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October 24th 2009Frank, Sarah had travelled from Oz this weeks to attend their granddaughter's christening. Along with many of their friends and daughter Katie, they came along to the British Queen to say G'day and take in some old favourites from the band - And some nice warm beer too. September 2009Wedding of the Year - Guitarist Jeff Maxted married No. 1 fan Liz Hudson on 25th September. Reception was held at the Eastbourne Fishermen's Club with FA providing the live entertainment. FA wish Jeff & Liz every happiness and a long a fruitful life together.
July 2009Another new venue on the books - "The Comet" Harley Shute Road, St. Leonards. New management of the pub made contact via the popluar listing mag Ultimate Experience. Could only fit the one in this year so watch out for more in 2010. June 2009Jeff has secured a new venue The Berwick Inn. We play our first gig in September so watch this space... May 2009London Trader under new management. New music policy means live music only available on Sunday afternoons. May have to give this one a miss. This is a great shame since it was always well supported. Easter Sunday 12 April 2009Easter Holiday gig at the Crowhurst Park Holiday Park club house. It's probably 16 years since FA was last here. Very warm reception from campers - A great evening with many club members keen to have us back. 29 March 2009Back at the British Queen. Great evening with dancing in the aisles and a lot of hand waving and swaying. We are now booked in for the pub's Christmas Eve bash. 14th December 2008The British Queen in Willingdon. Good crown despite the weather. More gigs booked for 2009. "Best band to play at the British Queen". It was a bit of a squeeze in a tight corner plus Christmas tree but we did it and had a great gig to top it all. 9th November 2008No gigs have been confirmed at The Bells Club in 2009. We have been negotiating for some months but to no avail. Maybe 2010 will bring better times. A big thanks to all club members at the gig last night - Despite the disgusting weather, a very good lively turn out. 5th September 2008We have now been offered the change to play at two more new venues for 2009 - The Smugglers in Pevensey and The York Hotel in Bexhill. Check the giglist and venues for more information. 7th August 2008New venue booked for 13th December. The British Queen in Willingdon. Come along and have fun fun fun....More gigs promised in 2009 if we do a good job. 5th July 2008The Beach in Beach Road, Eastbourne has been replaced with a restaurant. No more live music. New management and a new name. Do we see a trend here? Let's hope not. - Keep Music Live - 23rd June 2008The George in Hailsham has closed down owing to some financial problems. We received a call today from the manager Geoff cancelling all gigs and explaining that the pub has gone out of business. Fifth Avenue would like to thank all our supporters at this venue as well as Geoff and the staff for their hospitality. 30th May 2008Our first gig at The Drive was much better than we had expected. Sound limiter behaved well apart from the "Vocals only" section in The Letter which seemed to trip the power. Our old drummer Frank turned up with a gang of friends. Frank had come over (in secret) from Oz to be at his daughter Katie's birthday party. 26th April 2008A new toy for Tony. Bass player Tony Ellis has just bought a new bass amp which he tried at the TUC club tonight. Great sound and very light so no more bad backs. Also Adrian has just taken delivery of the latest Leslie Speaker for the Hammond.
Click on the pics to check out the spec.
4th April 2008New venue secured for 2008. The Drive in Eastbourne Old Town. A member of the Drive bar staff was at the Albert last week and had such a great evening they recommended us to the pub's manager. We now have 3 extra gigs in our diary as a result. Keep 'em coming.. 13th March 2008More gigs have been booked this year at the Prince Albert, Eastbourne Old Town and The London Trader in Hastings Old Town. Seems that the Old Towns like us for some reason - Maybe an age thing? 20th January 2008New venue - The Royal Standard, Hastings old town. The pub was rocking. A very warm welcome from the Standard's regulars. More gigs to follow later this year. 4th NovemberWho needs fireworks when we have BFG. Back after a spell recovering from a Hip Op. On good form and a great FA night was had by all at the East Hastings Sea Angling. 12th October 2007New venues secured for 2008 at The Hailsham Club, Hailsham and The Royal Standard Hasting Old Town. Check the giglist for dates. 18th August 2007Ex drummer Frank and his wife Sarah turned up at the Bells Club on Saturday - from down under. They are spending a month in Blighty to check out the weather and old friends and real music. A Jolly good time was had by all (Sarah still managing to do the twist as usual - Great stuff). Lots of Franks biker mates were there too. Maybe F&S could turn it into a regular meet? Watch this space.... 4th August 2007FA returns to the popular Hailsham Club after a break of over ten years. A great nigh night was had by all and more gigs booked for 2008. 14th June 2007Chris Langford has been busy setting up Fifth Avenue's MySpace. Get on there and make some comments... 1st June 2007First gig at The George Hotel in Hailsham was a big success. Landlord Geoff and friends had a great time. More gigs booked this year as a result. March 2007New venue for FA. The George at Hailsham. See giglist for dates and venues for location. 26th January 2007Chris Langford was busy this month taking pictures of the band at gigs in early January. He has put together a DVD of a photo montage showing lots of dodgy old geezers playing rock and roll .... Have a look for yourself at The Band page January 2007Back at the Eastbourne Fishermens Club after a year long gap. A long standing issue with the committee's internal workings and general delays in getting the diarys straight meant we missed the whole a 2006 at the club. Now we're back - and the gig on the 6th January was a great event with punters and the band alike having a very rocktastic time. December 2006.Children In Need DVD coming soon. Watch this space...
