We set sail on this evening’s one of a kind journey fueled by cider and a mutual love of exquisite music lead by Man the Lifeboats, a band from England, who were tasked with preparing us for this allmighty night of raucous shanties that lay ahead.
They were well equipped to do so, with Banjos and Accordions in hand, and well received with their story soaked songs and their fiddles bringing us upbeat folk and pounding bass lines that had the crowd up close and stomping; like no other opening act I’ve seen at the New Cross Inn.
Keep your eyes out for these guys, I have a feeling you’ll be coming across them at festivals and shows all over for many years to come.
I’m hoping to have an interview with them soon and I’ll let you know where to catch them.
I have to say this line up complimented each other so well. The atmosphere was built up into a stomping cider loving shanty wailing frenzy from the very get go.
Surfin’ Turnips took over where Man the lifeboats left off and, as a long time circulating band/experts in the ways of scrumpy and western, they knew exactly what to do with us. They had us arms linked and dancin’, surfin’ and shoutin’, and of course doing the Surfin Turnips OkieKokie along with well known ballads of cider and the wild wild west!
It was great to see The Dreadnoughts’ frontman himself up front, beverage in hand and singing along with the West Country legends for such classics as ‘Cider Commando’ ‘We Are The Boys Of The West Country’ and ‘Drink Up Thee Cider’.
The Dreadnoughts’ for me, were a bucket list band, something I had to experience live with great urgency and, now that I’ve seen them, they still are!
I will endeavour to catch these guys as many times as I can, and I suggest you do the same, they won’t disappoint!
Join me as I attempt to recount the events, I will do my best to relay the chaos that ensued during this sold out show, but this night was truly something to witness…
The Dreadnaughts’ who are formed by members from all over, were joined in London by an incredible stand in fiddle player, who saved the day by learning the entire setlist in only 3 and a half days after their usual fiddle player caught the dreaded covid. They were joined also by local ladies The Silver Darlings for their classic shanty “Randy Dandy Oh”.
The legendary Dreadnaughts drummer, a man of many talents, who played the whole of Roll The Woodpile Down while crowd surfing. It was a pleasure to meet these hilarious gentleman after the show.
The crowd, in my opinion, are equally as important as the bands for a solid good night and the folk that follow these class acts are, infact, badass ; never before have I crowd surfed for an entire song and been allowed to safely sail the span of the room. They scooped every fallen fellow before they hit the ground, they obliged gratefully to every command set to us by the frontman. We formed a human pyramid and it wasn’t until the band taking pity on those on the lower decks before it parted; from the top of that pyramid these legends allowed me to surf the room once again, and slide down a pole onto the stage.
There was a polka circle pit, a politically charged wall of death, and every person knew every line to every song. And I know what you’re thinking, after all those antics there’s no way I didn’t lose my phone. Through all of these antics I lost my phone, but being in such good company, someone handed it in safely, for which I am truly grateful.
This gig for me, sits comfortably with the likes of Dropkick Murphys and SNFU as one of the best shows I’ve ever been to, and I do not say that lightly. The sheer skills and talent that The Dreadnoughts brought to a room full of anarchy. I was left in awe.
They played old favourites such as ‘Return To Turbo Island’ and ‘Sleep Is For The Weak’ which brought the house down, but it was hearing how powerful the new material, like the short but sweet “Cider Jar” and the already classic “Cider Holiday”, that just goes to prove that even after 7 mind blowing albums The Dreadnoughts are still as strong as ever; setting the standard on Punk Polka, Cider Shanties, Irish Jig and Klezmar dance songs like only they can.
I will be delvng into their latest release “Roll and Go” in my next album review but I honestly only had good things to say, and that was before I witnessedit live.
Please join me in my mission to get “Cider Holiday” to christmas number one, I think you all know it’s the right thing to do.
Massive thanks to The Dreadnoughts and their team, The Surfin Turnips, Man The Lifeboats, The Silver Darlings, the crowd, The New Cross Inn, Be Sharp Promotions and of course Original Rock for an epic evening.
Please check all these guys out on Spotify and support your local live music scene.
Personal recommendations over on Spotify.
Man The Lifeboats
Born Drunk
Surfin Turnips
We Are The Boys From The West Country
The Silver Darlings
Haul Away, Joe
The Bay Of Suvla – Foreign Skies
Sleep Is For The Weak – Polka’s Not Dead
The Dreadnoughts
Old Maui – Legends Never Die
Cider Holiday
Cider Holiday
Cider Holiday
On repeat until this happens.
#ciderholidayforxmasnoone