Goodrich
11:33am Friday 1st August 2008
MUSIC – On the weekend of July 4 to 6, Goodrich Village Hall rocked to an amazing Friday session featuring the Dandelion Killers playing their first gig in their home village. Accolades are also due to the Mirror Kissers, one of the youngest bands in the area, but one of the most innovative and creative. Check them out. The evening began with the infectious and compelling sounds of Oi Napoleon and the result was a truly vibrant session of the best of local talent.
The Saturday afternoon official opening of Goodrich Greenspace included the divine sounds of the Lydbrook Silver Band.
Following on from this, Goodrich Village Hall was filled with the warm and rich sounds of the Monmouth Big Band, led by Simon Tolley. What a concert, what a happy atmosphere. As if this wasn’t enough, Goodrich Music provided a ploughman’s supper for everyone while the hall was prepared for a ceilidh with attitude.
Pass the Buck is one of the south of England’s foremost funky ceilidh bands and, with their caller, they gave the audience the opportunity to jig the night away. The band was assisted by a local rhythm section provided by Andy Herbert, Tom Richardson and Richard Webb and the dancers were so enthusiastic they would have carried on into the early hours of Sunday morning when Ye Hostelrie Hotel was transformed into a crowded jazz club for a long lunchtime session.
Twisted Jazz, surely one of the best jazz combos in the area, delighted the most appreciative and enthusiastic audience with their own brand of improvised music supported by the smooth vocal tones of Matthew Constance and the exciting debut sounds of vocalist E J Martin. The session took on a mellow tone as Dave Price on piano, with Erica Lyons on bass, gave their own interpretations of classic standards, to a resounding ovation. Twisted Jazz led the afternoon to a conclusion with the overwhelming opinion from the people of Goodrich that this had been a truly memorable weekend and yet another triumph for Goodrich Music.