumpy & Western band, The Cutlers Of Cornwall are the latest band to be featured by Online radio station UK Country Radio.com
UKCountryRadio.com's Allan Watkiss said, "We are delighted to be playing the music of The Cutlers of Cornwall. Our station plays the best in UK Country music alongside the big names from America. And, while not specifically a country music artist, The Cutlers do veer into the genre. I particularly love their song "Sea of Cowpats" which is a play on the popular Don Gibson hit 'Sea of Heartbreak'. I think it will give our audience a chuckle".
UKCountryRadio.com is compiled and produced by a small group of radio professionals who are dedicated to promoting the best in Country Music. You can find the UK Country Radio station website at http://ukcountryradio.com. The Cutlers Of Cornwall have their own pageo n the UK Country Radio website at http://www.ukcountryradio.com/artistsCutlersOfCornwall.html.
[The Cutlers Of Cornwall page]
Bill
Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra (posted 17th
Oct 2008)
Bill has been let loose on the brilliantly versatile BBC Concert Orchestra, and has collaborated with one of the country's most celebrated composers and arrangers, Anne Dudley to produce a new show entitled Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra.
Find out about cockney trombones, bassoon secrets, tv and film themes, and hear brand new versions of some of Bill's songs plus loads more in this irreverent guide to the orchestra, which The Times described as 'blissfully funny' and Stephen Fry called ' wonderfully enjoyable... like driving a Rolls Royce off-road'.
The show currently takes in October with two nights at the Brighton Dome as part of the Magners (not REAL cider! Ed) Paramount Comedy Festival followed by three nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London (third date added due to demand!). Tickets are in great demand, so don't wait and hope! Full gig details in the Scrumpy & Western Gig Guide.
[Bill Bailey page]
The
Somerset Paddies Release Debut Album (posted 27 Aug 2008)
The Somerset Paddies have recorded their triumphant performance at the Wellie Beer And Cider Fest earlier this year and made it available on a 10 track CD.
The North Somerset band capture the spirit of Somerset and mix it with the craic an Irish night. This unique blend of Somerset and Irish songs and music has been captured by The Somerset Paddies on their new album Refuel: Live At The Wellie.
Performing at a four'o - Billy Wicks on guitar and vocals, Roger Gordon on accordion and vocals, Pete Cook on fiddle, and Landfill on washboard, pots and pans percussion - they rampage through the songs of the late Adge Cutler, The Wurzels, Brendan Shine, The Pogues, Dubliners, and more with loads of audience participation. A true prepresentaiton of the live Somerset Paddies experience!
There are 10 tracks on the album; as listed:
- Drink Up Thy Cider
- Pub Craw
- Moonlight On The Malago
- Tractor Song
- Blackbird
- Dirty Old Town
- Whiskey In A Jar
- Tell Me Ma
- Vertuette Industrial
- Fields Of Athernrye
The album is available from the band's website at www.somersetpaddies.co.uk by mail order, or you can buy a copy (and possibly even get it signed!) at any of the The Somerset Paddies gigs (listed on their website). The CD is priced at a very reasonable £5.00 with an additional 50p P&P for mail order.
CiderFestivals.co.uk
Announce 2009 Festivals (posted 14 August 2008)
In the wake of the success of the 1st Bristol Cider Festival held at the historic Brunel Passenger Shed, at the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, at Temple Meads in Bristol, organisers CiderFestivals.co.uk have announced that plans are already underway for more festivals in 2009 - and 2010! And as you would expect The Mangledwurzels are pencilled in to play a major part in all four events.
Chris Lilley, the brains behind CiderFestivals.co.uk, confirmed that he is planning at least four cider festivals for 2009. February will see the 3rd Bath Cider Festival, which will take place at the Bath Pavilion in its normal slot over the Valentines weekend 12-14th February. Around the same time there will be a Spring Bristol Cider Festival. Negotiations are currently underway with the venue, and although nothing has yet been confirmed it looks likely that this will take place over the last weekend of January.
August 2009 should see the 2nd Bristol Cider Festival at the Brunel Passenger Shed, most probably over the weekend of the 7th & 8th August 2009; and Chris told me that he is also planning to pre-book the venue for a similar event in 2010! And running alongside that, there are plans for a Summer Bath Cider Festival to take place at the Bath Pavilion in the same month. Plans are also in place for other events, but nothing can yet be announced!
