ONE LAST HURRAH!
FIRST NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ALL-FEMALE GROUP BACK FOR LAST SHOW
IT WAS a fateful day in 1965 when an ad appeared in The Hull Daily Mail which read: “Girls needed to audition for brand new all-girl group”. What followed was the embarkation on a journey which would transcend the ordinary lives of Hilary Morgan, Karen Baker, Lesley Neilson, Lynda Harrison, Maggie Wedgner and Merle Pryor, for they were each to become a member of one of the first nationally acclaimed all-female groups, Mandy and the Girlfriends.
The ladies were featured in a documentary a couple of years ago featuring Geri Halliwell from The Spice Girls and they are repeatedly reminded that they were responsible, in some small part, for blazing a trail for women.
Band member Lynda Harrison said: “It was quite an accolade, although back in the 1960s we never regarded ourselves as anything special and our male counterparts endorsed that by frequently referring to the group as ‘a novelty act’ and ‘who were we to argue.’
“They all said we knew our place but we did the business on-stage, put on a great show, had some of the best musicians in the town and had as good a live sound as anyone.
“Thank goodness the landscape changed for the better over the ensuing years”.
Fast-forward 58 years to June 29, 2022 and you will find The Girlfriends performing their final on-stage reunion at The Comedy Lounge on George Street in Hull.
Now all into their seventies they have decided to have their final arthritic fling and will be performing favourite songs of the 1960s era that are bound to rekindle fond memories of happy times.
The evening will be hosted by their old friend Hull-born comedian Joey Howard, who some readers will recognise as the contestant who rose to sudden fame on the stage of BGT (in his case Bilton, Ganstead and Tunstall)!
Joey will be adding a little of his irrepressible humour to the second half of the show and asking The Girlfriends some interesting and intriguing questions.
It’s the girl’s last hurrah and it’s going to be a party.
The doors at The Comedy Lounge will open at 7pm with the show starting around 8pm.
■■For more information you can visit www.comedyloungehull.co.uk/ events
HELD at the William Gemmell on Anlaby Road, west Hull, tonight’s Hulljazz session is a players night and open mic evening.
Hosted by the resident Hulljazz House Band all singers and musicians are invited to take along your dots or chord charts and either play with the band or go it alone. Admission costs £3 and both listeners and performers are welcome.
ONE of the countries longest running music clubs The Processed Pea presents it next concert on Wednesday June 22, at The Walkington
Village Hall near Beverley.
Following on the success of last year’s sell-out show the night sees the return of the fantastic Queen tribute act Kinda Queen playing all the hits from one of the world’s best and favourite bands.
As the song goes, They will Rock You and opening the night for her first visit to The Processed Pea they will be supported by the very talented guitarist and singer-songwriter Marnie Black who will entertain with a selection of great covers.
This is looking to be a fabulous night with a good crowd and let’s face it, if it’s good enough for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II it’s good enough for anybody.
Doors open 7pm and there is a licensed bar with table service. ■■Tickets cost £10 from the Barrel Pub in Walkington. For more information visit www.wegot tickets.com/event/539482
AMONG the other gigs of note this week includes tomorrow night’s show at The Ritz Country Music Club on Holderness Road, east Hull, which this week features Ellen Roy, on Friday night the local guitar vocalist Sass is on at the Highland Laddie on Southcoates Lane, east Hull, and on Saturday night you can catch the sounds of the 1980s with Lee Kamen at The Bilton British Legion on Hull Road in Bilton.
Also, on Saturday night and following on from their successful Motown and Northern Soul night The Oak Vaults pub on Scott Street in Hull continue their programme of entertainment with one of the area’s top Meatloaf tribute acts Bat Out Of Hull.
On Sunday afternoon singer Lindsey Pepper is on at the Vault in Witham and next Tuesday night The William Gemmell CMC on Anlaby Road features the country sounds of George Mcintosh.
■■If you have any news, views or special events coming up email dave@sandfield.karoo.co.uk