The Rising Sun, Cons Club in Warminster and Mount Pleasant

Been a while since we put pen to virtual paper, so a few points of business to cover. 

But firstly, a competition. The winner will get a go in the band van and help us unload and load before and after any gig of your choosing. All you need to do is share on FB the best caption to what is going on here….. 

Full disclosure. We ain’t got a clue either! But that sums up last night. 

It was all to celebrate the Shelby’s of North Bradley, aka Dilly and Bod, and their postponed birthday party. It was a Peaky Blinder themed night and the throng certainly embraced the idea. The gents suitability very well attired and the women glamoursly capturing the 1920’s  and without exception everyone  going full-on ‘Arthur’ in terms of on boarding wines and spirits in very generous measure. 

So, when The Peaky Blinders play to a room of Peaky Blinders its only going one way. Within a few songs, clothes were getting discarded (unfortunately male), the room was room jumping and dancing shoes were firmly on. Well, dancing shoes actually did fall off later in the night and despite pleas for help was told “put your own f***** shoes on sweetheart”. (You had to be there.  It was if Polly was in the room.) 

Anyway – last night was a full on, full fat, banger. Thanks to Dilly and Bod for inviting us to play. 

In other news, earlier in the weekend, we dropped in to play at a fundraiser at the Cons Club in Westbury, no errrrr, I mean Warminster. A superb effort by Steve and the team down there raising 1000’s for air ambulance and motor neurone disease charities. Curries, chilli’s and the Peakies as a dessert. What is not to like. Oh and a raffle. 

Talking off raffles, Bri bought, not a ticket, not a strip but a whole book at the Mount Pleasant Social Club in Bradford on Avon at the end of April. What did he win did I hear you ask? Just the honour of playing to the fine people of this establishment and bugger all else. But we are happy with that.

The Duke, Bratton. 18th April 2022

Bit late to press with this important news update. The band apologises and we will keep it brief. 

So on Bank Holiday Monday the sun shone (as it did all Easter weekend, puts the GREAT into Great Britain doesn’t it) and we popped down Bratton way to see the landlord of The Duke on his way into retirement overseas. 

We had planned a massive send off and schemed to do a full Glasto in the pub garden. However just like Spinal Tal and Stonehenge our pyramid stage replica was a little disappointing for all involved. 

But we are pro’s and could knock out a belter of a set with just 3 combs + paper accompanied by coconuts. This wasn’t needed however as we had our tools of the trade, so we just caught a tan whilst playing sweet music to the sweet people of Bratton. It was a beautiful thing. 

Love to all, The PB's

26th March 2022 – Players, Westbury 

In these uncertain times, Russian cyber-crime, fake news, conspiracy theorists and all the rest of it, you just can’t always trust what you read. However, the Peaky Blog is always 100% genuine and never deviates from reporting the facts, the facts and nothing but the facts. 

So last night down at Players, the joint jumped so much we moved the whole building 2 inches to the left. 250 people crammed onto a small dance floor, having such a good time, the male strippers from next door came over, prompting an impromptu ‘You Can Keep Your Hat On’  Full Monty rendition by Steve (and he wasn’t even wearing a hat). Then the usual dancing girls, blah, blah, blah, the usual Peaky affair. 

If you were one the of the very few in Wiltshire who didn’t see us last night here is a new number we have put in the set. Good ‘innit! 

Ok ok, ok  we may have slightly exaggerated about the last nights events and it might have been sparsely attended, even Fred from Frome and his party of 10 didn’t show, but what the hell, if the Peaky’s are plugged in ready to go, we are ready to go. Doesn’t matter if Deaf Derek and his guide dog Cuddles is the sum of the audience, they still get the full Peaky experience. For example; 

Unfortunately Deaf Derek is also a mute, but we reckon he would of said we knocked out of park…..as always. And here is some further proof…. 

Defenders of the truth, the Peaky Blinders.

Westbury Labour Club - 26th Feb 2022

The Peaky’s were a little apprehensive about playing at the Labour Club in Westbury. It’s a big room to fill on a winters night. 

But our fears were unfounded as a very nice number of willing Westbury rock’n’rollers  took to their seats around the substantial dance floor, which triggered the dancing pied piper of Westbury, Nick, to use his charms and moves to get the joint jumpin’ assisted by his very very able dancing partner in crime Sarah. Hats off to them both, no waiting for the second set and third pint before taking to the floor, just the first chord and some flashing lights. We salute them and the fine people of Westbury for giving it some. 

In other news, for no reason here is a nice piccy of the band at the bar. 