So - at least four cider festivals for 2009, and you can be sure that The Mangledwurzels will be providing the entertainment for most of them - subject to contract, of course! Full details will be announced as soon as we have confirmation, and tickets will go on sale a few months before the event as always.
New Mangledwurzels Album Recording On Track! (posted 20 July 2008)
The
Mangledwurzels are well on their way to completing the recording
of their second album - entitled Wurz'ee II.
The first ten tracks have virtually been completed. Cider Be Good For ‘Ee, I Can Drive A Tractor, The Mangoldwurzel (Beta Beta Vulgaris), The Rat Song, Valleys Girl, Farrington Gurney, The Poacher & The Gamekeeper, No Sheep 'Til Ammerdown, The Shepton Sheep and I Likes Cider are all in the final stages of recording. Guitars, bass guitar, banjo, keyboards and drums are all done, and this Thursday (7th August) should see the last of the vocals and harmonies tracks being added before record producer Will Angeloro (pictured, right) is unleashed on the songs. After that, the band will start practising another hatful of brand new songs which have never seen the light of day before, and the best of these will be added to the final album.
The album is being recorded at Will's Frome-based Handsome Llama Recording Studios. Will was also responsible for the recording and production of Get Orf My Land! and the Stuff The Mangledwurzels EP. Will has also been given permission - and free reign - to put together a dub version of one of the tracks. More details on that to follow!
Wurz'ee II is a collection of the band's own compositions, and the band hopes that the resulting album will stand up as a Scrumpy & Western album in its own right. It will be a wholly studio-based album with much more instrumentation than you would hear at a Mangledwurzel gig. Seth is playing bass guitar and Variaxe as well as his normal electro-acoustic guitar, while Jethro has unleashed some new sounds from his new Korg synthesisers. The band has also incorporated the drumming and percussion of Dozy Trowel - aka Cozy Towel from Seth's previous band The Glambusters - which adds a new dimension to the band's sound.
Rather than rush the recording, the band are now planning to release the album in the autumn. Advanced orders will be taken from September, and the band are planning an official Launch Party for the end of that month.
The Cutlers Yearn For A Country Life (posted 26 June 2008)
Cornish Scrumpy & Western band, The Cutlers Of Cornwall have released their third studio album.
Their new offering, the band's third album in less than a year, in called A Country Life, and containing the usual mix of original work and parodies with Scrumpy and Western evergreens, Cornish classics and covers. There are 14 tracks in all; the track listing is:
- Country Life
- The Champion Dung Spreader
- The Miners Wife
- A Boar Knows A Thousand Sties
- My Threshing Machine
- Gisson
- Morning Glory
- What a Wonderful World
- Sea Of Cowpats
- Silver Wedding
- High On A Hill
- Don't Tell I Tell 'Ee
- I Likes To Dance
- Trelawney
The album is due for release through American online retailer CD-Baby; the first time the band's music has been available globally. It should be available for download from Monday 30th June, and will be on iTunes and other websites over the coming weeks. Fans can also pre-order today from the band's official website. The CD is priced at £9.99 with free UK & Worldwide carriage.
The
band's MySpace
page has audio clips for you to hear, or download the mp3
clip of High On A Hill from the album
exclusive to the Scrumpy & Western website!
The Cutlers Of Cornwall are supporting this release with more live dates. They are venturing out of Cornwall in July to play at Minehead, and September at Bath University; see the Scrumpy & Western Gig Guide for all the band's gigs. They will be delighted to meet all fans of the good old "Scrump"; the elixir of kings.
[The Cutlers Of Cornwall page]
Combine Harvester To Get The Rap Treatment (posted 30 May 2008)
Cider-swilling pop legends The Wurzels are planning a rap version of their 1970s' cult classic Combine Harvester, insiders revealed yesterday.
The country-bumpkin rockers shot to fame with classics such as I Am a Cider Drinker and Drink Up Thy Zider - all sung in a thick West Country accent. But now they plan to swap their farmers' favourites for trendy baseball caps, baggy jeans, and "bling" jewellery, and re-release a hip-hop version of their 1976 hit.
