Anyway it’s the annual Bermondsey ‘Event’ in Southwark Park, almost “the largest community music event in London” says the website. It’s a day in the Park really, with beer tent, fairground, solar powered French Circus, a few food stalls (mostly it’s picnic time) and, not surprisingly, a dog show. The reason for being here is the remarkable little line up of bands, including some of Whiskyfun’s favourites. Bizarrely the afternoon session is introduced by local boy, “disgraced comedian” Michael Barrymore (“If the council have paid him then I want my rates back” mumbles Jozzer), much to the bemusement of first act Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes. Lee of course, is the UK’s leading Country guitarist who was born in the wilds of Herefordshire. They ran through their stuff, featuring some tunes from Lee’s new album Road Runner, and ending with Lee’s signature tune, ‘Country Boy’. But to be frank it wasn’t too easy to make out what was being played as the sound was decidedly inferior unless (as we discovered later) you were right in front of the stage, and the pleasing breeze seemed to be blowing much of what there was (sound, that is) down the river. And Jozzer was still eating his lunch, a prodigious plateful of Bermondsey’s best bangers, and toying with a frisky Rioja, so we weren’t going anywhere without the UN. Which meant that we didn’t get the full benefit of Nine Below Zero, fronted by two of Bermondsey’s favourite blues-boys, ace guitarist Dennis Greaves and harmonica genius Mark Feltham. Jozzer still remembers when they used to play “daan the Apple and Pears”, a famous Bermondsey boozer which he, and many R & B fans used to frequent way back in the 1970’s. Here, once the sound was sorted, they played at a breakneck speed for over an hour, by which time the bangers, and the Rioja, were spent (as was the coke that we spotted two guys snorting behind the Portaloos in full view of the Old Bill). Anyway don’t turn down a chance to see Nine Below Zero, they’re tight and top quality, “still the business”, and are playing all over Europe at Festivals throughout the summer.
We needed to get closer for the Blockheads - not South London geezers of course, and what with all that Essex tosh, and two band members from Newcastle it was potentially a dangerous place to be. But as Jozzer led the lost tribe the crowds parted ‘till, uncannily, we were right at the front of the stage.