Late announcement for Friday the 6th May

From the USA Tickets £8.50 (a must not miss band)

THE NEW ENGLAND BLUEGRASS BAND

This superb five piece band performs crafted songs rooted in traditional bluegrass. With recognized master intrumentalists and a top shelf vocal ensemble, the band includes members who are recognized far and wide for having paid their dues.

Cecil Abels -- Vocals:  Mandolin, Chris Pandolfi -- Banjo:  Lincoln Meyers -- Guitar, Vocals:  Pete Soukas -- Bass, Vocals:  Roger Williams -- Dobro, Vocals

The band members have credentials that include national and international touring and collaborations with such national bluegrass luminaries as: J.D. Crowe, Tony Rice, Don Stover, Joe Val, Auldridge, Bennett & Gaudreau. With flat picking championships and IBMA Instrumentalist of The Year nominations, the band is truly on the very highest levels of musicianship and entertainment. Always approachable and entertaining with any audience, these fella's have a fantastic stage presence; can rip it up and tear it down and keep a crowd entertained. This band is one of true bluegrass professionals.

"Your band is among the most promising bluegrass and Americana bands." Dave Summers Doobie Shea Reco

It is with great sadness that I am writing to you to say that after 14 years of weekly shows, that Friday the 3^rd of June 2005 will be our final show at The Heart Of England Bluegrass Venue. This has not been an easy or quick decision and one that, as you can imagine, has caused Ken and myself some serious heartache. We concluded that because of changes in circumstances and the weight of many small issues that we could not take the venue any further and that it has run its natural life.

So, as we do not believe in mourning the dead but celebrating a life, Friday the 3^rd of June will be a party to which you all are invited to celebrate our venue. Nominally Grass Style will be the band but we are rather hoping that the bands that have given us such wonderful nights to remember will come as individuals or with your band to celebrate and we can go out with an evening to remember.

No band fees will be paid, there will be no door entry fee and a free buffet will be provided.

Please come and help make us a memorable night to mark our final show and share with us a celebration of some fantastic nights we remember at the venue.

I must say at this juncture that the venue would have folded long ago if it had not been for the serious help that I have had from some wonderful folks that I am proud to call my friends.

Ken Harris stepped in to take over the booking of bands during my first crisis, when I was submerging in paper and phone calls. He is a wonderful friend and a rock to our venue.

Trish and Roger Hickman. Trish has been our excellent treasurer from the early days and despite all the odds has kept a musical organisation on the straight and narrow, which must be another world first!

Dan Norton took over from Mike Benson as our regular soundman. We have enjoyed under both stewardships an excellent reputation for a good sound system, which has to be a cornerstone of any acoustic venue

Chris and Collin Norton likewise took over from Dianne and Graham Butterfield and we have been fortunate to have such warm smiling faces to greet our “customers” and run the front office.

Barry Foster has been our printer and program/ticket/poster man for many years, and should be credited with producing printed items even when I have forgotten!

Gemma, Jan, Andrew & Graham Wild

The Wild family have produced not only stunning photo’s of our visiting bands, which are proudly displayed on all the bands own websites, they also created our very first HOEBV calendar. They bore all the cost themselves and added £395 to the HOEBV funds to help keep us afloat.

I know they will be disappointed that their work and plans for a bigger better calendar for 2006 have been set back.

My wife Joan has often played second fiddle to the needs and exigencies of the “service” HOEBV. Yet despite that and the problems she has endured during the last couple of years Joan has always been supportive and allowed me to indulge in my passion for a weekly Bluegrass venue. Without that I don’t think it could have happened.

Our sound system came from humble beginnings with generous friends of the HOEBV making contributions over time. I think all will be pleased to know that the sound system will be stored at Kens new abode and hopefully, dusted down for an occasional concert.

We will end up with a small amount in our bank account thanks due to Trish’s efficiency. That money will be passed to the BBMA to help in any way they see fit to use it.

Friday nights will just not be the same so lets make the 3^rd of June a bit special.

Best wishes

Ron

Chairman