Tomorrow- Friday 23rd November- sees the launch of this three day event, and potentially, an epoch making role for what remains of Black Parrot Seaside. Whilst they've been at many of these events in the past, the posters for this year's event do not show the band as appearing at all. However, the remaining two of them who are still prepared to go out and tread the boards will be taking to the stage at 8pm in Bedworth Civic Hall. In the FM Lounge, specifically. It would be nice to see any Festival-goers who know them, turning up to offer moral support and a sprinkling of applause during their half-hour set.
The posters and the programmes for this event show only that Geoff Veasey is appearing this year, as a solo artiste. It would not be the first time this has happened, but tomorrow fellow ex-Parrot and partner in crime Arnold Chave will be alongside Geoff throughout. Playing, singing and generally mucking about, as these two have done for years. The current problem is settling on a new name. They have been going out as "Buzzard's Luck"-but have recently discovered that there is another band of the same name in the USA. And a few Club comperes seem to be struggling with it anyway. Actually Geoff and Arnie spent a year or so as a duo in the 1980's-under the cryptic and tongue-in-cheek alias of "Flower and Pot."
A current front-runner for a new name is "The Grit Tray." This retains an ornithological link with the past, and as someone pointed out, a grit tray in the bottom of a parrot's cage, is something that often gets shat upon. A feeling the band have come to empathise with over the years.
Actually the chaps have been a duo for a while now, and have appeared in that format recently at Bedworth and Warwick Folk Clubs and at The Tump Folk Club. Tomorrow, they'll be mixing their material up as usual, with some blues, some traditional folk, a Charlie Drake cover and a few original songs. Interestingly, of the 15 songs originally recorded on the CD launched at this festival in 2008, only one will still feature in the Set tomorrow-"The Odeon." That's as much a sign as any other that they are moving on.
On Saturday afternoon, Geoff will also be MC for a Festival show featuring other artistes. A new venture for him. Some of the acts he'll introduce are old friends-others are relatively new to him. Should be an interesting experience for all concerned.