According to record company insiders, the new version could be a chart hit and harvest the band a small fortune. A source said: ''The original version was, and still is, immensely popular all over the world, so a rap version of it would be massive. It would sell tens of thousands of copies and has real potential to snatch the #1 spot all over again."
The band formed in 1966 as a backing group for West Country singer Adge Cutler, but re-launched as The Wurzels in 1974 when Adge was killed in a car crash. Since then, the band has shot to fame with songs about farming, cider making, rural villages and local pubs.
Yesterday band manager Phil Wilcox would not comment on the single, but said: "I'm not ruling anything out for the band's future."
from the 'Western Daily Press' website
[Ed comments: Considering that Tommy Banner writes for the Western Daily Press, one might have hoped that the newspaper could have got more facts and less speculation! 'Record company insiders' and 'a source' - and, of course, 'Phil Wilcox' (presumably Sil Willcox's less famous brother!)... Still, if it's true, it can't be a bad thing!]
[The Wurzels page]
Jethro Cooks Up A Storm! (posted 26 May 2008)
Jethro Tool, keyboard player with The Mangledwurzels showed fans - and the band - a new side to his personality as he appeared at the Bristol auditions for the ITV Reality programme Britain's Best Dish at The Watershed on Bristol's Harbourside on Saturday 24th May.
Armed with a recipe, 500g of finest West Country venison from Springlease Farm Shop in Norton St Philips (as used by Jethro and Sil Wilcox, the Wurzels manager - although never at the same time!), 4 litres of finest Thatchers Traditional Cider (of course!) and the surprise ingredient, some home-made apple and tomato chutney; Jethro tried to convince the judges - Jilly Goolden, Ed Baines and John Burton Race - that his Scrumpy & Western Casserole was indeed Britain's Best Dish!
And he was not alone, for The Mangledwurzels turned up in force and were filmed entertaining the gathered contenders with some proper Scrumpy & Western music, before Jethro Pitched his dish to the judges (that is, he pitched his idea; he didn't literally heave a dish of casserole at the celebrity chefs!).
How did he do? Well, you will have to wait until the programme is aired in September...but the ingredients were cooked up the following day, and the Scrumpy & Western Casserole served to Rosie Russett (and Jethro!); washed down with more scrumpy - and the verdict was that it was delicious!
[The Mangledwurzels page]
Wurzels
sign up to music festival (posted 9 May 2008)
Preparations are well underway for the Bradford Festival next month, with The Wurzels booked to headline on the first night.
Sponsored by the Wiltshire Times, the festival promises to be a great day out for the whole family with events going on all day and well into the night too.
The event, which is now in its eighth year and held in the field behind The Beehive pub, is run by Sparky Bloodworth and his wife Lynne. But this year he has had some extra help to make the festival the biggest and best yet.
Sam Nash, who is helping him out, said: "This year it's going to be running day and night over a whole weekend. It's going to be more of a family event with rides and a circus skills workshop during the day. It's also going to be a community event with lots of local people doing stuff too."
On Friday June 20, The Wurzels will be headlining with the Cleverly Brothers playing earlier in the evening.
Then
on Saturday, Rolling Stones tribute act The Rollin Clones will be
headlining, with local bands Carnaby Street, The Bad Detectives,
Mike Eaton and the Young Leonardos playing.
advertisement
On the Sunday, The Boghouse Boys will close the festival with Tom Rockcliffe and Sonny performing earlier in the evening.
Mr Bloodworth, 53, said: "Up until now it was only myself and Lynne organising it but we could only do two music evenings, so we've formed a committee to help take it to the next level and hopefully it will get bigger and better."
Usually the festival has tribute acts dominating the line up but this year they have booked many more local bands playing original music.
The daytime event is free but tickets for the evening events cost £15 in advance or £17 on the gate.
They can be purchased from Bradford on Avon Tourist Information Centre, the Wiltshire Times office in Duke Street, Trowbridge, from Sam Nash on (01225) 764516 or online from www.bradford-festival.co.uk.
[The Wurzels page]
Wurzels
Confirmed for Glasto 08 (posted 30 April 2008)
The Wurzels will be playing on the Avalon Stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival.
