UNPLUGGED IN THE PARK HOTEL
An exciting night in the Wivenhoe music calendar promoting new and established local artists. The Park Hotel in Wivenhoe provides the setting for a night of music, arts and, of course, drinking.
A MONTH OF MUSIC FOR THE MAY FAIR
We're putting on a series of gigs in the first 3 weeks of May at the Park Hotel in Wivenhoe to raise money for the Wivenhoe May Fair. Local bands and musicians will be playing acoustic folk, indie rock and funky punk and anyone is welcome to join in at the open mic nights on Thursdays.
There is a music quiz on the first bank holiday Monday and the Wivenhoe Bookshop are also running a poetry event on Sat 17 May between 2-5pm in their venue round the back of the shop.
Although the May Fair is a fundraising event for charity, this year they need extra funds to update equipment and marquees. The fundraising in May will meet these costs so every penny that is donated at the May Fair will go directly to the charities it is supporting.
8pm THURS 1 MAY
TIM MOUNTSTEPHEN (acoustic landscapes) + OPEN MIC
9pm FRI 2 MAY
HOKIE JOINT (raw blues)
8pm MON 5 MAY
MUSIC QUIZ
8pm THURS 8 MAY
ADY+TOBY (from FUZZFACE - acoustic indie) + OPEN MIC
9pm FRI 9 MAY
BAD TERRORISTS (punk funk)
8pm THURS 15 MAY
ANDY JUAN (singer-songwriter) + OPEN MIC
9pm FRI 16 MAY
BONE CHAIN (70s rock)
2-5pm SAT 17 MAY
POETRY IN THE BOOKSHOP SHED (Wivenhoe Bookshop)
Mike Harwood + Joan Taylor + Adrian May +
Pan Job + Peter Kennedy + Martin Newell
12-6pm SUN 18 MAY
THE CONTRACTIONS + 2 RABBITS + RAK + SCARPENTERS NEWS
12-6pm MON 26 MAY
WIVENHOE MAY FAIR (KGV playing field)
www.wivenhoemayfair.com
Regular open mic night on 2nd Thurs of the Month
From 8pm onwards artists from all over Wivenhoe, Colchester, Brightlingsea etc
take the stage and show what they can do. All are welcome to perform, it's a friendly
pub, appreciative crowd and great atmosphere, so if you feel like performing then
come down to the Park Hotel.
More details...
Click here to sign up to the newsletter and find out when things are happening and who'll be playing.
PAST EVENTS:
THURS 10 APR - JAZMINE AVA + OPEN MIC
Blues and soul combined with honest song writing, Jazmine Ava's music reaches out from the heart. Like an up tempo Norah Jones, she's destined from great things.
FRI 11 APR - SPIRAL CIRCUIT + HALO EGO TRIP
Insane funk from the local lads from Spiral Circuit, like Chilli Peppers meets Frank Zappa. You have the right to remain funky!
THURS 13 MAR - HURRICANE + OPEN MIC
An acoustic duo playing songs from the 60s and 70s including Bob Dylan, Elvis and Beatles, with a few original songs and guest performers. Accompanied by the usual open mic antics.
FRI 14 MAR - BARRINGTONE + ELFRED & THE UBER PEAS
Electro rock from the up and coming band from London. Supported by E+TUP from just down the road with intermission tunes from DJ Child and DJ Opperman.
THURS 14 FEB - PHIL COSTELLO + OPEN MIC
Don’t bother with the card or the flowers, bring your
loved one to the Park Hotel for an open mic spectacular.
Feel the love!
FRI 15 FEB - MIKE TRIM + GUESTS
Wivenhoe’s local singer, songwriter and producer plays a
set of new songs from his forthcoming album. Firmly
rooted in folk, Mike’s songs blend poetry with passion.
(((SURFQUAKE))) + OPEN MIC
THURS 10 JAN 2008
Surf-guitar band, delivering the kind of driving, rock‘n’roll rhythms made famous by the likes of Dick Dale and Link Wray whilst adding a little extra raunch of their own.
Accompanied by open mic antics, this will be a great start to the New Year!
