We had the best ever, ultimate, last, final, farewell gig with Six Miles Away at the Crown, Knaphill last Friday - a Christmas Cracker!.

Unfortunately, Mike found he was unable to play and so not to let anyone down, we asked our good friend Keith Jones to stand in to front the band at short notice and without rehearsal.  A huge thank you to Keith and to all our friends who came along especially Knaphillians Mal and Karolyne, Dave and Toni from the Crown (our 8th gig at the Crown) and Gill who joined in the singing.

It was rather different from previous Six Miles Away gigs - something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, all done without rehearsal! All seat of the pants stuff but it flew and it was great fun!

As Mal Foster said in the Knaphillian, "The excellent Six Miles Away played their last ever gig at The Crown, Knaphill on Friday 18 December in what was probably their best ever performance. Guest Keith Jones on vocals and lead guitar gave the band an edge that hadn't been seen before as the crowd gleefully rocked until midnight. The local music scene will certainly miss these guys. The good news is that Dickie Hartt, Nick Farley and Keith Jones will still be around performing at the new regular jam nights on the first Monday of each month at The Knaphill Working Men's Club. We also hope that Dickie will form a new band next year - so watch this space!"

We'll see what 2010 brings - whatever it does, I expect it'll be miles away from Six Miles Away!

Last night was the last night of live music at the Live & Let Live in Guildford and it went out in fine form with the legendary Jackie Lynton Band playing to a packed pub. 

I'm ashamed to admit that until last night I didn't know who Jackie Lynton was but a google search this morning found the official Jackie Lynton web site - and what a legend he is with a rock and roll career that spans over 50 years. 

Now old enough to be picking up his State pension, unlike many he's not tired of getting down in a hot sweaty pub (with his "Zimmer frame" stand for support!) and giving his audience some down to earth, from the heart, solid rock and roll and a bloody good laugh. 

He's worked with an astonishing range of people including fronting Savoy Brown in the 1970's.  "Going to America with Savoy Brown was effin' amazin'. We were going on second on the bill to bands like the Doobie Brothers, Deep Purple, Rod Stewart & the Faces - and then we were headlining as well. Status Quo opened for us! (mind you, it was the other way round when we toured the UK supporting them). One night, even ZZ Top opened for us, in New York."

In 1978, Status Quo scored a massive hit with 'Again And Again', co-written by Jack and Rick Parfitt. Having been a long standing friend of Rick Parfitt, Jackie had been involved in co-writting other early Quo hits with Rick. Their friendship is still strong and Jackie has often been invited to do a guest spot on Quo's gigs.

Those close around him wonder why Jackie Lynton didn't go all the way to the top?  "Legend ?…..me?….naaaaaah that's a load of bollocks! I like to think of myself as some sort of entertainer….I can tell a joke, carry a tune but I was never gonna be a star! I probably drank too much or more probably I was just too much of a c*nt". 

And so after such a good night - typical of the music nights - why have Steve & Maz called it a day at The Live & Let Live?  The music nights have been good but sadly the other nights haven't.  Maz tried food but with so much on offer in the centre of Guildford it's not surprising that didn't work.  The real problem is that as tied tenants they can't buy beer cheap enough to make enough money for it to work.  So sadly another great pub rock venue bites the dust.....

The Thursday jam has very successfully re-located to the Cricketers in Westfield.  Last night was the opening night and the word had spread so we had well over 50 players and audience and a great night of live music. 

The landlord has converted back the pub to a separate room for the live music, put in a stage and redecorated - it's quite different from the old side now.

I like the contrast and it means the locals are not inconvenienced by the music side and the old side is also a quiet place to go if you want a chat - easier than at the White Lyon as there are connecting doors.

Next time the jam will start at 8.30pm to give everyone a chance to play before the 11.30pm finish - get there early to get your name in Pete Doyle's book.

The Thursday jam which used to be held every week at the White Lyon in Worplesdon has now moved to the Cricketers in Westfield in Woking.

Last Thursday, the White Lyon's management gave Pete Doyle just one week's notice that the jam would finish - after 5 years!  They want to fill the space with pool tables and fruit machines - doh!

We think they are mad as the jam night was their busiest night with players and audience filling the room.  Other pubs like the Cardinal Wolsey, Scratchers and the Live & Let Live know that well organised and promoted jam nights with band nights can be very good for business.

It's a sad end to music at the White Lyon - Tim the previous landlord had helped build up the jam with bands also playing on Fridays and Saturdays.  That had gradually died away through lack of support (and payment) from the White Lyon.

Anyway looking forward, the Cricketers management are keen to develop live music in a pub that has a history of music going back at least to the early days of Paul Weller's band The Jam.  Come along on a Thursday and join in.

The Cricketers, Westfield Road, Westfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9NQ - the jam will start at 8.45pm; slightly earlier that usual and so finish slightly earlier.

I went to the Cardinal Wolsey Monday jam last night for the first time - what a great jam. 

I met Tony Chick, the drummer from the Cardinal Wolsey house band at the last Scratchers jam and he suggested I come down.  Of course there were loads of people from other jams I had already met so it was good to catch up with them too and meet a few more people too. 

The jam had a great feel to it and by the end loads of people were dancing too - always a good sign of a good jam night.

Any gripes?  The beer prices - £3 for a pint of bitter is a bit steep!  What has been happening to pub beer prices?  It seems like they have been increasing way beyond average inflation over the last few years.

A new monthly jam started last night at the Live & Let Live in Guildford, hosted by the excellent and entertaining Flying Tigers and MC'd by Pete Doyle from the White Lyon Thursday jam. 

Highlights included the perfect Tracie Murphy and her Tina Turner-esque vocals and Chris Turner's rendition of The Passenger.  A great deal of audience particaption including the oldest marraca player I've seen - easily the widest age range of jammers around from ACM students to old age pensioners. 

A good fun and friendly jam - well worth going to. Going forward it will be on the 2nd Tuesday of every month so it won't clash with Uncle Junior's jam at The Three Lions a.k.a Scratchers.