US foursome miss gig after border mix-up
BAND BANNED
FROM BRITAIN
by

An American band failed to show at a gig in Manchester after being banned from entering Britain.

Al & The Black Cats The nightmare began for Michigan's Al & The Black Cats when they arrived in Dover after playing a series of gigs on the continent.   Even though the four musicians had applied for entry visas and work permits weeks earlier, they claim the UK Border Agency had failed to process their payment.

As the band arrived on a Saturday, it proved impossible to contact the administrative staff responsible.   The Black Cats were detained for six hours and escorted straight back to France, leaving expectant fans at Manchester's Nifty 50s R'n'R Club unaware of the fiasco.

The band's bassist, singer and manager Al Krivoy said: "We did everything humanly possible to get into the UK.   We had applied for our work permits several weeks ago.   When they didn't arrive, we were told they would arrive.   They didn't.   When we went to the border Saturday morning, we asked them to check out our application.   They said they would.   They didn't.   We asked them to call the venues.   They said they would.   They didn't.   They kept us locked in detention for over six hours, so even if we had been approved, we never would have made it to Saturday's show in time.   We were assured that both venues were notified that we had been turned away at the border.   They were not."

Bureaucratic

Al, mentor to his three young bandmates often compared to the Stray Cats, added: "We are sorry.   We tried everything humanly possible to play those shows, short of swimming across the channel in the middle of the night.   Hopefully, some day the bureaucratic government agencies that rule this world will actually do what they are paid to do."

The band had no mobile phone and, in any case, were not allowed to make calls while in detention at Dover.   There was particular annoyance that immigration officials apparently failed to pass on the band's message to the promoter in Manchester and to their record distributor Val Bird.   Val, who runs Pollytone Records, said: "Immigration told them they had rung here and the Nifty 50s.   But I was here all day.   My phone system screens all calls from all over the world not just the UK, and no such call was registered at any time."

Despite the Black Cats' non-appearance, Nifty 50s webmaster Mike Cookson says the night was, in the end, rescued from disaster: "By 10pm it was evident that Al and the Blackcats was not going to make it.   There had been no word from the band and neither Noeline or Val from Pollytone Records knew what had gone disastrously wrong.   At short notice Manchester rockers, The 50s Flyers stepped in and saved the night.   DJ Cheshire Cat Tom worked feverishly to keep the pace and maintain the momentum.   Both did a superb job!"

Bungling

Val Bird says the band has had no problems on previous UK visits and blames bureaucratic bungling for their ordeal this time round.   "They entered the country for a few gigs in last October perfectly fine and no problems whatsoever on their permit.   This time, as far as we were aware, the application had gone through and the boys were waiting for confirmation by email, which never arrived.   It was a simple case of a UK Government mess-up.   The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.   There will be no future problems with their permits as I will be dealing with them!"

It's the second time in a year that a foreign band booked by the Nifty 50s R'n'R Club has been hit by immigration problems.   In August 2007 a Nifty 50s weekender was left one act short when Croatian band The Madmen were sent home by immigration officials after arriving at Manchester Airport without work permits.

• See Al & The Black Cats in action

Camping, but no muddy waters

A new family friendly camping r'n'r weekender is coming to Gloucestershire this summer.

The Shakedown R'n'R Weekender takes place from August 1st-4th with with live music from Mike Sanchez, Carlos & The Bandidos, Bill Fadden & The Rhythm Busters, the Hicksville Bombers, Go Getters and more.   DJs will include Wildcat Pete, Little Carl, Mouse and the Collins Kids.

Colin Organiser are guitarist Colin Cosimini (pictured) and his wife Viki.   They say: "We used to live in London and enjoyed the scene for many years but we have small children now and have moved out to this side of the country, we miss the weekenders.   As we have been on the rock'n'roll scene for many years we know what we expect from a good weekender.

"We are looking to put the atmosphere and excitement back into a weekender such as the early Hemsbys.   Hemsby for us has really changed and we can't go to the Rockabilly Rave as they don't allow children, so we are trying to create something to bridge the gap.   We are aware that many other people have kids now, so children under 16 can come free.   We are offering a very affordable weekend without compromising on the quality or number of bands and DJs."

Pampering

The location is off the M5 between junctions 13 and 14.   To those haunted by visions of Glastonbury mudbaths and worried about a lack of creature comforts, Colin and Viki have some reassurance.

"We carefully chose the location which is on high ground so there'll be no slippin' and sliding or 'muddy waters'!   We are providing a range of great facilities along with shower blocks, wash units (and toilets of course), in addition to this we will be setting up 'pampering' marquees for both men and women which will be fitted out with comfortable seating and mirrors and of course electric points for hairdryers etc."

Other facilities include a large marquee, dance floor, two bars, record and clothes stalls, tattoo artist and loads of food stalls.   There'll be a cash prize draw for hot rods and American cars, plus a raffle for an original Sun label Mystery Train.   The price is £40 for the full weekend including camping or £15 for a day pass.   Children under 16 are free and pets are welcome.   There are still places for stalls available at £105 which includes entry for two people.

More info at www.shakedownrocknroll.co.uk.


Strollin' Steve Strollin' Steve presents...

