Spread Your Wings Duo is Vicki-Anne Boardman and Neil Woodward
Although Neil Woodward’s mother was once in a girls’ choir, neither of his parents would have described themselves as musically inclined so it must have come as a surprise when Neil took an interest in music when he was just 4 years old. He has no idea where the influence came from. He turned out to be the kid at school who was given a recorder and came back the next day playing tunes he had heard on the TV – his teacher was gobsmacked!
He left school at 16 and went to music college where he enrolled in an A level music course with an ambition to be a professional musician. He learnt piano and keyboards but eventually decided he was more interested in guitar music than classical music so he left the brass band when he was 18. His dad ran a printing business and he eventually joined the family firm and forgot about any aspirations of becoming a professional musician.
When the local music shop was putting a band together, he was asked if he would like to join what became a 5-piece covers band called Scotch Mist. They chose that name because the lead singer was Scottish and, according to Neil, “a complete nutcase – a Scottish version of Freddie Starr!” They initially worked in working men’s clubs and as they got more established they started working the cabaret and holiday camp circuit.
Neil had always been a massive Bert Weedon fan and at one cabaret gig with Scotch Mist he got the opportunity to play on the same bill as Bert Weedon. He even acted as a roadie for Bert for 5 minutes when he helped carry some of his equipment back to the van after the show. Bert was very interested in the 7 string guitar Neil was playing at that time commenting “Seven !! – I’m still struggling with six”.
Scotch Mist eventually became a trio and after around 12 years with them, the band folded when the lead singer, Tom McGregor, injured his back and couldn’t run about the stage anymore – this had always been an important part of their act.
After their demise, Neil put an advert in a local paper “experienced guitarist looking for work”. He was hoping to join a full band but the first response came from singer John Hewitt who only lived a mile away. John was a relative newcomer to performing, not taking to the stage until well into his forties. He had just finished a stint with a Country duo where he was a bass player and 2nd singer.
It wasn’t exactly what Neil was looking for as he was a cabaret artist and John was a Country singer. Neil was, however, already a fan of Country music which came from his grandad who was a big Country fan, especially Johnny Cash who is now one of Neil’s influences.
Neil and John formed Saloon Drifters Duo in 1999. Neil was obviously on lead guitar but has only ever sung harmony vocals so John had to front the band as lead singer. It wasn’t easy for John, playing the bass and singing to such a high level at the same time so they decided to do away with the bass and John became lead singer without playing an instrument which gave him a good opportunity to project his personality. He always gave 100% on stage ensuring everyone had a good time. He particularly liked the classic cowboy songs and the big ballads to which he gave his own ‘twist’ when performing.
In order to promote the new duo, they recorded a 9 track CD album called Black Coffee in 1999. It was originally made as a demo to help launch the duo onto the Country scene. Other CD albums followed during their career on the road. They were, in order, The Thunder Rolls (with 12 country classics of a more laid back style), As We Are (2002) – which included a cornet solo from Neil, Drifting Along and their final album, It’s Only Make Believe released in 2011.
In later years, they also diversified into Country themed holidays. Every November they organised a three day break at Morecambe at the Headway Hotel and in April 2017 they organised a three day Country Music dance weekend at the Savoy Hotel, Skegness which John continues to run twice a year.
Saloon Drifters decided to come off the road at the end of 2019 with their final gig at ‘The Stute’ in Asfordby just before Christmas of that year.
Neil had no thoughts of coming out of retirement at that time but all that was two change!
Over the years with the Saloon Drifters Neil got to know Stumpy, A little cowboy who was full of life and fun. Stumpy and his wife used to turn up at many of the duo’s gigs at clubs and festivals and at their November holiday weekend at Morecambe. Neil and Stumpy and his family became good friends.
Stumpy told Neil about his daughter, Vicki-Anne Boardman and spoke of her with great pride explaining she is a trained dancer who has attended various auditions for parts in the theatre. One day, Vicki-Anne contacted Neil about recording a song especially for her father as an 80th birthday present. Prior to this, Vicki-Anne had done a little singing with a local theatre group but nothing serious and she certainly didn’t consider herself to be a singer. Neil said “yes” and invited Vicki-Anne to his house. She found a song on the internet called You’re My Hero. They changed the words a little to suit and Neil rearranged the music and the song was recorded and presented to Stumpy on Father’s Day – he loved it and was beaming with pride.
Neil quickly realised that Vicki-Anne had a really good voice and he was keen to record other things with her. They recorded a Kerry Ellis and Brian May song called Roll With You, but at that time there was no suggestion that they should form a Country act together. After Covid, Vicki-Anne told him that she wouldn’t mind recording some Country songs and that led onto them discussing the music and those discussions soon turned into Neil dusting off his guitar and Spread Your Wings was conceived at this time. They both agreed that they didn’t want to be like any other Country duo “We just ‘wanted to do it our way” Neil told me, and that is what they have done.
Vicki is a lifelong fan of Country as she was brought up on it by her parents and attended many clubs and festivals with them as a young girl. Having attended so many festivals and Country events with her parents one of the highlights for Vicki of the new duo is that she’s now experiencing it all from the other side of the stage.
A first gig was arranged at the Spirit of Dixie CMC at Bury (Lancs) but John Groom persuaded them to do a gig at his Brewers Saloon CMC in Burton on Trent (Staffs) in March 2022, even though they weren’t 100% ready to start gigging. They agreed to play and it went very well. They haven’t looked back since and are now getting regular bookings from all over the country. Even though Neil lives in Nottingham and Vicki-Anne lives in Cheshire it seems to work for them.
They recorded and produced an album of their favourite songs they perform in early in 2023 which is called Fly High … Fly Free
Having been on the road just over two years, Spread Your Wings already has a CCN nomination for Duo Of The Year in 2024.
Research by Nick Catford.