This is where you can read about clubs from their members or club promoters to see what is happening on the Country music circuit. It is updated as and when we receive reports and get the time to include them.
Epping Riders CMC, Epping, Essex
LA Country
by Nick Catford
10th February 2025
LA Country Duo is partners Lottie Roberts and Allen Glassock. Allen has a long pedigree in Country bands going back to the 1970s when he was a member of popular Kent band Redwing. He will, however, probably be best remembered for playing pedal steel with Frank Yonco & The Everglades who appeared on ITV’s New Faces in 1975 coming second to Lenny Henry.
Allen first heard Lottie when she was singing a Country classic in a recording studio. Although not a Country singer at that time, he recognised her potential and introduced her to the music of some of the best American Country singers including Dawn Sears. Lottie was quickly hooked realising where her future career lay. Lottie and Allen have been performing together as a duo since 2010, initially working around the world on cruise ships, hotels and international festivals. In 2016 they decided to return to the UK to bring their passion for Country music to a home audience.
LA Country are one of the busiest duos on the circuit with a very wide repertoire that caters for a strictly line dance audience or those who prefer their Country more traditional and of course everywhere in between. On their welcome return to the Epping Riders on 10th February it was quickly clear that we were in for an evening of traditional Country favourites which is just what the club likes to hear. They kicked off in fine style with James House’s This Is Me Missing You, Brooks & Dunn’s Neon Moon, Tim McGraw’s Just to See You Smile Lyrics and Troy Cassar-Daley’s Things I Carry Around. Lottie asked for requests and plenty came in and I’m pretty sure they got through nearly all of them.
There were two early on from Alan Jackson, Talk is Cheap and So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore a beautiful ballad I haven’t heard in years. Alan Jackson is a great balladeer and later in the evening we herd Remember When, another beautiful ballad, probably one of the best songs he’s written.
I always like to see female singers as it usually guarantees a good selection of girls’ songs that male singers seem to avoid like the plague with a few exceptions like Patty Loveless’ Mr. Man In The Moon Lyrics and Susan Ashton’s Closer, both of which Lottie sung tonight. A few more of my favourite girls’ songs tonight included Pam Tillis’ Blue Rose Is, a triple from Billie Jo Spears, What I’ve Got in Mind, ’57 Chevrolet and Blanket on the Ground, Carlene Carter’s Every Little Thing and Jessi Colter’s Storms Never Last.
Lottie is the lead singer and clearly the spokesman of the duo. Allen added good harmonies, some very fine picking throughout and is clearly the joker of the pair. Lottie always sings with emotion which, for someone who never ventures onto the dance floor unless he has had a lot of alcohol, was a delight to watch.
A few other songs that stood out through the evening included a couple from Buck Owens, Think Of Me and Excuse Me, Charlie Walker’s Pick Me Up On Your Way Down, Willie Nelson’s Good Hearted Woman, Vince Gill’s One More Last Chance, George Strait’s You Look So Good in Love, a nice waltz and Merle Haggard’s The Bottle Let Me Down, a good western swinger. As we drew close to the end of the evening Lottie sung Anne Murray’s Could I Have This Dance, another waltz and a request followed by Patsy Cline’s Crazy.
LA Country finished the third set with the Lennerockers favourite High Class Lady, a song that is often featured at the end of an evening. The applause and shouts of “more” were prolonged and well deserved. Lottie and Allen took us out with another bum grabber, Willie Nelson’s Always On My Mind. They were on top form tonight and I’m sure everyone at the Epping Riders had a great time. Thanks to Lottie and Allen for their company during the breaks, it’s always good to reminisce about the good old days of British Country and Allen has certainly played through most of them. For LA Country’s Country journey see CCpedia.
See my phone video below of LA Country.