And here is another nice piccy Brian took of his microphone (shame the people in the background take away the focus and messed up the pictures composition) 

..and some old school waltzing 

…and some of the jumping bean himself with the band in his shadow. 

And finally can we have the band van back. We’ve got a kids party to play Thursday tea-time. 

We thank you.

The Angel, Westbury. 22 Jan 2022

Just about squeezing it in with a week to spare, Happy New Year to you very fine people who take the time to read this and come to our gigs. We salute you. 

So we are out the starting blocks and into 2022 at a cracking pace. We may have peaked too early because last night at the The Angel we put on our spikes and upon the strike of 09:15 ( the unofficial time for pub rock to commence) we were off and firing on all fours into Set 1 faster than a babysitters boyfriend leaving when the car pulls up. 

The Angel in Westbury was a first for us, and we are extremely pleased to report that we all got on extremely well making our way to the 11:00 finish line. There was also a couple of firsts to note along the way, a 100% audience only sing-a-long to SOB as well as an electrical fire in our monitors because they couldn’t cope with the energy overload induced by our power house superb singer Steve. Whoop Whoop. Well done the Angel, well done the band. Gold medals all round.

If every gig is as much fun this year as last night's, we are so looking forward 2022. Bring it on. 

STEWARDS ENQUIRY – apparently we did a false start as it wasn’t a 09:15 start  for our record breaking Angel sprint. Our excuse was that Si took the time from his make-up mirror whilst doing his mascara, but this didn’t hold up in court. 

Note; And well done Joe for getting 180 earlier in the evening and not going on about it nor showing  the photographic evidence more than once to the band. Congratulations.

Peaky Blinders Go Carbon Neutral at The Artrizan, Frome - 13th Nov

As ever, we are a topical, relevant and COP-26 forward looking band and we are glad to report that last night’s gig we were 100% carbon neutral. 

Whilst we suck 110% electric energy from the grid to deliver the high energy rock n roll we deliver, the amount of static electricity generated by last nights, dancing, bumping, grinding, some more grinding, twerking and a very generous dollop of more GRINDING , we had party balloons rising in a 50 mile radius, the drummer’s hair went up on its ends, and the lights burnt particularly brightly in the fine establishment that is the The Artizan in Frome. 

For all the obvious reasons, we haven’t played a pub gig in a while and were looking forward to last night. It wasn’t the biggest crowd but it was certainly one of the most quality. From the opening bars we had a dedicated throng who jumped aboard the Peaky Blinder Saturday Night Express all the way until we called into our final SOB destination. 

We’ve always encouraged a jump and dance around, but last night we all went to places that certainly wouldn’t be allowed on Strictly and definitely not before the 09:00 watershed (even before 00:00 come to that) and we SALUTE you for that. 

Last night was what it's all about and why ALL we do it. Well done ALL of us. We hope to you see you all again very soon at The Artizan.

Private Party – 30th Oct 

Hey – just a quickie for the record. We popped down to Bournemouth to help our regular host Tam entertain his fine party of guests. As always, one of the smartest events we are allowed to deliver our goods at, and let’s say, not our youngest crowd. But we tell you this now young people, Gen X, Y or whatever you now self-identify yourselves as, this fine crowd could dance you all under the dancefloor before their Horlicks but would  still be taking late night brandies and cigars when you are getting up for your Weet-a-bix. They know how to have a good time. You young’uns know nothing! 

As whilst we are at “any other business” we did use the occasion to take some band snaps. 

We are going to bank this one for when we play the Care Home circuit.....

 And f*** knows what we will do this boy band nonsense.......

Why no blog in recent months? Well the ribbon ran out of ink in the typewriter and due to the labour shortages squeezing fresh ink from liquorice and then the  driver issues getting the ink to Typewriters’R’Us  in Winsley behind the Co-op, well you can imagine. But hey ho lets go! 

Well we didn’t play here……(It’s a long drive followed by a long story but Steve still got to sing a beautiful song to a beautiful couple) 

  But we did see a…….. 

We then played across the road at a birthday party, then here alongside some old skool timers called Band in a Box , whose effects box made Jean Michelle Jarre look like a school kid with a kazoo…….. 

  And then on Saturday we played here……. 

Now, the keen eyed amongst you will notice that at long last the drummer is at the front of the charge into rock’n’roll jiggery-pokery, followed closely by his backing band. Whilst the drummer thought the new format was a great success, he was promptly outvoted 3:1 post gig and will be found at the very back again at the next gig. 

But why had the band headed east to Swindon on this sunny day? Because Gerry Watkins asked us to and he does this great great great work and the honour was ours……… 

https://www.facebook.com/Bigyellowbusproject/ 

https://www.facebook.com/gerryminicar/posts/10225406317843316 

The Duke, 5th June 2021

So where do we start? Let’s forget about the last gig-less 8 months and start at the present.   

