Squealfest 3.5 –
Saturday 28th of August 2010

For 2010, we are attempting to raise money for The J’s Hospice, who aim to build the first age-appropriate, environmentally friendly hospice for 18 to 40 year olds with life limiting conditions in the East of England. Their goal is for young adults to have the best possible quality of life, as independently as they can.

SF3.5fJ’sH (I love a catchy acronym) promises to bring you the very best music we can find, some local, some not, but all will be fantastic. Check out the band list.

We have some incredible acts, performing a wide range of genres – if you don’t like something, something different will be along pretty soon.

We are delighted that our host and compere for Squealfest is none other than Sue Marchant, BBC Broadcaster and Queen of Voluptuia. We appreciate her support. Thanks Sue!

If you have any questions please mail info@squealfest.co.uk

Here is a YouTube vid that was shot at Squealfest 2009, it may give you a flavour of what to expect...

There are also lots of food stalls and a bar (yes that’s right, an actual bar selling actual beer), and there will be thrills and delights for all and sundry. So join us in diving into a thick, hearty bowl of Squealfesty soup.

The bands

• Ghosts of Men
  

  These three men were offered their first gig at a local festival just a few weeks after they  first  formed in February of 2009.
  With their foundations firmly based in rock, between them they have scaled the heights of Electronica, Folk, and Funk , each of them very successful at whatever they have done.  Between them they have opened the Reading festival,  got signed to underground electronica label, Badsekta.com, and played sessions with the best of East Anglias folk scene. Now they join together to play Rock music, far more emotionally attached than when they were young. Some might say they now have a respectful maturity for the world of music they are in.
  With a string of gigs in London, Brighton and Essex already booked,  they are looking to spread out further afield.
  They have been compared to The Foo Fighters, Husker Du, Major Tom and Queens of the stone age, Very heavy accolades indeed.
  When the band were asked what they think they sound like, they answered, "we are but Ghosts of Men"

  Stav Machina – Bass and Backing Vocals
  roO                – Drums
  Cleggfu          – Vocals and Guitars

  www.myspace.com/ghostsofmen

• Goldmaster Allstars
  

  A new voice, a new beginning.
  From the start of the 21st century the Goldmaster Allstars have become a growing force on the UK World music scene, backing and supporting some of the top names, including such artists as Alton Ellis, The Pioneers, Winton Francis, Dennis Alcapone and Michael Prophet.
  Since then the band has gained the experience and knowledge to develope their own sound and become one of the best live acts on the British ska/reggae circuit.
  More recently they have collaborated with a number of song writers for example GT Moore, Charlie P, Dane Glasby and Gary James, all of whom have added their own flavour to the cake that is Goldmaster.
  These days the band can often be found writing and recording in their Essex studio with their new singer, 90s chart topper Maria Nayler.
  Maria over the years has been a promenant singer/songwriter recording with some of the best artists and dance dj's such as Sasha, Robert Miles, Tilt and Ferry Corsten.
  With securing a number 3 position in the UK charts and a number 1 in the European charts and selling over a million records worldwide she has firmly stamped her mark on the European dance scene.
  After seeing the band perform at the Leigh Folk Festival, Maria approached the boys to work with her and quickly became part of the unit.
  With the Goldmasters tight rythm section, dynamic horns and devilish good looks mixed with Marias' smooth and distinctive vocals new songs quickly evolved and heralded in a new beginning for the band.
  The first planned single release from the new line up will be 'Real Life', with an uptempo feel, nicely punctuated horns and driving upright bass, it is a tune that has a strong positive vibe overlaid with lyrics that carry a harsh and satirical look at the society we live in.
  Other musical treats soon to come include 'Another Day', a cool and laid back look at a magical time gone by.
  'The Remedy', a tune that almost demands that you stop being a sheep and be who you really are, whilst delivering a hard latin beat which guarantees to get you on your feet and well on your way to recovery.
  And 'Dont Let Me Down' which takes a fresh look at the Beatles classic and has become a popular part of the live shows.
  The band are currently working on a new album to include these tunes and many more.
  If you can catch them mashing up a venue somewhere around the country, you will thank yourself you didnt miss it, and they will thank you for coming.

  www.goldmasterallstars.com

• Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective
  

  The band Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective came about as a result of Jamie recording a new CD, he wanted a full band sound, but didn’t have a band…. He asked a few friends if they’d come & play on a few tracks, have a few beers & see what happened.
  
  They came, they played, they had a few beers and they also had great fun & then someone said ‘let’s go gigging’ – so they did... and this is the result.
  
