Rockabilly

JACK SCOTT (USA) - EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN SHOW!
Jack Scot is making a very rare UK appearance at the Rave. It's a well known fact that some so called promoters have let Jack and his band down in the past, so we are very pleased that the reputation of The Rockabilly Rave as secured this exclusive show, and ensured that they are looking forward to coming over and playing for all their loyal European fans. Without a doubt one of the finest living legends of rockin music, with that incredible brooding, menacing, powerful voice, that speaks to your very soul.There is a good reason why this man sold millions of records. You can hear it for yourself in June.

SLEEPY LA BEEF (USA)
The Man Mountain from Texas, makes an exclusive Rave appearance to rip through pure raw rockin Classics such as; I’m Through, Little Bit More, Baby Lets Play House, All The Time, I Aint Gonna Take It, Turn Me Loose and Ride On Josephine,  all cut between ’56 and ’59 mainly at the Gold Star Studios. Still performing his unique show with a ‘voice that can rattle windows’, it’s always a treat, when the human jukebox hits town!

 

JANIS MARTIN TRIBUTE SHOW
Janis played her last ever UK Show on the Rave stage, so we thought it a fitting tribute to get some of the best rockin girl singers in the world, to sing her songs, on that same stage, once more. We are very proud to present, Rockin Bonnie (Italy), Maibell (Finland), Jessie (England), Little Esther (Holland), Lynette Morgan (England) & Miss Mary Ann (Holland).

Deke Dickerson & the Ecco – Fonics (USA)
With Deke on guitar, Jimmy Sutton on Bass and Bobby Trimble on drums, we have a genuine all American Supergroup on stage. Deke always like to delight, by showcasing his band members’ unusual talents... (Think: Sugarballs... Stop thinking about him now, you’ll only have bad dreams and wet the bed)! This year we are promised the more wholesome prospect of Bobby break dancing on a small sheet of card. What could possibly go wrong?

 

 

Jessie & the Orbits (England)
The hot young band with the big future, now playing at all the best festivals around the world! Playing a good mix of r’n’b and rockabilly, they already have a cool vinyl 45 out on Rumble Records. Some great characters in the band, especially drummer Tony, the Slingerland Slapper, who is prone to being sick on your shoes when he gets a bit ‘over tired’...

Domestic Bumblebees (Sweden)
In keeping with our fine tradition of bringing you strange Swedish bands on a Thursday night, the little Bumble People are buzzing in, doing their rather unique Bumblebee set. Hard to describe, but very earthy r’n’b, rockin blues, black ballsy rock ‘n’ roll... in fact everything that you wouldn’t normally expect at the Rave, especially from three quiet, young white guys. Seeing and hearing is believing and Chatabox believes they are the best in the world at what they do.




Spo Dee O Dee (Germany)
When the guys gave me the price for the band it was Spo Dee Oh Dear....! Then I remembered that they had to come from Germany and the 26 euro bus fare I had offered probably wasn’t going to cut it... (Don’t they have bicycles in Germany for goodness sake)! It’s always a pleasure to see such a hard working professional band, even with their terrible musical handicap of having Ralph on bass.

RJ & the Tri Tones (Estonia)
When we say we get the best from around the world, we mean it. Estonia is not normally known for being at the forefront of rockabilly music... well, someone should have told these guys! Fronted by RJ (who is actually from Holland), we are proud to bring the first Estonian band to the Rave. (Proud, and a little nervous, that they may drink as much as that Russian lot we had...)!

Hillbilly Boogiemen (Holland)
Fantastic to see the Boogiemen back on the rockin scene. A super hard working band, equally at home with Blue Grass or Hillbilly music, super talented musicians with guitars, banjos, fiddles, ukuleles, mandolins, lutes, full size harp, spoons, zither... (I may have made one or two of those instruments up...) but you get the idea. Brilliant music, by brilliant players.  A rare Rave treat.

Kieron McDonald (Australia)
We’re grabbing Kieron, (ex frontman of The Flatfoot Shakers), while he is in Germany, currently recording for Rhythm Bomb, and we won’t let him go until he’s played for you at the Rave. We’re also reuniting him on stage with his Aussie bass player Biff, so expect tears and flowers, hugs and long speeches... on second thoughts they’re from Down Under, so expect a punch up, some snarling and some excellent savage rockin, until Biff breaks the bass in half because he forgot his own strength... again...

The Tennessee Boys (Portugal)
Formed back in 1990, this Rave will see an incredible reunion of Porto’s finest rockin combo. After recording for Rockhouse, Rock-a-billy,  El Torro and Tail Records, the band members all went on to appear in many well known bands and their faces are instantly recognisable to all rockin fans worldwide, (and probably Interpol, Scotland Yard and the FBI...). We couldn’t be more pleased to bring the boys back for this 20 year anniversary reunion gig... which is also a bit surprising as they all still look about 25 years old! Damn them!

 

Rusti Steel and the Star Tones (UK)
Mr Steel is being far too modest, he’s not rusty at all on the steel guitar and is well known for his superb slidey stuff... certainly one of the finest we have in Europe. Having a natural voice which sounds straight out of 1953 just completes the deal. The band work like a well oiled machine... especially when the bar is open... and have produced a great new album, Gone with the Wind, which secured their place on the Rave stage.

Bill Fadden & the Rhythm Busters (England/Wales)
The polite young fellow who quietly beetles onto the stage and then lets rip with all the lusting grunting power of a savage wild warthog in heat! Ably backed by an ex Rimshots  combo, they also tie him down before the gig so he can’t bite anybody backstage. For your own safety, please keep your hands away from the front of the stage during the show.

