Day Two Sunday May 28th 2006

This convention was organised by non other than Doug Melbourne the former keyboard player with Regenesis.

The crowd return for the second day (Photo Credit, Mark Kenyon - Editor)

I arrived at the venue after a heartily breakfast at my mums and a rather uneventful trip down to the Astoria on the London underground and before long I was soon inside the venue after collecting my pass. I set up my camcorder even though I later found out it wasn’t needed. I was a little worn out after yesterday’s fun.

Steve Puddick was present with his wife also helping, again they were conducting the raffle for the prize of a trip around Fisher Lane Farm and a listening session. I tried to help draw in some lucky convention attendee’s as they were coming into the venue.

I left Steve and his wife to it and I re-entered the main hall, I had a brief conversation with Doug M and I bumped into Alan Hewitt whom was busy with his quiz.

G2 are a another Genesis tribute band whom specialise in the 1976 and 1977 era of Genesis were on hand to entertain the fans, G2 put in a stellar performance thanks mainly to the professionalism of the band, Although I do recall an excellent version of Blood On The Roof Tops as well as some excellent double drumming when non other than Nigel Appleton of the Genesis tribute band Regenesis joined in the evenings performance.

G2 wow the audience (Photo credit, Mark Kenyon - Editor)

G2 personnel

Jeff Walker - Drums and Percussion
Terry Day – Vocals and Percussion
Piers de Lavison - Keyboard and Backing Vocals
Chris Cawte - Guitars and Backing Vocals
Dave Wilk – Bass Guitar and Bass Pedals
Nigel Appleton – Guest Drummer for the Double Drumming parts

After what can best be described as a time machine journey back to the middle and late 1970’s G2 seem to be coming off the stage, It was at this stage of the evenings event that Alan Hewitt announced the winners of the quiz and handed out the prizes to those lucky winners.

Alan was also asked kindly to draw the winners of the charity raffle that Steve Puddick had been collecting for all weekend, after some rather strange and rather unhelpful comments from a few folks in the front row, the four winners were picked and announced.

Then Doug M announced the next act it was non other than John Hackett and his band, This band were on its second public outing and were excellent from the start, I say that on a biased basis as I had witnessed them about a week before in Sheffield at the Boardwalk on there first public debut.

The Set List (Order may be wrong)

Ace Of Wands, Late Trains, Fantasy, DNA, Double Helix, Winter, Hands Of The Priestess, A Tower Struck Down and Ego And Id (amongst other songs).

John Hackett Band personnel

John Hackett - Vocals and Flute as well as Rhythm Guitar
Tony Patterson - Vocals and Additional Keyboards
Nick Magnus - Keyboard and Backing Vocals
Andy Gray - Lead Guitar or otherwise Rhythm Guitar
Andy Hyam - Bass Guitar
Neil Marshall - Drums and Percussion
Steve Hackett – Guest Lead Guitarist

This proved to be another excellent performance again the whole band appeared to enjoy themselves, and it was the icing on an already delicious cake when John’s band where joined by his brother Steve for the final three songs. The audience really did show there appreciation at the delight on stage.

John Hackett playing a custom flute (Photo Credit, Mark Kenyon - Editor)

Sadly this too ended very quickly as is always the case when your enjoying yourself, The next act on stage was non other than the historic Genesis tribute band Regenesis whom have been going since the early 1990’s. Sadly I was unable to witness personally there last performance as I had a family emergency to attend to so I said my goodbye’s and I left the convention.

When I returned home and the emergency was dealt with and I caught up with my sleep as there is nothing like your own bed (sorry mum) and I had recovered after my ear drums and feet had such a bashing I was able to take in just what a success the convention had been, and the next day I then looked through the 1,200 photographs I had taken.

My thanks therefore go to the following, Doug Melbourne for organising the convention, Caroline at Hyperactivity Publicity for the Peter Gabriel prize, All of the bands over the whole weekend for performing and gaining new fans, to the people I met whom I had only seen on various forums online such as Tom Morgenstein and Dave Dunnington as well as James Hendry……and anyone else I have mislaid.

Lets hope there is another convention soon enough to recapture the friendly spirit of that weekend in May of 2006

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