No one can deny Colin Appleby’s tenacity and professionalism to put on a cracking event… For me his ‘Coast Town’ creation is his flagship. Each year he brings together the best in tribute and original Ska to perform in Blackpool.
This was Colin’s fifth annual Coast Town, each event dedicates raising funds for a nominated charity, this event was for The National Stroke Association, a choice I’m sure we all applaud, as I’m almost as equally sure 90% of us will have had a family member or someone we know who’ll have suffered one.
The event had already got underway by the time I’d managed to finish my radio show (Lucky Bag 12-2pm every Saturday on Fab Radio International.com) and belt up the motorway. By the time I got there the party had well and truly started. That’s the thing about Ska events, they always do feel like a big party.
True to form, Colin spiced up Coast Town with an ‘international’ flavour, with bands like ‘Bang the Skillet’ from Holland, The Freeska Ensemble (Spain) – and (This is not an easy one for me to type… let alone say!) the brilliant and very, very, very emotional ‘La Maruja y otras Hierbas’ who also hail from Spain. Trust me… If you haven’t had chance to see or hear these chaps, do so. Forget whether you understand Spanish or not, you’ll understand the spirit – and they are loaded with it! They an extremely on point, tight, tight unit with a front man with more than a passing resemblance for Che Guevara – and the way he delivers his lyrics, he sounds like he’s demanding that the revolution starts here!
Waving the flag for our little Isle were The Beat goes bang – made up of former members of Dexy’s Midnight Runners and The Beat, King Hammond – Fronted by Nick Welsh, who’s worked with and produced for some of the biggest Ska acts ever, (Prince Buster and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to name drop but two). Also blasting on the brass were Blackpool’s own Ska Face, The Skapones from the Tees Valley and Jeramiah Ferrari Manc-skanked in on the act too.
The night’s top bill was Roddy ‘Radiation’ Byers and his The Skabilly Rebels (those of a certain age of this Parish will remember him as one a driving force of The Specials). His mixed set of Specials classics and Skabilly (which will soon be regarded as classics) were a joy to behold. Roddy is the complete article, showman and performer. With an eye for sartorial detail and moves which nod to the likes of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and (dare I say it?) The Clash. His delivery has the passion of the preacher whilst still holding onto a ‘punk’ sensibility. Great act on a great night.
The crowd were well up on the floor and giving it their all – who needs a gym subscription when you’ve got a whole bag of bouncing Ska bands to burn up the excess calories to? Keeping people on the floor between the acts were a bunch of DJs who know there job and are well known to the audience too. All too quickly the night had to end, but all the best parties feel that way don’t they?
Colin’s doing it again in September this year and he’s already putting together an extra special line up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic Two Tone label. it’s going to be bigger and LONGER than ever! A whole weekend of Coast Town! The venue is to be at the Norbreck Castle, Blackpool, taking over the exhibition centre there. We’ll keep you posted, but if I were you I’d grab a ticket now, because it’s going to be one heck of a party. Oh.. and Lucky Bag are doing a DJ set, but don’t let that put you off.
See you there.
Russian Rik
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Not forgetting £2.50 a pint!