 

The Sure Shots (England)
With no expense spent.... we are proud to present one of the best loved bands on the rockin’ scene. It is of great relief to many of us that these guys are still alive and well, because let’s face it, however much you and I have abused our bodies with loud music, late nights, alcohol and cigarettes... these guys have done all of that and much more, and they’re still in great shape and at the top of their game. In years to come we’ll probably find out that Newcastle Brown is a natural preservative...

The Slapbacks (Austria)
After some fantastic CD releases and many tours in Europe, it’s high time the UK sees this three piece combo with the earnest vocals and the fuzzy guitar, writing and performing top quality songs their own special way. Never mind how you think our music should sound, pin back your ears and listen, because these guys do it Slapback Style!

 

The Bellfuries (USA)
The Bellfuries first played in England, back in 2002, at the sixth Rockabilly Rave! I’d heard  demos of Mr Locomotion, and Up to Your Old Tricks Again, and  immediately knew this was something very special. Eight years ago, I wrote on the flyer, that ‘Joey is, in my opinion, the finest song writing talent on the planet’. We paid to get this completely unknown band over from the US... and the rest, as they say, is history. You heard their rockin poetry first at the Rave, and now they’re back, with the re-issue of ‘Just Plain Lonesome’ which contains demos, unissued tracks, and live performances that complete a ‘must have’ collection. See them playing their rockin set, exclusively for the Rave.

Eddie & the Flatheads (Sweden)
The legends from the glory days of Tail Records play an ultra rare reunion show. Letting this lot back out on stage is a bit like opening the asylum door and hoping that all the inmates play nicely together... anything could happen. However, the man with the trademark black guitar will not disappoint any true rockin fans. These boys are the business, and you damn well know it!

Rudy La Crioux and the All Stars (England)
I am often criticized, firstly for being an idiot... but secondly for not booking enough UK bands at the Rave. The first point I can do little about, but the second I can put right. Rudy La Crioux are a hard working band, who help keep the scene going, putting in solid performances night after night, travelling miles, getting no sleep, eating road kill and getting no fame or fortune for their efforts. Which is all wrong... especially the road kill bit which I may have imagined...

Lynette Morgan & the Blackwater Valley Boys (England)
Well Howdy Doody, I do believe Miss Lynette and her Blackwater Posse are ridin’ into town for a shindig showdown hillbilly hoedown... Sorry, I‘ve clearly been taking too many cowboy pills. What I meant to say was, Ms. Morgan & Friends will be entertaining you with some classical early Americana roots music, for your appraisal and delight. Polite toe tapping will be quite acceptable. (Or just go nuts like you normally do when them there Valley Folk come to town)!

Dale Rocka & the Volcanoes (Sicily)
The super sharp dressed kats, known for their great music, good looks, passion and style, are celebrating ten years on the road (take a map next time...), with a new EP out on Sleazy Records. They have played all over the world, but are making a very rare appearance in the UK at the Rave. If you haven’t seen their show, it’s a treat. If you haven’t seen their show and you are a girl... it’s probably a bit more of a treat...!!!

Nick Gilroy Kombo (England)
Back in the ‘90’s there were a few bands who dared to take rockin music and shake it up a bit. Nick was originally a bass player with The Blue Rhythm Boys and No.9, but he also wrote some incredibly good songs like Country Boy, and Sinful Baby which became modern club classics when he recorded them with his own band. We’ve brought the original Kombo together again for a unique reunion gig. Modern Rockabilly history, live at the Rave!

 

The Fret Tones (Scotland)
Rollin Records latest signing, fronted by legendary High Voltage hardman Keith Turner, the boys from North of the Border are back, with their own brand of solid rockin. No frills, no fuss, no f***kin aboot, just the good stuff! Keith’s wife Lynn actually makes him look like a pussy cat. During the Contract negotiation, she did threaten to hit me with a frying pan, and although I was 400 miles away, I wasn’t taking any chances, and gave in immediately.

Kansas City Cryers (Movieland)
Fronted by springy haired genius and movie maestro, Chris Magee, this band is gaining a small but loyal cult following with their ‘off the wall’ view of rockin music and video clips. (In fact they are not so much ‘off the wall’ as completely through the wall, through the floor and into the basement below...)! A special pub session with a movie background... well what else would you expect from Mr Havin a Ball?

Maibell & the Misfires (Finland)
I always love hearing great new bands and flying them to the melting pot of rockin’ music, which we call the Rave. Maibell has a very clear and distinct style, unlike all those hiccuppy effects which singers often use to disguise a weak voice... (Ooh get me, what a bitch)! The band never Misfire once, until they reach the bar and start drinking 98% proof Vodka, which of course is the national sport in Finland.

The Radio Ramblers (England)
Home grown country rock, which sounds as if it’s from Austin Texas, not Aldershot by the Texaco garage... expertly delivered and written, by the band themselves. Fantastic understated talent, that makes it look easy, relaxes the audience and makes everybody have a great time. Kings of Country Rock!

Battle of the New Bands
Obviously we could have settled this the rockabilly way... with a pickled egg eating contest, followed by a blindfolded fight with frying pans. Instead, we are letting our newbies play a short set each, during which you can howl your support or displeasure... Our distinguished panel of judges will then decide who goes onto the main stage next year. If you know of another young band that would like to take part (playing, not egg eating...) drop us an email and let us know!

Comperes: Del Villarreal (USA) and Russ (UK)

International DJs: Topper (USA), Jungle Jim (Sweden), Go (Japan), Rudy (Belgium), Blip Blop (Germany) & Rodolphe (France)

DJ’s from the UK: Cosmic Keith, Mouse, Little Carl, Gerry Robinson, Skinny Jim, Steve Spincity, Lucky Phil, Bill Guntrip & Simon Flintstone.