Hickory Lake CMC, Feering, Colchester, Essex
Stubby
by Nick Catford
22nd February 2025
John Stubbs, better known to most people as Stubby has had a lifetime in the music industry stretching back to 1970 when, at the age of 16, he formed his first band, a pop band called Circuit. Many will remember him as the lead singer with Lemongrass in the 1990s. Mick Green’s colourful description of him in British Country Music Roots in October 1991 was very accurate “If Malcolm (Mason) is the technician of the band, Stubby must be the minder. Big, hairy and covered in tattoos, he presents a fearsome sight off-stage.” He has mellowed somewhat in the following 34 years. After a spell with Stu Payne and Andy Saphir in Sidewinder Trio in 2003 Stubby decided to launch a solo career in 2008 and for almost 17 years he has been entertaining clubs up and down the country.
He has been a firm favourite at Hickory Lake for many years and always gives us a well chosen balance of songs. It was good to see him back at Feering on 22nd February when his programme comprised mainly traditional Country favourites opening with Travis Tritt’s Where Corn Don’t Grow which quickly had the dancers on their feet. Stubby He has a warm personality, a rich Country voice and a good knowledge of exactly what the dancers want to hear and he had no problem keeping people on the floor from start to finish.
There were plenty of old classics included in his programme tonight, in the first set these included Hank Snow’s Merry-Go-Round Of Love, Desert Rose Band’s Ashes Of Love, Waylon Jennings’s Union Mare and the Confederate Grey, Alan Jackson’s If Love Was A River and Ray Price’s My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You. Early on he asked for requests and I am sure he was able to get through them all including Randy Travis’ Where That Came From and some Irish Country with Derek Ryan’s Down On Your Uppers. It was probably the slower songs like Don Williams’ First Fool In Line that best showed the quality of his voice which is just as good now as it was when he first started his musical journey 55 years ago. The second set brought more classics and a few lesser known songs, these included Gene Watson’s Carmen, Hal Ketchum’s Old Soldiers, Freddy Fender’s Before The Next Teardrop Falls, Owen Mac’s There’s A New Moon Over My Shoulder and Jason Allen’s I just Called To Say I Love You a Country version of the old Stevie Wonder song.
Stubby opened the third set with Tim McGraw’s Just to See You Smile followed by Patty Loveless’ Mr. Man In The Moon. Many male singers seem to avoid girls’ songs but there are exceptions like this one. Stubby got through most of the requests in the first two sets but one song Del Shannon’s The Answer To Everything he hadn’t sung for years and had forgotten the words. He still had the track and relearnt the lyrics during the second break. It ended up as my pick of the evening as he sung it with so much emotion and it brought loud applause. I know others shared my view.
As the evening drew to a close, we got two nice smoochers back to back, firstly Johnny Cash’s The Old Rugged Cross followed by Kenny Rogers’ Goodbye which Stubby described as the saddest song in the world. They both kept the dance floor full. Next he sung a couple of up tempo songs which included some more some Irish Country. earlier we had one from Derek Ryan and now we had Michael English’s Dance All Night, this was followed by the ever popular Lennerockers’ High Class Lady. Stubby slowed the pace down for his final song, Tracy Byrd’s The Keeper Of The Stars another beautiful ballad that filled the dance floor; he kept it slow for the encore which was Dave Sheriff’s Best Of Friends. The clapping and shouts of “more”, was well deserved. Stubby did us proud tonight and everyone went home knowing they had a great evening from one of the best. Please see Stubby’s Country journey in ccPedia.
Silver Churn, Totnes, Devon
Marcus
by Phil Jenkins
2nd February 2025
Sorry to say it was a bit low on numbers but we still had a fantastic evening of entertainment with great music and a lot of fun from Brecon based, Marcus.
Marcus has a fine voice and played a wide selection of music from the our favourite artists, including from Merle Haggard, George Strait, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, Boxcar Willie, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Moe Bandy, Johnny Horton and The Bellamy’s.
Marcus kept us dancing with a good mixture of fast and slow numbers, linking things together with a few fun numbers, Don’t Touch My Willie and I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore. Great stuff.
RBL, Oldbury, West Midlands
Spread Your Wings
by Ray Packham
1st February 2025
Each year Goose promotes a charity night in aid of the Poppy Appeal and raises amazing amounts of money. Goose belongs to the local Westerners group who are always generous in their time and money.
