Wednesday 29 June 2011

Back in May I saw the excellent Seasiders perform at the old bandstand in Priory park, Southend. I saw them again a couple of weeks back at the Leigh Folk Festival for another slice of their 'gor blimey', honest to goodness, end of the pier malarkey! These guys really know how to put on a show...

Things to love about the Seasiders:

- They are incredibly talented musicians, who can bang out a memorable tune like Tubby Issacs dishes out jellied eels...

- A hardworking band who take every opportunity to play... From their monthly residency at the Camden Eye in London, to local venue and events, to church fetes... if there's a chance to play they take it. Keyboard player Dave woodcock even manages to shoehorn in solo gigs around these too, including a residency at the Sun Rooms in Southend every Wednesday!

- A rare ability to appeal to all generations, from indie kids to pensioners, and everything in between! They have built up an impressive following around town.

The gig at the Leigh Folk Fest was a fabulously quirky affair. Any and everything becomes a venue or stage in the old fishing village.... The Seasiders literally commandeered a house! (a large house I'll grant you - the old Custom House - but one that the sister of a friend used to live in a few years back). The double doors were flung open, and the band played from the doorway! It was a riotous show, and I guess one that brought a whole new meaning to the phrase 'it was just like they were playing in your front room'!

Musically they can sound like anything from The Kinks, The Small Faces and Blur... via a detour through Jerry Lee Lewis and a Cockney knees-up courtesy of Chas n Dave! Both Live and on CD, this band are guaranteed to get your foot tapping and your mouth smiling....

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