Friday 10th November 2006Bands performed at the Playhouse for CHILDREN IN NEED and with local support
Friday 10th November 2006 REDSTACKBands performing at the Playhouse for CHILDREN IN NEED
The Children In Need appeal performance starts at 8pm. Doors open at 7pm Tickets cost £10 with the full amount going to CHILDREN IN NEED Please support REDSTACK and the bands performing we would like to raise as much money as possible for the appeal. Congratulations!September 2006
Crown & Anchor - Part 2August 2006 Our first gig back at the Crown with the newly configured sound limiter, was a bit like a scene from Spinal Tap. First attempt at a song shut the power down immediately. Subsequently, after many fine adjustments to the PA and Bass Amp we got through around 60% of the songs without a hitch. Occasionally Dave had to leave the stage to reset the limiter (the button was on the unit installed above the main door) by climbing on a chair. All had a good laugh including some fans that had turned up at 5:30pm to see us. We're back in October so watch this space... Noise Problems at the Crown & AnchorJuly 2006 Complaints from local residents have resulted in a visit from Environmental Health. All music is off until sound limiters have been installed and tested. FA's gig has been moved to the 12th August which will be confirmed once the EH have done their thing... New Drummer for 2006April 2006 Paul our drummer throughout 2005 has had to depart owing to worsening health problems over recent months. Pete Billings (ex Saints) has joined the band and enjoyed a warm welcome at both Elphinstone, Hastings and the Albert, Eastbourne in April. Pete has stepped in from time to time over the years and is pleased to be part of Fifth Avenue on a permanent basis. Horseshoe Inn Management pulls plug on Live Music.March 2006 The management company for the Horseshoe Inn, Windmill Hill have decided that the takings are too low on the Live Music evenings. The Venue has been told to cancel all bands from April, indefinitely. Big Tone test drives his new effects pedalFebruary 2006 After a few hit pitched screeches from the back we are now up and running.....
Popular Waterfront Venue ClosesJanuary 2006 The popular Yacht Bar at Sovereign Harbour has closed as a result of management problems according to local sources. We hope to see it reopen before the summer. All FA's gigs for 2006 at the venue have been cancelled leaving 6 Saturday nights now up for grabs. Happy New YearJanuary 2006 Happy new year to all our fan and supporters. FA had a mixed bag of ups and downs during 2005 but the diary is filling up fast. The Christmas Eve gig at the Bells was, in the words of Anne Paris the proprietor , "A fantastic Show". Although an exhausting 3 sets the band excelled. Even "Elvis" got up and showed the members how to rock & roll. Lets hope we have many more like that in the year ahead. Cooden Beach End Live Music NightsJune 1st 2005 Cooden Beach Hotel management have decided to put a stop to live music events in the bar. All bands scheduled to play the popular Friday night venue have had all future gigs cancelled. The management have not indicated any intention to resume so FA will have to look for a replacement venue. Hasting Town FC Sports & Social ClubMarch 31st 2005 The club have decided to stop their new Thursday nights live music gigs as attendance since Christmas has been very poor. Last week only 9 people turned up (making the band and bar staff outnumber the punters). Their, more popular, Saturday gigs continue although only for the bigger names that can fill the club. New drummer for 1st Albert gig of 2005.March 5th 2005 New drummer, Paul Nicholls, make his first appearance on stage at the Prince Albert. Paul, previously from "10 Below Zero", had a great reception and played like a true pro to a packed Albert (now 1am finish). Everyone had a great time and FA are now looking forward to a productive 2005. Many thanks and best wishes to Pete Boughton who left us in December. Bell Hotel, Bexhill Old Town ends function room gigs.January 20th 2005 After bouncing back with new management earlier in 2004, The Bell Hotel no longer has use of the function room for regular gigs. Duos only from now on folks... Drummer Pete decides to go into semi retirement following a hectic year with Fifth Avenue.January 2005 FA are still on the lookout for the "Perfect Drummer". Meanwhile, Pete Billings (The Saints) and Dave Peters (Trax) help out on alternate weekends.