As we all re-emerge from under our rocks and look for rock’n’roll, the more attentive of us ended up at The Duke on the 5th June, 2021 in Bratton. Bratton? Fools!! Hey, no one heard of Woodstock till ’69.  

Anyway, so to catch up with the last band in to, and the one of the first out of lockdown, the PB’s waved the live music flag to anyone interested and we are glad to report that quite a few were very interested and we are proud to feedback that the acorn of rock’n’roll is reborn and flourishing well. 

It’s a relative term, but PB music historians wont place this gig as their finest, but will comment there were moments which were sublime and some others that were absolute bollox, and it was these elements of light and shade that made it one of the more interesting. However, it will be more noted for when the PB’s tried to bend rock’n’roll time and start a gig at tea-time and not at 09:15. But in these uncertain times we must consider all options. But hey, it all ended very well indeed.  

All jokes aside, it was great to be out again, great to see an audience again and great for The Duke for hosting us.  So BIG THANKS to everyone who came out, supported, hosted and most importantly, for everyone for being an inquisitive human being who got off their arse to see what live music was up to. We salute you. 

As a sign off and for you audio / visual pleasure………..

Somerset Arms, Semington, 19th Sept 2020

So what are you going to do when the autumn equinox is a few days away and the sun is shining brightly for the last few days of summer? 

We’ll tell you what you going to do. 

Book in the Peaky Blinders to finish off a  day of revelry in a pub garden in Semington and leave the 2020 summer behind in a warm after glow. 

((Tables of 6, 2m apart x 20 ) + a variety of beverages + dance area) x Peaky Blinders = GOOD TIMES

After the usual PB fare, we felt we were in the groove, so we chanced a tribute to the legendary Toots. We started 54-46 together and ended 54-46 together, and in our song book that is a success. (The bassist from Bay City Rollers also died earlier in the month, but we deemed 70’s pop to be inappropriate). 

Anyway, we had a hot dang rockin' good night. 

It could very well be our last outing this year, who knows. If so, all take care of yourselves, MAHOOSIVE thanks for coming out to see us and making it all such good fun.

Love to all and see you soon as we are allowed out again.

The PB’s.

Bubbles Seen at Semington

As per the very recently announced  - "Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has now confirmed that indoor performances with socially distanced audiences will in fact be allowed again from August 15 "

Therefore from the 15TH , not a day later,  The Peakies recommenced the good fight of taking live music to the masses, kicking off at what has become a regular slot at the very fine establishment of the Somerset Arms in Semington, which is not in Somerset. 

Quite literally blew off the cobwebs from the gear and gave it a go, based on the wobbly foundation of a random rehearsal a few weeks ago. 

Social bubbles floated around, appropriate distancing maintained at all times and hands washed between every slice of rock n roll. 

It wasn’t the most razor sharp of performances and it wont be the new normal, but a fine workout for all concerned. We did draft in our bass player stunt double Lisa in case Si had forgotten how to play the big cello, but after a pre-gig pep talk from Lisa he was able to deliver the goods. We are forever in her debt.

The Peaky’s only play fast songs. 

The Peaky’s only play dancing songs. 

Fast Songs + Dancing Songs  = A World of Trouble 

As the video clip shows two very fine dancers simply could not help but chew the fruit pastille that is the Peaky Blinder dancing music cannon. 

When these 2 very fine individuals entered the Prestbury Sports Bar last night they were in the top of health. 

However, 90 mins later it resulted in chronic dehydration and excessive wear and tear to the tibia and femur meaning that next time we play this fine establishment they will need to take turns in pushing their better halves around in wheel chairs. 

On a VERY MUCH more serious point, the only reason we play gigs is for people to do this very thing. PURE JOY and we salute you. 

And as band friend Sue always pops out her camera out here is a quick slice of Chuck Berry………..what’s not to like? 

And very finally, the very active man of the Warminster live scene, Charles Drought, took a few pics of ‘ahem’ very 5 handsome men which just need to be shared……

The Artisan, Frome - 20th Dec 2019

Firstly, when we get sent a video or two post gig we forward them onto our film editing contact Quentin T to edit. He usually edits outs all the mistakes and boring bits but with Friday night’s edit from Frome he told us “it would be a crime against rock n roll to remove one second of this musical gold treasure box” hence here it is for your visual and audial pleasure….. (BIG thanks to Sue for vids)

Secondly, it’s the end of year and a time to reflect as well as look forward. 