  Jamie Williams – Vocal & guitar
  Ant Cummings – That great Gretsch sound
  Pete Bottomley – Keyboard
  Red Haywood – Bass & vocals
  Mandy Cummings – Vocals
  Richard Nicoll – Mandolin & vocals

• Fabien Fabre
  "I'm sorry, I'm so late, I only caught the last note, but everyone is smiling and looking happy".
  
  Fabien Fabre wants me to draft the "American" version of his bio. Here are a few things about him he's asked me not to include under any circumstances: * He speaks English *. I happen to know that he grew up in Bordeaux and has lived in Paris for a decade. I also know him to be a wisecracker and a churner of ad hoc lyrical anecdotes. These compositions he performs, accompanied by his guitar and inexplicable English accent, before all manners of crowds on both sides of the English Channel. I've heard – and I invite you to verify – that he has been a regular at the trendy Parisian venue Le Popin's open mic every Sunday for the past 2 years. And he's modest! So modest.
  
  www.myspace.com/fabienfabre
• The Ben Poole Band
  

  Inspired by the Blues, infused with a hard hitting, “in-yer-face” rock approach and topped-off by virtuoso musicianship, Ben Poole is being talked of as “the” new up-and-coming UK Blues guitarist; one of the finest to have emerged in Europe for years. Having already played with, and received critical acclaim from some of his heroes; legendary blues artists including Jeff Beck, Gary Moore and John Mayall, at just 22 years of age it appears that there is no stopping this young and incredibly gifted musician. His latest recordings reinforce this and make it blatantly clear that Ben is destined for a great future on the European Blues/Rock scene.

  http://www.benpooleband.com/
• D'Ukes
  

  Formed in November 2009, D’Ukes is the brainchild of Dave Warren, a Guitar and Ukulele teacher based in Chelmsford, Essex. Dave has been running Ukulele workshops and a monthly pub Jam at the Orange Tree, Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford for the last year or so and his idea was to put together a band of ukulele players with the aim of playing gigs in 2010 (and beyond). The band members are a diverse group of musicians. They met through the workshops and the pub jam. Some gig independently or with bands (or have played in bands!) and have a complete range of musical styles and tastes. What brings them together is an enthusiasm for playing a small instrument with 4 nylon strings – the Uke! Anything from Pachelbel to Radiohead. Since
  November, D’Ukes have been busy rehearsing for their launch in March 2010. Gigs are already planned with dates through to the autumn.

  www.myspace.com/dukeheaven
• Phil Drew
  

  Phil has performed many successful gigs as both a stand up and improvisational ‘Whose-line-is-it-anyway‘ style comedian. Notable achievements include performing at the Leicester Comedy Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe and competing in the National Chortle Student Comedy Awards. From 2007-08 he hosted ‘The Phil Show’ on University Radio York, Britain’s longest-running student radio station. ‘The Phil Show’ was nominated at the 2008 University Radio York Awards for ‘Best Show’ and ‘Most Online Listeners.’ Phil is a former director and performer with York’s foremost improvisational comedy troupe, ‘The Shambles’, who have received rave reviews: “Genuine Brilliance” Three Weeks; “Fantastic” The Yorker

• Lizzie B
  

  Lizzie B is an Essex based singer/songwriter who performs with Acoustic guitar. Her vocals are rich and soulful & her songs are driven with meaningful lyrics and unique melodies. Some of her inspirations come from Artists like: Jewel, Mary Black, Bic Runga, Beth Orton, Rosie Thomas and Sarah Mc Lachlan. If you are looking for something Chilled and Mellow, then indulge yourself & listen to the beautiful sound of Lizzie B.

  http://www.myspace.com/lizziebmusic
• The Heaters
  The Heaters are a vastly experienced four-piece outfit.The band is drawn from many and varied musical backgrounds but with the common desire to play the music they love - the Blues.
  
  The three Paul's, Paul Dean ( keyboards ), Paul Milligan ( Lead vocals & Guitar ) and Paul Reynolds ( drums ) all played together back in the 70's in well respected local band " Skint " along with bassman Dave Bronze who went on to play bass for Eric Clapton.They were in great demand on the local circuit, playing six nights a week, as well as being booked to support the big bands of the time at The Kursall, The Queens and Chancellor Hall in Chelmsford, gigs which traditionally were only given to London bands. Amongst the bands that they played with were : Pretty Things, Curved Air, Ace, Heavy Metal Kids & Colin Blunstone.
Fourth member of the Heaters is Chris Patching on bass guitar and vocals. Chris's career has spanned just about every style of music from jamming with The Shadows and the Beatles in his early bedroom days to becoming one of Kenny Ball's jazzmen, albeit for one night. He was heavily influenced by the Tamla Motown house bassists like James Jamerson and Carol Kaye but has always listened widely to all styles of music and is also bassist with top function band Arizona.
As well as bass duties with the band, Chris is also responsible for the Crawdaddy Club website ( www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk ) and any of you that have visited the site will agree what a great web site he has produced.
  As well as running the club each week, The Heaters are starting to spread their wings further afield with dates at many venues and playing some of the major blues Festivals including Upton and Colne.
  The Heaters are the perfect ' warm-up ' for the guest acts each week and are considered by many main acts as being a hard act to follow.