The venue is ideal, holding around 200 people with a reasonably sized dance floor and a well stocked bar up a few steps. Unfortunately not so many turned up this year due to age and ill health and Goose himself could not attend due to slow recovery after illness.
Lisa the Dj was playing some good Country songs when I arrived at 7pm and by 7.30 had tempted the dancers on the floor with popular line dance tracks.
At 8pm sharp Spread Your Wings, a very popular duo on the scene, took to the stage kicking of with Blue Rose Is followed by Closer. To say they have a wide ranging programme would be an understatement. Strawberry Wine is always a pull and Last Livin’ Cowboy was popular as was Whiskey Under The Bridge but the song from 1954, Your Cheatin’ Heart was quite a successful surprise. Places , My Church and Honky Tonk Highway, the Luke Combs number, completed the variety of songs performed exceptionally well by this powerful duo.
There was a huge entry for the shoot-out when most viewers moved into another room. On their return the bingo was called and the start of the huge raffle took place as well as a planned auction.
As time was moving on I left but no doubt the second set from the duo was enjoyed, as well as more tracks from Lisa.
There finally total to be donated to the RBL has yet to be announced but no doubt it will be a very generous sum.
Hickory Lake CMC, Feering, Colchester, Essex
JD Bullit
by Wendy Haylock
16th February 2025
It was good to have JD Bullit back at Hickory Lake, especially after his recent accident when he broke three ribs plus other injuries and was in hospital for a while – you are looking good now John and although you still have pain you gave us all a great evening of Country music, keeping the dance floor busy. John interacted with his audience well with his lovely personality, so we thank you John for a lovely evening, it was also nice to meet your wife Sandra, who came along to help you with all your gear, a lovely lady. We look forward to seeing you back at Hickory Lake later in the year.
We had two birthdays, one was Rowena on 15th and my Dave’s on 19th, John sang Happy Birthday to them both and there were chocolates and cakes brought around to celebrate.
The raffle this week was taken care of by Roger and Sylve, we thank you both for taking part, you did a grand job and we thank all who added prizes to the raffle table, it’s much appreciated. Many thanks also, as always, to all our fabulous team of Hickory Lake helpers, where would we be without you all, you are each so good in all that you do for us and the club and we cannot thank you all enough, from the start of the evening, throughout the evening and at the end with clearing away tables and stacking chairs etc, plus Sid & Jane for packing away our stage lighting, we appreciate everyone’s help. To all our supporters it’s always nice to see you all, and we thank and appreciate your support.
On February 23rd we have Stubby to entertain us all, so we look forward to seeing you all once again.
Take care and much love to you all. xx
Hickory Lake CMC, Feering, Colchester, Essex
Bob Keeley
by Wendy Haylock
9th February 2025
We had the ever popular Bob Keeley who never fails to give a lively performance, keeping the dance floor busy all evening with line dancers and freestylers alike. Bob gave us a great mix of songs and the evening seemed to fly by, thank you Bob for a brilliant performance and we look forward to your next visit.
There were two birthdays that we mentioned last week which both were last Friday, Roz and Sue and there were chocolates from Roz and cake from Sue that were brought around to celebrate.
We had one first timer this week which was Karen, it was nice to meet you and hope you enjoyed your evening with us and come back and see us all again soon.
The raffle this week was taken care of by Dave and Sylve, we thank you Sylve for taking part, you did a grand job and we thank all who added prizes to the raffle table, it’s much appreciated.
To all our team of Hickory Lake helpers, we thank you all for what you each do for the club
Take care and much love to you all.xx
Hickory Lake CMC, Feering, Colchester, Essex
Tony Crooks
by Wendy Haylock
2nd February 2025
We had an excellent performance from Tony Crooks when it was good to see him back at the club. Tony, as we all know, is an excellent guitarist with a lovely personality who interacted with his audience well and did a great mix of songs, keeping the dance floor busy all evening.
We had a really good attendance which was good to see considering the cold, frosty weather and it was nice to have a visit from Kenny & Sue from Westwater CMC.