Recent gigs

We were called out at at very short notice to play at the Propaganda Bar in Fleet on Thursday 22nd July. It was another good evening and a second run out for Martin Donohoe, pictured left (guitar, saxophone and vocals), the latest recruit to the Fluke fold. On Saturday the 24th July we played at the Barley Mow in Shepperton, always a good gig but this was special. A great crowd, and considering we had three dep players in the band, we went down really well and really rocked. Patrick Quirke making a welcome return on bass and Martin Donohoe on guitar, saxophone and vocals.

Suzanne, Gill and friends.



The 'Master' of the keyboards, Iain Fidler.

Recent gigs

Over the last weeks the band has played at three new venues for the first time. On the 1st July we played at the Propaganda in Fleet. The Propaganda is a large lounge bar/diner which has live music on Thursdays. A very comfortable bar with plenty of room for the band to set up and play. We played as a four piece and our sets went down very well. We're back there on the 16th September for a return visit. On the 3rd July we played at a private birthday party at Tyrrell's Wood Golf Club. Chris Manby, who has seen the band play quite a few times, asked us to play at his 60th birthday party and we were happy to accept the invitation. A beautiful location and a very good gig. Lastly we made our debut at the Castle in Finchley Road. The pub has been taken over by Denis Cook ( uncle of Fat Boy Slim! ) who was previously at the Horns in Watford. He's turned a rather down at heel pub into a great music venue. It has a stage area, huge dance floor and very comfortable bars. We were made to feel very welcome and we had a good night. We're looking forward to playing there again.

The Compasses Inn, Gomshall, Friday 4th June

On Friday 4th June the band is back at the Compasses Inn in Gomshall, small but very friendly real pub. We're there later in August to play at the 'Gomstock' festival.

The Barley Mow, Saturday 29th May

Our next gig is on the 29th May at the Barley Mow, Watersplash Road, Shepperton. This is one of the band's favourite gigs, always a good night. John, the landlord, is a genuine music lover and is very keen to keep live music going at the Barley Mow. 9pm start and finishing at about 11.15pm. Come early to get the best seats.

May 22nd and 23rd weekend gigs

A good weekend for the band, playing at two new venues. On Saturday we played at the Fox and Duck in Petersham. Very friendly landlady and staff and a good crowd. Lot's of positive feedback from the punters and staff so we'll be booked again soon. On Sunday we played at the Angler's Retreat in Laleham. It was a private birthday party for Jackie Bulmer. Jackie and her husband had seen the band playing at the Barley Mow in Shepperton and asked us if we would play at her birthday party. It was a really good night with lots of guests attending a sit down meal to start and then onto the dance floor.Very impressive array of frocks and heels on display. It was a pleasure for the band to play for Jackie on her birthday and we look forward to seeing her (and her husband and friends) at a gig soon.

606 Club, 6th May

The band played at the famous 606 Club, Chelsea, on the 6th May. It was a private party for Dr Chris Peach, a friend of John Parry's. The evening was a great success. The club was packed with Chris's friends and family and from our first number to the last the guests were up and dancing. It's a great place to play, with lots of atmospere and a good PA. The club staff thought we were great too so hopefully we'll be back again for other gigs.

40th Birthday Party, Saturday 17th April

The band has been quite busy this month so far.We have played in Sunbury at the Jubilee pub for first time, the Walnut Tree in East Farleigh, also for the first time, the Royal Wells Hotel in Tunbridge Wells, a regular venue for the band, and a private party in New Barnet. The landlords of both the new venues, the Jubilee and the Walnut Tree were impressed with the band and want to re-book us for further gig dates. The private party was for Brian Hickey (pictured above in the bright shirt with his wife). It was his fortieth birthday party and it was held in St Peter's Church Hall in New Barnet. There was a stage ( quite a luxury for the band ) and a large dance floor, which by the end of the evening all the one hundred and fifty guests made full use of. Our next gigs are at the Windsor Castle in Little Bookham on Friday 23rd April and the Central Ward Club in Morden.

New venues for Fluke, 19th and 20th February.

The band played at two new venues this weekend (new for Fluke), the Lamb in Farnham and the Old Ticket Hall in Windsor. Both excellent gigs. We were very  fortunate to get through the gigs as John Parry was on the verge of losing his voice on Friday and had almost totally lost it on Saturday. Luckily at very short notice we managed to enlist the help of Jon Jagger ( pictured below with Chris Snook ) to help us out with the vocals. Many thanks to him for doing a great job. Line up for both gigs was John Parry, Iain Fidler, Patrick Quirke, Tommy O' Donnell and Chris Snook. We'll be making return visits to both venues very soon.

Our next gig, The Compasses Inn, Gomshall, Surrey, 29th January.

