Northern Renegades

Following their recent successful tour of the South Coast and South West, Kevin and Tony were performing closer to home tonight and what an excellent show they gave us.

Once again they gave us plenty of variety in the numbers they delivered so superbly, ballads and uptempo songs ideally suited for dancing and listening to, from both the classic and new country eras.

These included Buck Owens', Streets Of Bakersfield, Merle Haggard's, Silver Wings, Clay Walker's, If I Could Make A Living, Collin Raye's, April Fool, Alan Jackson's, Tropical Depression, Waylon and Willie's, Good Hearted Woman, Kieran Kane's, Dirty Little Town, Brooks and Dunn's, Neon Moon, Hank William's, Take These Chains From My Heart and Roy Orbison's, California Blue.

Of the forty - three songs they gave us, my favourites were Sammy Kershaw's, If You Ever Come This Way Again, Dwight Yoakam's, I Sang Dixie and the Everly Brothers', So Sad.

February 15th 2007 DOUBLE BARREL

It is over two years since Kevin and Tony entertained us here at The Northern Renegades Country Music Club, but fortunately i have seen them often at other venues and can only confirm what an excellent show they always put on.

Tonight there was a packed house and the dance floor fully occupied all evening thanks to these lads' welcome return.

As is their wont, they produce great variety in their shows, old and new songs, ballads,uptempo numbers, all delivered in fine style, invariably invoking enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Tonights performance of non - stop entertainment included forty - five full songs, and lots of my favourites, included tonight we had Don Gibson's, Blue, Blue Day, Hank Locklin's, Please Help Me I'm Fallin', Little Texas, God Blessed Texas, Vince Gill's, Little Lisa Jane, loads of Alan Jackson including, Buicks To The Moon, Livin' On Love, It's 5 O'clock Somewhere, When Love Comes Around, Everything I Love, etc.etc.

However my personal favourites included, Merle Haggard's, Mary's Mine, which Tony dedicated to his lovely wife, Paul Overstreet's, Seeing My Father In Me, Garth Brooks', The Dance and Marty Robbins, Beggin To You, which like all others were faultlessly delivered.

Concluding with, Dave Sherriff's Best Of Friends, their wives joined Kev and Tony on stage and the entire audience squoze onto the dancefloor to bring a wonderful evening to a super conclusion.

For our Christmas Party Special this year, we had one of our favourite duos, two local lads 'Double Barrel' Kev Hall and Tony Martyn.

Immaculately dressed as always, they once again performed splendidly to ensure all factions of the audience were well served.

Their favourite Country artistes include Alan Jackson, Merle Haggard and George Strait ; so it was no surprise to hear them deliver ' Tall Tall Trees', ' The Fugitive', ' Mercury Blues', ' One Night At A Time', ' It's Five O'clock Somewhere', ' Here In The Real World', (a personal favourite of mine) et.al. Partner dancing was as popular tonight as the Line Dance format and the floor was chock -a - block for 'You're My Best Friend', ' Take These Chains From My Heart', ' Let It Be Me' ' Sometimes She Forgets' and ' I Swear' etc. members were in fine voice too for the singalong numbers, ' White Sport Coat' 'I Won't Forget You ', ' Okie From Muskogie' and ' Little Ole Wine Drinker ' amongst others.

Despite feasting on a splendid buffet, members continued to Linedance, Partner Dance and even Rock n' Roll during the final session of the evening, which was predominantly filled with songs from the Sixties, which included ' Bye Bye Love', ' Here Comes My Baby', ' Lucky Lips', ' All Shook Up', ' Teddy Bear', ' Don't Be Cruel', ' Peggy Sue', ' Raining In My Heart' plus loads of others including Kevin's party piece ' wonderful tonight' a fitting decription for the evenings Festivities.

After several encores, following a special request from our hosts Jan and Ted, the duo rounded off the evening with ' If Tomorrow Never Comes'.

Once again Double Barrel had given us an occasion to savour and whet our appetites for their next visit.

It is only twelve months since Kev Hall and Tony Martyn made their first public appearance as a duo; so it was an honour for our club to welcome them for an anniversary concert.

Their return was obviously appreciated as we had a full house including first time attendees from Uttoxeter and Abbots Bromley.

As was expected, they again put on a super show of both popular country songs and sixties numbers.

Fresh from another triumphant weekend at the Ponsmere Country Music Festival, Perranporth, Cornwall and as always dressed in sartorial spleandour. The Duo conquered their audience from the first song.

