20 years of Tales From The Woods

It's hard to believe that the varied and slightly eccentric group of music obsessives known as Tales From The Woods is now 20 years old, but it is. And to mark this landmark the group's unelected leader Keith Woods put on yet another show at the 100 Club - his first such venture since the beginning of lockdown. The show featured several acts who have performed at previous shows, plus some who haven't, and once again featured the excellent Tales From The Woods house band led by guitarist John Spencely and featuring Claire Hamlin on keyboards and Jeff Tuck on drums. Attendance was rather thin (and somewhat on the senior side) but those who were there enjoyed a varied show with a number of first rate performances. I arrived slightly late, but in time to see Richie Milton and friends, who played a mixture of Cajun numbers and skiffle, including 'Rock Island Line', 'Deep Down In My Shoes' and 'Freight Train'. which was well performed by singer Linda Hall. Richie himself was active in the UK blues scene for many years and his current band included an accordian player, who brought the Cajun numbers to life.

Next up was another singer who has been around the UK blues scene for many years, and one I hadn't seen before, Honey B Mama. Known as Hackney's 'Queen of the Blues' Honey's alter ego is Cleo Sylvestre and she was an actress and a friend of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones back in the sixties. He asked her to be the singer in the band he was planning to form when he left the Stones, only for his death to stop that idea in its tracks. Honey's band, which included an excellent piano player, began with a slow Bessie Smith song, 'Jailhouse Blues' and her set included 'Sweet Home Chicago', 'Midnight Special' and 'Let's Work Together'.

The pace hotted up with the arrival on stage of the Tales From The Woods band and the appearance of several artists who were making return appearances to a Keith Woods show. Allan Bailey performed a couple of Elvis numbers - 'Mess Of Blues' and 'That's When Your Heartaches Begin' - plus one of his own.

He was followed by Garry Mills, who had a number of minor hits in the early sixties plus one fairly big hit with 'Look For A Star' which was the theme for the UK film 'Circus Of Horrors'. Garry, who hails from my home town of West Wickham in Kent, began with his 1960 45 'Comin' Down With Love' and continued with his first record, 'Hey Baby', the tuneful and rather cute 'Top Teen Baby', 'Look For A Star' and his later Decca single 'I'll Step Down'. Garry revealed that his son Garry Junior died very recently and this made his rendition of Buddy Holly's 'Raining In My Heart', dedicated to his late son and his grand daughters who were in the audience, especially poignant and was much appreciated by the audience. He ended with a good version of 'Teddy Bear'. An enjoyable set and his bravery in doing the show was fantastic.

Possible the liveliest set of the night followed with the arrival of Liverpool singer Beryl Marsden who put loads of energy into her performance. She kicked off with 'Everything's Gonna be Alright' and her cover of Barbara George's 'I Know' which was a Decca release for her in 1963. There followed three Shirelles numbers - 'Baby It's You, 'Boys' and 'Everybody Loves A Lover' - and a bluesy version of 'Hi Heel Sneakers'. She rounded off an exciting set with 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On' and 'Let's Have a Party' which got many of the audience bopping away.