Thursday, 27 February 2025

The Story of Guitar Heroes - Northampton Derngate


 
The Derngate Northampton

Sunday night and I find myself on home turf at the Derngate for the first time this year. Bit of an unknown quantity too tonight? Not something that would ordinarily grab my attention enough to lure me away from home comforts on  a chilly February evening. However Mrs A saw it advertised on that phone thing of hers and the next I new she had only gone and splashed the hard earned on a couple of tickets. 

Pretty good tickets they were too! Not quite last minute but purchased recently we knew we wouldn't be sitting together.I was going to be in the row behind. However a kind lady had a spare seat on the front row, next to my wife and offered it up. So we were together after all, which was nice although I did have to share my Jelly Beans every time she heard my pocket rustle. Turns out that her husband is a Drummer of high renowned locally.I shall give the his band 'Early Nights' a plug on here for what it is worth. We are right over on the right hand side. There is already an impressive array of guitars standing proud at the back of the stage. I purposely hadn't researched the format for tonight so prepare my self for some thrills, excitement and maybe even the odd surprise. All will be revealed in the fullness of time no doubt. 

A large video projection screen at the back welcomes us to the start of the story back in the late 1950's. I didn't write down the running order so please forgive any inaccuracies. We had the Shadows with 'Apache, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochrane to kick us off. Before moving on to the likes of Hendrix and Clapton. It's a fantastic start on a night that promises to pay tribute and homage to the most influential and iconic guitarists of the last 50 years.    

'Front man' and brainchild of the project 'Phil Walker' is an enigmatic character. Reminiscent in looks to the snooker player 'Shaun Murphy' I thought.  He is quick to introduce his fellow band mates. On stage we have 'Ben Kapur'  (Lead Guitar,Bass Guitar & Vocals). Very much a s Blues/ Rock style and influenced by the likes of Gary Moore & Joe Bonamassa. Andy Leslie-Smith (Lead Guitar,Bass Guitar & Vocals). A member of both Foo Fighters and Green Day tribute bands. Chris Allan ( Drums, Lead Guitar and Vocals). His biggest influence throughout his career has been the late, great 'Cozy Powell.  

Most of my photos are taken from the second half of the show. It's hard to tell being at the front if anybody else has got their phone out. A lot of artists and indeed venues get very unhappy about such things. Anybody who has read any of the reviews from The Stables MK will know exactly what I mean. I can never really understand why a band wouldn't want the publicity. As long as the person with the phone is respectful, and doesn't annoy anyone else. Thankfully the band see it that way too and photography is encouraged, as long as you tag them in of course. Phil doesn't tell us this though until just before the interval. It's then like a starting gun has gone off as phones are hastily retrieved from pockets. Highlights from the first set includes a bit of metal courtesy of 'Black Sabbath' and Paranoid with Chris Allan swapping his sticks for the guitar. We have the classic and every aspiring Guitar Heroes favourite 'Smoke on the Water' by Deep Purple, as if you needed telling. Richie Blackmore is my favourite guitarist it has to be said. We had the furry Spinning guitars of ZZ Top and the a bit of Paul Kossoff with 'All Right Now' by Free. 

Phil jokingly tells us that one of the questions he gets asked the most is 'where can I buy merchandise for the show'? You can get kitted out in a whole new wardrobe if you so desire.  After the shameless but forgiven pluggery comes the real answer. Which guitar solo is the most difficult to play? The answer is perhaps a little surprising? He cites 'Albert Lee' and the song 'Country Boy'. It's a real 'finger picking' style song which Albert still plays live today and he is now in his 80's. I struggle I'm almost forty Phil quips with a wry smile and groans from his band mates. Apologies for those songs Ive failed to mention. We gone to the interval in fine style with a segment from 'Pink Floyd' and 'Comfortably Numb'. All the lights and lasers too create for a spectacular climax. The playing as it has been all evening is impeccable.The band leave to rapturous applause in search of a cup of tea and custard cream biscuit or something similar. Oh how times have changed, instead of rushing to the bar to get a quick pint in. I am now more than content to stay in my seat and enjoy a slightly overpriced tub of Ice Cream (Chocolate).Very nice it was too , once I'd manage to thaw it out a bit.

 
Ben Kapur' in Eddie Van Halen mode

 The second half kicks of with a bit of Dire Straits. One of my favourite bands from the 80's. I remember seeing them at the Birmingham NEC on the 'Brothers in Arms Tour'. They were absolutely massive around that time. The song 'Money for Nothing' gets us back into the swing of things. Not one of my favourite tracks if I'm honest. Oh for Sultans of Swing.. But the set list changes to keep things fresh , maybe next time?Who doesn't love a bit of 'Van Halen' I certainly do. Tonight we have the big hit 'Jump' played on the 'Eddie Van Halen' 'Frankenstrat' that is so recognisable. All of the guitars used in the show are authentic to those used by the original artists. There is over thirty of them too! Must be worth a few pounds. One of the most recognisable guitars is the purple ' symbol' guitar similar to the one used by 'Prince' or whatever he was calling himself at the time. Whatever its a great version of 'Purple Rain'. One of the songs I really enjoyed was from someone I'm not over familiar with 'Steve Vai'. A three time Grammy award winner so hes not too shabby. Very much an individualist, virtuoso style and rated in the world's top 10 guitarists.A tough act to pull off , but pull it off they did with some aplomb. 

