Hello and welcome to my first e-bulletin of 2007
First off I would like to thank you for our Christmas number 1 single, ‘Crush’ – our first ever ‘hit’.
‘Crush’ topped the Lemonrock MP3 chart for four weeks before and through Christmas week before being toppled to number 2.
It may or may not seem a big deal, but to me it was one of the best Christmas presents ever.
2007 promises to be incredible and I am looking forward to it with renewed vigour and promise to make the most of every opportunity.
Your support is vital as ever and I hope your year is as much fun and as successful as I hope mine will be.
• The year of the KatZ
I have been working with the BobKatZ since February 2006 and we enjoyed a terrific year with improving performances and building an incredibly loyal fan base.
We have over 50 shows booked for 2007 so I am going to enjoy myself while it lasts.
Keep up with our feline activity at www.lemonrock.com/bobkatz
• Frampton & Weller
For those of you who have been with me for a while you may remember my partnership with Clive Frampton which lasted from 1992 through to 1998.
Clive and I wrote and performed some beautiful songs as well as being able to rock it up when required. We recorded a fabulous album, ‘Frampton Weller’ in 1997 which helped open so many doors including a distribution deal in the USA and enabling us to tour in the US three times.
Ten years later there are still a few copies of this classic album available as well as recordings of some of the songs that didn’t make it on to the record.
The album is on sale for £5 via www.crushuk.com and to mark the anniversary when you order a copy I will send you another CD including previously unreleased ‘Frampton Weller’ material free of charge.
• Weller solo
My solo appearances have been getting better and more enjoyable (for me anyway) and I intend to increase the frequency from now on. If you would like me to play at a venue near you, or at your event, I specialise in ‘front room’ concerts, then please do let me know.
Intimate, acoustic and cost effective – way to go.
• Weller Dudley Bell (aka CRUSH UK)
We had so many compliments last year about our ability to diversify (Christmas carols/songs and Soul/Motown) and so much encouragement (did I mention the Christmas number 1?) that after a couple of years of being forced to tread water due to my illness we feel buoyed and more than ready to record new tracks as well as step up the live shows again.
I think between us we have played just about every type of venue and show and it has been and I hope will be an honour to perform at private shows around the world – birthdays, weddings, or just an excuse to have a good old knees up.
If you’ve got an event coming up, big or small and would like to hire us, then just let me know – mrtnweller@yahoo.co.uk – or call 07932 121266
• Brett Dearheart Savage aka Peter Groves
Pete was the bass player in the Frampton Weller Band as well as Crush and played on ‘Frampton Weller’ as well as our hit single and (post FW) eponymous album Crush.
I learned recently that he’s not too well, but still alive and kicking. So I know those of you that know Pete will want to wish him all the very best and I hope personally that we can find the time to get back together to perform some FW and Crush classics before too long.
• Guitar coaching
I started coaching guitar last year and get a real buzz out of seeing people learning to play, mostly from scratch. I tutor privately at the moment, but intend to work in schools, colleges and community groups to help get as many people into music as I can, particularly live music.
If you live in South Devon and are interested in learning to play guitar yourself, or have a son or daughter who is keen to learn, or indeed have any ideas about me working in your local school or community then I would love to hear from you – mrtnweller@yahoo.co.uk or call 07932 121266
• Confirmed shows for 2007 so far:
I really hope you can make it along to one of the shows if not more this year.
Whichever live experience you choose you will always get our very best.
