September 24th 2009 IVOR JAMES

 A native of Derby but now a resident of nearby Stapenhill, Burton on Trent, Ivor has been performing for more than fifty years.
     Coming from a musical family, his mother and uncles were singers  / musicians, he has always been involved in singing and playing..

      In the 50's with schoolmates, he formed his first band playing Rock 'n' Roll and Skiffle and together they remained during the 60's.
For the next couple of decades he played in various combos until he decided to go solo, eventually becoming a full time professional in 1993, concentrating on Country music.

Ivor was the first entertainer eight years or so ago to play at Shobnall for the Northern Renegades Club and tonight was his first return and what a great show he gave us, earning himself a booking for next year.

    Starting tonight with Gene Watson's, Got No Reason Now For Going Home, he continued with Hank Williams', Settin' The Woods On Fire,  Lefty Frizel's, Saginaw Michigan, Garth Brooks' Too Old To Die Young, Jerry Lee Lewis', What's Made Milwaukee Famous, and Ed Bruce's, Angeline.

  Ivor also included  songs I cannot recall hearing here before. Amongst those were a couple of Verne Gosdin's , The Garden and Chisled In Stone, Dwight Yoakam's, Send A Message To My Heart, Carson Robinson's, Going To The Barn Dance Tonight, and one of his own compositions, 1959.

      Throughout the show, Ivor had a super rapport with our members via his humorous quips and anecdotes, Dancers and singers alike afforded him well deserved applause. To end this excellent concert  Ivor delivered Alan Westwood's, The South Will Rise Again, followed by encores of Alan Jackson's, Remember When and The White Mansion's Classic, Union Mare and Confederate Grey!