The line-up for this year's Glastonbury Festival, taking place between Friday 27th and Sunday 29th of June, has now been announced. As promised the Wurzels have been awarded a higher profile slot in the festival, having being promoted from headliners on the Band Stand to a mid-afternoon slot on the Avalon Stage on the Saturday (28th).
The boys are fifth on the bill, which is headlined by The Proclaimers and also sees Will Young, Alabama 3 and The Handsome Family playing. The Wurzels follow Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, Bacalao, Malarchy and One String Loose on stage; which should see them on stage at about tea-time (timings approximate!). And I'm sure that the fact they are not headlining the stage will be no chore, as the band has a second gig booked for the same day in nearby Longleat Estate!
The Wurzels, of course, made national headlines for all the wrong reasons last year when they pulled out of last year's Glastonbury Festival after being offered a slot on the Band Stand (the same stage they had played on at their Glasto debut in 2000). At the time, organiser Emily Eavis promised the band a better slot in 2008, and seems to have lived up to her promises.
And it is not lost for any Wurzels fans who have not got their Glastonbury tickets yet. The anticipated rush for tickets seems to have been a little over-optimistic, and as a result there are still tickets available - but get your applications in ASAP as I'm sure the confirmation of The Wurzels on the bill will mean a last-minute rush for tickets!
[The Wurzels page]
Bristol
Cider Festival tickets on sale now! (posted 8 April 2008)
Tickets for the 1st Bristol Cider Festival - run by CiderFestivals.co.uk - are now on sale from the Pavilionshop ticket office priced £6.00 in advance.
The event takes place at Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empre & Commonwealth Museum, Station Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH on the weekend of Friday 8th August and Saturday 9th August. There will be entertainment on both days; The Mangledwurzels will be providing the entertainment on the Saturday sessions. Friday's entertainment is a Meatloaf tribute band.
The event has already receiving a lot of interest from cider drinkers across the region, and tickets are bound to be in demand. The venue is the same as the CAMRA Bristol Beer Festivals which sold out in advance for all sessions; and both of the CiderFestivals.co.uk Bath Festivals sold out with over 500 people turned away at the latest event.
Any unsold tickets will be available on the day, but cider fans are urged to get their tickets in advance to avoid being locked out on the night!
On offer will be over 80 ciders and perries including award-winning ciders from Rich's Farmhouse Cider and Heck's Farmhouse Cider (Somerset), Gwatkin Cider (Herefordshire), Gwynt Y Ddraig Seidr (Wales), Mr Whitehead's Cider (Hampshire) and the Cornish Cyder Company (Cornwall). As always, food - in the shape of a dozen or so hog roasts and all the hotdogs you could desire - will be served up by Chris Lilley Catering.
The Mangledwurzels are already looking forward to a year of Beer and Cider Festivals - the Bonjour Brighton Raceday & West Cider Festival (April 27th), The Pucklechurch Beer Festival (20th June), The Canal Inn Music and Beer Festival in Wrantage, Taunton (5th July), The Natterjack Beer Festival in Shepton Mallet (July) and The Somerset Cheese, Chutney and Cider Fair in Taunton (September) booked - and several others in the planning stages...
[The Mangledwurzels page]
The Mangledwurzels Plan Second Album! (posted 18 March 2008)
Rehearsals are underway as The Mangledwurzels put together tracks for their second album which will be released in the summer of 2008.
The
album - which is tentatively titled Wurz'ee II
- will be recorded at Handsome
Llama Recording Studios in Frome over the coming months,
with engineer Will Angeloro (pictured, right) once again behind
the desk. It will be a wholly studio-based album with the band planning
to add more instrumentation than you will normally hear at the band's
live gigs.
"Our first album was meant to be a showcase of what the band does at a 'normal' Mangledwurzel gig (if such events are in any way normal!)" said Jethro Tool. "This time we want to show people what we can do in the studio with a full band - bass guitar, drums and anything else we feel the songs will benefit from. I have an accordion sitting gathering dust at home..."
And the band are planning to showcase their own material. Rather than simply re-recording old Adge Cutler and Wurzels songs, Wurz'ee II will mostly - if not totally - consist of the band's own compositions. The resulting album is planned to be a Scrumpy & Western album in its own right.
