Freewheelin Band

FREEWHEELIN BAND

IMV 4th October 2026

Another Sunday afternoon in the The International Music Venue, in the company this week of the FREEWHEELIN BAND playing the songs of Bob Dylan.Proceedings started with a series of very familiar videos , though it was fascinating to see the ticket prices on the tickets... they are much dearer these days!The first songs were delivered solo acoustic by Ben Smith (Blowin in the Wind & Dont Think Twice) before the band came on.. .and what a terrific band it was... Aynsley Lister (guitar) Jonno Marin (bass) Rick Willson (guitar) Andy Price (keys) and a drummer (who embarrasingly i dont have a name for.) with Roger Wilson (fiddle).. 6 high class musicians blending together into a really great band, joined by a series of quality singers,n Jersey Budd, Dan Brittan, Sally Barker, Ben Smith & Kevin HewickFor me the first half was a tad disappointing as from where i sat the vocals were just not coming over clearly and had i not known the songs i wouldn't have had much idea of the lyrics, Ben and Kevin excepted!Highlights of the half were a superb "Just like a Woman" sung by Kevin Hewick and Aynsleys guitar playing on "All Along the Watchtower"The second half was however, superb... the vocals were coming over far more clearly and Dan Brittan and Roger Wilson joined the band for much of the set injecting some real life and energy into proceedings... Sally Barker, clearly audible this half, showed what a great voice she has with a lovely version of "To Make you Feel my Love"The show ended with everyone on stage for a rousing and superb "Like a Rolling Stone" to close what had been great afternoon, for me only marred by the fact that the vocals were not coming over clearly in the first half... and that the lighting was for me pretty horrible!Also credit to the band for the set list... playing a lot of less played pieces instead of concentrating on the usual classics.Overall another great afternoon with a bunch of very high class musicians

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Warner E Hodges/Stacie Collins

WARNER E HODGES/STACIE COLLINS

IMV 29th Sept 2026

Wow what a night that was... Tuesday 29th September at the The International Music Venue... one of the very great nights delivered by two cherished stars from the old Musician days...

But lets start with the band who played all night accompanying both artists... far more than a backing band, they are an absolutely magnificent unit.

On the drums was Mauro Magellan (Georgia Satellites/Homemade Sin), guitarist Conny Bloom (Electric Boys/Hanoi Rocks/Silver Ginger Five) and on bass Keith Voegele (Bottle Rockets/Sarah Borges)... all superb musicians and familiar from their roles in various other bands. They rock like fury, but also play with huge technical skill and subtlety... this band are worth the admission on their own!

First up however... and greeted by a rapturous cheer the wonderful inimitable Stacie Collins. No preamble.. a shout of "hit it" from Mauro and the band were rocking as Stacie stepped up with her regular opener, "My liittle Sister", followed by a host of material concentrating on her latest. album. The harp playing was as ever outstanding and the vocals spot on... Stacie has talent and charisma to spare and in this scintillating set she never stopped smiling and delivered an absolute stunner of a show...and well merited the huge ovation she got at the end... Welcome back Stacie!!

Following on of course. Warner Hodges, one of the greats, familiar from the Georgia Satellites & Homemade Sin as well as his own bands... and as always he rocked through an outstanding set of original songs and a few covers with total assurance and good humour... in fact he seemed even more relaxed than usual!.

Warner is also a hugely charismatic and talented performer who never fails to deliver a superb set. Tonight the show was an object lesson in rock and included material both old and new, a couple of more gentle (well, slightly!) country covers before launching into the full blown country rock end of the show, for which he brought Stacie back to play harp, sing and bounce around smiling and looking joyful, and which included and unlikely "Hot Legs" among others... before ending with the usual climactic " Country Roads" which had the audience belting out the vrses as well as the chorus... i doubt John Denver envisaged his song like tihs!!.

