Rockers Reunion 2010

The 27th Annual Rockers Reunion at Reading was a cracker. I missed the Lonesome Valley Boys but was lucky enough to witness Porky's Hot Rockin'. Porky is a tidy singer with good stage presence but you do get the feeling that having the legendary guitarist Mark Harman in your band is a bit like cheating. It's like doing a two man relay against your mates and having Usain Bolt as your partner. They do a few Johnny Burnette covers and the wonderful version of the King's Angel. Highlights of the set for me were Eddie Cochran's My Way, Dale Hawkins' Little Pig (ideal for a guy called Porky!) and Restless' neo-classic, Ice Cold. I've waited about thirty years to see Mark Harman so to watch him burn up the guitar on Ice Cold was a magic moment.

Johnny Fox and the Hunters were next up and they did a really fine set with a couple of Cavan covers and a well worked out version of Deano's Little Ole Wine Drinker Me. I've seen the Jets loads of times and I love them to bits but I was slightly disappointed this time with their set list. I like things like Razor Alley but because I was with doo-wop lover Steve Walker I was hoping they would do a load of the doo-wop strollers they're so good at.

The headliner was Gene Summers and he's been a regular over here for over thirty years. He still looks good for his age and has a friendly, confident stage presence which helped him win the crowd over straight away. With a set list that included Alabama Shake (twice), School Of Rock 'n' Roll and the opener , Twixteen, he couldn't go wrong. I was surprised not to hear Nervous but he made amends with fine covers of Wine Wine Wine and The Rebel Johnny Yuma. Rockin' Daddy was a meaty slab of rockabilly and his reappearance for the encore decked in a Confederate flag was iconic.

The show closed with Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers. They are simply amazing. How some fans give them the cold shoulder I can't understand. They rock like crazy and have all the menace and boy bad antics that rockabilly was supposed to be about. Drinking whiskey from the bottle to bopping with dozens of fans on-stage, these boys are what I imagine olds school 1970's Ted shows were all about. A brilliant performance to round of a great night. It was great to see the Shakin' All Over crowd there, including regulars Kevin Carey, John Howard and Tony Wilkinson, newcomers Steve Walker and Colin Kilgour, plus non-shakers Bunter and my mate Tony Fry. I look forward to next year - only 363 days to go.

The 27th Annual Rockers Reunion Winter Party line-up announced

Great news. The line-up has just been announced for the 27th Annual Rockers Reunion Winter Party at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading, England on Saturday 23rd January 2010. I was worried that there might not be one this year as the line-up has been so long in being confirmed. Fear not, it's on and what a line-up.

Promotors Willie Jeffrey and Ian Wallis have pulled out all the stops and give us what should be a fantastic night. The promotion, in their words reads as follows:

"Rockers Reunion is privileged to host an appearance by Texan rock 'n' roller GENE SUMMERS. He will rock your socks off with a show that is crammed full of club favourites like 'School of Rock 'n' Roll', 'Straight Skirt', 'Twixteen' and 'Fancy Dan'. Not to be missed.


Along with the late and missed CSA, the most popular act at Rockers Reunion has been those Welsh Wildmen CRAZY CAVAN AND THE RHYTHM ROCKERS. They are back to close our show in their own inimitable style.

THE JETS took rock 'n' roll into the charts during the period 1981-84 and have stayed true to our scene for a further 25 years. We are proud to welcome the Cotton brothers for their Rockers Reunion debut.

Another Rockers Reunion favourite is the irrepressible JOHNNIE FOX. Tonight is the debut gig for his brand new band. Don't expect a tender and reflective set from the great man. He will be giving it some.


Almost anything can happen when PORKY'S HOT ROCKIN' hit the stage. Expect a zany, in your face, no holds barred performance. Do not miss their show nor our opening act THE LONESOME VALLEY BOYS who have come rollin' out of the Deep South on a mission to rock 'n' roll. They have an exciting future."

Tockets for the show are now on sale at £23 in advance or £26 on the day. Cheques or postal orders should be made out to Dixie Fried Music and sent with a stamped self-addressed envelope to:- Ian Wallis, 111 Worlds End Lane, Orpington, Kent BR6 6AW.
Callers are welcome between 9 am and 5 pm Mondays - Fridays or telephone 01689 860980. Tickets can also be purchased from the RIVERMEAD BOX OFFICE 0118 901 500. Or at any rock 'n' roll venue from WILD CAT PETE 01494 672605. Credit card purchases (subject to a £2 booking fee) can be made from VIV BRITTAN on 01522 752453. Stall enquirires should directed to WILD WILLIE JEFFERY on 01883 714289.

The Jets live at Jolly Beggars, Coventry

The Jets live at Jolly Beggars, Coventry
25th April 2009

Now Coventry ain’t exactly on my doorstep, in fact it’s three and a half hours drive, but that’s what you get for living like Bobby Charles. This trip was planned for my niece Kelly Ann who like all good girls has developed a little soft spot for some rockabilly. She was going to see the ill-fated Stray Cats show Manchester last September, until Slim Jim did the kamikaze stunt the night before. So who better for her to see as her first rockabilly show than the Jets. I’ve seen them probably a dozen times so I knew she wouldn’t be disappointed. So, me and the misses and my sister and niece spent a lovely sunny day before hand in Stratford, where we got to help celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday, along with some totally strange Morris dancers.

The venue in the heart of downtown Coventry is ideal for this type of concert, a long dance-floor and a raised stage with seating all around. The DJ, whose name escapes me did an excellent job of working the crowd up, playing a well thought out set that went through the early days before closing with a couple of recent numbers from the likes of Go Cat Go, Darrel Higham and Bill Crittenden. He also did a few requests, including Billy Fury’s Gonna Type A Letter for my three gals. Him and his misses could cut a rug as well.



I hadn’t seen the Jets since they’ve suffered their health problems, but as soon as they started playing it was obvious that their music hasn’t suffered. They play pretty much anything from the classics to the obscure and their own originals to covers. They have their own unique sound which combines the standard three-piece rockabilly format with exquisite harmony vocals. Highlights of their set would have to include Razor Alley, Love Makes The World Go Around (a request) and an accappella version of Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight. Early in the set they did a great stroller version of Buddy’s That’ll Be The Day which blew me away. Stare, Stare, Stare and Bony Maronie were both excellent but next to That'll Be The Day I would have to say that my favourite was Little Orphan Girl. They encored with Andy Starr’s Dig Them Squeaky Shoes, rounding out of night of rockabilly meets doo-wop in the finest Jets tradition.