Amongst the tracks being rehearsed are old favourites from the band's set - Cider Be Good For ‘Ee, I Can Drive A Tractor, The Mangoldwurzel (Beta Beta Vulgaris), The Rat Song, and a new arrangement of Valleys Girl. The band will also be dusting down Seth's homage to his home town Farrington Gurney which rarely gets an outing these days but is nevertheless a lovely song.
Fans at recent gigs have been given advanced warning of some of the new songs, No Sheep 'Til Ammerdown and The Shepton Sheep, which having been rehearsed, now have regular slots in the band's live set. And behind the scenes there are some brand new songs still in the rehearsal process, which will be totally unfamiliar to everyone (including the band at the moment!) such as The Poacher & The Gamekeeper, Five Miles An Hour, and I Likes Cider.
[The Mangledwurzels page]
Bill Bailey Is Kung-Fu Cashew (15th March 2008)
Bill
has been promoting a campaign, through the medium of Flash video,
based on ActionAid's report "Who Pays? How British supermarkets
are keeping women workers in poverty". To watch his campaign
video, featuring himself as a Kung-Fu Cashew, or to produce
your own using his narration, visit
their website.
Bill has also taken part in a charity gig for War on Want, an organisation which highlights poverty around the world, and whose reports about garment workers in Bangladesh and China first alerted him to the lack of accountability from supermarkets over here, including your friendly, neighbourhood store Asda. Visit the War on Want website to read their recently published report on Wal-Mart and Asda, and to view photos from the gig.
Most recently, Bill did a photo shoot for Reprieve, wearing a rather fetching pair of orange pants with 'Fair Trial my Arse' emblazoned across them. Reprieve is a charity that raise awareness about prisoners held in Guantanamo and other parts of the world without a fair trial or proper legal representation. To see a video of the shoot, which also features Robin Ince and Kevin Eldon in big orange pants, go to YouTube or visit the Reprieve website.
Bill will once again be lending his support to the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) and will be featuring in their OrangAid event taking place on 12th May at the Lyceum Threatre, London. Bill will also appear at the Landmark Theatre in Devon on Saturday 17th May as part of the annual Ilfracombe Rotary Charity Variety Show. Full details in the Scrumpy & Western Gig Guide.
Wurzels Go Back To School (posted 12th March 2008)
Tommy Banner and Pete Budd took time out from gigging to visit students at Churchill Community Foundation School in North Somerset.
Students studying A-level Product Design at the school had been given a project as part of their course to design and manufacture items creations based around songs by Adge Cutler & The Wurzels; and Tommy and Pete were invited to come along and see what the results were.
The twelve students had created a range of Wurzelly products - a 'Blackbird' light which will shortly be migrating to the nearby Thatcher's Cider farm shop to highlight their Wurzel-Me Cider, a tractor-shaped hen house that will be donated to nearby Court Farm Country Park in Banwell, a range of six bar stools that will be donated to pubs in the local area, and two park benches that will be relocated to Barrow Gurney and Easton-in-Gordano (both mentioned in Adge's songs). One student also made a weather vane which is apparently mentioned in one of the Wurzels songs, but I can't place which!
Their visit included a guided tour of the school's high quality Performing Arts department. Anyone who 'never went to school' doesn't know what they were missing! Churchill Community Foundation School is renowned for its support for live music, and is a specialist school for the performing arts. It has specialist dedicated teaching and technical performing arts staff, and plenty of top qualities facilties including a 300-capacity theatre, a state-of-the-art recording studio, a drama studio and rehearsal room, and new dance studio, music and practice rooms and a music technology suite. And to show the benefits of studying live music, Tommy and Pete serenaded staff, students and visiting media with a couple of songs.
Churchill Community Foundation School website
[The Wurzels page]
Wurzels
Launch New Website (posted 27th February 2008)
The Wurzels have launched their brand new official website Wurzelworld. The website was launched on 27th February and contains everything that an official band website should have - band news, gig dates, band biogs, discography, gallery, shop, and a forum. There is also a mailing list for you to sign up to get the latest news from Wurzelworld - sign up now and you get a chance to win a signed copy of the Mervyn Hancocks book, 'Wurzels World'.
The website announces that it has recently ‘rediscovered’ the two hand-written letters by Adge Cutler that are stored in the archives of the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office in Trowbridge. See the Wurzelmania! news archive for 2005 for more information about these letters, and how to get a look at them yourselves.