HOKIE JOINT
FRI 11 JAN 2008
A new blues band formed by members of Jellyroll, who played a corking gig here in 2007. Playing a mix of blues classics with their own songs, this is the blues at its best.
RAK + GARY ALLEN
FRI 14 DEC
Probably the hardest gigging band in Wivenhoe at the moment, so much so they've got matching sweatshirts. Cool songs and a great sound, well worth missing your work Christmas party for.
NICK GUSTARD + OPEN MIC
THURS 13 DEC
Folk overlord and animator extraordinaire, Nick Gustard plays a blend of melancholy acoustic songs, including some recent original writings. Look forward to a relaxed evening.
2 RABBITS + MARTIN JACKSON + PETER TURNER
FRI 30 NOV
An evening of out-of-this-world song writing with titles including My Girlfriend's An Aggrophobic, I'm Just A Snowman For Your Love and the memorable I've Given Up Being Gay (Cos All Men Are Bastards). Acoustic comedy punk at its finest.
LAURA YOUNGER + SOME BEST FRIEND
FRI 16 NOV
Brilliant young singer-songwriters who'll make your hearts cry and souls sing.
RAGGED STRING BAND + TIM WHITNELL
FRI 9 NOV
The Ragged String Band, come armed with banjos, resonators guitars and harmonicas to blast out some good-time shitkicking bluegrass tunes. Supported by Tim Whitnell and guests.
MARTIN NEWELL + OPEN MIC
THURS 8 NOV
Wivenhoe's little Ziggy plays the main set of the open mic night, including songs from his new album A Summer Tamarind.
HOBO CHANG + SKARPENTERS NEWS
FRI 2 NOV
Forget the fireworks, Hobo Chang are back in the Park Hotel for some live smokin' reggae and dub, supported by Wivenhoe's newest band Skarpenters News playing original Bowie-esque songs.
THURS 11 OCT - MATT SELLEY
One of Wivenhoe's finest young musicians, previously of the band Hyde and now moving on to bigger things, Matt will be giving us a solo acoustic performance of some of his own material, as well as a few covers.
Click here for pics of the night
FRI 12 OCT - JELLYROLL
A night of blues straight from the grooves of Exile on Main Street, the rocking Jellyroll's raw blues will excite any Black Keys fans.
Click here for pics of the night
THURS 26 JULY - THUD AND BLUNDER
Some of the strangest cover versions this side of the Eastern Bloc, Thud and Blunder play classic songs from Hendrix to Who, Cossack to Country and Western.
Have a listen here
Click here for pics of the night
THURS 12 JULY - LAURA YOUNGER
Think KT Tunstall, John Mayer and Amy Winehouse locked in a caravan on
a farm in the middle of Suffolk, with just an acoustic guitar and a microphone…
A country girl with jazz in her soul, soul in her sound and fervour in her fingers.
Have a listen here
Click here for pics of the night
THURS 28 JUNE - RED SKY REBEL
Rock was on the agenda for tonight's Unplugged session, with Red Sky Rebel from Rowhedge providing the cut and thrust of acoustic funk rock. Have a listen here
Click here for pics of the night
THURS 14 JUNE - SOME BEST FRIEND
Blending influences from Nick Drake, Stone Roses and The Smiths, Some Best Friend plays thoughtful and well crafted original songs. Accompanied by a monster mamma-jam of an open mic session. Have
a listen here
Click here for pics of the night
THURS
24 MAY - WIVENHOE MAY FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER
The bizarre Busker's Jukebox, featuring Nick Gustard's now legendary
performance of War Pigs, raised £80 for the May
Festival charities.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
10 MAY - LADY SHAPES
Rocking duo from Colchester playing original songs reminiscent of White
Stripes and Black Keys. Have a
listen here
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
26 APRIL - SALLY SCOOBS
Sally, usually seen fronting the Scoobs,
plays a set of her own unique songs.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
12 APRIL - RAK
The closest band to the Park Hotel, these local boys have given us a
glimpse of the song writing talents that hide behind the doors of Wivenhoe's streets.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
22 MARCH -
NUBLUES UNPLUGGED
Songs from the newly released NuBlues album stripped down to their blues roots
for your pleasure.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
8 MARCH - DONE WELL
Andy and Dom are no strangers to the Unplugged nights and tonight they have the
10pm hotspot.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
22 FEB 07 - OPEN MIC ALL NIGHT
feat DJ Cheesy Rider
A completely open mic night featuring live music, poetry, improvisation, collaboration
and some German fairies from the Uni.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
14 DEC - HOBO CHANG
Raw, smoky vocals, driving beats laid over lush layers of sound – this compelling
noise has threads of ska, dub-reggae, jazz and blues. See
more here
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
23 NOV - ADRIAN NATION
Adrian's reputation for being a singer and writer of songs that capture
the imagination and touch both people's hearts and minds has spread quickly. With
sincere melodies, insightful lyrics and an intricate playing style Adrian's night
at the Park Hotel should not be missed.
