The first time I visited what is now "The Battlefield Line," a delightful Heritage Railway in Leicestershire, it had just a few yards of track restored at a semi-derelict station in Shackerstone. We had a brief, jangling ride in an open 12 ton wagon, along a bay platform, tugged by a tiny tank engine. Our ice creams were covered in soot. Both our late Mums enjoyed visiting the line as it evolved. My kids grew up looking forward to our visits there.
Ever since, I've been back regularly, watching it grow. Nowadays it runs passenger trains between Shackerstone and Shenton, with the lovely little town of Market Bosworth as a midway point. When Black Parrot Seaside reformed in 2006, it seemed a natural place to do a promotional photo shoot.
An unexpected by product of that day was a super piece of film featuring us spontaneously performing Dave Goulder's evocative Railway song, "Requiem for Steam." It remains our most popular youtube clip. Eddie Jones, our fiddle player at the time, worked as a volunteer driver and fireman. (Still does). Hence his mucky dungarees in the picture above, taken on the signal box steps
So I deemed it an honour to be invited to warm up the afternoon crowds at Market Bosworth Rail Ale Festival yesterday. Indeed, we all did. My second love after steam engines (well since adulthood!) has been Real Ale. I knew CAMRA were putting the beer list together-and I was not disappointed. Steam, beer, good music, what's not to adore? The cavernous interior of the restored Goods Shed at Market Bosworth Station complex instantly became one of my favourite settings. We've played in Marquees and in the Open Air. We've played pubs, clubs, theatres, universities and colleges, festivals, Village Halls and School halls. But never in an ex-LMS brick building, with the sights, sounds (and smells) of steam engines just beyond the doorway. Awesome.
We'd put together a little music package for the Organisers. As an opener, the percussive guitar playing of Dave Parr provided the ideal background for Cyder Annie's distinctive vocals. Their rendition of "Copperhead Road " was particularly fiery. Our good friends Carole Palmer and Maria Barham took to the stage next and provided an absorbing hour of acoustic music. They did two of my requests-Dougie McClean's "Caledonia" and their own song," Lost and Found." And I finally got to meet Oscar, as he wagged his tail in time to the set.
Having sampled the Jaipur and Salopian Oracle, it was time for The Parrot to get back on their perch. We ran through an hour's worth of songs old and new-(complete set list to follow). By this time a large-ish audience was well warmed up, well fed and generally enjoying the day. Our ex-fiddle player Eddie Jones joined us on stage for "The Whistler, "The Railway Magazine" "Black Velvet Band" and a few other songs. And we all stayed dry! We made lots of new friends and renewed acquaintances with some old ones.
Thanks to our fellow artistes, and to Dave and Danny Parr for doing the sound. And also to Doctor Busker, for having put up a huge banner behind us saying "I love The Seaside". It made us feel really at home. All our whistles, tooters and blowers were snaffled by the audience, and to see hands in the air clapping in rhythm to the acapella part of Vacuum Cleaner at the end-emotional, as Vinnie Jones once said.
