Another Gallery has been added to our photo collection - this one is The Cottage Inn's recent garden party - photos courtesy of Alan the Roadie Loughhead

Don't forget when viewing our website galleries... once you are in the Gallery of photos, click on the first photo to enlarge it, then click near the top right of each enlarged photo on the 'Next' button to move through the Gallery

Fantastic night at Cherry Burton Village Hall, Saturday 17th July, this will have been the bands third visit to Cherry Burton and the gig just gets better and better, once again a packed house all in fine voice, we must try and get all of our audiences in one place for a night, it would make one “Hell” of a mass choir! Many thanks to Martin Peirson and Cherry Burton Arts for their hospitality, even though there was a distinct lack of whiskey on stage!! They always make the band feel very welcome, they have been promoting live music in the area for over 45 years, fantastic work, well done Cherry Burton Arts.
As you may gather from the photo’s taken on stage there was lots of fun to be had, during and after the show!! I think this is one of the many things the band likes about playing this gig, just lots of “Good Fun”!!
Looking forward to the next one.

Cheers,
Marty Craggs

Three new Photo Galleries have today been published in the Gallery:

• Liz Ogden's Bus Pass Party which also featured Andrew Craggs and Steve Daggett (photos courtesy of Kunal Basak)
• The Bongo Bash (photos courtesty of Alan 'the Roadie' Loughhead)
• MoorsholmLive July 2010 (photos courtesty of Graeme Aldous)

Don't forget when viewing our website galleries... once you are in the Gallery of photos, click on the first photo to enlarge it, then click near the top right of each enlarged photo on the 'Next' button to move through the Gallery

The week of the 9th July was a busy one for me - I had flown twice to London to work and on Friday driven to a long meeting in Wakefield. On my return, the traffic was bad and I knew my mother had booked tickets for myself and my children to see a band called ‘The Happy Cats’.

My mother loves this group and is a regular at MoorsholmLive; myself however have become a recluse of late choosing most Fridays to clean my house and have an early night!!

I managed to arrive to collect everyone at 7.15 and as all the other members of my party seemed excited I hid my weary feelings and pressed the accelerator …

As we parked near ‘a village hall’ my heart sank slightly, I thought we were going to be the only people sat with these ‘Happy Cats’!!

Inside I was amazed to find a packed hall with tables full of people, eager with anticipation. We quickly took our ‘reserved’ seats at the front and the band was applauded in…

Firstly my eyes ran along the range of instruments on stands behind the singers, I was impressed with the range and a prickle of excitement came on the back of my neck to see a sax, flute, penny whistle but most of all to see the Irish drum - I had always wanted to play one of those.

The three band members strode in with confidence and swagger that only a North Eastern male has and opened with lines full of crack – which only the North East has - I know I had been to London twice this week!!

Within in minutes these ‘Happy Cats’ had the audience purring with appreciation. Their music was like medicine to my weary soul; being poured into my ears and giving me a whole body massage!

As they effortlessly played through song after song the break appeared from nowhere and I was almost sad to see them go for their … break!

The Cats were soon back and like cats on a hot tin roof had the audience jumping in no time. Although the hour was growing late and the village curfew was near, these ‘Happy Cats’ played on and I for one cheered. The Fog on the Tyne and the Irish Rover all reminded me of the fact that live music lifts your soul. It’s such a different experience than watching the music channel on a Friday night.

As I lifted my youngest son out to the car and my other three followed wearily behind, my heart sang out in the dark for those ‘Happy Cats’. They had made me feel reconnected to life with their musical rhythm and good crack – in a busy working week that can get knocked right out of you.

So will I return to MoorsholmLive?
I hope to…

Will I go see The Happy Cats again?
I hope so…

Will the Happy Cats start Friday night tours of peoples front rooms?
I would let mine be the first!!

Thank you for a wonderful night, Moorsholm, the perfect setting and The Happy Cats the perfect (purrfect?) catalyst for a fun evening.

Shonette Bason x
www.shonettebason.com

Photo Gallery - photos courtesy of Graeme Aldous