Valentines at Vocalzone

2001 is hotting up and there's a host of gigs and giggers in the South East.

Starting off we have the return of Vocalzone. Launched in 1999 it aimed to provide a forum for vocal-centric jazz in Southend and was a great success at its original home in the Westcliff Hotel near the Cliffs Pavilion.

The new century will see it move to the Crystal Room of the Palace Hotel Ballroom at Pier Hill, Southend.

Vocalzone creator Jackson Sloane will launch the year with a return of the outrageous Holly Penfield for a Valentine special. Holly is noted for her cabaret style and worldly charms along with her cracking tunes.

The gig on February 12 starts at 8pm and tickets are just £4. For more information call Jackson on 01702 468492.

Holly Penfield - Valentine special

Carvin' it up at Riga

The Riga Music Bar sees the indomitable Carvin Jones next Wednesday performing his Hendrix-esque set of tunes.

The next night the Westcliff venue sees the god-rocker tribute band Stairway to Zeppelin playing all the great classics of Led Zep and Friday February 2 it hosts the fantastic Pink Fraud.

I last saw the Pink Floyd tribute band at Chinnerys and to say they play just like the originals is like saying the Pope is Catholic and bears do it in the woods.

Expect two hours of a sound alike and lookalike show at the London Road venue. The centrepiece of the evening is a complete rendition of the Floyd masterpiece Dark Side of the Moon.

The saxophone work is perfection and the female backing singer has to be heard to be believed. Yes, she can really hit all the impossible notes and all the widdley noises, digital ticks and whirrs are supplied by Korgs, Moogs and the like. And you'll love the groovy cine-film with additional oil-lights.

Tickets are £6 and doors open at 8.30pm. Call 0468 016116 for more information.

And if that's not enough, the bluesmeisters AM5 hit the stage on February 3 for a top evening of high-charged tunes for just £4.

Silversea's London date

Essex band Silversea are coming home, but not after an industry showcase night in London on February 7.

The Gossips gig, in Mead Street, underneath the Pitcher and Piano bar (nearest tube is Tottenham Court Rd) will be before record company lags and regular punters for £6 on the door or £4 for concessions.

There will be a coach running for 25 lucky folk, leaving Essex House in Southchurch Road, Southend and stops along the London Road.

God-knows why this Stones-inspired band hasn't been signed as their EP CD is a blinder.

All Back To Mine lifts off with pounding Hammond, harp and rhythm guitar and the lead and harmony vocals are scorching, clear and spot on.

Gambling Man is up there with Reef and Primal Scream's tunes for pogoing, slide-guitar rock - and the Jools Holland boogie-woogie piano at the end is a treat.

If there was room I'd continue the six-track review with equal and fullsome glee, but instead I advise you to get along to their gigs, buy it off them and enjoy it as much as I have.

Hopefully, with the rock revival approaching, this band may well return the charts and NME plaudits to Essex once more.

Even better than that, they've wrangled semi-residency at my own pub, the Grand Hotel in Leigh for the next year.

Every month you can catch them upstairs at the Broadway pub starting on Sunday February 18. Tickets are just £3.

Don't miss them - if they can do live half as good as their CD you're all in for a corker of a night.

For more information and tickets to their gigs contact Tom Keenan on 01702 472370.

Oops!

Correction time. The Longo Allstars email address was recently reported wrongly. It should be case-sensitive LONGO.ALLSTARS@futhermucker.co.uk

Sorry chaps.

Job's a good 'un...

Job done are bringing their original rock/country/folk style to Club Dawn in Southchurch Road, Southend on Februrary 2.

Tickets are £5. If you want to catch their tunes or learn more about the band reach them at www.jobdoneonline.com

Essex legend Hooker at the Belvedere

Southend own legend, the wily Steve Hooker is enjoying the Chinese year of the Snake and kicks off with a gig on Thursday night at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Basildon.

Expect the usual and unusual blues, rockabilly and rock treats. Tickets are £4.

By Carl Eve

Reporter's e-mail: carl.eve@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.