  www.heaters.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/info.htm

• Ronnie Golden
  

  Ronnie Golden’s journey has been a long and fascinating one.
  From opening shows for Tom Jones, Scott Walker and Engelbert Humperdinck as a teenaged guitarist, he worked with David Bowie in his Beckenham Arts Lab days then went on to form cult late 70s renegades “Fabulous Poodles,” whose album “Mirror Stars” outsold both The Clash and The Jam in America in the early 80’s. Within a few short weeks of that band’s demise he was doing stand-up at London’s Boulevard Theatre alongside Comic Strip regulars Rik Mayall, Ben Elton, a nascent French and Saunders and Alexei Sayle and performing a legendary ‘Buddy Holly’ in the first series of BBC 2’s “The Young Ones.” He remains the only original member from the Comic Strip team to still be actively working on today’s comedy circuit. There were several guest spots and cameos: he played Tracey Ullman’s ‘son’ in C4’s first “Friday Night Live” then performed with Mac McDonald in “Saturday Live” and was a detective and then a ‘doo-wop’ singer in a couple of Lenny Henry Shows. His voice, regularly heard on “Spitting Image,” was featured on the No.1 single “The Chicken Song/We’re Scared Of Bob.”
  
  He’s played an MI6 agent in the 1986 movie “The Fourth Protocol” (with Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine,) a heroin addict in C4’s “How Much Is Too Much?” won awards for composing advertising jingles, and is a much sought after voiceover artist.
  
  “Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen,” a two-man piece Ronnie performed with Arthur, won considerable plaudits on the Edinburgh Fringe 2000 and went on to the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End.
  
  His 6 piece R&B/Soul outfit “Ronnie and the Rex” still perform their “Club Senseless” nights in N. London and the West End and, over the past five years, have recorded four series of Radio 4’s “The Right Time,” and for which Ronnie wrote songs and sketches.
  
  A selection of some of his best compositions for the band is available on cd "Return of the Fabulous Poodle" (Turns)
  
  Eight nights of solo music gigs in New Orleans back in April 2003 led to him writing an article about these shows as well as reviewing the Jazz Heritage Festival for July issue of “Word” magazine.
  
  He performed standup in “Brit. Com” at Montreal ‘Just For Laughs’ Comedy Festival in July 2003 as well as a reprise of the ‘Leonard Cohen’ show with Arthur.
  A winning combination with comedy legend Barry Cryer has yielded four successful Edinburgh Festival shows and a live cd: "Rock 'N' Droll" on Laughing Stock Recs. Theyl regularly perform their 2 hour show in theatres across the UK.
  
  At 2004 Edinburgh Festival played drug-addled, alcoholic, self-destructive blues singer Prince Royale in ‘noir’ boogie woogie / blues musical “The City Club” which is to become a small budget Hollywood movie entitled “Dark Streets” which is due for release late '06. He collaborated on score for this with composer / musician James Compton.
  
  He's appeared in Radio 4 sitcom “Ed Reardon’s Week” and has guested in three series of Radio 2 music / comedy show "Jammin'" and is currently working on a new Radio 4 project.

  We're delighted he is playing at Squealfest.

• George Death
  

  To all those chav denialists who say stuff like, "well George, every generation throughout time has had its underclass, its subversives, its people beyond the margins." well huh! These people used to be a minority, now as the politicians appease them in order to save their own skins, we - the law abiding normalists, can look forward to being openly prodded on buses, ridiculed for wearing colour co-ordinated un-retina singeing outfits; for liking music; books; TV & theatre that actually provoke thought & conversation rather than lager and texts,.....is that what you want? No? Then you mustn’t miss George & his wicked sense of humour, irreverent lyrics & great sound.

