Musical delights in Milton Keynes

Margaret Thatcher was living at No.10, Prince Charles and Lady Di said '˜I will' and Depeche Mode issued their debut album. They year was 1981, and on April 4 Bucks Fizz exploded onto the Eurovision Song Contest stage in a blaze of colour.
Pete Brown and New Grass CuttersPete Brown and New Grass Cutters
Pete Brown and New Grass Cutters

With their track Making Your Mind Up they stole the show, took the title...and remember that skirt-ripping routine?

What’s most remarkable is that 35 years on Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston still have legs svelte enough to repeat the skirt stunt today.

And they’ll be doing it at The Stables this evening.

You lot still like your fizz though, and this is a recent sell-out. Call for returns only.

Those of you who didn’t crack on and book tickets for The Cavern Beatles at the venue on Friday night will be learning the hard way that advance buying is the right way too – that’s another sell-out.

There is still an opportunity to engage with Lauren Housley over on Stage 2 though.

Her Nashville-flavoured soul has seen her gain tasty exposure on Radio 2 for her debut album Sweet Surrender.

Those of you who know Joe Brown know that he is a musical master, and as chirpy a fella as you could hope to find.

And he’s spawned a second generation of Brown brilliance; son Pete is a bit handy on guitar and lap steel, and he’s got a band together to give his bluegrass music an outlet, The New Grass Cutters whoplay the Wavendon haunt on Saturday.

Pete has assembled a band of pedigree that is tried and tested to join him in the live – his Dad’s own band!

TG Collective will be seeing you on Stage 2.

The instrumental mob are back in Wavendon with an intriguing mix of gypsy jazz, flamenco and contemporary classical influences.

Roy Hudd is nigh on sold-out on Sunday, and attendees will get their full-fill: Roy is a raconteur, a comedian, a singer and an actor, traits he has spent an incredible 65 years honing.

Last up this week is An Acoustic Evening with Sir Thijs Van Leer, the man known best for his role as flautist, singer and Hammond Organ player in Dutch prog-rock mob Focus, who gave us that Hocus Pocus number.

And let’s face it, when Ken Bruce slips that track on to the Radio 2 airwaves it’s a bit of a yodel-rock wowzer!

Out on his own he’ll be perched behind the grand piano telling his life story, with a little acoustic guitar support from Menno Gootjes.

Call to book(where you still can) on 01908 280800.