Well...
All things must pass...
And indeed Hobble On The Cobbles has for another year.
With luck you where there and indulged your musical fancy to a wide selection of talent...
If you did not...
Then you missed out!
One of the First acts on was "Little Bird" and what a way to open the show, with a lively and bubbly stage presence, they soon had the crowd singing and dancing despite a slightly grey and dreary start to the day.
With smooth guitar, and a melodic voice the duo worked well and the warm infectious smiles soon had the clouds clearing and the day off to a great start.
As Little bird was on stage, The Chopper Club arrived in a mass... Aylesbury was suddenly awash with some of the most amazing bikes you could ever wish to see. The Chopper Club are celebrating 40 years and there where displays and do's all over the country, so they joined forces and came together for HOTC, and it was a welcoming melding as the stunning art of these bikes sat so beautifully in the sun with the sounds of great music drifting on the breeze. Truly a spectacle to savour.
As always... A festival brings highlights to each taste, and my highlight of the entire day was to be found in Kingsbury Square.
An amazing act called NBS...
We arrived at the stage just as they started their set and the power of the music and voices involved was immense.
The music was fast paced, sharp and catchy, the vocals, powerful, yet friendly and inviting, the whole thing was incredibly infectious and immediately had the crowd, and myself, singing and dancing along with time honoured hits from Erasure, Queen and ABBA.
The crowd and I where loving it, what more could we ask for..?
Well how about the lead singer jumping from the stage and joining the audience to help with some audience participation..? No problems at all it seems.
With a deft leap the singer was among us, bringing his voice into play with that of the crowds... the atmosphere was amazing, and throughout it all, the music and singing where impeccable...
NBS delivered on every single task...
the music was great...
the singing was great...
the stage craft was great...
Overall, NBS are truly one of the best bands I have seen for a long time. I know some people are a bit sniffy about covers bands, but you know what, when you have amazing songs everyone knows performed with a clear style and passion and with such a degree of perfection, I would gladly see them over many other bands. If you missed them at HOTC, then seriously track them down and see them, they where truly awesome.
Now...
I can not of course talk about all the talent that was on display this year...
But it would be very remiss not to talk about The Searchers...
The Headline act!!!
What can you say about such an established band, a band that has been going so long, produced so many hits..?
Well...
All I can really say is they still have it!
From start to finish their set was electric, despite the sudden downpours, the crowd where loving it, and the guys just kept giving...
From snappy little anecdotes and friendly banter on stage to each other and to the audience, this didn't feel like a festival show piece...
To me the whole set felt like old friends meeting up down their local pub to chat and play some songs. Both their set and there music where warm and inviting, you just wanted to stop, listen and enjoy...
And boy did the crowd enjoy... The Searchers delivered above and beyond all expectations and really are well worth seeing, they are touring with some other great acts soon and are playing both High Wycombe and Oxford, and I'd strongly recommend you go and see them...
As the fantastic Betty Woz 'Ere (my assistant for the day) was musing with the sound techs, their songs sound as great today as they did in the 60's...
50 years on, and still fantastic songs...
How many of todays songs do we think that comment will apply to?
As always...
Hobble On The Cobbles was an amazing show, and thanks need to go to all those involved in making it such a success.
I won"t name names as I know I would forget someone, but you all know who you are...
So Thank You All :)
And to all who came, thanks for playing your part in making it a great lively day, for all who couldn't make it... just remember that with support and nurture and help... it will be back next year, and the year after and for many many more.
This local festival is a truly rare and beautiful thing, and I for one and happy to have any involvement I can... so support it... love it and watch it grow into an amazing spectacle!
So with that...
All I have to say is...
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!?
m