December 29th 2005    LOST HIGHWAY

 To see us into the New Year, we invited one of our favourite bands, the re-formed ' Lost Highway '. Gone was the Lead Guitarist and Bassist which meant Nick continued as Vocalist and Rhythm,Dave took lead on the Steel guitar, and new member, the experienced Mike Abbott, made up the trio with his Electric Stick Bass.

  From the first number ' Pan- American' it was immediately clear that the overall sound was as good as the previous combo / to me it was even better as I love the Pedal Steel sound which was more prominent.

It did not take long for the dancers to fill the floor as the band played ' Take These Chains....', ' Sweet Dreams ' in Faron Young style, ' Settin' The Woods On Fire' and others.

Tonight as expected and desired, we had lots of Carl Perkins, Carl Smith, Don Gibson and of course Hank Williams.

It was a special treat tonight to have Dave play the Dobro, an instrument not heard too often locally. He soloed on Canadian Hank Thompson's ' Chicken On The Lump ' and followed up backing Nick's vocals with 'Hangin' My Tears Out To Dry' ' In The Jailhouse Now ', which brought the Rock 'n' Rollers to the floor, and ' Jambalaya '.

Other popular classics included ' China Doll ', ' Kaw - Liga ', ' Cryin' Time ', ' Sea Of Heartbreak ' and Jim Reeves'  'Yonder Comes A Sucker '

Tonight's show was the lads' first public appearance as a trio and how enjoyable it was to hear each instrument individually, as well as having a super collective sound. With great shows like this, their success is bound to continue and thrive.

           Cyril Insley

January 27th 2005 Lost Highway

Following the success of their October 30th Saturday Showtime appearance, it was an early welcome return for the superb Country/ Rockerbilly Band, LOST HIGHWAY.

   Nick, Dave, Steve , and Rob, smartly dressed as always, had the audience enthralled  from beginning to end of their concert.

Their programme consisted almost entirely of fifties and sixties numbers earlier covered by artistes they admire and whose music they treasure and wish to pass on to other generations.

    It was inevitable therefore that there would be loads of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Faron Young, Carl Smith, Marty Robbins, Don Gibson, etc.etc.

 The beauty of this group is that they not only sing the hits of their favourites but also gave us a good helping of their lesser known songs - Johnny Cash's ' Freight Train' and ' Train Of Love',  Hanks's ' Howlin At The Moon', Carl Perkin's ' You Can't Make love To Somebody' and ' I'm Sure To Fall', Marty's ' I Can't Quit' and Faron Young's ' Alone with You' etc.

      Other songs not heard at our club often included Leadbelly's ' Midnight Special',  The Derailer's ' At The Lost And Found', Jim Reeves' ' Yonder Comes A Sucker' and ' Hearts Of Stone' a song covered by both Connie Francis and Johnny Preston in the sixties.

 All night, everyone in the club was kept entertained, albeit for the singing, dancing or listening. It was pleasing too that a much bigger attendance than of late was evident, and able to witness as good a show as we have had.

Saturday October 30th 2004 Lost Highway

For our final Special Show for 2004 we welcomed to our club the country band, Lost Highway .

They were only formed twelve months ago; so their first appearance at our club was an anniversary celebration for them.

All members of the band are experienced musicians; all with a keen interest in and love of old time Country and Rockabilly music.

Their enjoyment of this genre of music enabled them to make contact with each other through the internet / and as they all come from four different parts of Great Britain , adopted their current sobriquet.

Lead singer Nick Peck, a Londoner now resident in nearby Midway, Swadlincote, South Derbyshire .

Dave Cox, who hails from Aberystwyth, Wales , plays Steel Guitar and Steve Baker from Bolton , Lancashire , plays lead guitar.

Last but no means least is Rob Hourd who plays Upright Base, and comes from Mansfield, Notts.

From their first number ' Pan American', a hit for Hawkshaw Hawkins, they had the audience totally engrossed.

Nick smartly dressed in a stylish suit, has a strong, distinct voice and backed by three excellent musicians, all immaculately attired in their 'cowboy band ' outfits.

Loads of traditional songs flowed all evening / ' Freight Train,' covered by the Delmore Brothers; Carl Smith's ' Don't Just Stand There;' Faron Young's 'Alone with you;' Carl Perkins'   'Honky Tonk Girl' a hit for Hank Thompson; Marty Robbins' ' I Can't Quit;'  Red Foley's ' Tennessee Border;' and ' Hearts of Stone,' plus loads of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash numbers - all joy to this reviewers ears.

Nick as spokesman for the band, soon developed a good rapport with the audience and had several humorous quips about his wife Linda and sister- in -law, Carol, who were in the audience. Indeed, Carol responded to encouragement and took to the mike to sing ' Walking after Midnight '

All night we had a wonderful party atmosphere and an outstanding show from a very talented band. No wonder they have been invited to a speedy return in January 2005

Cyril Insley