Wellerbration
was born out of a passion for Wellers music over the last 30
years.
Seeing him from early Jam days and through the Style Council
years and now on a solo journey the music has inspired most
modernist scootering types, myself to a larger extent it has
become a passion.
Wellerbration tickets sold out a month before the gig, the phone
was ringing off the hook with people almost begging to be admitted.
Even on the night we turned away people at the door.
375 people saw what was the best line up I have ever put on
the Land Rover Clubs stage.
The night started at 6.00pm, with DJ Steve Soul Juice Sainy
filling the dance floor with a mix of sounds.
By 7.30 there was not a spare seat to be had, and the atmosphere
was electric. John Backo kicked the live entertainment off with
an acoustic Weller set, with great versions of Wild Wood and
Broken Stones along with Jam classics such as That's Entertainment.
The Small Fakers followed on with a blinding set with over an
hour of memorable tracks such as Tin Soldier and All or Nothing,
as well as lesser known tunes like Get yourself together and
I'm only dreaming.
This was the first time most of the crowd had seen them, but
by the end people were screaming for more, and Itchycoo Park
for the encore went down a blast.
The Jam DRC carried the crowd into a frenzy for 90 minutes of
pure Jam energy, as VFM have advertised probably the best tribute
to ever grace their stage, can only be echoed by myself. These
lads ooze class and give you the impression of The Jam at their
heights.
All the usual hits were belted out as well as old album favourites.
The crowd lapped it up and asked for more, the encore saw the
use of the hammond organ to give us The gift and Beat Surrender.
The night was brought to a close with a final set by DJ Sainy
and 12.00am saw people drifting away to contemplate what they
had seen and heard.
Not only was it a good night for ourselves but Marie Curie Cancer
Care will receive £1502 which was raised from the event.
A big thankyou to all the people who came along, and to DJ Sainy,
The Small Fakers, John Backo and The Jam DRC, Also Andy Green
for the sound engineering
Words by
Brendan Finnegan
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