Episode Twenty Nine

Now thank we all our God
For Farmer Barleymow and Bod

What? What in the name of anything does that have to do with the ongoing history of Blyth Power? The answer is, of course, nothing at all!
So where have we been, and what have we been doing? Hmmm. That’s a good question, and it’s one that we’ll have to spend a bit of time checking the archives to find the answer to, as it’s been ever so long since the last update!
Crikey! It does appear to be the case that the band’s first appearance in 2005 was at no less a place than Dereham in Norfolk, where they were pleased to spring a surprise upon long-term friend and railway enthusiast Mrs Dawn Elliot, on the tenth anniversary of her marriage to Roger of that ilk. This was a very orange do, with large bits of train littering the room, a great deal of hi-viz clothing, and a lot of orange helium balloons, most of which ended the night with cruel caricatures of Mr Jessi Adams and Aston scrawled upon them in black felt pen. Total surprise was achieved, and Dawn walked through the door to the introduction of Animal Farm. She seemed, by all accounts, surprised.
The following week the band made it down to Reading for a quick bash at the Rising Sun, but apart from that it was all quiet (and Red Wedding gigs) until the very interesting night we all spent in Holmfirth on May 5th, wherein the band were headlining the opening night of the annual folk festival.

Many and wonderful were the other acts on that night, although predictably we missed most of them as we were next door in the hotel stuffing our collective faces with steak and ale pie at the organiser’s expense. Hurrah for folk festivals. Hurrah for Randomband for booking them. Let’s do more.
Do you like trains? Best gig ever was the Midhants diesel gala at Ropley, where Blyth played on the bank overlooking the engine shed. Imagine your soundcheck being interrupted by a Class 45 pulling up next to the stage?

Imagine pausing to watch a pair of 20s roll past. Imagine a balmy evening in late spring with the sighing of cooling diesels in the twilight. All this and the legendary brothers Tipping, who turned up from our distant past to say hello! Oh bliss…
The next trip out was even weirder. Firstly, on Friday 3rd June, the band was booked to play the Southwick Beer Festival.

And lo they travelled from afar. And lo there was a great confusion of baby sitters. And lo number one daughter had a late night.

The Saturday was a positive delight. Booked to support The Oyster Band in a tent at the Bluebell Railway, our heroes trundled up around mid-afternoon and soundchecked before rolling off to a very nice hotel to lie on their beds and pick their noses for a languid hour.
The tea-time set was extremely well received, with about a million CDs being sold, so thanks to Phil and Aston for their help there, and to Fat Bob for bringing along his pony.
Then there was Tallington, of course, which exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations, and is becoming a real treat every year. Full details of this, of course, appear elsewhere, so we’ll spare you the waffle.
Let it not be said that the band forsake their Northern brethren. Sunday 28th August saw their afternoon appearance at the windswept Solfest, way up near Carlisle, at which we were pleased to note Mr Sean McGhee is looking as radiant as ever. Next on the bill after Blyth was Zounds, who invited the ageing Mr Porter onstage to sing Dancing with them – which was a much better idea than letting him play drums to it, as anyone who witnessed his frenzied floundering on a 7-piece kit back in the early 80s when he was their full-time drummer will bear witness.
It’s been a year of odds and ends. One definite odd was the trip to Brighton on Thursday 8th September to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mr Attila the Stockbroker’s first live appearance. It was a strange and eventful evening, and one we wouldn’t have missed for anything. A galaxy of stars turned up to play, and Mr A the S did some of his greatest hits – a number of which hadn’t been out and about for years.
To bring us up to date, then, it was an absolute privilege for the band to make their collective ways down to Plymouth to play at the wedding of Mr Dave Bilton. Dave – known to many ex-members as ‘Beetle’ or ‘The Beetle Guy’ or ‘That bloke who does the Woodlice thing’ is one of the longest serving members of our community, and we can’t remember a time when he wasn’t popping up at various venues around the country. It’s always a pleasure to be asked to play an event like this, and we try to repay the trust placed in us by not making a horse’s arse of it. Hopefully we didn’t this time, so thanks to Becky (now the first lady of British Water Beetles) for agreeing to inflict us upon friends and family. It was a smashing do – the food was excellent (hot pies!) and the location – a yacht club on Plymouth Hoe, overlooking the fleet – or what remains of it) couldn’t have been bettered, so all the best to both of you and hope to see you soon.
That’s about it for now. Onwards and upwards.

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