Time flies when you're having fun!

Although the gig scene quietened down in the aftermath of Covid and sundry lockdowns, we are still enjoying an eclectic - if somewhat reduced - mix of club and pub sessions, concerts, the occasional outdoor event, and festivals. Well, just the one festival so far this year, namely the Pete Lay Memorial weekend at Sand Bay at the beginning of the year. Impeccably organised by Heather, with the assistance of the usual suspects, it ran like clockwork, produced plenty of great sessions from the programmed bands, and was surely a joyous start to 2026 for musicians, punters and organisers. We thoroughly enjoyed our couple of days there, and in addition to the music it was great to catch up with lots of old friends (and we mean ‘old’ in both senses!)

Also in January was our regular early season concert at the Cheap Street Church in Sherborne. Despite the inclement time of year, the organisers rustled up the usual splendid audience and a good time was had by all. The icing on the cake was the addition of our great friend and wonderful performer ‘Ma’ Bessie aka Julia Titus, all the way from Reading (heroism indeed!) and we managed to find a few new numbers to perform with her, as well as some old faithfuls … including, of course, Trombone Cholly, now a fixture on the set list whenever we meet up with Julia!

We hadn’t played a concert at St Benedict’s Church in Glastonbury for a very long time, but we made up for it in fine style (we thought!) with a great session, and the audience couldn’t have been more appreciative. We were delighted to see our old mate, trombonist Adrian Chamberlain out there in the pews, and there was much reminiscing with him during the interval and after the concert, as we hadn’t seen him in decades! Our own trombonist and Adrian had played together - back in the mists of time - in the anarchic Great Western Marching Jazz Band in Bristol, when high jinx and excessive consumption of liquid refreshment were the order of the day … but they’re both slightly more sensible nowadays, which of course has nothing to do with their age …

In the same week, by chance, we were invited back to the thriving BD Jazz Club in Cossington, along with Julia Titus as our special guest. We really are being spoiled this year, as she’ll be joining us again in September in Weymouth (cue for a song: “We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside …”, though it’s more likely to be Trombone Cholly again, fingers crossed!) 

In June we were back for another concert in Sherborne, this time under the title of one of Mike Denham’s whimsical themes. On this occasion it was ‘Walking the Walk - Talking the Talk’. As always, the band did the former, and Mike did the latter (imagine a laughing Emoji at this point!). Fortunately, the audience seemed to enjoy it all, despite the band’s best efforts …

For our return visit to St Michael’s Church in Galmington - a wonderful example of a modern-style church - Steve Graham took charge, owing to our Celestial Leader’s absence (he was away touring Grimsby and Cleethorpes with his Mrs Mills Tribute show). We also had a slight change of line-up, courtesy of our old chum Tom Whittingham on sousaphone, which added to the fun. As on previous visits, we were made very welcome by both organisers and audience, and we were all delighted to learn that a substantial sum had been raised for charity.

Our concert at Ilminster Arts in August was at the height of the heatwave, so we were rather taken by surprise when - unloading our gear - it rained very briefly … for all of one minute. Despite the sultry heat, we still had a packed audience and we seemed to give a reasonable account of ourselves (well, we thought so) with another of Mike’s fanciful themes - this time it was ‘Dreams and Nightmares’, which reflected daily life in 2026 rather well, we thought. Highlight for some (namely, the two piano players) was a boogie-woogie duet on the Centre's fine grand piano, as our trombone player clearly needed a little break from his usual instrument. 

Once again, it mercifully failed to rain on Donhead St Andrew’s ‘All-Weather Fete’, so the all-weather side of things remained untested. There was quite a breeze, however, which resulted in a gazebo or three taking off and being chased around the field while the band played on, thoroughly enjoying this unexpected cabaret. We were lucky to be close to the Punch and Judy Show, so childhood memories were happily revived, and band members’ cries of “That’s the way to do it!” and “Sausages!” echoed after every number, albeit without the traditional swazzle. It’s bad enough having a Swanee Whistle in the band without also having a swazzle! Thankfully, to raise the overall tone we had the legendary Malcolm Sked on the sousaphone. A close-up view of this monster (the instrument, not Malcolm) reduced at least one small child to terrified sobs, which all added to the festive fun. The Donhead event is particularly well-known for its Dog Show, of course, and as we packed up after our performance we were assailed over the microphone with strident cries of “... and now for the Pretty Bitches Walk-Around!”. Needless to say, we couldn’t escape fast enough!

And of course, on the third Monday of every month of the year, whatever the weather may throw at us - fire and flood, hail and snow, and even a blistering, endless heatwave this year - there is of course one reassuring constant that keeps us going: our monthly session at The Ropemakers in Bridport. Throughout each long, weary year it has become our Glue of Life, holding together the Jazz of Eternity against the looming Quicksands of Adversity … apologies, our Blogger is getting a little carried away again! But it really is the highlight of every month. Geraldine and her hard-working team - not to mention our regular audience and super-loyal fan club members (as well as the occasional visitor who has wandered in and bravely stayed) - never fail to make us feel wonderfully welcome. And it’s not just the Sunset Cafe Stompers. Oh no!  ‘Ropeys’ puts on live music throughout the week - there can’t be too many pubs that even contemplate doing that - and this legendary Bridport venue thoroughly deserves all the support it can get. So, if you’re within striking distance, take a look at their music (as well as their food and drink!) menu and head on down there. You won’t be disappointed!