New Guitarist Joins the band in time for Christmas season.December 2004 Jeff Maxted from Eastbourne Old Town was the band's chosen replacement for Tony Fry. Now firmly established and working hard on the expanding set list. A welcome and refreshing new sound for 2005. Doctor Signs off Lead Guitarist for 6 monthsSaturday 7th August 2004 Tony (Chuck) Fry, FA's Lead guitar player has been suffering from a type of strain injury for some months. His doctor has now advised him to stop playing guitar for at least 6 months to enable total rest as the only cure. (The rest of the band have been busy rearranging the set to enable the rest of the 2004 gigs to be done with just one guitar (with a little help from Dave on Rhythm.) We recon that he has been over doing the taxi driving...Anyway Get well soon chuck and leave the taxi alone!
Speaker stand attacks keyboard playerSaturday 8th May 2004 As usual, not enough stage space for Adrian to set up. So with a little help from his friends, he moves the PA speaker stand (complete with speaker and Light box). The light box becomes detached from it's mount and hits Adrian on the nose - Blood everywhere and some painful bruising for a couple a days after. Nothing broken we hope. Jonathan & Megan Return to UKSaturday 1st May 2004 Jonathan & Megan came along to the Gig at The Albert this Saturday. Megan is expecting her second baby and they both decided to return from Oz after 6 years and make a home again in UK. Mullens Gets Late License Saturday 17th April 2004 After the initial trial event on Valentine's Night, Mullens can now compete with the Prince Albert with a 12:00 finish. *********************************************************************************************************************** Major Power failure at the Horseshoe Inn, Windmill Hill Saturday 20th March 2004 Just preparing to load the cars for tonight's gig and the Caravan Club call to say there has been a power failure at the venue. Management could not get the generators started so the Diner & Dance event had to be cancelled. Some temporary power was restored later that day for the few members that could not be contacted to have a couple of pints at the bar. *********************************************************************************************************************** Bell Hotel Back in Business. Saturday 6th March 2004 Seems that the owners wanted to change some of the management. The Pub is now undergoing some refurbishment and is back in business. All future gigs are now re-confirmed. *********************************************************************************************************************** Closure Shock for The Bell Hotel, Bexhill Old Town. Sunday 29th February 2004 Just as we thought we had established ourselves at a new venue, the rug was pulled from under our feet. The Bexhill Observer reported on Friday that the pub's owners have decided to sell up. No plans for new management but plenty of rumours about conversion to flats etc..etc.. I'm sure the locals will demand it remains a pub and judging by the crowd in there on Saturday night it is very well supported in the area. Lets hope we will be back there before the summer's out. *********************************************************************************************************************** Fire at The Bells Club! Thursday 15th January 2004. While building work was being carried out on the club's roof, smoke was detected coming into the snooker room and spreading around the club. It Appeared that builders had packed up for the night and left something in the roof void which had started to burn. The fire brigade turned up 2 hours later and all the club staff began the task of a major spring clean. Much hard work and a day and a half later, the club was ready for the planned live music evening on Saturday (Minus curtains which had been sent away for dry cleaning). The snooker hall was closed as cleaning had been confined to the main bar and dance hall. This meant the club looked more crowded than usual as many snooker players were being "forced" to populate the bar and so enjoy the Hits of the 60's supplied by Fifth Avenue. A great night was had by all. The staff at the Bells continue their clean up efforts during the following weeks. *********************************************************************************************************************** January 10th 2004New Year Greetings for Frank & Sarah and friend from OZ *********************************************************************************************************************** November 30th 2004 Frank & Sarah are off... Extract from email
(25/11/03) ..."At last we are off - it has been a nightmare selling the
house with a chain from London We all wish them the very best in their new life in OZ. *********************************************************************************************************************** Fifth Avenue "Live at the Prince Albert" The gig was recorded live at the Prince Albert on 23rd August 2003. CDs are available with extracts from the 2 hour performance which includes all our favourites (17 songs in all). The CDs can be purchased at our gigs for £5 (exceedingly good value) all proceeds will go the "Kent Air Ambulance Service" who helped Frank survive his crash and who we have supported at benefit gigs.
Some New Venues for 2004 We've managed to secure some new venues for the new year ahead:
Watch this space.... |
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Last Updated: Monday, 26 October 2009 Copyright © Tony Ellis http://www.fifthavenue.org.uk |