Forthcoming live shows featuring MARTIN WELLER, CRUSH UK and BobKatZ
January 2007
CRUSH UK - Friday 12th January @ MANSION HOUSE, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
CRUSH UK - Saturday 13th January @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 – 9.45pm
CRUSH UK – Thursday 25th January @ Phoenix Hotel, Chard TA20 1PH 01460 66444 – 9.15pm
CRUSH UK – Friday 26th January @ Appleby's, Torquay TQ2 5TY 01803 299332
February 2007
BobKatZ – Friday 2nd February @ Pen and Quill, Taunton TA1 4ET 01823 256982
BobKatZ - Saturday 3rd February @ Old Coaching House, Chudleigh TQ13 0HX 01626 853270 – 9.45pm
BobKatZ – Friday 9th February @ MANSION HOUSE, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
BobKatZ – Saturday 10th February @ Globe Inn, Exeter EX1 2BL 01392 256491
BobKatZ - Friday 16th February @ Ferryboat Inn, Shaldon TQ14 0DL 01626 872340
BobKatZ – Saturday 17th February @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 - 9.45pm
CRUSH UK - Friday 23rd February @ REDWING, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
CRUSH UK - Saturday 24th February @ PHOENIX, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 – 9.15pm
March 2007
BobKatZ - Friday 2nd March @ Redwing Inn, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
BobKatZ - Saturday 3rd March @ Old Coaching House, Chudleigh TQ13 0HX 01626 853270 – 9.45pm
WELLER - Friday 9th March @ King Arthur, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9NB 01458 831442
BobKatZ - Saturday 17th March @ Ship Hotel, High St, Crediton EX17 3LQ 01363 777873
CRUSH UK - Friday 23rd March @ Appleby's, Torquay TQ2 5TY 01803 299332
CRUSH UK - Saturday 24th March @ Globe Hotel, Gt Torrington, Devon EX38 8HQ 01805 622220 – 10pm
CRUSH UK - Friday 30th March @ Dolphin, 36 Fore St, Marychurch TQ1 4LY 01803 328462
CRUSH UK - Saturday 31st March @ Bridgwater Sports & Social Club 01823 338319
April 2007
WELLER – Saturday 7th April @ Newton Abbot RBL, Marsh Road TQ12 2AP 01626 353494
BobKatZ – Easter Sunday 8th April @ Double Locks, Exeter EX2 6LT 01392 256947 - 3pm
CRUSH UK - Friday 13th April @ MANSION HOUSE, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
CRUSH UK - Saturday 14th April @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 – 9.45pm
WELLER – Friday 20th April @ Radway, Sidmouth EX10 8PY
01395 578305 - 9.30pm
BobKatZ - Saturday 21st April @ Ship Hotel, High St, Crediton EX17 3LQ 01363 777873
BobKatZ - Friday 27th April @ New Quay Inn, Teignmouth TQ14 8DA 01626 774145 - 9.15pm
BobKatZ - Saturday 28th April @ Phoenix, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 - 9.15pm
May 2007
BobKatZ - Friday 4th May @ Green Dragon, Combe St Nicholas TA20 3NG 01460 63311
BobKatZ – Saturday 5th May @ Globe Inn, Exeter EX1 2BL
01392 256491
BobKatZ - Friday 11th May @ Ferryboat Inn, Shaldon TQ14 0DL 01626 872340
BobKatZ - Saturday 12th May @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 - 9.45pm
BobKatZ - Friday 18th May @ Twyford Inn, Tiverton EX16 6AL 01884 252019
BobKatZ – Saturday 19th May @ Royal Oak, Exminster EX6 8DX 01392 832332 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ - Friday 25th May @ Redwing Inn, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
June 2007
CRUSH UK - Friday 1st June @ REDWING, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
CRUSH UK - Saturday 2nd June @ PHOENIX, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ - Saturday 9th June @ Old Coaching House, Chudleigh TQ13 0HX 01626 853270 - 9.30pm
BobKatZ - Friday 15th June @ New Quay Inn, Teignmouth TQ14 8DA 01626 774145 – 9.15pm
WELLER – Saturday 16th June @ Con Club, 24-26 Park Rd. Dawlish EX7 9LH 01626 862355
BobKatZ - Saturday 23rd June @ Ship Hotel, High St, Crediton EX17 3LQ 01363 777873
BobKatZ - Friday 29th June @ Redwing Inn, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
BobKatZ - Saturday 30th June @ Wedding, Bude
July 2007
BobKatZ - Saturday 7th July @ Phoenix, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 - 9.15pm
CRUSH UK - Friday 13th July @ REDWING, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