Looking back, we errrrr did what we do. We love what we do, its aint always pretty but we love it. BUT what makes it so much fun and so special, is the good number of great people in this beautiful country who get out, support live music, have a drink, have a sing-a-long and dance to what we do. WE THINK WE ARE ALL COLLECTIVELY A SUPERB BUNCH OF ROCK’N’ ROLL CITIZENS. 

Looking forward into 2020. We have a devised a great new game plan. More of the same. 

So until then , Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

Much Love, The PB's

13th Dec 2019 - The White Swan

We haven’t done a pub gig in a while, so at short notice we popped up at our spiritual home of The White Swan in Trowbridge for a blast. 

Question, what’s better, a cup of tea or a Costa Frappuccino with a double shot of vanilla essence?

Or, cheese on toast and tommy K in the morning after the night before, or an oyster truffle served on a bed of kale? 

The point being, it’s the simple things, small but perfectly formed, that are best in life. 

So it aint the swankiest boozer in Wiltshire and it wasn’t the biggest crowd, but we wouldn’t of had it any other way. 

Any if you didn’t join us on Friday here is what you could have had…….. 

Big thanks to Donna who took the vids on her phone. Stood like rock in a stormy sea ignoring jumpin’ Tony throughout. BIG THANKS.

29th Nov - Jay and Holly's Engagement Party. The Constitutional. Chippenham.

Well that was quite a night in many ways. 

Firstly, some disappointing band news. When the drummer was recruited to the band a while back, he was informed he would be joining a band of MEN who could rock n roll old school style. And yep, they looked the part with their hats and tatts, so he joined. However, to say the drummer is devastated to find last night the band putting their gig shirts on the radiator to make them nice, warm and cuddly before going to the stage, as ‘its chilly in the room’, is a massive understatement. The drummer is now making enquiries if he can join Westlife as they are made of sterner stuff. 

Anyway, to business. We first met Jay and Holly in the summer at an outdoor gig on a sunny afternoon. What is now a favourite band story, at this summer gig, Jay who had been hard ‘on it’ all day, asked our bass player ‘if had ever seen the Peakies before’ only minutes after finishing our set. See blog…..https://peakyblindershome.com/home/blog/25th-may-somerset-arms-semington

Anyway, business cards were swapped, resulting in the honour of sharing the love at their engagement party in Chippenham. 

We love gigs like last night. Not a Scooby do of what was happening….. 

We thought we were Queen at the beginning of the show due to the excessive stage lighting....

At some point, we turned into a girl band (most of the band fitted right in. See paragraph 1.) ……. 

Who is this woman, what is she doing, was she invited? We have no idea.………… 

Auntie Jean (apologies if the name is wrong, but it was definitely an Auntie) had a drum lesson.....and so it went on like this throughout the evening. But all this beautiful chaos was brought to a fine conclusion with the Peaky 'Son of a Bitch' sing-a-long dance-a-long, closing anthem. 

Thanks Holly. Thanks Jay. Congratulations on this first celebration. You have our number for weddings, christenings, 18th’’s, 21st’s etc. 

Much love, The PB’s. 

P.s. – What nice staff and security at The Constitutional in Chippers. We are sure live music brings the best out of people. BIG THANKS.

Evening All 

First time out to Players in Westbury for the PB’s. 

Good news, they put us up on the dance floor and under more flashing lights than Blackpool could dream of. 

The bad news, we were on the dance floor so where did the dancing take place? We could not really tell due to the tsunami of neon. However, from what we understand the creative folk of Westbury found a space and danced totally uninhibited in the darkness totally butt naked (well, mostly true but I did I make up the last bit) 

Not really bad news, but certainly a hindrance, but our singing Steve is very sensitive to the change in seasons and since the clocks have changed has been all of a dither and the wet weather of late has brought on a tickly chest. Bless. His voice just about held out to the end but now convalesces with a Night Nurse (…..called Betty) 

So, we get a couple of weeks off before our next private party, but we might slip in a cheeky pub gig in a couple of weeks if all the rock’n’ roll stars align. Watch this space. 

Till the next time. 

Love PB’s.

Halloween Bash - Stand Up to Cancer - Melksham 26th Oct 2019 

Sometimes you could think that there is only bad news going around in the world, but you don’t have to look that hard to realise there is actually a lot more good stuff going on. People doing good things for all the rights reasons and for no personal advantage 

The Peakies met two such people last night. Let us introduce to you @Mikayla May Ayliffe and @Kayleigh Gullis. This dynamic duo has now set up a series of charity Stand Up to Cancer events over the past year or so, and it was our privilege to play their 2019 Halloween bash in Melksham last night. 