[The Wurzels page]
The Cutlers To Release Second Album (posted 26 February 2008)
Cornish
Scrumpy & Western Band, The Cutlers Of Cornwall
have announced that they will be releasing their second album Behind
Bars on 1st March 2008.
Behind Bars is a 16-track CD showcasing the band's 2008 stage act. It is a mix of original work, Scrumpy and Western evergreens, and some Cornish classics.
The track listing is The Blackbird, Sea Of Cowpats, Lamorna, Captain Of The Dredger, I Wanna Be Like You, Twice Daily, Little Lize Medley, I Am A Cider Drinker, Snowflakes Are Kisses From Angels, I Wish I was Back On The Farm, Pill Pill, Combine Harvester, Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In the West), All Over Mendip, The White Rose, Drink Up Thy Zider.
The
band's MySpace
page has audio clips for you to hear, or download the mp3 clip
of Sea of Cowpats from the album
exclusive to the Scrumpy & Western website! [no
longer available]
Fans can pre-order today from the band's official website, for delivery in the first few days of March. The CD is priced at £9.99. Free UK & Worldwide carriage.
[The Cutlers Of Cornwall page]
The
Wurzels Confirmed for Rock'N'Roots Festival (posted 20th
February 2008)
The Wurzels will be playing at the Rock'N'Roots Festival in Herefordshire this August. Great family days out with three music tents, stalls, craft displays, exotic foods, juggling schools and wine bar set amongst the beautiful green fields of picturesque Herefordshire.
This new eclectic festival is buried in the heart of ciderland, showcasing folk, blues and rock'n'roots for all ages. Two Big Top marquees and an outdoor stage will be hosting the music over the bank holiday weekend. Marillion and USA legendary axe man Steve Cropper, alongside reformed blues rockers Bad Company and Curved Air, will be featuring amongst the hefty blues and folk roots line up.
The Wurzels are booked to play on the bank holiday Monday 25th August and will join Bad Company, blues guitar maestro Walter Trout and the Radicals, Neck, Stan Webb's Chickenshack, Michael Chapman, 3 Daft Monkeys, Cheryl Beer.
The Rock'n'Roots Festival takes place at Rye Meadows, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2NL. Tickets go on sale from 8th April 2008 at www.rocknroots.co.uk (website not live yet!). Great family days out with three music tents, stalls, craft displays, exotic foods, juggling schools and wine bar set amongst the beautiful green fields of picturesque Herefordshire.
Check the official The Rock'n'Roots Festival for more information (official website currently down - check Ents24 for full line-up).
[The Wurzels page]
Apologies
from The Mangledwurzels! (posted 18th Feb 2008)
The Mangledwurzels would like to apologise to hundreds of cider drinkers who were unable to get into the 2nd Bath Cider Festival at the Bath Pavilion last weekend.
The event, which took place over the weekend of the Friday 15th & Saturday 16th February, sold out on both evenings with hundreds of people turned away at the door. The band and venue had urged people to buy tickets in advance, and as it turned out this was good advice.
Over two-and-a-half thousand cider drinkers crammed into the Pavilion over the weekend to enjoy a large range of ciders and perries from across the West Country and Wales. Even the Saturday afternoon session, which is always quieter, had twice the crowd of last year's event. Food - in the shape of a dozen or so hog roasts - was served up by Chris Lilley Catering; and The Mangledwurzels showcased four new additions to their setlist - The Shepton Sheep (a new song written by Seth Pitt), No Sheep 'Til Ammerdown (Jethro's mangling of the Macc Lads' No Sheep Til Buxton), Hark At 'Ee Jacko and The Marrow Song.
Plans are already underway to expand the Bath Cider Festival into a three day event in February 2008, with a Thursday evening session added to allow more people through the doors to sample the cider and music! And if you can't wait that long; rumours are rife that a Bristol Cider Festival is planned for August. You heard it here first!
...and don't forget that the band and the cider will be transported down to Brighton for the 2nd Brighton Race Day Cider Festival at Brighton Racecourse on Sunday 27th April.