• Country Meets Rock'n'Roll at the Sefton Hotel, Babbacombe Downs Road, Torquay from October 17th-20th, with The Tonemasters, The Swing Commanders, Henry Smith's Country Dreams and Kalibre

• The 'Spooky' Bounce Jive Weekend No. 5 is at Heathlands Hotel, Grove Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth from October 31st to November 3rd with The Revolutionaires, Laura B & The Moonlighters and Juke Joint Jump

• The Bournemouth Rock'n'Roll Party No. 4 is at Heathlands Hotel, Grove Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth from November 28th to December 1st with Charlie Gracie, Mike Berry, The Kingcats, Blast Off and Rockin' The Joint

More info on all Strollin' Steve events on 01638 712187 / 07808 340776 or visit www.strollinsteve.co.uk

Holiday Rock's Rockabilly Boogie Weekender is at Pontins Brean Sands from August 29th - September 1st with Colbert Hamilton, The Keytones, Loose Noose, Rusti Steel, Lloyd Trip, The Slingshots, The Caravans, The Revolutionaires, Cordwood Draggers, Fret Tones, The Borderlines, 2-Tones amd Mojo Kings.

• The Halloween Hop is at the Riviera Hotel, Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, Dorset from October 17th-20th with Jive Street, Rockin' The Joint and Mark Keeley's GRT.

• And the 2008 Xmas Party Hop returns to the Royal Court Hotel, Tamworth Road, Kersley, Coventry from December 27th-30th with The Jets, Al Kilvo & The Aces and Mark Keeley's GRT.   Info on all events from 01905 330586.

The Wildest Cats In Town Weekender runs from July 4th-8th at Pontins Pakefield in Suffolk with Johnny Powers, Mac Curtis, Charlie Gracie, Chris Casello, Matchbox, The Lennerockers, Crazy Cavan, Sandy Ford, The Skyrockers, The Jive Romeros, Porky's Hot Rockin', The Kingcats, Furious, Rhythm Aces, Rat Pack, Rhythm Boys, Crazy Jay and Danny & The Seniors.

Hepcats Holiday Swing dance duo Robert & Claire Austin have sold out their Hep Cats Holiday weekender featuring the Jive Aces, the Ray Collins Hot Club, the Hep Chaps and The Gents.

Also on the bill are the Sentinels of Rhythm and Adrian Bullers Sounds of Swing Orchestra.   It takes place from July 4th-7th 2008 at Sand Bay Holiday Village in Somerset.   Prices start at £144 per person.   Details at www.hepcatsholiday.com



Americana International is back at the County Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire from July 11th-13th with Asleep At The Wheel, The Manfreds, Rosie Flores, Ray Campi, Nick Willet, Wayne Hancock, Jack Earls, Rip Masters, Eve Selis, Hayden Thompson, Darts, Elvis & The Blue Moon Trio, Vince Eager, Ian Calford & The Railmen, The John Lewis Trio, Wildkats NW, Greggi G, Hicksville Bombers, Red River Wranglers and Bill Fadden & The Rhythm Busters.   More info on 0115 939 0595.

The all-new Bringing Back The Fifties Weekender on July 26th and 27th features the Itchy Feet Trio, All Shook Up, Big Black Cadillacs live at the Nene Valley Railway, Wansford Station, Stibbington, Peterborough PE8 6LR   More info on 01780 784444 / 07748 571612

Boogaloo's Lakeside Rock'n'Roll Extravaganza takes place at the Lakeside Coastal Resort on Hayling Island from July 26th-29th with Mike Sanchez & The Portions, Big Boy Bloater & His Southside Stompers, Bernie Woods & The Forest Fires and The Borderlines.   And there's another 'Extravaganza' at nearby Sinah Warren from November 14th-17th with The Jets, The Alleycats, The Sunsetters and The Borderlines.

The first Shakedown R'n'R Weekender takes place from August 1st-4th near Gloucester, with live music from Mike Sanchez, Carlos & The Bandidos, Bill Fadden & The Rhythm Busters, the Hicksville Bombers, Go Getters and more.   DJs will include Wildcat Pete, Little Carl, Mouse and the Collins Kids.   Location is off the M5 between junctions 13 and 14.

Reelin'n'Rockin' takes over the Spa Complex in Scarborough form August 8th-10th with the Rhythm Aces, Jive Crazy, the Crown Top Kings, Roseville Rockers, Jive Romeros, Spitfires, Atlantics and TR & The Rockets.   Call 077344 07030 for info.

There's an Eddie Cochran Tribute Weekender at the Olympiad in Chippenham on October 2nd and 3rd with the Rhythm Aces, Loose Noose, Vince Eager & Rockola, Matchbox, Marco Di Maggio, Hot Rod 55, the Eager Beavers and Memphis Rockers.   More info on 07879 040723  

The Ted Do is at Golden Sands, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire from October 3rd-6th with Crazy Cavan, the Flying Saucers, Rhythm Aces, Cast Iron Arms, Furious, Skyrockers, Roseville Rockers, Rockin' Daddies and Long Black Jackets.   More details from Stu on 07734 407030.

Hemsby 41 rocks the Norfolk coast from October 10th-13th with Sid & Billy King, Alton Lot, Dave Phillips, Mike Sanchez, The Barnstompers, Smokestack Lightning, The Infernos, Rochee & The Sarnos, Union Avenue and more.   Info on 01522 752453.

Yesterday Once More has a rock'n'roll weekender at Brean Sands on October 31st 2008 with The Firebirds, Jive Street and The Revolutionaires.   More info on 01934 863327.

The Rhythm Riot rocks Camber Sands from November 21st-24th with Young Jesse, Freddie Cannon, Eddie Clearwater, Liz Gizzelle, Vicky Tafoya, the Lonely Blue Boys with Nick Willett, Number 9, The Starlighters, Revolutionaires, Wells Fargo & The Nightingale, Rosebud Blue Sauce, Laura B & The Moonlighters, Backleg Breakers, Devils & Sohne, Rockin' Rocket 88, Ray Collins, Big Boy Bloater and Little Lou.   "It's a line-up so hot that even we can't quite believe it!" says Riot supremo Robin Weathersbee.   More info on 020 8566 5226.






If it jumps, jives, bops or strolls we want to know about it.   or call 07833 703189.