October 14th 2004 Keep It Country Duo

Making their first visit to our club tonight were husband and wife, John and Rosie Gibson from Sheffield They met twenty-five years ago and sharing an interest in folk and popular music, began to sing together solely for charity.

Encouragement from friends and relatives led to being paid for their performances, and having been in various combinations have for the last two years played only as a duo.

John plays guitar and has ventured into composing songs while Rosie plays keyboards. both take lead on vocals and harmonize with each other.

Their performance started with John's own composition ' Touring The U S Of A ' recently out on c.d. by both themselves and Richard Palmer. Other self - compositions included ' Four Star Boxcar Midnight Train ' and ' Boxcar Baby ' the last of which was received especially well judging by the full dance floor.

Their programme was made up of a good mix of standard country songs and lesser known ones .eg . The Dixie Chicks' ' Heartbreak Town ', Waylon Jennings' ' Another Bridge to Burn,' J.D. Crowe and the New South's, ' Ten Degrees,' Jean Ritchie's ' The L and A Don't Stop Here Any More', covered by Michelle Shocked, and a song i'm not familiar with ' Penny To My Name.'

Standards not heard so often nowadays included Olivia Newton - John's ' Let Me Be There, ' Steve Earle's ' Johnny Come Lately, ' Billy Jo Spears' ' Blanket On The Ground ' and Glen Campbell's ' Rhinestone Cowboy ' all of which kept the dancers happy.

However, my favourites for the evening were saved towards the end with a wonderful compilation of eight Buddy Holly songs, The Bellamy Brothers, ' - - Beautiful Body - - -, ' Ed Bruce's ' Mammas Don't Let Your Babies etc.' and one of my favourite John Denver songs ' Leaving On A Jet Plane. '

Once again, first - time visitors to our club had produced a show to keep our club members more than content.

Cyril Insley Top