Cider Awards
The 2nd Bath Cider Festival offered 86 ciders and perries from across the West Country and Wales. A four man panel was forced to taste them all and judge which were the best on offer. It's a tough job, but someone had to do it! The judges were Lee Hamber (Events Supervisor at Bath Pavilion), Mark Lilley (Buyer for Ciderfestivals.co.uk), Seth Pitt (of The Mangledwurzels) and Frank Blades (Editor of the Real Cider & Perry Website).
The winning ciders were:
- Cider of The Festival 2008: Rich's Farmhouse Medium Cider (Rich's Cider, Somerset)
- Best Dry Cider: 'Heart Of Hampshire' Dry Cider (Mr Whiteheads, Hampshire)
- Best Medium Cider: Rich's Farmhouse Medium Cider (Rich's Cider)
- Best Sweet Cider: Farmhouse Sweet (Gwynt Y Ddraig, Wales)
- Best Perry: Oldfield Perry Medium (Gwatkin, Herefordshire)
- Best Sparkling/Bottled: BeeSting Perry (Somerset)
The following ciders and perries were also rated as "Recommended" by the judges: Yarlington Mill Medium Cider (Gwatkin), Farmhouse Medium (Gwatkin), Kingston Black (Hecks Cider, Somerset), Sweet Perry (Gwynt Y Ddraig), Blakeney Red Perry (Hecks), Blakeney Red Perry (Gwatkin) and Cornish Rattler Cyder - bottled (Cornish Cyder Farm).
And finally unofficial The Cider The Mangledwurzels Would Most Like To Take Home award went to Gwatkin's Farmhouse Medium, after Jethro Tool was seen loading up 20 litres into his van after the show!
[The Mangledwurzels page]
18 February 2008
Bath
Cider Festival tickets "selling like hot cakes!" (posted
12 February 2008)
Tickets for the 2nd Bath Cider Festival are "selling like hot cakes!" according to a spokesman for the Bath Pavilion ticket office.
The event, which takes place this weekend (Friday 15th & Saturday 16th February), is already looking to eclipse the success of the 2007 event where both evening sessions sold out on the night, and staff were send out to buy more ciders!
According to the Pavilionshop website less than 150 of the 1000 tickets remain for each of the evening sessions, and both evening sessions look in danger of selling out in advance. The Saturday afternoon session is selling slightly slower, but still well over half of the tickets have gone - and large crowds are expected on the day as rugby fans arrive early for the Bath vs Wasps match at the Rec that afternoon. Cider fans are urged to get their tickets in advance to avoid being locked out on the night!
The 2nd Bath Cider Festival takes place at the Bath Pavilion on North Parade, Bath BA2 4EU on Friday 15th February (7pm-11pm) and Saturday 16th February (noon-4pm and 7pm-11pm). Tickets cost £5.00 in advance per session.
There will be over 70 ciders and perries from across the West Country and Wales, as well as hot food in the shape of hog-roast and hot dogs. Each session will include live entertainment from The Mangledwurzels providing music to drink up your cider too.
The Mangledwurzels are already looking forward to a year of Beer and Cider Festivals with the Cat & Wheel Cider Festival in Bristol already done - the 2nd Brighton Race Day Cider Festival (April), The Pucklechurch Beer Festival (June), The Natterjack Beer Festival in Shepton Mallet (July) and The Somerset Cheese, Chutney and Cider Fair in Taunton (September) booked - and several others in the planning...
[The Mangledwurzels page]
Wurzels
To Headline Buckland Beer Festival 2008 (posted 11th February
2008)
The Wurzels have been confirmed as headliners at the 2008 Buckland Beer Festival on Saturday 16th August.
Landlord and festival promoter Jeremy Westcott (pictured right with The Wurzels in preparation for the 2008 festival) confirmed that The Wurzels will be playing on Saturday evening with live music all day building up to their show.
The Buckland Beer Festival takes place at the Buckland Showground, behind the Bell Inn in Buckland Dinham (on the A362 midway between Frome and Radstock). The festival takes place over three days - Friday being the annual Blues & Rock Evening, live music all Saturday culminating in The Wurzels, and Sunday being the annual Pirate Festival & Village Day. Jeremy promises over 50 beers, lagers, ciders and wines.
Tickets cost £20.00 in advance for the weekend, £15.00 in advance for Saturday, £10.00 in advance for Friday; Sunday is free to everyone. Tickets include souvenier glass and first drink free (exc. Sunday!). Onsite camping costs £5.00 per pitch per night (motorhome, caravan or tent); limited to 250 so booking in advance is recommended!
