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Hemsby
Rock'n'Roll Weekenders are a major music event on the Rock'n'roll
calendar taking place twice a year, in May and October, in the village
of Hemsby, Norfolk, 130 miles from London on east coast of England.
All the villagers welcome us and allow us to turn their sleepy little
town in to the worlds first and only Rock'n'Roll village. A real trip
back to the 1950's. Much of Hemsby has been unchanged since the 50's
which make it the perfect setting for the world's biggest Rock'n'Roll
event. Nearby Hemsby Beach and holiday town of Great Yarmouth remain
time warped in fifties culture with its architecture, amusement arcades,
candy floss and old fashioned shops and coffee bars.
After 19 years the event has attracted an ever
increasing amount of interest from foreign and English press, both
local and national, as well as, national T.V. coverage. Hemsby has
been reported in nearly every national newspaper from The Observer
and Sunday Express to the Guardian. The Big Breakfast Show (BBC
TV4) has broadcast live to their national audience from Hemsby.
Why? Because, we have a line up of original American stars who perform
in front of crowds of up to 4,000 fans, who have come to Hemsby
to eat, sleep, drink and breath the 1950's. One third of them come
from all over Europe (France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Holland) and
the World (USA, Australia, Japan).
The 4 days and nights of a Hemsby Weekender
is built around the roots music of the early 1950's and covers Rockabilly,
Hillbilly, Western Bop, Doowop, Jive, R & B, Boogie-woogie and
real 50's Rock'n'Roll. Many original American Rock'n'Roll stars
from the 50's have made their European debuts at Hemsby, performers
such as La Vern Baker, Andy Anderson, Rudy 'Tutti' Grayzell, Don
and Dewey, The Sun Rhythm Section, Tracey Pendarvis, The Collins
Kids, Richard Berry, Curtis Gordon, Vernon Taylor, Chan Romero,
Ruth Brown, Pat Cupp, Otis Williams, Sammy Masters, Jack Earls,
Hardrock Gunter, Glen Honeycutt, Larry Donn, Bobby Wayne, Don Weise,
Marvin Rainwater, Glen Glenn, Gary Lambert, Sanford Clark, Al Casey
and Johnny Faire. Jack Scott, Janis Martin, Ronnie Dawson, Hayden
Thompson, Tommy Sands, Freddie Bell, Barrence Whitfield, Jimmy Cavello,
Eddie 'The Chief' Clearwater, Lee Rocker and Bobby Hendricks have
also performed. Hemsby is one of only a few places in Europe were
you can see the original American Doowop groups, those that have
already appeared include the Del Vikings, Cadillacs, Solitaires,
Rudy West's 5 Keys, Teenagers, El Dorados, Penguins, Earl Lewis
& Channels, 5 Discs, Cleftones, Olympics, Velours, Calvanes,
Jacks/Cadets, Maurice Williams and Willie Winfield, The Bobbettes
and the Harptones.
Hemsby also boasts the biggest fifties marketplace
for clothes, records and memorabilia which is a major attraction
of the event, while many bands and record companies release new
product and re-issues at every Hemsby Weekender. Special Events
including a Talent Show, Jam Session, 50's Car Boot Sale, Fancy
Dress Contest, Dance Competition Professional Jive Lessons, American
cars, Classic bikes and much more. Plus, up to 20 Rock'n'Roll bands
from the UK, Europe and North America come together to make up a
truly 1950's Weekender.
On October 13th, 2006 the festival moved across
the road from Pontins to the truly amazing, utterly authentic Hemsby,
Seacroft site. This has proved a highly popular move with the biggest
crowd in years.
April 19 - 23, 2007 is the 38th Hemsby Rock'n'Roll
Weekender & Oct 11 - 14, 2007 is the 39th Hemsby Rock'n'Roll
Weekender
Bookings & General Inquiries
- Vivien Brittan - Assistant Organiser - Tel: (00 44) 01522 752453
- Fax: (00 44) 01522 752419 - Web Site: www.hemsbyrocknroll.co.uk
- email: hemsby@freeuk.co
Press and Band Inquiries -
Willie Jeffery - Organiser - Tel: (00 44) 01883 714289 Fax: (00
44) 01883 716277
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