Warners guitar playing and singing were as always superb and the whole set was absolutely full tilt rocking from beginning to end... and was i think, about the best set i've ever seen him play... and i've never seen him less than superb!!

This was an amazing night.. .two absolutely supreme artists supported by a bunch of outstanding musicians, all playing on the top of their games... rocking from the first note to the last, the quality and intensity never flagging...

This always looked like being a special superb gig... and it exceeded all expectations... a really memorable night.. one of those "Were you there when... " occasions

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BuzzKocks/The Docs

BUZZKOCKS/THE DOCS

Duffy's 19th September 2026

Great night at Duffy's Bar last night with some feisty punk.

First up were THE DOCS... Subtle as a flying hammer the band rip through a terrific set of feisty punk originals, along with a cracking version of "Have you Seen the Rain" (CCR). Feisty hardcore rocking, they deliver high energy driving punk... you just cant hear them and not love the set... they play for fun to give the audience a great time... and succeed... loved it

Headlning were BuzzKocks (Buzzcocks tribute band). I was never across all the punk at the time and missed out on the Buzzcocks to a large extent so i cant judge how authentic this band are.

However.. i can judge that they were terrific... The band had the audience bouncing from the off delivering a constant stream of classic tracks (I recognized more than I expected!!) with colossal energy and fire and high quality musicianship. From the beginning the band had a total rapport with the audience, crashing instantly into the first piece and never easing up on the quality, energy and power... however after the interval they came back with the more full blown punk material and the energy rose further

Absolutely loved the band... wish i'd seen the originals at the time!!... will be researching!!... and this was a superb performance

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Alan Fletcher Band

ALAN FLETCHER BAND

IMV 16th September 2026

Wednesday was one of the annual treats, always one of the best nights at the The International Music Venue with the return of Fletch fronting his band, the Alan Fletcher Band.

The Band hit the stage then Fletch walks out to great reception, always smiling and they instantly generate a warm positive vibe as they kick into the music.

Fletch himself is a fine guitar player, great singer and writes some incredibly good songs... and beyond that is a perfect front man, full of good humour and good vibes.

The band are high quality.. to his left, Fletch's wife, Jennifer Hansen, is a fine keyboard player and singer. Slightly behind, Lachlan Bryan is a master bass player while Ben Middleton is a high quality drummer.

Across the stage Riley Catherall is a truly superb guitar player, his playing fluid, always in perfect unison with the song and hugely enjoyable... the guitar, tone is also sublime.

Last nights set was a mix of their high quality country music, but included a couple of pieces from a Rock'n'Roll album Fletch made with a previous bamd... rock'n'roll with a distinct country flavour

Fletch, Jennifer and Riley all contribute songs to the show, Jennifer sings several pieces and Riley contrbutes a couple of solo pieces.

The whole band is a total joy to see and hear, great music, great joy and positive vibes throughout... definitely always one of the really great nights at the venue delivered by a simply terrific band this gig being no exception to that rule

The sound as ever in the hands of Joe was immaculate

Fletch cares for his fans... he always spends the (extended) interval and post gig time with the audience, insisting he wont leave until everyone who wants one, has had a chance for a chat with him, a picture with him and an autograph as required... and it is clear that the whole band are as lovely people as they appear on stage

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Sailor Swift/Pete Kenney

SAILOR SWIFT/PETE KENNY

Quirn Village Hall 12th September 2026

Shared with PubliSaturday night, if you wanted sone of the best entertainment that music can offer, Quorn Memorial Hall was the place to be.Opening proceedings was Pete Kenney.. Pete was hampered by a bad throat after a chest ifection... nonetheless as ever he delivered an enjoyable set of mainly his own excellent material.

Saturday night, if you wanted sone of the best entertainment that music can offer, Quorn Memorial Hall was the place to be.

Opening proceedings was Pete Kenney.. Pete was hampered by a bad throat after a chest infection... nonetheless as ever he delivered an enjoyable set of mainly his own excellent material.

