Friday 8:00pm: Paul & Louise's wedding.
We kick off the weekend at Maiden's Barn somewhere in deepest, darkest Essex. The Best Men' s speeches were excellent and Paul & Louise want 'Chasing cars' as their first song and we nailed it. The evening got better and better, the DJ from Sound One Events was a great bloke, doing the lights during our sets and giving us some great introductions. We sent Paul & Louise off happy and got home relatively early (1-ish).

Saturday 10.00 am: Kilimanjaro Charity Ball - Stockbrook Manor Golf Club
Have to get up and get over to Billericay to set up the gear for tonight's charity bash. Room looks great, all dekked out and we've actually got a stage big enough (just) for once! Turn up in our monkey suits for the evening do. Nice meal, plenty of drink flowing and a chat with some old friends, then into the set. Sounds good - big echoey room, with loads of reverb - lovely. Everyone up from the first number, which was er... 'Chasing cars'. Played through til 1:15pm, got home at 3:00am, happily knackered... Big thanks goes out to Deb, Bev, Wendy and everyone who helped arrange such a fantastic night, and everyone who helped make some money for such a great cause.

Sunday 12.30 pm: White Hart Beer Festival - Margaretting Tye
Happy birthday Wendy! Band turned up on time, except for Chris who had the van with our equipment. So, with nothing better to do, we had to start sampling the real ale. Chris turned up and hour later looking very sheepish (until he started on the real ale). We kicked off at 2:30pm, did an excellent 2 hour non-stop set until Beth and Richard came on for an acoustic session at 4:30pm which was superb. More acoustic stuff from us (Weather with you/Why does it always rain on me? and other fine weather related songs) then into our second serious set. At 6.30 time for the jagged eyes to make their full band appearance doing all their own stuff, 'Twilight skies' still my favourite, They just get better and better. We came back on (by now very worse for wear) about 7.30pm to finish the night off, with some kicking versions of Mr. Brightside / Comfortably Numb / Hysteria / Dakota. Mr. David Barrett doing his stuff as only he can do, whipped the audience into the kind of frenzy only they can do. Off stage about 9-ish home by 10.45pm, trying not to think about work tomorrow... Happy Birthday Ian!!!

Another great stocks gig. Thanks to the regulars and the newbies who weathered the sweaty conditions. Special thanks as always go to Dave Barrett (the best looking cheerleader in Ingatestone), the sweaty dancing bar staff, Laurie and to Mr. David Shalloe on Bass guitar for the best ever version of 'Hysteria' (Muse - who they?).

Just got back from the 'Never Ending Tour of Duty' mini tour of Holland. ! In 4 days we've managed 1000 miles of driving / 4 hours of Ferrying / under 15 hours of sleeping / over 10 hours of playing and we've still got huge smiles after one of the best Holland stints EVER! Massive thanks to everyone involved - Jagged Eyes / The DOG of ROCK / Jonny Roscoe / Dave Standen  / Dave Barrett / Trev n' Pod / Dimi, Sean & Bianca / Godelieve / George / all the hard drinking, long suffering WAGS / Terry / a special thanks to Ray, Connie (Poppy), Cheryl & bump, Chana & the twins. Thanks to all of the crowds that turned up at the gigs - you were truly amazing and you made our weekend. There will be stories, there will be pictures - no-one will be spared - not even the innocent! But for now we need to catch up on some much needed kip (that's chicken to you Pete...).

If you have any stories to tell from the trenches, then please share by commenting on this post. See other posts in the guestbook now...
We love ya all!

The boys from BFC

THE NEVER ENDING TOUR OF DUTY - 2010



EP Title: “The Never Ending Tour of Duty”
Recorded: May 2010, Produced & Engineerd by Dave Shalloe at Seahorse Studios
Mixed by Terry Walker
Doughnuts/Biscuits/Coffee and a shoulder to cry on by Leena Shalloe
Band Lineup -
Ian Barrett: Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals
Stefan Cybichowski: Drums/Percussion/Vocals
Dave Shalloe: Bass Guitar
Chris Standen: Vocals
Kevin Howe: Guitar/Vocals

Track Listing:
1. Do anything you wanna do
2. Use somebody
3. Rosalie
4. Chasing Cars
5. Sex on fire
6. I don't think you don't like me*

* Music and lyrics by: Ian Barrett