  http://www.myspace.com/georgedeathmusic

• Rostock
  

  ROSTOCK is a port on the northern coast of Germany, which I inadvertently took the Welsh band ‘MAN’ to during their European Tour in 1992. We should have been heading to Hamburg - I received the nickname ‘Rostock’ and it seemed like a great name for the band, which my sons and I formed with Laurence Roberts in 1993. Mostly we have gigged as support to the Man band around the UK, but more recently have also been supporting a number of other name bands as well as working with MAN, and, of course, the last two Squealfests, (both great events). The line-up changed a few years back and now consists of Roger Hussey (bass), Mark Richards (Drums) and George Wood, (guitar), myself (guitar), and Chris Jones (Sound Engineer [and also for Crawdaddy Club and all Squealfests]). We will be playing one or two old songs, but have just written new material for our, soon to be recorded, fourth album, so will be giving them a blast on the day – may a great time be had by all - Roger Hoodless

  http://www.myspace.com/rostockband

• Tersha
  

  What to say, what to say!!!! I like to think I finally believe in myself as a singer, it has taken a mighty long time to get to this point, I can tell you, but I do, it is one of the things I was always 'meant' to do and it is something I am good at (eek, it's never easy to praise yourself is it!). I have learnt and still learn (as you should never stop!) so much from all the musical people in my life, past and present!! Thank you, you know who you are. I believe you have to go through the nerves, the self doubt, the bum notes, the people telling you they don't think it's gonna happen, the stepping out of your comfort zone to try new things, the not so good performances, the jealousy of singers you think are better than you etc etc..... to make it to where you want to be. There is something about singing that, for me, is quite undefinable. I remember one time in particular where I felt so high and in 'the zone' during a performance that it actually felt like my feet lifted off the ground and I was just hovering there, floating in another world, where there was no-one else but me!!! I kid you not! It was, I suppose, what some people might call euphoria but I think there needs to be a new word for it, maybe I will make one up!! Anyway, I think you get the jist. I love to sing and it gives me great pleasure and satisfaction that people seem to enjoy what I LOVE to do. T xxx.

  www.myspace.com/tershalalala

• Box of Frogs
  

  Mr Dave plays the acoustic guitar and sings; he is accompanied by Mr Chris Found, who sits on a box and whacks it, and Mr Darren Butler who is an bassistist. They play energetic "rock-folk" with quirky, wryly amusing lyrics and punchy, dynamic guitar. While they sing and play, Dave dances around a lot and is good fun to watch (ie, a twit). He calls this "a performance"; most people agree.

  http://www.davestannard.co.uk

• Deferred Sucess
  

  4 piece acoustic/alternative/punk band from Essex, described as `giving folk a swift kick up the arse’. Not your conventional folk band! Style: a mixture of Billy Bragg; the Clash; the Streets; The Wonder Stuff; Sultans Of Ping and anything else that comes to mind. That’s what they’ve been told anyway!

  http://www.myspace.com/deferredsucess

• Navacross
  

  Navacross play their incredibly infectious original Soulful/Folk Rock to audiences in and around Essex and Cambridge gathering fans wherever they go. We challenge you not to dance!!! The bands debut album "Look Back" is now available.

  http://www.myspace.com/navacross

• SQUEAL
  

  SQUEAL are a fun loving four piece pop/rock covers band.  Formed in early 2006, they have already played at many pubs, clubs, functions & weddings with great success.  
  SQUEAL are 4 dedicated musicians who have a drive and passion for playing live music….it is our quest to brighten peoples lives with our music!

  SQUEAL faithfully reproduce all of your favourite current pop/rock hits and old classics from bands such as The Beatles, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Red Hot Chill Peppers, the Fratellis, Madness, the Zutons, The Police, Oasis, The Rolling Stones, the Monkees and many, many more to a standard that some say are “better than the original”.

  Collectively SQUEAL boast over 60 years of performing experience; individually their work has been heard/performed on Radio 1, XFM, BBC Essex, Essex FM, Sound Republic (Home of the Pepsi Chart Show) and Major Festivals in the UK and Europe.

  SQUEAL are well rounded musicians who each excel in their particular field.  They have quite a pedigree amongst them comprising former members of top Southeast acts such as the ‘Loonie Baloonies’ and ‘Fabulous Feedback Band’ and having also played alongside members of ‘The Bears’.  This coupled with many years of experience on the originals circuit in Central London gives them the experience required to give you an evening to remember.

  www.squealmusic.co.uk

... and that's it!

Location

View a larger map.

Directions

The postcode is CM9 4TA. The full postal address is Langford Grove, Maypole Road, Langford, Maldon, Essex.

Tickets

Squealfest 3.5 takes place on Saturday 28th of August.
Tickets are £20 each. Children under 14 are FREE. Profits will go to The J’s Hospice.

Tickets are no longer available online. Tickets will be available on the gate.

or pick them up from J's Hospice offices

J’s Hospice
58 New London Road
Chelmsford CM2 0PA
Phone: 01245 351 514

Squealfest hotline: 07939 993 983.
Please begin your message with ‘Can I have a Ticket to Squealfest please?’.