Not known to the band at the time of the booking, we have discovered a secret love for makeup and dressing up and we have already been asking around to see if we can star in a local Panto and offering discount rates if Steve can play a particularly busty Widow Twanky 

Anyway, back to business, after the drummer regained concentration and came back down to earth from dizzying heights following a raffle win of coasters and placemats, we did what we do. As per a blog of a couple of weeks ago, we have found when it’s a rockin’ a bit of Tina Turner always goes down very nicely, so never rehearsed, its almost free jazz improvisation…..its Proud Mary…… 

GREAT NIGHT. BUT most importantly of all, the collective efforts of all involved yesterday tallied a very impressive for Stand Up to Cancer…… 

SO 3 CHEERS FOR Mikayla and Kayleigh, Hip Hip Hurrah, Hip Hip Hurrah, Hip Hip Hurrah

21 Sept 2019 - SAUVE

I guess you could say last night was a typical gig when the Peakies were just taking care of business. A few old songs, a few new ones (well one, Nancy’s These Boots Are Made for Walking) and a few songs with mistakes in. It’s what we do. 

But gigs are never the same. 

We don’t know where these people come from, but a lady in a lovely pair of sparking heels joined us at the mics for Walking on Sunshine. A fella who we thought would absolutely bomb did a very fine job indeed of accompanying us through Suspicious Minds and despite losing to the All Blacks that day, a chap in a South Africa shirt did some fine dancing throughout with his partner. 

However, the highlight in many ways was that friend of friend ,Jackie, who has had a tough time of late and hasn’t been for a night out in quite a while, admitted  to being a big Tina Turner fan, leading to an impromptu Proud Mary. We all felt much the better for it.

Live music and live audiences at their best.  (And if you weren't with us last night, you can join the last chorus of the last song in a sing along to the vid below. The words are very easy to pick up)

We sincerely thank you all in making the effort on getting out and joining us in making the good times. 

Big Love. The PB’s.

13th Sept - Steeple Langford Beer & Cider (and Gin) Fest 

A bit self-indulgent, but when we strike it up and slip into gear and the sound is great on stage, it can raise a hair on the back of your neck whilst you play. At Steeple Langford we were 45 minutes in and still all our hairs were well on their ends. So were we knocking it out the park or was it was because it bloody freezing? Well it a bit of the first and a lot of the latter. 

As we are slaves to rock n roll we don't carry a fine selection of woollens from C&A in a range of autumnal colours in the band van. So what do you do? You play each song faster and louder so to generate heat. 

So whilst we cracked on with it , we're glad to report the groovin' people of Steeple Langford also clicked that by clapping and dancing self-preservation was assured. 

A fine night. BIG thanks for having us at your 20th festival. 

Im also sure when they closed the door of the stage area the lights went off. Mmmmmm,

EVENING,

We’ve mentioned this before, but our extensive Peaky Blinder research proves there is a deep and strong ley line of rock n roll goodness in Mother Earth surfacing in Semington running east towards Bradford on Avon. 

We tapped into the good times Saturday on the tea-time shift in the fine and welcoming Somerset Arms at Semington. Our 3rd trip out to the beautiful people of this fine village and filled their garden shed with the usual PB nonsense. It’s worth a mention that due to holidays and a lack of PB rehearsal time it wasn’t the most razor-sharp performance we’ve ever knocked out, but the dancing public of Semington are a forgiving bunch and will do their fine dancing throughout, pretending not to notice the occasional bum note, dropped beat or missed line. We salute you. 

We then got on the PB tour bus and did a road trip of 5 miles to Bradford on Avon for a Sunday outing at the Rising Sun. 

Due to space issues on stage, guitar shredding, harmonica tooting, melodious singing ‘2 Guns Begbie’ did most of the set in cubicle #1 of the Ladies. 

We also introduce to you a new member of the band. BIG BAD Peter Pillar. He has quite an on-stage presence and he’s a right bugger to get on the tour bus, but we love him all the same. Check him out in the video!!!!!! 

And finally, we met the thinking man’s Simon Cowell. 

The pop Svengali of Bradford on Avon. 

Blah blah blah…anyway he’s known to us and you as Rodney. 

Anyway, the wise man that he is, who probably doesn’t know a F sharp from a C major, but does know when the good times are a rollin’ took vids of the all locals dancing (not of the band) and digging the very fine night that we all had, so he can share their good times at a later date. We thought that was a very cool thing to do and captured the good vibes of a very fine evening at The Rising Sun. Well done ALL of us. Great great night. 

Next bank holiday Xmas eve. Hopefully see you before then.