Rotherham Rocks 08

[eloy1964]

Whoever said the Rotherham never rocks! Please see my photo’s of the evening at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2675954...665442/detail/
This is the review of the Saturday night part of the festival. Had to take my son to cub camp on Friday so missed out, I don’t know which of us was more disappointed!
After driving for an hour through the Yorkshire countryside I finally found Wath Upon Derne near Rotherham, a place famed in the UK for the Start of the National Miners Strike back in the 70’s.
The festival was put on by the UK Classic Rock Society (CRS), a great home for news and updates, plus some excellent concerts http://www.classicrocksociety.net. If any Moonie wants to stay in Yorkshire then give me a yell, but try and make it a night we can go to a CRS concert!
First up was The Watch from Italy. I had first heard them here on the Moon. They started out as an early Genesis cover band. When you close your eyes Simone Rossetti, the vocalist, sounded just like Peter Gabriel! They played a great set of their own music. The bass stick was an inspiration to me, never seen one of these instruments played live before. The singer was a great showman and I loved the flute solos he did. I was that impressed I bought their CD’s and T shirt – they must have been good for a Yorkshire man to part with his hard earned cash! Still the new T-shirt will give me something new to wear for SEFest later this year. I will have to compete with the ultra style Guru KW!!!
After a few beers (John Smiths) it was time for The CRS awards, which Eric Norlander and Lana Lane had won for best performers for 2007 and a big supporter of the CRS. I was really looking forward to Rocket Scientist and they did not disappoint. They played a mix set from their previous albums, promoting their new box set of CD’s. It was great to be with members of ‘The Watch’ in the audience, they even signed my CD’s! Again they had a chapman stick which was just the business. Don Schiff is a master bass merchant, to me the highlight of the set was his solo performance.
They were then joined by Lana Lane, it was my first experience of Lana, she is very popular at the CRS, must be something about Yorkshire men liking the larger model. All I could think of was ACDC whole lotta rosie!! She did have a strong voice though and a rockin’ stage presence, but I was really there to see the Rocket Scientists and I do like Mark McCrite’s vocals.
After a cup of tea, since I was driving!, and a chat with Eric (Norlander) who kindly signed my other CD’s, it was time to circulate and try and spread the good word about Aural Moon. I think I need the Vaxman to help me out here. There is scope for some joint support somewhere I’m sure. It was great to hear that so many lads are going to the SEFest, and 4 had just come back from ROSFest!
Last up was another group I had been dying to hear which was Martin Turners Wishbone Ash. I know that the others do a good job, but they do not posses the cockney whit of Martin Turner or the harmonious vocals of the man. They started with a couple of songs that never made it to their early albums, never been played live before either. I cannot understand since they were classic Ash. Then they went through the Argus album, fandidlytastic or what. I was 8 when I first saw this, I even had to go with my mum in those days!
Martin is such a charismatic front man, but his backing boys were superb. If you closed your eyes you would never know that you weren’t at their original concert. Well done to the boys. I even attempted some air guitar with Mark McCrite who joined us in the audience. What a night to remember.
A big thankyou to the CRS for a great evening and support to some great music.