Hazel’s Blog — 2023
33 entries from 2023, newest first.
LACE event, Channels Golf Club
The last gig of 2023 for us and a very worthy event to end the year. The Charity LACE (Life After Cancer, Essex) raises funds to support those affected by this illness and Steve, who master-minded…
Christmas Market, Meadowcroft Garden Cntr, Wickford
We are now well into Christmas celebrations and today we returned to the traditional German Christmas Market at Meadowcroft Garden Centre. Always a magical atmosphere with tons of Christmas lights…
The Magic Mushroom. Barleylands Annual Christmas Party
I could be lazy and say ‘see last year’ for this post as this is the third time we have provided the music for the Christmas event for Barleylands staff, and we are never disappointed. They throw…
The Norton, Cold Norton
We always enjoy a return to the Norton; who wouldn’t with such a smashing audience packing the place out? We only stopped to eat the fantastic food hosts Boris and George had waiting for us during…
Millhouse Social Club, Dagenham
A welcome return to Millhouse! Although only our second gig there, I feel we are amongst firm friends who know how to enjoy themselves. A wide range of ages, with some great hairstyles - as Dave…
Loughton Tennis and Bowls Club
What a great reception we got for our first gig at this club. Dancing seemed obligatory for the members, which suited us very well too. They also took to our ukuleles and even had a quiz about them…
The Gateway Club
They sure know how to party at Gateway! We have been doing this gig for quite a few years now and we are all firm friends - the enthusiasm on both sides just keeps going, song after song, gig after…
Royal British Legion Club, Broomfield
Another new venue to add to our list - and a short journey for some of us who live nearby! It was also the first airing for a new song in our ever-expanding repertoire - ‘Everlong’ by the Foo…
Frances and Chris’s wedding, Apton Hall, Rochford
A new experience for the band, as most of the songs for the evening were hand-picked by the groom himself. (He had seen us several times before, so had a bit of an advantage!). But the highlight of…
Birthday Party, Hockley
Still in party mood, we arrived in Hockley to celebrate Paul’s 70th birthday. It was still hot, but three cheers for the air-conditioning at the local British Legion Hall! We soon got the hint that…
Chelmsford Social Club
This was one of our rare gigs in Chelmsford, so many thanks to Black Frog Promotions who booked and provided us with the full works, including great lighting - and smoke! An appreciative audience…
Meadowcroft Garden Centre, Rettendon
It’s festival time again, with one of our regular gigs at Meadowcroft. It’s a rare opportunity to play and watch other performers with a festival vibe of hay bales but under cover and no mud in…
Jane and Rick’s Party, Wickham Bishops
A year ago today we were partying at Jane and Rick’s house and we enjoyed it so much, we did it again this year! Jane had come with us to the Czech Republic in the early days of the band and remains…
Parliament Hill Bandstand, Hampstead Heath
Whoever controls the weather took pity on us on Sunday and decided to turn off the rain. This was our first gig in this particular bandstand and it has the added bonus of a breath-taking view of the…
Landguard Fort, Felixstowe
We have played some interesting venues in our time, and this has definitely been one of them. Landguard Fort is over 400 years old, a Grade 1 listed building, which played a big part in defending the…
Priory Park Bandstand, Southend
It started off well with the audience gathered round in picnic mode, the trees gently swaying in the wind, the clink of teacups outside the cafe and the meeting of friends and family. But as we got…
Bellegrove Social Club, Welling
What a great crowd! It was our first visit to the club and we were given a very warm welcome – they took to the dance floor early on and sang along happily to our ‘join-in’ songs such as ‘What’s Up’…
Little Burstead Village Party
Dire warnings about 50 mile per hour winds on Saturday night – particularly bad for anyone under canvas – fortunately failed to materialize as we gathered on Ellis Field for the ninth year to…
The Archer
What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Plenty of gorgeous food, drink and a large garden in which to relax and have a good time with friends. Yes, we were back at the Archer pub, providing the…
Bernard’s Birthday, Chelmsford Social Club
Well, that must be the gig with the shortest travelling time – at least for some of us! No sooner had we packed the gear in Dave’s car, we arrived at Chelmsford Social Club a few minutes down the…
Millhouse Social Club, Dagenham
New venue, new songs! Tonight, we aired for the first time, ‘The Wonder of You’, with Martin on vocals, capturing the velvet tones of the master excellently. Our policy of ‘No music stands, no lyric…
Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
We were back indoors this week, although at this lovely pub, there was also a relaxing area outside in the evening sunshine by the River Colne. Perfect for summer. This was our second visit to Ye…
Stoke-By-Nayland Coronation Celebration
What a difference a day makes! Corny, but true. The sun shone down on us at the village green, we were playing high up on a trailer, overlooking festival-style bales of hay, families were enjoying…
King’s Coronation celebration, The Angel, Lavenham
O.K, so there are times when you just can’t get the right weather for your celebration, and this was one of those occasions. We guessed we would get some rain during the day; we just didn’t realise…
Garden Party Upminster Essex
An afternoon in a beautiful garden - when even the sun comes out for us and the guests - is a great way to spend a Saturday. Amanda, whom we met at the Norton Pub gig, was celebrating her birthday…
The Black Buoy, Wivenhoe
This weekend we were helping to celebrate the re-opening of the kitchen in this beautiful, historic pub nestled in the Essex countryside. Roast dinners and eager diners abounded as we got ready to…
Private party at The Norton
You can’t beat a good party and when it takes place in a favourite venue, then you can’t go wrong! We were helping Gerry to celebrate his 70th birthday, along with all his family and friends, hosted…
Clissold Park Tavern, Stoke Newington
Another new venue for us – a five-piece tonight as we had no Jo, which meant Martin and I had to be on our toes! A lovely venue with a warm and happy atmosphere, where people came to relax, drink…
Queens Theatre, Hornchurch
The last leg of our ‘tour’ and a blinding night all round! Our audience was way up close and we also had support from enthusiastic uke players from the workshops Jo and Dave ran earlier in the…
Wickford Railway Club
At last, we made the stage at the Railway Club, following Covid lockdowns etc. It has a good-sized hall, complete with stage and there were a few keen people not knowing what to expect! There were a…
Royal British Legion Club, Chingford
This was the first of our three-gig weekend! Our good friend Andy, booked us - it was thanks to him that we got to go to France to perform at the great little Cavron Theatre. We visited this club a…
60th Birthday Party, Rivenhall Golf Club
We D’Ukes all enjoy a good party and we had a cracking one with Lin and all her friends and family at Rivenhall Oaks Golf Club on Saturday. We ensured a good mix of songs, including many dance…
The Norton, Cold Norton
The first gig of the new year and we spent it amongst old friends and new at the Norton Pub. We have been playing here for a number of years now and we are always made welcome - we were even served…