On Saturday 11th April, 46 members of Roter Stern (Red Star) Leipzig F.C.   are coming over from their home city in East Germany to see the Albion-Swindon game at Withdean and  have a Dark Star beer-fuelled party in the evening  at the Duke of Wellington in Shoreham - followed on Sunday 12 by an internationalist (as opposed to international!) friendly match against Attila's Hungover XI at Buckingham Park, Shoreham, kick off 1.30pm.  This is all to celebrate their 10th anniversary as a club and has been organised by Attila who has played for them in Leipzig, both on stage and on the pitch! All are welcome to the Welly on Saturday 11 to join in the party - admission is free and music will be provide by Leipzig ska-punkers Warp Noin and Attila's band Barnstormer.  Spectators are welcome at the game too.......

The wonderful Robb Johnson is playing a solo acoustic set here at The Welly in order to help raise funds for the local Portslade Animal Sanctuary. The gig will be held at 1pm on Sunday 5th April. Admission is free but we would welcome any donations to help raise money for the charity. Look forward to seeing you!

BELGIAN BEER FESTIVAL
Duke of Wellington, Brighton Rd, Shoreham by Sea - Sat/Sun 2-3 August, pub open from 12, music starts 5pm ish each day. Tel: 01273 389818
Admission by donation

Sat 2:

10pm
PHILIP JEAYS & HIS BAND
The English Jacques Brel

8.45pm
FRACTURED
The Fall meet Half Man Half Biscuit at a Magazine gig

7.30pm
KRIMINAL HAMMOND INFERNO (Brussels)
Caped crusaders deconstructing epic film soundtracks on Hammond and drums

6.15pm
CONTINGENT (Brussels)
Hard edged Stoogesesque punk

5.00 pm
PAUL HOWARD & JO CLACK
Angel voiced subversive songster

Sun 3:

9pm
TOO MANY CROOKS
Local ska legends
7.30 pm

ROBB JOHNSON & THE IRREGULARS
The UK's finest political songwriter

6.15pm
ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER'S BARNSTORMER
Mandola-fired melodic punk

5pm
THE ANTE-ROOM
Experimental sonic innovators

…….plus lots of beer, Belgian and otherwise!

8pm start, just a fiver to get in, TV Smith, Otway and myself, Attila the Stockbroker...will be a fun night!

At some point soon I'll get round to updating the site and dealing with mail/friend requests. But don't hold your breath..I'm really busy!

A

In 1979, just before Attila the Stockbroker became Attila and started solo gigs under that name, I lived in Brussels for a while and played the bass in an incendiary Brussels punk band called Contingent (pronounced Con-Tan-Jhon)
Incredibly, we met up again over the net 28 years later and reformed! The first gig back together was at Magasin 4 in Brussels in April - it was packed, everyone loved it, we had loads of fun, so much so that I've invited them over here for a weekend in July (singer Bob has never been to England before) I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to have a little two day festival at the Welly with lots of BELGIAN BEER around and Roy agrees with me. I've asked Dark Star to brew a special Belgian style beer for the occasion ....watch this space...!!!!

You can hear old Contingent recordings now - there will be some new ones soon! Some here and more at myspace.comcontingentbelgiumpunk

On John Peel Day, 12 October, the Duke hosts a benefit gig for the Seagulls Party, formed by Brighton & Hove Albion fans to contest the local Lewes Council elections next May in response to Lewes District Council's continuing opposition to our new stadium at Falmer. Admission is by donation - hopefully a folding one! - and all proceeds go to the election fund.

Headlining is former Piranhas front man Bob Grover with his excellent new band Dates. I've seen them 4 times now, and I can only say that they have written a wonderful batch of songs, definitely reminiscent of Bob's earlier work but thoroughly up to date! Also playing are local Albion punk rockers The Wot Nots and John Peel favourites I, Ludicrous - who sound like a cross between The Fall and Half Man Half Biscuit, which has got to be one of the reasons Peelie liked them so much! I like them a lot too, despite them having a horrible secret which will be revealed on the night.... Compere for the evening is yours truly, and between us we have at least 4 Peel sessions to thank the great man for.....
Attila