See more at www.laburnumbridge.co.uk
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
9 NOV - MIKE TRIM
Founder member of the touring folk trio the The Fingersmiths
and producer for numerous jazz and folk acts, Mike took to the stage for
a solo spot at the Unplugged night.
See more at: www.miketrim.co.uk
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
26 OCT - NO REFUNDS
Dave and Gary have graced the unplugged stage many times playing
a mixture of covers and their own songs and now they've got the full hour
to play.
Sit back and enjoy this one.
Click here for photos of the night
THURS
12 OCT - JOHN PEEL NIGHT
A special night dedicated to John Peel. DJs will be playing some
of the great man's favourite tunes and there is an Open Stage all night.
Come down and raise a glass to the man that inspired the Unplugged nights.
Click here for photos of the night
Black Cactus record a tribute song to John Peel
THURS
28 SEPT - WHIRLED MUSIC
Tim and Cris have been to every night so far and now it's time
for a proper slot. Tim Witnell's acoustic finger picking is well known
in the village but his music is heard all over the world.
Click here for photos from the night
THURS
14 SEPT - SILVERLIGHT REACTION
Brightlingsea's hottest new rock act play an acoustic set for the Unplugged
night.
Click here for photos from the night
THURS
24 AUG - BANJO DRIVEBY
Unplugged returned to the Park Hotel with Banjo Driveby, a foot-stomping
band born on the Colchester bajou.
Click here for photos from the night
THURS
20 JULY - BLACK CACTUS
Black Cactus formed recently but their members are no strangers to the
Wivenhoe music scene. Their set captures the spirit of 70s rock, folk
and blues.
Click here for photos from the night
OPEN MIC SESSIONS
COME AND HAVE A GO IF YOU'RE GUITARED ENOUGH!
Your chance to be involved and do your thing on stage in front of an appreciative
audience. Musicians, bands, poets, storytellers, visual artists, whatever you
want to do, turn up, signup, have a drink, play some pool, then impress
on stage. Every act should get at least 15 minutes (about 3 songs) depending on
how busy it is on the night.
We provide the stage, PA, mics and sound engineer.
You provide the instruments and the talent.
JOHN
PEEL NIGHT AT THE PARK HOTEL THE FIRST TO BE MENTIONED ON RADIO 1!
At approx 12.20pm a short message was played on the Huw Stephens show
letting everyone know about the Unplugged nights in Wivenhoe. It was the first
gig to be promoted on John Peel Day (12 October 2006) on Radio One.
Listen to the moment of glory
JOHN
PEEL TRIBUTE SONG
Unplugged regulars Black Cactus have recorded a tribute song to John Peel and
put it together with footage of the John Peel Night at the Park Hotel.
Check out the video here.
GET INVOLVED
You can just turn up on the night to perform but if you have any questions or
if you would like to play the main set between 10-11pm get in contact.
WHERE IS IT?
The Park Hotel is at the top of the High Street in Wivenhoe opposite the COOP.
GET IN CONTACT
By email: info@electricinferno.com
OTHER SITES:
www.wivenhoe.gov.uk
Everything about Wivenhoe
www.wivenhoe.gov.uk/What's_On/diary.htm
What's on in Wivenhoe
www.wivenhoefunnyfarm.co.uk
Hazel's superb comedy night, usually the last Thurs of the month.
