The Wizardmarra's Wireless Show

The Wizardmarra's Wireless Show


The Grasmere Guzzler

November 03, 2013

THE GRASMERE GUZZLER PART ONE TRACK LIST As usual a click onto the highlighted names will take you to the websites of the featured artistes, apologies for a missing title or two where this occurs it’s because there was no accompanying information with the CDs that I was most generously given. Wizardmarra – Angus’ Boogie Jack Broadbent – Unknown title but a damn fine piece of playing Rob Heron and The Teapad Orchestra – Rich Man Now Sad Eyed Puffins – Space Case Chuck Fish – Indian Joe Molly Warburton and The Shady Days – Unknown title Olivia Fern – Claim Your Soul Handbrake Shirley – Holly Molly Maggie Roomful Of Mirrors – Picking Apart You It’s been a brilliant year for me, I’ve worked at some cracking festivals Stainsby, Off The Tracks and others all bathed in groundcracking sunshine. Statistically there had to be a wet one and The Grasmere Guzzler was it, but nonetheless it was by far and wide the best and most enjoyable one for me. Set in the beer garden of Tweedies Bar at the Dale Lodge Hotel it took place in a U shaped arrangement of marquees, sadly the central part of the U open to the elements prevented a full mosh pit developing though importantly it did cover the bar on which a line of sixty (count ‘em) sixty real ales where arrayed and it’s tribute to the success of the event that all barrels of these ales had been drained by the Saturday night, that’s over FOUR THOUSAND pints of beer. Sadly the Naylors Velvet was the only beer left standing outside by Sunday Lunchtime and I can only wonder as to why this particular ale was somehow undrinkable compared to the rest. Huge thanks, big ups and love to Jack Hartley and Alex Goodall for the work they put in  organizing this small and perfectly formed event and giving me the best job in the world as Master Of Ceremonies, completing the team was Mike Fearon on the sound desk and for me working with him put the icing on the cake or should I say gingerbread. It was special too in that it was on my home turf, a mere eight miles from Windermere and you could say my first homecoming gig. Best of all though was the music and here’s a bit about the acts on this part one of two podcasts. JACK BROADBENT opened the weekend and so too on the podcast and what a knockout this guy is a great voice, mean as a demon on guitar and harmonica. watching him play slide with his acoustic guitar on his lap and hip flask speeding up and down the frets is a delight to watch. Go visit his website, click on the link to i tunes and BUY HIS CD! You’ll not regret it.ROB HERON AND THE TEAPAD ORCHESTRA  Not wishing to repeat myself you can read about Rob  and “The Pads” in my earlier blog http://www.wizardmarra.com/and-another-what-are-they-doing-now/ but I do need to say a word or two about their live set, electric is the first word that springs to mind as you watch these guys onstage who clearly enjoy what they do possibly helped in some small way by the bottle of JD that gets passed around the stage as the set progressed (and thank you indeed Rob for the share for it with your humble MC afterwards, very nice indeed.) it’s always good to see how someone you’ve known awhile progresses up the ladder of the business we call show and I must confess I felt something akin to paternal pride for Rob when I recalled I gave him his first festival gig on the Drystone Stage at Solfest (whatever happened to that BTW). SAD EYED PUFFINS At the time of writing I hope I remember to re record the intro on the podcast as I’ve credited them as Sad Eyed Penguins, whatever though this four piece with the seabird nomenclature are a wonderful dictionary definition of growing old disgracefully they opened with a track called “Meow Meow” and no it wasn’t anything to do with pussycats which set the bar for a fabulously entertaining set. The Band are regulars on The Furness peninsular and South Lakeland music scene and I thoroughly recommend you going to see them.