Martin Ruddy and band brought into the H-bar-C many of his followers and made it in the end standing room only and a struggle to get to the bar! Being this close to Christmas we enjoyed a set of Christmas songs and after the encore Martin himself requested more encores with an Irish sing along set with many guests linking arms and others waving with the rhythm. Tonight Dave’s daughter Amy came on stage. Martin and Co are the group for a real Party and will be back at the anniversary celebrations in May! Read More...
Nashville Sounds with Peter on vocals, Sam on bass and vocals, Steve on lead guitar, his dad Ray on steel and a young man (which name has escaped me) on drums. They strung many songs together into popular medleys which turned into sing along sessions. The band played an emotional Blanket On The Ground for deceased Billy Jo Spears, who had only died a couple of days previously. Read More...
Ray with Phil backing him on fiddle and Shaun on lead guitar and mandolin, started the night off with Good Hearted Woman and they got the dancers on the floor from the start. Read More...
Texas Tornadoes are one of the most popular band at the H-Bar-C. Especially with the young ladies which he serenades singing his selection of old and new songs. He always has some new and updated material, mixing People are Crazy with Here Comes My Baby then Write My Number On My Hand, a brand new song from Scotty McCreery. Read More...
The advertised band Jeff Gallent, was stuck in Norfolk and with a call at 5pm, Ian Highland managed to bring us a 5 piece band, with two members from Essex!. Backing Ian were all professional musicians. Read More...
West Virginia, having been on the road for 36 years and for the last 30 years played at the H-Bar-C maybe twice or three times a year, have made many friends and can afford to crack their saucy jokes. They are a very reliable band, playing true country with the sixties style touch, lovely harmonies. Read More...
We had seen Arizona Storm before in Wolvestock, but for most H-Bar-C members they were new and quite a breath of fresh air, playing mostly new and current songs. Saying this, they started of the night with the popular Friends In Low Places, Chattahoochie and Neon Moon. Read More...
As usual, the H-Bar-C was mobbed the day Henry Smith played the club with followers coming from near and far proving why he is voted again the Entertainer of the year. Just a few songs he started the night with were: By The Grace Of God, Don't Rock The Juke Box, Just To See You Smile and Freight Train. Read More...
Pat Nugent and his band played their hearts out giving us a great time. Different sets at the same tempo, waltzes and party songs, and a lot of solid country music creating a happy atmosphere. Read More...
The group First Chapter have gone from good to great, and now to excellent, after Roland gave them their first gig in this line-up after Kevin Stewart left to make a future in Ireland. Their repertoire is very classic with songs from Bobby Bare, Don Williams, Marty Robbins and George Ducas. Many are recorded on their CD called Chapter One. Read More...
One of the best candidates for a modern British Country award must certainly be The Diablos with their original songs and music mostly rocky with a few beautiful ballads like Saturday Night and Angel, from their well acclaimed album Rhinestones and Diamonds of original music on sale. Read More...
Naturally you would expect lots of Hank Williams numbers, with the occasional Hank Snow for good measure. Pete on vocals and lead guitar, Steve on drums and Tony on bass work well together on those traditional Country songs, with some Rockabilly to get the blood pounding, waltzes and smooches for another great night. Read More...
Joining Steve Jay on bass and Tony Crooks Guitar was Cliff Weston playing steel and dobro, which added richness to sound. Steve told us that apart from another club in Harlow, they go out as a duo mostly on the dancing scene. Read More...
Those who complain that bands play the same old songs, should treat themselves to a night out with the Doggone Honkabilly Band. You won't hear much that is modern but you will enjoy Country from those Rockabilly days when it was full with Rock 'n Roll. Read More...
This team of 2 husbands and wives, making together Struck It Rich always give you a very solid night of the best of country music. Sandie’s vocals are extremely beautiful, strong and clear and between them, John, Ed, and Bev they plays 8 different instruments, Steel, mandolin, Guitar, Keyboards, Banjo bass and drums. Read More...
Texas Tornados are very popular with the young ladies and amazingly with a few more mature visitors because of their very updated repertoire. Songs like Messed Up In Memphis, I Need You Now, Knee Deep and Kiss My County A$$. Read More...
