This section of the site contains all the news and press releases.

The Pavilion Event - 31 January 2005

Instrument Raffle - 16 January 2005

Splinter Donate CDs to Appeal - 14 January 2005

Press Release - 6 January 2005

Pavilion Event

The Weysia event at Weymouth Pavilion on Sunday 23 rd January was a stunning success. We couldn't have hoped for it turn out as well as it did. The whole thing that we've sweated and fretted about for the last three weeks came together astonishingly well, and has resulted in over £20,000 being raised for the victims of the Asian Tsunami disaster. Funds are still coming in as I write.

As a musical event it was wonderful. Party specialists The Crack kicked the whole thing off at 1pm, by which time the Ocean Room at the Pavilion was already filling up nicely. They were followed onstage by Doctor Blues, the band that boasts no less than three Weysia committee members. Speedway Snails, the first band to volunteer their services for the concert, put on a rollocking show, followed by a classy set from Steve Wilson & the Innocent Bystanders, with Jess Upton and Jon Burden guesting.

Bass-playing Bystander Holly McIntosh stayed onstage to propel the excellent Muddy Funsksters through a groovy set featuring covers from James Brown, Tower of Power and suchlike. The future of the local music scene is safe in hands like these.

The Funksters were followed onstage by the incomparable Gothic Chicken. What can one say? Forgotten gems from Amen Corner to Focus to Small Faces, all played with manic glee. I think the Chicken have earned themselves a new legion of fans.

Next up was the Bard of Barking himself, Billy Bragg, who sang his compositions 'Sexuality' and 'New England' before being joined onstage by Robbie McIntosh's Steamer Ducks, with whom Bragg sang a medley based on The Impressions' masterpiece People Get Ready.

Bragg and McIntosh clearly had a great time romping through works from Chuck Berry, The Kinks and Freddie King, bringing the afternoon session to a rousing conclusion.

Ian Sedwell and Tia kept the whole thing flowing musically, playing wonderful stuff while the bands changed over behind them.

Running concurrently with the Ocean Room show, in the Pavilion Theatre, local schools, colleges and dance groups were taking part in an event organised by Tanya Lonergan called Kids For Asia, where participants were invited to perform a Song for Asia. The winners had certificates signed and awarded to them by South Dorset MP Jim Knight, and Billy Bragg also added his signature to the certificates. Steve Davis compered the show in style.

In the evening, in the Ocean Room we decided to showcase Weymouth's younger bands. They put on a splendid show, kicked off by New Breed's twin guitar dexterity. False Pretences were next up, followed by Satan's Coconuts and the precociously talented What Would Scooby Do? The Daze wrapped the whole thing up with an extremely impressive show.

Jobie1, a.k.a. DJ Joe Burrows, kept the music flowing during the band changeovers with some well-chosen vinyl and CD's. Thanks also to Speedway Snails' frontman Matt Green for hosting the proceedings at short notice.

Our thanks to our 'Youth Correspondent' Chloe Whistance, who sang wonderfully with the Muddy Funksters and also recommended the bands and the DJ for the second Ocean Room session. Thanks also to 'Big Pete' Kelsall, who made sure that the running order ran smoothly, to Marcus Armstrong for manning the door and to Pete Gray and his wife who provided lights and door duties between them, and others too numerous to mention.

While all that was going on, another event was taking place in the Pavilion Theatre. The session started with a debut performance from Thriller Queen, who performed a wonderful tribute to Mercury & co. The Vending Machine Repair Men's set featured polished and excellently-performed covers from Suzanne Vega to the Doobie Brothers, followed by some coruscating mod gems from the Lo Numbers.

A bizarrely-attired Tony May fronted Splinter's rock classic show, with Eddie Scorer burning up the fretboard. Pond Life then took the stage, delighting the audience with slick and powerful renditions of works from Peter Gabriel to Steely Dan. A great show. The event was wrapped up in style by the Jess Upton Soul Band, with Jess in particularly fine voice.

Ken Watkins provided seamless and acoustically delightful continuity.

So there it was - 20-plus live bands and a fully fledged song & dance show with not a hint of trouble and no ego problems. We were all in this for the same thing; to raise as much money as possible to help those poor souls around the Indian Ocean rebuild their shattered lives.

We were convinced that we could put on a really special and unique event, just with the incredible talent that we've got in this corner of Dorset. We did, didn't we?

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Instrument Raffle

A number of musical instruments have been donated to this appeal. A dedicated raffle will be held raise additional funds. Please click here for further details.

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Splinter Donate CDs to Appeal

When Splinter were invited to perform at the appeal, they were more than happy to contribute their time to help out. Afterwards, however, they came back to us saying that they wanted to do more. Splinter have kindly donated their CDs for sale too. Normally selling at gigs at £10, they are offering them for sale on Jan 23 at the Weymouth Pavilion for £5, with all proceeds going to the appeal. Details of the CD, along with sample MP3’s, are available on the Splinter website at www.splinterband.co.uk/cd.htm.

If you would like to own a Splinter CD and make a £5 donation in the process, then please come along to the Pavilion on January 23 and lend your support to the Weysia Appeal.

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Press Release - Issued 6 January 2005

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