Bootleg Boss

BOOTLEG BOSS

International Music Venue: 31st January 2026

Back into The International Music Venue where Wake up promotions have provided us with another cracking night, with the welcome return of the superb Bootleg Boss

The room was filling up, and many familiar faces from previous Boss gigs there, leading to a warm and expectant atmosphere... as showtime neared the crowd was drifting to the front ready to rock...

As Kev and the band took the stage the crowd was gathered and ready as without fuss the band kicked into "Badlands" and it was clear they were bringing their A game to the show... following with "Prove it all Night" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" when the audience proved in good voice belting out the chorus... a couple more classics and we were into "The River"... the audience was invited to sing it if they knew it... of course we did and joined in enthusiastically... the one unfamiliar (to me) song, "Ghost" rocked along beautifully.. . then the familiar intro, and the audience was belting out "Thunder Road" with the band especially the classic "You aint a beauty... " lines... the best way to follow this was "Jungleland: which closed the first half... and included, as always, some superb saxophone playing...

The band were absolutely on fire.. tight as you'd like with room for fun and a lot of smiles from the band... and of course the audience...

As the second half kicked in, the intensity continued with a tremendous "Born in the USA" and the pace never slackened.. an long discarded gem was reintroduced, "Youngstown" which featured a truly breathtaking superb guitar solo which was rightly greeted with a great cheer... and things continued to heat up with a breathtaking "Glory Days".

A real variation towards the end, as the band rocked into a medley of classic rock'n'roll songs which Bruce had performed live during the 70's..., including the likes of "CC Rider" and "Good Golly Miss Molly"... the power and intensity of this medley was breathtaking... we then ended with "Because the Night" and "Born to Run"... and then it was over... a little shy of 2-1/2 hours of classic Springsteen material delivered by 7 superb musicians all playing at their peak...

I love this band.. obviously the focus is on Bruce and his outstanding catalogue of songs, but this is a real band... musically superb, tight and hard rocking... clearly loving the music and playing together... absolutely superb performance by a tremendous band

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Heather McDowell/Bad Toaster/Autumn Dawn Leader/Be Cky

HEATHER McDOWELL/BAD TOASTER/AUTUMN DAWN LEADER/BE CKY

Duffy 25th January

Sunday evening back in Duffy's Bar for the first Up The Duffy's of the year and Chris had put together a tremendous bill which for fulfilled it's potential.

First up was Be Cky... only a day or two after learning she may never be able to play guitar again, she carried on and played the show as a singer, with partner Sam playing guitar, before playing piano on the last couple of songs.

Typically of Be Cky she was upbeat and full of fun as ever, delivering a few familiar cheery pieces in her usual upbeat style before playing a couple of more sensitive and beautiful pieces on piano. As always totally engaging and and beautifully performed set, and given the eleventh hour enforced change was so brave to go ahead... and the audience, as always, took her to their collective hearts... a set to be proud of!

Next up, and in total contrast, the incredible Autumn Dawn Leader... i have probably run out of superlatives for Autumn, this set, along with supporting vocalist Tom was outstanding even by her high standards... a bunch of superb, angst filled, songs delivered with passion and that incredible voice... featuring mainly songs from the superb "Naked Truth" album, but beyond that a new, to me, song about Sir Thomas Montecute was outstanding... superb songs... superb voice... superb presentation... and top class support from Tom... superb set!!

Following Autumn was another total contrast in the shape of BAD TOASTER, one of the Riotous Collective bands who had the audience rocking from the off... no pretence of subtlety, just full on punk style rocking with some powerhouse vocals and a clutch of terrific, if somewhat irreverent, songs... the future of punk/riotous collective is in very safe hands with this band... superb... loved them!!

Closing the evening was Heather Mcdowall... I'd seen her a few days earlier playing a great solo set, but tonight she was accompanied by a band... Heather's performance is very upbeat and positive... and she sings her excellent songs, and a couple of covers, with a huge smile and great energy and passion... as well as her great voice.. and with the band, really rocked out... a really great set to close what had been a really great evening

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Strange Doors

STRANGE DOORS

International Music Venue 24th January 2026

Saturday night saw the welcome return of the The Strange Doors - UK Doors Tribute Band to the The International Music Venue.

The band had distinguished themselves with superb perfomances over the previous years, and this year was no exception... the band delivered in great style.

They arrived with the promise of some pieces they haven't normally played.. which the did along with a batch of more familiar classics.

The band hit the stage and crashed into a powerhouse performance of "Soul Kitchen" leading into "Hello I Love You" by which time the audience was bouncing and joining in wherever possible... The set continued in the same sort of vein... high powered rocking Doors classics delivered with passion and energy and incredibly authentically... also brilliant musicianship from all the quartet...

The first half ended with "Alabama Song/Whiskey Bar" which had the audience joining in with vigour, and seguing into a couple of other pieces before the glorious "Light My Fire" leaving the audience breathless...

The second half was really more of the same... classic Doors songs delivered in an uncannily accurate and high quality style... Highlights were probably "Riders on the Storm" and "LA Woman" with the crowd bellowing out the "Mr Mojo Rising" refrain...

The inevitable final track.... "The End" including sections of poetry brought the house down, before an encore of "Changeling"... after which the band were gone leaving the audience exhilarated after another superb performance by a truly outstanding band

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Dust'n'Debris

DUST'N'DEBRIS

Donkey 24th January 2026

A rare trip this afternoon to THE DONKEY GARDEN attracted by an afternoon gig by the excellent Dust & Debris - UK

Having misread the start times, the band kicked into their first song as I got into the room.. but the classic openers "Rocky Mountain Bell" and "Wagon Wheel" showed the band were bang in form as always and pointed the way to the rest of the set.. as ever a glorious mix of different country/americana styles, with an odd excursion in Dion, Beatles and Jazz territory and ending with the Stones "Honky Tonk Woman"

You know where you are, and what to expect from a Dust'n'Debris gig... a great band playing with joy and passion, as well as great musical ability delivering a wonderfully entertaining and joyful couple of hours of americana... and todays performance was no exception...

Changes in the rhythm section, with different bass and drums to the last time i saw them... but still solid and setting a perfect foundation for the band... up front leader Les was his usual self, playing guitar, occasional harp and maraccas and singing the lions share of the lead vocals... to his left singer Jay Dee was also in fine form singing beautifully and smiling and laughing her way through the gig... to Les's right ELAINE stands quietly moving with the rhythms and playing the superb fiddle which emphasises the country side of things and just behind George plays some superb guitar, both flowing country lines as well as some rocking passages, as well as playing excellent mandolin or banjo on some pieces.

A really class band, great musicianship and singing from the whole band, a beautifully balanced set list varying in tempo and styling creating, as always, a hugely enjoyable high class performance... you cant see this band and not instantly love them!! Cracking good afternoon as always from the band

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