As we sped past the sign for Warleggan, I knew for sure – we were in Poldark country. My mind wandered back to when I lived in West London and would sometimes bump into dear departed actor Ralph Bates when strolling along Chiswick High Street. He was often cast as the baddie, like George Warleggan in the earlier Poldark series, but really was the sweetest of men. I shan’t have the pleasure of bumping into Ralph again but after the week I’ve just had I could with confidence say, “actually, Ralph, I’ve been quite busy recently” if he were to kindly ask, “are you working, John?” once more.
It all started with a call from my mother to say Prog Magazine had included a feature on the John Hackett Band. As a subscriber she got her hands on an early copy (I wonder how many 95-year olds are subscribers to that fine journal…) and it has since hit the shelves for you to get your hands on your own! Our thanks to Chris Wheatley for the interview (and for making mum’s day by having something about both her boys in this month’s issue!).
On Thursday the band assembled with Jeremy fresh from an interview on the breakfast show of CHAOS Radio all about our forthcoming trip to the West Country – our thanks to them for their support. I then joined Jeremy for a lovely chat with Angela (The David White Show) of BBC Cornwall. You can listen to both interviews here: https://www.mixcloud.com/…/jeremy-richardson-john…/ and here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002dp5m
After an enjoyable romp through the set, where all the notes seemed to be correct and in the right order, the band hit the road on Friday for an overnight stay with Mike and Siân in Stroud. Mike was the perfect host, serving up a chilli Siân had prepared earlier. Siân herself was not around as she had a prior engagement with a circle of like-minded ladies in the woods. I’m not quite sure what it was all about but my wife Katrin and Heather Findlay felt compelled to join them while I sloped off for an early night.
And so on to the Beehive Honiton for our first gig of the weekend. We had the warmest of welcomes from the manager Victoria who kept us plied with copious amounts of tea, coffee and ginger cake which was a welcome antidote to the heat. Ally was impeccable on sound, without a hint of feedback all evening! The new and old material of ‘Red Institution’ and ‘Voyage Of The Acolyte’ were once again wonderfully received, and it was so nice to catch up with friends Tish and Charlie who have settled so happily in the area. The Beehive is an absolutely lovely venue and we will return!
It was then a late drive after the gig to Penzance to stay with friends Ally and Tree of The Emerald Dawn who were our hosts for the rest of the weekend. And what superb hosts they were! Our sincerest, hugest and most wholehearted thanks to them for accommodating us all and keeping us all so well fed and watered (well, it wasn’t all water…).
The gig at The Acorn, Penzance was a corker. Nicky the house manager showed us how to work the backstage intercom system and kept us all up to the mark with 5 then 2 minute warnings. I was slightly worried during one of their exchanges when Jeremy pushed the talk button to ask what time the inflight movie began… After a brief pause when I half expected a reprimand for misusing theatre equipment, Nicky dryly replied, “It’s after the inflight dinner, sir”. Jeremy was very much in his element (“I’m talking, my boy, of the theatre!”) and what a gorgeous theatre it is. Steve did a wonderful job on the sound and lights and all thanks to Richie for inviting us there and again, we will return!
Both Jeremy and Duncan were struggling with lurgy all weekend so we must mention them in dispatches for ‘manning up’ (or womanning up as the ladies in the woods might say) and delivering such fine performances. Nick was totally on fire for both gigs and it was a joy to have Heather Findlay opening the show and then joining the band onstage. It’s gauche to toot your own horn too much so I’ll just say, I did okay.
We’re taking a short break now for the summer before our festival appearances – Wokingham Festival and Nene Valley Rock Festival.
Meanwhile, thank you so much to everyone who has come along to the first part of our tour this year and for all the lovely comments about us (and my daughter says, if there are any negative comments at least they ‘fuel engagement’ which I think is the modern equivalent of saying “no such thing as bad publicity”).
And a final thanks to Dave Hill of Tenacity PR for all his help – hearing ‘Stella’, the opening track of our new album ‘Red Institution’ and written by Jeremy, on BBC Radio really put a smile on my face (say what you want about bassists, we’ve clearly got a great one).
(Photos – Katrin Hackett)