With Peter on holiday, we had Clive Grant from the Henry Smith Band standing in on bass and it turned out a very different night of music than we are used to from Nashville Sounds. Sam rose to the occasion on the main vocals with Ray falling in as usual with true country numbers. Crowded to capacity, the night turned into a big party with many medleys, which kept the dancers on the floor solidly throughout the night. Read More...
Ray Peters Band gave us a very full sound just playing 2 guitars by Ray and Shaun with Phil leading on the fiddle. Ray has appeared on Sky 201 The Phil Mack Country Show which is on Mondays and Saturdays. Read More...
A welcome return from the boys of Capricorn, who presented a very professional, and straight forward evening of pure country music. They are also always so immaculately dressed. The night started off with the number In My Arms Tonight by drummer Mike Pretty. Read More...
As we love the Swing-Commanders, they love our club, and they came determined to give us a Show to remember. Rosie was still ill and Simon sang her parts instead. With drummer Paul, who is band leader of a 17 piece blues band, standing in for Mark on paternity leave, we were guaranteed a good night! Read More...
Tony brought five piece band Ridgeway Country over to the H-Bar-C, and had Dave from the Henry Smith’s band standing in on steel. Together with Jess on bass guitar, Andy on lead guitar and Biff on drums they made a very tight outfit. Read More...
Kalibre gave us a night of pure, solid country music. As in the past, Bob Read and Bob Dixon were accompanied by Sarah Curran who made the sound extra special. Read More...
Mustang began their show with a medley of quick step music, but to start with the audience were happy to sit and listen, but not for long. When Mitch sang Cold, Cold Heart, the dancers came on the floor and especially the waltzing medley after, the floor was well occupied. Read More...
C’est La Vie, one of British top bands visited the H-Bar-C on the first date in July and gave a top class performance. Starting of the night with a favourite dancing song, Turn Me Loose following with a more updated song from Josh Turner, Just To Be Your Man. This was the pattern of the night, classics varied by new and mixed with their own original music. Read More...
Celebration Night all the way with the Martin Ruddy Band at the H-Bar-C, They know how to keep a party going! Martin gave a little Irish medley which even had some doing a hoedown, a very unusual event this far South. Some old time waltzes for his many Irish fans and a rare treat with Annie’s Song before giving us a Michael Bublé Song, Let Me Go Home. Read More...
For their first visit to the H-Bar-C and all the way from Glasgow, Scotland, the the 3 gentlemen had started their journey South at 8 this morning. Just 2 short stops on their way and they arrived at the club in time to set up. A good variation of different tempos kept the dancers going and already earned them repeat bookings for next year. Read More...
Aubrey Lovejoy and Tennessee Rain returned to visit to the H-Bar-C and again brought several of his old fans in. Roland said, “It is nice to go back to the glory years of the 80ties and 90ties now and again. Tonight with Aubrey was one such a night!” Read More...
Muddy Boots may be a new name to our club, but the band members, Chris, Richard and Pete have been on the scene for many years in different bands, who have now expanded, and have a fully professional sound. Read More...
Westonline a duo of two brothers Cliff and Paul who have graced the music scene for many years in different bands. At the H-Bar-C they are accompanied by the beautiful, very talented and close friend Marie Lee, who has a wonderful voice and lovely personality, to win the hardest critic’s heart. Read More...
The ‘lads’ from West Virginia, Keith, Mike, Arthur and Tony drove all the way from Middlesborough helping us to celebrate our 28th anniversary of the H-Bar-C. That night they had to drive back all the way to Doncaster, but not before they created lots of fun with their quips and saucy stories and excellent music. Again the clubs members had made a collection for Roland and June for their dedication and work during the year and presented the welcome bubblies, flowers and gifts. Roland said, ”We’ve had a very successful year and bands with four or more remain our ambition but they most live up North.” Read More...
What a real treat to have this young man and his band back with such enthusiasm for the music and the audience. Jeff Gallant’s grin of delight was worthy of a Eurovision contender. There was an electric party atmosphere and the boys in the band said they had a fantastic time. They drove back all the way to Norfolk that same night. Read More...
As alway the Diablos mixed their classy own material with well known and classic country songs. Their self written songs are mostly uptempo near the rocky side and they are already being used by several other bands on the circuit. I for one love original music, which I feel is what it is all about, country music of the country you live in! Read More...