Phil Walker & The Prince 'Symbol' guitar

There is some serious talent on show tonight, intermixed with good humour, audience involvement and a touch of nostalgia. The second half highlight would have to be 'Phil Walker' blasting out his inner 'Brian May' of Queen with 'Brighton Rock' and part of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. A backdrop of Freddie  Mercury strutting his stuff on the big screen as only Freddie could do. 

What a night it has been! It isn't over yet though as the band return fir a tribute to the Rolling stones. All four playing the same guitar at one stage. I can't sign off without mentioning 'Andy Leslie-Smith' who really was moving like 'Jagger'. A great night was had by all I have no doubt.   A real history lesson , they should teach this sort of thing in schools.  We really look forward to seeing the band again next time round.

Friday, 21 February 2025

The John Bunyan Trail (7) Haynes & Wilstead

 
Welcome to Haynes

It's a miserable day to be back on 'The Bunyan Trail'. The forecast doesn't offer much encouragement either. Wet getting colder and wetter would seem to be the outlook. It's great to be back out again though. Illness and injury have laid me low for at least the past couple of weeks. One of those bugs that seems to go around all to frequently finally caught up with me. Theres a lot of it about, so I'm told. Looking online I seemed to display all the symptoms in more or less the right order. Starting with feeling exhausted days 1,2 and 3. Day 4 & 5 shivering and aching from tip to toe. Days 6 & 7 Sneezeathon and continuous runny nose. Currently waiting on an MRI scan for the dodgy left knee. The right one has flared up too. I also have an appointment in March to see a Specialist about my Hernia into the bargain. It's a wonder I get out at all really.. We park up close to the crossroads in the small village of Haynes, around seven miles south of Bedford. Today's walk will be a fairly short one around 7 and a half miles. It is a bit of a 'filler' linking up two other walks that have been quite difficult to plan.Anyway, against all the odds it has stopped raining so lets get started!  

The Haynes Meeting House

Pilgrims Cottage

We quickly stumble upon the most noteworthy example of the walk. 'The Haynes Meeting House' is where the Bedford Baptists would secretly meet. It is also said that Bunyan would would have preached there too.Next door is a lovely thatched cottage 'Pilgrims Cottage'. Looks as though it is on the market too. We complete the small loop as far as 'Appley Corner'. This is the point we reached on our last walk, close to the MOD area. 

Being responsible walkers we take notice of the sign in front of the path across the field. The temporary diversion is to avoid 'Digestate'. A nutrient-rich substance produced by anaerobic digestion that can be used as a fertiliser. It consists of left over indigestible material and dead micro-organisms. Glad to have cleared that up, not literally of course. There are signposts for the Greensands Ridge Walk. A 40 mile walk across Bedfordshire and brief sections in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. There is a nice walk between Haynes and Sandy through Warden Great Wood. I have walked some of the Greensands Way a while back. Probably a walk that won't get finished. I do like the footpath markers though with their Muntjac emblem. We are now back at the point we started from! It has started raining again but there is no temptation to call it in.  

Walking away from Haynes we pass Northwood End Farm and the old grain stores. We are now about to complete the much larger circuit of the vaguely figure of eight route. We are going downhill through some extremely muddy fields. Away to our right hand side is 'Firtree Farm'. We then have a steepish climb up 'Firtree Hill'. This proves to be particularly tricky as my Hernia has flared up. The cold and rain isn't helping too much either. It's a real slog and I'm grateful to find a bench three quarters of the way up. Such was the discomfort I wasn't bothered that is was soaking wet. A five minute break certainly helped to settle things down.

'Firtree Hill'

I notice a plaque on the bench which read as follows, 'The Bench getting a perspective on life. In loving memory of Sir Paul Cosford 1963-2021. Time for a bit of digging I think? Sir Paul was a British emeritus medical director at Public Health England. He advised the Government and led PHE’s health protection and emergency response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.Sadly in 2017 he was diagnosed with lung cancer despite never having smoked. There followed a long battle against the disease knowing that it would eventually end his life. Very sad to read and clearly a man who did great things and helped many others throughout his distinguished career.

Despite the dull and dreary weather there are still signs of Spring to be found. There are clumps of Snowdrops  and the bright yellow of the Aconites which unsurprisingly are a member of the Buttercup family. The shoots emerge from the soil in early Spring then disapear to its underground tuber after flowering. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals. Recovering from the hill climb we pass Wilstead before turning right towards 'Chapel End'. We then pick up the Bunyan Trail once again as we head back towards the start point. 

There isn't much to report in all fairness as we head towards Haynes. We first pass 'Manor Farm' and then further on 'Hammerhill Farm'. We are close to Summerfields Miniature Railway, described as one of Bedfordshire's hidden gems. I'm sure I can hear the train whistle in the distance, the nostalgic sound of the locomotive. 

It is with some relief we arrive back to the car. The rain is quite heavy and the temperature has dropped noticeably. Always enjoyable though and a total of just over 7.5 miles covered today.  


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