Check the official Buckland Beer Festival website for more information.
[The Wurzels page]
Bill
Bailey News (posted 6th February 2008)
Bill on Skins, Museum of Curiosity and 'Stand Up For Animals'...
Skins
Starting this month, Bill will be appearing as Maxxie's father in the new series of teen drama Skins, showcasing his dancing talent alongside an unusual partner. The series starts on Monday 11th February at 10pm on E4, but if you're an eager beaver then you can watch this special preview clip while you wait...
Museum of Curiosity
Next up, on February 20th, Bill takes up the position of curator in The Museum of Curiosity, an all new radio panel game in which panellists such as Sean Lock must contribute interesting and surreal exhibits. The museum is open to the public from 6.30-7.00pm, Wednesdays, on Radio 4.
'Stand Up For Animals'
Then on Sunday February 24th, Bill will be at the Hammersmith Apollo in London to 'Stand Up For Animals' in a special charity gig for the benefit of animal welfare charity WSPA. Fellow stand-up comedians Robin Ince, Chris Addison, Will Smith and Tim Vine are amongst the line-up for the show which starts at 7.30pm.
John
'Jai' Howe Passed Away (posted 6th February 2008)
It is with great sadness that we report the death of former Wurzels bass player Jai Howe.
John 'Jai' Howe was one of those rarities - a two-times Wurzels. He first joined the band in the mid-1980s replacing Tony Baylis the band's long-time bass player. Although he left not long after, he returned towards the end of 2002 when he replaced Dave Wintour. Interviewed in 2004 for Mervyn Hancock's book Wurzels World, Jai (then 57) hoped that this was a job that would last him for the rest of his life. Sadly that wasn't to be, and in 2007 he left the band for a second time, due to ill health.
That illness turned out to be inoperable brain cancer, and sadly on Tuesday, 5th of February 2008, John 'Jai' Howe died surrounded by close friends and family. The rest of the Wurzels were in the house on the day he died; they had seen him and played at the house often during the illness.
Our thoughts go out to his wife and family.
[The Wurzels page]
Annual
Somerset tradition of wassailing to be performed at charity event
(posted 17 January 2008)
An old Somerset tradition of wassailing - held each year on January 17th (the old 'twelfth night') to ensure a fine crop of cider apples during the summer ahead - will be performed at a charity event near Highbridge on Thursday night.
Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club and Rich's Cider are organising an evening of wassailing - in which good health is wished on crops for the coming year - including entertainment from The Mangled Wurzels (pictured), in aid of the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance.
The event will be held at Rich's Cider in Watchfield and tickets cost £15 in advance and include a plate of stew and a mug of mulled cider.
Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are available by calling 01278 783651. Read more about apple wassailing here.
[from Burnham-on-Sea.com website]
[The Mangledwurzels page]
Wurzels
To Play Camp Bestival 2008 (posted 4th January 2008)
The Wurzels have been added to the 2008 Camp Bestival line-up along with the likes of headliners The Flaming Lips and Chuck Berry, Suzanne Vega, Billy Bragg, Kid Creole & the Coconuts and The Cuban Brothers.
Camp Bestival takes place at Lulworth Castle, Dorset on the weekend of 18th to 20th July 2008; at this time, we have no idea which day The Wurzels are playing; but as you can only buy a weekend ticket, it hardly matters!
Tickets cost £120 for adult weekend tickets; £60 for children (13-15), free for the under 15s; booking fees may apply. All children under 16 must be acompanied by a paying adult. Tickets include free camping for the weekend; Campervan Tickets are £50.00 per vehicle.
The Camp Bestival press release reads: "But remember Camp Bestival's not just about the music - for us it's the first festival to fully cater for people who love the whole camping experience, tailored for families, kids of all ages and folk who are just as happy lolling about in their own camp whiling away lazy afternoons or getting stuck into one of the many options for fun and entertainment - from Come Dancing dance classes, knocking up a scarf in the world's first Knitting Tent, storytelling around campfires or performing your own Spoken Word on one of our open stages."
Check the official Camp Bestival website for more information.
[The Wurzels page]
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