The Universe 5th August 2016

u • MUSIC 06 FRIDAY 05.08.16
The Music Scene
Hemsby Rock N Roll Weekender
For almost 30 years, the world famous
Hemsby Rock’n’Roll Weekender has
been supplying the very best original
and upcoming artists around the world
and this October will be no different.
Hemsby Rock’n’Roll Weekenders are
major music events on the Rock’n’Roll
calendar taking place twice a year, in
May and October, in the village of
Hemsby, Norfolk.
Much of Hemsby has been left unchanged
since the 50s, which makes
it the perfect setting for the world’s
longest running and most famous
Rock’n’Roll event. Hemsby Beach and
the nearby holiday town of Great
Yarmouth remain in a time warp with
its seaside amusements, candy floss,
old fashioned shops and coffee bars.
Images © J.A.Areta Goñi (JUXE)
For 25 years, the event has attracted
a huge amount of interest due
to its line-up of original American
stars and roots bands that perform to
crowd of up to 3,000 fans who come
to eat, sleep, drink and breathe the
1950’s. Many of those attending come
from all over Europe, and the world,
uMusic
By Nick Benson
including the USA, Australia, South
America and Japan.
From Friday 7th to Monday 10th
October music lovers will descend on
Seacroft Holiday Village in Hemsby,
Norfolk to see such names as Barrence
Whitfield, Bill Haley Jr, Marcel
Riesco, The Spunyboys and Freddy
Velas and the Silvertones.
Barrence Whitfield &
the Savages recently released
their latest album, Under the
Savage Sky, which they define as
soulful punk.
“With the raw vocals, thick and
nasty guitar tones, and preternaturally
locked-in rhythm section, Under the
Savage Sky might be the most soulful
punk record – or perhaps the most
punk soul record – you’ve ever heard,”
the band said.
The group definitely do not disappoint
with tracks including the raw
energy of Rock and Roll Baby, the
dance-craze inducing The Claw and
the lively, and humourous, Incarceration
Casserole just to name a few.
“The general themes for the record
are: Wisdom comes at a hefty cost,”
guitarist Peter Greenberg told Consequence
of Sound, while discussing the
latter track. “We might be getting old,
but we’ll go down fighting and trying to
laugh it off at the same time. The
words and thoughts behind Incarceration
Casserole fit the
general theme of the
album; a metaphoric
take on the narrator
going through a
unique struggle –
his wife in jail –
and how his only
thoughts are caring
for himself, but
he is unable to do
even that.”
The album sounds like
a high school dance being invaded
by a biker gang. Opening with
a powerful electric guitar the rest of
the band then kick in and the energy
continues throughout. The record
concluded with the moody, soulful
Full Moon in the Daylight Sky.
Barrence Whitfield & the Savages
was created when Whitfield’s singing
was heard by musician Peter Greenberg
of garage rock band The Lyres.
Whitfield, who was studying at the
time, was also working in a record shop.
Born Barry White in Jacksonville,
Florida, 1955, Whitfield, in order to
avoid confusion with the much-loved
soul-singer of the same name, decided
to adopt the stage name Barrence
Whitfield. He began performing
with Greenberg and other former
members of The Lyres as Barrence
Whitfield & the Savages.
Whitfield will play a big part in October’s
Hemsby Rock’n’Roll Weekender
along with many other musicians.
Among those playing is Bill Haley Jr,
the frontman of high-energy five-piece
Bill Haley Jr & The Comets. Haley Jr,
along with the band, performs crowdpleasing
songs first recorded at the
dawn of rock n roll in the early and
mid-1950s by his legendary father, Bill
Haley, who himself was front man of
Bill Haley & His Comets.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles singer,
songwriter and guitar showman, Marcel
Riesco, who has performed all over
the world and developed a strong reputation
amongst crowds everywhere,
will also grace the Hemsby stage.
French rockabilly band Spunyboys,
who formed in 2006 inspired by fifties
American legends and British rockers
will also appear, as will the unique
Italian doo wop group Freddy Velas &
The Silvertones, who play songs inspired
by the Italian/American doo
wop tradition.
‘‘
Much of Hemsby has
been left unchanged since
the 50s, which makes it the
perfect setting for the
world’s longest running
and most famous
Rock’n’Roll event.
Hemsby boasts a fantastic indoor
marketplace for clothes, records and
memorabilia, which is a major attraction
to the event. Many bands and record
companies release new products at
every Hemsby Weekender. Special
events include a jam session, classic car
cruise, six – five steam train special,
Norfolk Broads boat cruise, a car boot
sale, a dance competition, professional
jive lessons, lipstick and curls hairdresser,
Boppo the barber and a vintage
and retro market. DJ’s from all over the
UK and Europe and up to 21 bands
from around the world come together
to make up a truly 1950’s Weekender.
To find out more about the
Hemsby Rock N Roll Weekender
visit www.hemsbyrocknroll.co.uk
Alternatively you can contact:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekenders P.O.Box
1256 Preston, PR2 0NT UK or
phone: +44 (0)1772 761522 or
+44 (0)7833 900 825 or email:
hemsby@freeuk.com
Listen...
To listen to Barrence Whitfield
& the Savages visit
www.universecatholicradio.com