Their programme tonight included several songs new to the duo and each was well received by dancers and listeners alike and, each chosen to give variety / Tim Mcgraw's ' Just To See You Smile ,' Kenny Roger's ' Coward Of The County ' Jim Reeves' ' I Won't Forget You' Alan Jackson's / Jimmy Buffett's ' It's Five O'clock Somewhere' and Steve Earle's ' Sometimes She Forgets.'

Regular favourites abunded also, and two particular songs which have become the Northern Renegades' anthems / ' Okie From Muskogie' and ' Little Ole Wine Drinker Me' produced a resounding chorus from our audience.

For the last of the three acts, Kev and Tony concentrated mainly on fifties and sixties, all to rapterous applause / Elvis' 'Teddy Bear' ' All Shook Up' and Don't be Cruel' Buddy Holly's ' Peggy Sue' Jeff Beck's ' Hi Ho Silver Lining' and the Crystals' ' Da Doo Run Ron' / all new to their repertoire.

Once again we were treated to an evening's entertainment to savour. The dance floor was full all evening. The audience participated in singing also Double Barrel have been booked for our Christmas party and i for one am looking forward to seeing them again.

Despite their inexperience, having only been performing for just under a year, Double Barrel have become one of the most popular acts to grace our stage. Testament to this was the size of the audience before the duo started their performance.

Immaculately dressed as usual, they had all fractions of the audience eating out of their hands. Tony's vocalising and Kev's guitar work and harmonising of songs from many of my favourite singers kept Dancers dancing, Singers singing and Listeners listening throughout the evening.

Loads of ditties from the catalogues of Alan Jackson, Marty Robbins, George Strait, Don Williams, Jim Reeves, Ricky Van Shelton etc. appeared to delight everyone.

Another highlight of Tony's performance of John Michael Montgomery's No 1 Hit 'I Swear' specially requested by his daughter Tammy, who was also in the audience.

How well everyone participated too in a couple of songs particularly enjoyed by our club members, ' Little Ole Wine Drinker Me' and 'Oakie from Muskogie '.

Once again Double Barrel gave us a most enjoyable show and we're all looking forward to their forthcoming Saturday Special Evening in October. ( 23rd)

This was the first venture for a Saturday evening and how aptly the description ' Special ' fitted the billing.

Two of the most popular acts to grace our club were in attendance, but little did we know we all realise what a superb show was in store for us.

Each act did two forty five minute spots and although we are fundamentally a country music club, the artistes were allowed the freedom to stray into the popular music field if they so wished.

Double Barrel (two locals Kev and Tony) kicked off the evening with a fine blend of country and pop from the fifties and sixties.Alan Jackson, Merle Haggard, Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson songs were all featured. Dancers filled the floor and listeners often joined in the singalong songs.

The second perfomer, Steve Chase gave yet another outstanding show of giving his customers just what they liked, plus even more tonight.

Steve has always held in high regard singer / songwriter Neil Diamond, so this was an occasion to treat us to ' Forever in Blue Jeans ' Sweet Caroline, 'September Morn ' Coming to America, etc. Plus a load of Froggie songs.

The packed audience response to the entertainers created such an electric atmosphere it's difficult to convey in words the reality. Suffice it to say that this was one of the best nights our club has ever enjoyed.

It was a welcome return tonight for these two local lads who, in the short time they have been together, have built up quite a reputation and amassed a substantial following to boot. No wonder Tony and Kevin have become one of the most popular acts at our club, as each appearance seems to be more enjoyable than the one before. As expected there were good doses of Alan Jackson, Merle Haggard and George Strait numbers but this evening we were treated to new and old songs not often heard in country clubs today:-Colin Raye's 'Man of my Word' Dwight Yoakam's 'Turn it on, turn it Loose' and a personal favourite of mine, Bobby Darin's 'Things' amongst others.

Tonight we also had a pleasant surprise, during the interval when Tony's stepdaughter Lynne Wyman sang three numbers.

Once again these boys delivered a splendid programme of Golden Oldies through to the best of the nineties. Some of which are featured on their CD 'Live! Ammunition'. It comes as no surprise to know that Double Barrel are now getting frequent bookings all over the country.

This recently formed local duo, fresh from their recent success at the Ponsmere Festival, Cornwall, came as a late replacement for the incapacitated 'Middy'.

Tony Martyn, lead vocalist, an admirer of Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson, superbly sang several of their songs during the evening. Kevin Hall, guitarist and backing vocals, ably complemented his singing partner to deliver a varied programme of songs from the fifties to today. A splendid evening was rounded off with Kevin singing Eric Claptons' 'Wonderful tonight' while Tony joined his wife Mary and a crowded dance floor for the last waltz.