Party throwers Nashville Sounds came with their popular repertoire their fans expect to hear. Songs Here Comes My Baby and I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight and another number with BABY in the title. We were sent home with Proud Mary and the encore The Breeze with hair flying and Steve’s phenomenal playing on his Flying Vee guitar still ringing in our ears! Read More...
Now when did you last hear a band announce: “This is the Current No.1”? Pete did so with Thompson SquareAre You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not. Roland said, “Pete warms to his fans and the fans warm back to him”. The people did not want them to finish and Rod, Pete and Stewart obliged with giving us two encores. Read More...
Henry Smith and his entourage filled the house and dance floor all night and Danced The Night Away! June told me that there were in excess of 170 people, many of them youngsters and teenagers, this is the appeal of Henry Smith and Country Dreams! Read More...
Ian has the same quality of voice as his famous cousin, Kevin Stewart. They put their own musical touch to the classic songs. The instrumental playing Rose Of St Antone was a delicious work of art. They filled the dance floor all night, a sign that the people were really enjoying the music. Read More...
Struck It Rich, the two Husbands and Wives group gave as always a very polished performance. Starting their their first set of with Louisiana Saturday Night followed by Stand By Your Man which Sandy carried off very well, she has a lovely strong voice and the gents do some wonderful harmonies. Read More...
Wearing their trade mark Stetsons, the Hanks started their night’s programme at the H-bar-C with Heart Aches By The Number and filled the evening with mostly well known songs. Read More...
Ridgeway Country started of their nights music with I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried, followed by Peaceful Easy Feeling and then Chatahoochie. Read More...
Cliff and Paul Weston brought beautiful and very talented Marie Lee with them to form a trio, and it really works! Marie sang most vocals with harmonies of the gents, who also turn to sing the lead vocals. Read More...
A great performance of the Trio Little Rock with Steve on guitar and doing most lead vocals, Derek on bass and taking over some lead vocals and Joe on drums. Of course, all harmonise perfectly It was a very mixed choice of music, from the newish number The World and How Long to Seven Spanish Angels and Fields of Gold to the uptempo Copperhead Road and Fast As You. Read More...
No sooner had the Southern Country hit the clubs with a picture of Roland and June on the front cover, the first night was absolutely packed with many new faces. And what a blistering night they had to remember with Pat Nugent and Mustang backing him blazed away all night. Read More...
This band are the original members from the Jon J Paul Band, a group who enjoyed premier league success in Country Music during the late 90‘s and have reformed to deliver their brand of pure Country Music. Read More...
Aubrey Lovejoy made his debut of his second life on the country music circuit at the H-Bar-C and brought Mary and Ray in from as far as Kent to see his performance. I know that Aubrey was thrilled to have another chance and he brought us a night of nostalgia. Read More...
Kalibre, coming to the H-Bar-C as a three piece band with addition of Sarah Curran on the piano, started their first session of with Speed of the Sound Of Loneliness, and had the dancers on the floor straight away. Read More...
Capricorn‘s (here with fan celebrating) first number was Pick Me Up On Your Way Down with following Don’t Ever Get Tired Over You, which was the norm of their night’s show, very relaxing and easy on the ear music. There were some unusual titles of numbers, too. Read More...
Mary Rose (here with Martin Ruddy) and her band gave us a very nostalgic evening, starting off with 57 Chevy, Cottage In The Country, I’ll Get Over You, Wine Drinker and Good Girls Gonna be Bad. Her voice is very reminiscent to the original artists like Billie Jo Spears and Tammy Wynette. Read More...
Tom describes Jellico Road as bringing a blast of 21st Century Country music to the H-Bar-C club and they blew many old cobwebs away! The band were new to the club and have been together for nine months, but we recognised the 2 male members John Henry on lead guitar and vocals and Craig White on acoustic guitar and also vocals from Sidewinder. The beauty in the middle, Dawn Stanfield sings lead vocals Read More...
First Chapter have played at the H-Bar-C since they started 5 years ago, with Ray as lead singer and guitar, Eddy on bass, Chas on drums and Bob on steel. It was Roland who gave them their very first gig. In fact they have opened up the New Year every time since. Read More...
Pat Nugent and his band played their hearts out giving us a great time. 