Pete has played countless shows in support of the Papyrus Charity... which shamefully was pushed out of existence only a few days before the show... such an important and worthwhile chaity it is a crying shame... however, on the night proceeds went to the Samaritans

The building is clearly haunted, as the interval drew to a close a ghost appeared... the Ghost of Sailor... and Sailor Swift was among us.

if you haven't seen Sailor Swift this may make no sense.. if you have seen hm you will know what a great night it was.

Audiences can take some persuading to sing along sometimes... but I dont know what gift Pete Morton has...he is singing before he lands on stage and the whole audience was already in full voice singing along... and so it continues... Sailor Swift delivers around 2 hours of lunacy recalling the unlikely characters he has met in his 300 odd years as a ghost, bringing in choruses of random songs through the ages throughout, each one accompanied by the whole audience. He show is pure comic genius, but Pete has always had his finger on the pulse of political outrages and makes many social and politccal points... and the show includes on one extreme " Streets of Minneapolis" (Springsteen) and "Fascists will all die" (Guthrie) as well as "The Wild Rover", "All for me Grog" and "All you need is Love".

Throughout the show Pete is on point topically and the humour is sharp and clever throughout...

Highlights of the show include Pavarotti singing "Nessun Dorma" with the Erratic Leg movement Society... "Wuthering Heights" delivered by a solid Yorkshireman in broad dialect and the ultimate... "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the voice of George Formby.

Despite the clowning and lunacy Pete proves what a fine singer he is with the superb rendition of "Nessen Dorma' and a beautiful version of Dylans "To Make You Feel My Love"

Pete Morton is a unique talent, and in the guise of Sailor Swift is close to comic genius... you will never see a more entertaining show anywhere... absolutely fabulous

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Hejira

HEJIRA

Y Theatre 9th September 2026

Last Wednesday, 9th September, i took a trip to the Y Centre to see a band new to me, Hejira, a Joni Mitchell tribute band with a difference . they dont focus on the folkier earliy materiasl, but on the lusher jazzy material from "Hejira" and "Hissing of the Summer Lawns"... and any band that can start a show playing "Coyote" is good for me.

While the focus of the band must fall on the beautiful voice of Hattie (the vocalist) the driving force is clearly the superb guitar player, Pate Oxley.

Hattie soings and plays guitar beautifully as Joni and the whole band are outstanding musicians gelling into a superb whole.

The music produced is outstanding, and runs througgh a host of material from that period, but for me the highlight was the closing medley (From Shadows and Light) of "Amelia", "Pats Solo" and "Hejira"... absolutely sublime in all respects.

Inevitably we got an encore.. maybe unexpected, but a slow soulful "Both Sides Now" which sent shivers down your spine...

It is a tough job emulating Joni, one of the greatest artists of the age, but this is a truly outstanding band who did a superb job... absolutley great performance by a great band

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Botheration

MONICA & THE EXPLOSION/CHRIS CHAMBERS/DOUCHER/KEVIN HEWICK

Duffys 3rd September 2026

Last Thursday, 3rd Sept. saw another excellent Botheration evening at Duffy's Bar, hosted as ever by Kevin Hewick

Kevin opened proceedings as ever, in his usual way... slightly shambolic rambling banter and assured powerful singing and playing a clutch of his own songs

Next up was a new name, as a solo artist, to me... Doucher (of St Brigids fame) who delivered an excellent assured set... great voice and songs, and stage presence... hugely enjoyable

She was followed by a familiar name, Chris Chambers, who delivered a superb assured set... terrific guitar playing, great voice and quality songs... all delivered with a disarming warmth and sincerity... excellent set

Headling was a visitor from Sweden, the unique and wonderful Monica and the Explosion. Monica is all high powered energy, singing her songs with power and assurance and playing guitar... all with a fabulous punk energy and attitude.. .absolutely scintillating performance.. energetic, uplifting and totally loved every moment

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