HEMSBY ROCK 'N' ROLL WEEKENDERS 1987-2012
THE ROCK 'N' ROLL VILLAGE

Hemsby Rock’n’Roll Weekenders are major music events 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 the east coast of England. Along with our venue, Seacroft Holiday Village, all the villagers welcome us and allow us to turn their sleepy little village into the world’s first and only Rock’n’Roll village. It’s a real trip back to the 1950’s. Much of Hemsby has been left unchanged since the 50’s which make it the perfect setting for the world’s longest running and most famous Rock’n’Roll event. Hemsby Beach and the nearby holiday town of Great Yarmouth remain in a time warp with its seaside amusements, candy floss, old fashioned shops and coffee bars.

For nearly 25 years, the event has attacked a huge amount of interest from both English and foreign press, including national TV coverage. Hemsby has been reported in nearly every national newspaper from The Observer, The Guardian, Sunday Express, The Metro, to the Financial Times. The BBC 4 Big Breakfast Show has broadcast live to their national audience from Hemsby. Why? Because we have a line-up of original American stars and roots bands that perform to crowd of up to 3,000 fans who have come to eat, sleep, drink and breathe the 1950’s. Many those attending come from all over Europe, and the world including the USA, Australia, South America and Japan.

For three days and nights Hemsby Rock’n’Roll Weekender is built around the roots music of the 1950’s and covers Rockabilly, Hillbilly, Western Bop, Doowop, Jive, R&B, Boogie-woogie and real 50’s Rock’n’Roll. Many of the original American stars from the 50’s have played Europe for the first time at Hemsby. They include Lavern Baker, Andy Anderson, Rudy Tutti Grazell, Don and Dewey, The Sun Rhythm Section, Tracey Pendarvis, The Colins Kids, Richard Berry, Curtis Gordon, Vernon Taylor, Ruth Brown, Pat Cupp, Otis Williams, Sammy Masters, Jack Earls, Larry Donn, Bobby Wayne, Marvin Rainwater, Glen Glenn, Sanford Clark, Al Casey, Jimmy Cavello, Freddie Bell, Barrence Whitfield, Eddie ‘The Chief’ Clearwater, Bobby Hendricks, Tommy Sands, Ronnie Dawson, Janis Martin, Wanda Jackson, Sonny Burgess, Gene Summers, Johnny Powers, Narvel Felts, as well as original Doowop such as, The Del Vikings, The Cadillacs, The Solitaires, The Teenagers, The Penguins, The 5 Discs, The Velours, The Calvanes, Rudy West’s Five Keys, The Bobbettes, Willie Winfield and The Harptones and Maurice Williams and the Zodias to name but a few.

Hemsby boasts a fantastic indoor marketplace for clothes, records and memorabilia which is a major attraction to the event. Many bands and record companies release new product at every Hemsby Weekender. Special events include a Jam Session, Pin-up Contest, Classic Car Cruise, Norfolk Broads Boat Cruise, Car Boot Sale, Dance Competition, Professional Jive Lessons and much more. DJ’s from all over the UK and Europe and up to 21 bands from around the world come together to make up a truly 1950’s Weekender.