Billy Mitchell Band

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Presented in association with Northumbrian Music Nights

Allendale Village Hall

Near Hexham

With Real Ales such as Magus from Durham Breweries

Tickets £13.00 on the door from 7.30pm

Doors 7.30pm

Band on stage at 8.45pm

After the gig .....

Who said you couldn't get a big crowd in Allendale on a Monday night?

This was an excellent turn-out which was treated to two superb sets of wide ranging songs from Rockin' Chair to Swing Together to Mr. Bojangles to Newcastle Lad and Primrose Hill.

These were songs that had played such an important part in Billy's career and also loved and appreciated by the enthusiastic audience. Although this is a 'new' band, they were very much together and clearly enjoyed the gig. It was very much the old and the new, hand in hand, note for note. Later this week on Saturday they play the Sage Gateshead so that should be quite a treat.

As ever with Billy, humour is not that far away, so a fabulous mix of cracking music and a few laughs. The only problem? we ran out of real ale at 10.00pm. I said we had a big crowd! But don't worry, we'll order more ale for the next gig.

The Line-Up

• Billy Mitchell - lead vocals, guitar and mandolin.

• Michael Bailey - bass (Steve Daggett Band)

• Ray Laidlaw - drums (Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad and Pacamax)

• Tom Mitchell - guitar, piano, vocals (Tarras, and founder member of The Tomcats and Marconi)

• Peter Tickell - fiddle and mandolin (The Kathryn Tickell Band)

Billy Mitchell, front man with Lindisfarne till their retirement in 2003, has formed a new band to play some dates in summer 2006. 

Since 2004 Billy has been touring his solo show and recording a new album ‘The Devil’s Ground’, which received critical acclaim in the music press and has been heavily featured on the BBC’s ‘Folk on Two’ and other ‘roots’ radio shows.

This special gig at Allendale will include songs from Billy’s former bands including, Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad and Pacamax, as well as new material from ‘The Devil’s Ground’ and some other songs that Billy ‘just likes to play’.

When we finally signed Billy up for this gig he commented, ‘I really enjoy the freedom of working solo, but every now and then I hanker for a bigger, brasher sound and these boys can provide everything I need in that department. I'm also no stranger to Allendale and Hexham having enjoyed many a good gig in the area, so it will be extra special to meet up again with some familiar faces."

Talking about the band and this gig, Billy went on to say, "I've worked with Ray and Michael in various line-ups before and I'm really looking forward to working again with their wonderful rhythm section which sets a solid base for the two ‘young bucks’ to play off. Already accomplished players at the ages of nineteen and twenty one, Peter and Tom bring freshness to the music and their enthusiasm and love of playing reminds me why I started doing this over forty years ago. I’m excited at the prospect of playing with this band, the future looks bright and in good hands."