Gary O'Dea & Garry Oliver (GOJO' MUSIC) will be performing an half hour acoustic set at The Wharf Bar, Walsall at 1pm on Sat 2nd July - appearing as part of Walsalls ARTS ALIVE FESTIVAL. Free admission so get along if you can.

After groovin' under a gazebo on a slanted (patio!) paved area outside a pub/bar area @The Run to The Shires Scooter Festival (I think the gathered crowd were of the same chain of thought as the band - (i.e.) why are we having to perform here? Let's just say that the performance area was not very flattering, but anyway, being the accomplished pro's that we are we soldiered on, fixed bayonets and up and at em' delivering an acoustically driven funky beast of a set) - the band and fellow Gojo' groovers Maca and Dave took in some well needed 'R&R' (rest and relaxation). A great attendance at the festival - over 2,000 scooter enthusiasts (pity they weren't a bit more enthusiastic about the music) and we were very impressed with some of the scooters on show.

A packed main stage area of the night - but I was far more impressed with the DJ's than the bands - although Orange Street (ska/reggae covers band) got the place rockin' - The Rolling Clones just added more fuel to my raging fire about 'tribute bands' (even more so poor tribute bands) - why bother? The DJ's took me back a few years to classic mixes of funk/soul/reggae/punk etc, - similar to the old JB's club in Dudley on a good night. 'Old Reliable' (Ecka Cox) succumbed to some zzzz's in the corner of the room about 1:00am in the morning while Maca Gullick succumbed to more and more cans of cider. We then left the main arena to take in some 'cool cut' Soul music from the soul shack opposite the main stage area.

We left the soul shack about 2:30am in the morning trudging wearily back to our tent and van when 'Original Sinner' Dave Tucker became obsessed with running amok in the Derbyshire countryside. He went 'ass over tit' in the field that we were camping in - rolling down a slight dip and came up soaked through from the wet grass. The remaining Gojo party - me Ecka and Maca (Olly and Simon left the festival about 9pm on the Saturday night - wisely opting for their own beds) fell about laughing. He then got in the tent to take his soaking wet clothes off where he became more obsessed with 'festival madness' and came hurtling out of the tent completely naked to chant 'hippy style' mantra's and carried on running naked around the field (Simon Atkins would have no doubt joined him had he have been present owing to his history of 'naked performance') - sadly a camera was not at hand to record the performance for prosperity. If any one from the festival does have photo's can they please send them to this web site - please, please, please.

Regards

Gary O'Dea