Year's End for Fluke

The band has had a very good year which was rounded off with two excellent gigs. Christmas Eve saw us playing to a packed and enthusiastic house at The Windsor Castle in Little Bookham. It's always a good gig there but it really rocked on that night. Peter and Barbara, the landlords, and the locals always make us feel welcome. We next play at the Windsor Castle on 17th March ( St Patrick's Day ). On New Year's Eve the band played for the Magdalen Park Lawn Tennis Club in Wandsworth. Again a great night, so good that they want us back  next New Year's Eve to do it all again. 2010 already looks promising for the band with many regular  venues and a number of new ones coming up, The Old Ticket Hall, Windsor, the Sir Douglas Haig, Effingham, The Lamb, Farnham, The Rowbarge, Guildford, The Walnut Tree, East Farleigh are some of the new venues we'll be playing at. 

Over the past year the band has witnessed an array of events whilst playing including an applauding dog (only if he liked the song, bark, bark!) rugby scrums on the dance floor, over enthusiastic punters sending microphones and music stands flying, tuneless floor singers, beer soaked amps exploding, dropped Stratocasters, temperamental pa systems. All things that make gigging so entertaining. Let's see what the New Year brings.

Our next two gigs are at the Compasses Inn, Gomshall and the Barley Mow in Shepperton. Both great gigs. We played at the 'Gomstock Festival' for the Compasses Inn in the summer and went down so well that we were asked back for a regular pub gig. The 29th January will be our second visit since the festival. On the 30th January we're at the Barley Mow in Shepperton, one of the band's favourite gigs ( if not the favourite ). Always a great atmosphere and an enthusiastic and lively crowd. We're looking forward to both.

Thanks to all the various musicians who have played in the band over the past year. These include Steve Bennett, John Bayley, Peter Terry, Darryl West, Chris Sharley, Patrick Quirke, Peter Miles, Keith Hale, Russell Chaney, Pat Kyle, Bill Meads, Fox, Mike Kings and the more regular members of the band ( pictured above ) Tommy O'Donnell, Chris Belshaw, Iain Fidler and John Parry. All excellent players who make it possible for Fluke to carry on gigging. The line up has always been quite fluid over the past years but this year I'm hoping to keep the band line up as unchanged as possible, not always easy.

The Old House At Home ,Dorking, 20th December.

The band's next gig is a return visit to the Old House At Home in Dorking on Sunday 20th December.

10th December,a good days gigging.

On the 10th December the band played two gigs. The first one of the day was an afternoon gig at the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood. We were invited to play for the Paddington Churches Housing Association annual Christmas party. To be honest when the guests started to arrive we thought perhaps they had booked the wrong kind of band, but from the very first number they loved the rock and roll we played. The band and all the guests really enjoyed the afternoon and we look forward to playing for them again. The second gig in the evening was a charity gig for 'Crisis At Christmas' at the the British Volunteer pub in Weybridge. Suzanne and Debbie who had seen the band play at the Barley Mow in Shepperton asked us if we would be prepared to play for the charity event. We were very pleased to help out. It was a great night and almost £350 was raised to help feed the homeless over the Christmas period. Our thanks to Suzanne and Debbie for asking us to play and also to Martin and Dawn, the landlords, for making us feel so welcome. The band are looking forward to playing at the pub again in February 2010. All in all a very good day.

John at the Crown Moran Hotel with the housing association guests.

From the left, Tommy O'Donnell, Chris Belshaw, John Parry, Iain Fidler and Chris Snook at the Crown Moran Hotel.




The band behind the bar at the British Volunteer, Weybridge. From the left:
Suzanne, Martin (the landlord), Chris, Debbie, Tommy, John, Dawn (the landlady) and Iain. Unfortunately John Bayley our bass player for the night had left before the photos were taken.

Martin, Suzanne, Debbie and Dawn.

Suzanne and pub dog, Bob.

Our next gig is at the Ye Olde Windsor Castle pub in Little Bookham.

We're playing here on the 27th November and also on Christmas Eve.

The Angel, Surbiton, November 14th

This was the band's first gig at this pub. From left to right: Chris, Tommy, Aaron (Fox's son ), Fox, Steve and Pete.











Tom and Emma.













Chris and Steve Bennett












Tommy and 'Fox'

Fluke playing at the Barley Mow, Shepperton, October 24th 2009

Fluke in the spotlight.

Fluke at the Barley Mow, 24th October.

From the left : Chris Snook ( guitar/vocals ), John Parry ( guitar/vocals ), Linda ( guest vocals ), Chris Sharley ( drums ), 'Fox' ( bass ), Iain Fidler ( keyboards ). We were very grateful to 'Fox' and Chris Sharley for standing in at the last moment to do the gig.

John, the landlord of the Barley Mow, Shepperton.

I wish more landlords were like John. A real music lover who cares about about the music and the bands he books to play. It's always a pleasure to play at the Barley Mow. Our next gig there is on January 30th.

Blogger.com problems

Something strange seems to happening to these blog posts I've entered. For some reason or other the photos and the text that go with them aren't lining up as they should. Hopefully the problem will be resolved soon.