CRUSH UK - Saturday 14th July @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 – 9.45pm
BobKatZ - Friday 20th July @ Ferryboat Inn, Shaldon TQ14 0DL 01626 872340
BobKatZ - Saturday 21st July @ Crawford Hotel, Exeter EX2 8JD 01392 668008
BobKatZ - Friday 27th July @ MANSION HOUSE, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
BobKatZ - Saturday 28th July @ Ship Hotel, High St, Crediton EX17 3LQ 01363 777873
August 2007
CRUSH UK - Friday 3rd August @ MANSION HOUSE, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
BobKatZ - Saturday 4th August @ Wedding, Exeter
BobKatZ - Saturday 11th August @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 - 9.45pm
CRUSH UK – Saturday 18th August @ Private Party
BobKatZ – Friday 24th August @ Twyford Inn, Tiverton EX16 6AL 01884 252019
BobKatZ – Saturday 25th August @ Globe Inn, Exeter EX1 2BL 01392 256491
September 2007
BobKatZ - Saturday 1st September @ Old Coaching House, Chudleigh TQ13 0HX 01626 853270 - 9.30pm
BobKatZ - Friday 7th September @ New Quay Inn, Teignmouth TQ14 8DA 01626 774145 – 9.15pm
CRUSH UK - Saturday 8th September @ Bridgwater Sports & Social Club 01823 338319
BobKatZ - Saturday 15th September @ Double Locks, Exeter EX2 6LT 01392 256947
BobKatZ - Friday 21st September @ Redwing Inn, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
BobKatZ - Saturday 22nd September @ Black Horse, Exeter EX4 6AB 01392 257974 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ - Friday 28th September @ Mansion House, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
BobKatZ - Saturday 29th September @ Phoenix, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 - 9.15pm
October 2007
CRUSH UK - Friday 5th October @ REDWING, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
CRUSH UK - Saturday 6th October @ PHOENIX, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ – Saturday 13th October @ Royal Oak, Exminster EX6 8DX 01392 832332 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ – Friday 19th October @ Appleby’s, Torquay TQ2 5TY 01803 299332
November 2007
BobKatZ - Saturday 3rd November @ Double Locks, Exeter EX2 6LT 01392 256947
BobKatZ – Saturday 10th November @ Globe Inn, Exeter EX1 2BL 01392 256491
CRUSH UK - Fri 16th November @ REDWING, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
CRUSH UK - Saturday 17th November @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 – 9.45pm
BobKatZ – Friday 23rd November @ Twyford Inn, Tiverton EX16 6AL 01884 252019
BobKatZ - Saturday 24th November @ Old Coaching House, Chudleigh TQ13 0HX 01626 853270 - 9.30pm
December 2007
BobKatZ - Saturday 8th December @ Lansdowne, Dawlish EX7 9LQ 01626 863201 - 9.45pm
CRUSH UK - Friday 14th December @ MANSION HOUSE, Bridgwater TA6 3BJ 01278 458433
CRUSH UK - Saturday 15th December @ PHOENIX, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ - Friday 21st December @ Redwing Inn, Lympstone EX8 5JT 01395 222156
BobKatZ - Saturday 22nd December @ New Quay Inn, Teignmouth TQ14 8DA 01626 774145 – 9.15pm
BobKatZ - Saturday 29th December @ Phoenix, Exmouth EX8 1PT 01395 223191 - 9.15pm
And last but not least…..
Recommended reading - ‘The Whitlock Walkabout’
A must for historians, wanderers of the planet and those who just like to dream …
Check out ‘The Whitlock Walkabout’ by Janice Whitlock
“This is the true account of my grandfather's travels across Australia in 1926 in the first motor car to penetrate the outback and taken word for word from his journal, detailing meetings with aboriginals who had never seen a white face before, let alone a motor car.
This true story is backed with my own adventures 70 years later, working on a sheep station and travelling to the places on my grandfather’s trip to see how the country and attitudes had changed over 7 decades.”
The Whitlock Walkabout written and published by Janice Whitlock is available to download or to buy a copy at www.lulu.com now!
Well that’s all for now.
I will keep you posted on developments, but not too often I promise
All best wishes
Martin
Sleep well Margo. We’ll miss you xx