We're taking a break...

Some people say that The Oddsods is an institution. (Others say that we should be placed in one!)

Well this band is taking a step out of the limelight for a while. Two band members (Pete Willow and Richard 'Doc' Rider) are leaving to pursue other musical directions and Simon has a stack of day job commitments that are making it difficult for him to fit in public appearances. Paul and Mick also play for other bands. So now seems a good time to put the 'Sods on ice for a while.

Don't worry - this isn't the end of an era. We'll keep our website, MySpace page and this blog going and we'll let you know when the 'Sods are back in circulation with a new line-up but the same 'music for a rare old time' that has kept us busy for the last 15 years.

Thanks for all the support from Oddsods fans and the bookings from discerning venues from Cumbria to Cornwall.

The regular Denbigh Arms sessions will continue each the month in Monks Kirby, near Rugby although these have been renamed as 'The Denbigh Arms Sessions', led by Pete Willow and usually featuring Richard 'Doc' Rider, Bob Brooker and Ewan Cameron from Dark Island and singer-guitarist Colin Squire plus other talented musicians from across Warwickshire and Leicestershire. It's always a good night of music, starting at 8.30pm (admission free) - the next session is this Sunday, 20th July.

Playing for the President!

The 'Sods have been invited to perform for the Presidents' Night - not in the White House but in a large Birmingham Club on the strength of our performance at the CAMRA Birmingham Beer Festival.

The gig is on June 28th but it's a private party so we can't plug details. Nevertheless it's good to get the prestige gigs as a result of recommendations from people who've actually seen us play (in contrast to rumours from people who haven't!)

Meanwhile some changes on the Denbigh Arms front. Same format - new name. The 'Denbigh Arms session' continues to meet on the last Sunday of the month in the famous upstairs room of the Denbigh Arms, Monks Kirby, featuring members of The Oddsods (usually Pete, Richard and Paul), members of Dark Island (usally Bob Brooker and Ewan Cameron), the excellent singer-guitarist Colin Squire, plus anyone else with talent on the vocal and instrumental departments.

The next session is Sunday June 29th. We'll be taking a break in July as many of us will be at the Warwick Folk Festival, then it's business as usual on Sunday August 31st. Come in your coachloads!

Getting back in the Godiva groove

The 'Sods are back on the folk marquee stage for this year's Godiva Festival in Coventry's War Memorial Park - the biggest free festival in the Midlands.

The folk concert takes place throughout the afternoon of Sunday 6th July with Jez Lowe and Kate Bramley topping the bill. Here's the flyer with the running order:



Good to see Joe O'Donnell's new line-up of Shkayla appearing. Some of you will know that Joe is an 'honorary Oddsod' having played with the band for a few weeks when we had a busy run of bookings and no fiddle-player a few years ago.

This will be our first appearance at Godiva with Mr Shaler at the fiddling helm. Get ready to rock!

Greyhound gig postponed - Simon's poorly!

Forget the last news item. The Greyhound gig in Coventry this Saturday will be postponed until nearer the summer.

The reason - lead singer and melodeon-man Simon was admitted to Warwick Hospital on Monday with abdominal pains. They're still being diagnosed but he's doped up at the moment and is likely to need an operation this week. So he'll be in no fit state to perform this Saturday.

The gig at the Bull Inn, Witherley on Saturday 26th April will go ahead with or without Simon - watch this space for updates on gigs and on Simon's condition.

Two old 'Sods to join beer festival line-up

Two former Oddsods members are to join the line-up on the afternoon of Saturday 19th April for the band's beer festival appearance at The Greyhound Inn, on the canalside at Sutton Stop, Coventry.

Fiddle-player Nigel Ward is to step in for Mick Shaler who won't be available for the gig, while founder Oddsods member Bob Brooker, now playing bouzouki and banjo for popular folk and ceilidh band Dark Island, will be the band's sixth man.

The free admission show begins at 4pm and runs until the early evening. The band will be entertaining connoisseurs of a wide selection of ales and they may even try the odd tipple themselves - just to keep the vocal cords lubricated.

Star Trekker Doc Aims For The Top

Oddsods euphonium wizard, Richard 'Doc' Rider is to trek to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise £6000.

In December, Richard and his son Stephen are heading to Tanzania to do the sponsored climb and take part in an International Conference, organised by the charity ‘Engineers Against Poverty'(EAP). The money will help EAP work with industry, government and civil society to fight poverty and promote sustainable development. (Check out their website for further details)

Over the next few months Doc will be inviting friends, colleagues and anyone else that happens by to sponsor the climb. From now ‘til December, he and his family are planning events and rattling a collecting tin to raise the cash.

Look out for news of a special Oddsods gig to help the cause. If anyone has any other fund-raising ideas, speak to Richard or Liz.

Meanwhile, here's wishing every success to our intrepid mountaineers, doing their bit to eradicate global poverty. Keep on trekking guys!

All change for Paddy's weekend

The landlord of the Greyhound in Coventry booked in a wedding for Saturday 15th March - then realised he'd also booked the 'Sods to celebrate the patron saint of good times and no snakes! It would have been chaos!

The good news is - he has another pub. So reset your satnavs folks. We're celebrating St.Pat's at the Bull Inn, Witherley, Nth. Warwickshire (on the A5 between Nuneaton and Atherstone CV9 1RD). There'll be a big marquee, lashings of Guinness and a rare old time.

And if you're looking for something special to wear that evening, why not take your pick from one of our specially designed, stylish t-shirts and long sleeve shirts with a great selection of shamrocks, Oddsods logos and cool pictures of the band?

Go on - prove you're a true fan!