BREWERY TAP GIG WITH SPIDER STACY & ANDREW RANKIN FOR MORE PICS CLICK HERE
10/8/2007
'GREEN WHALE FISHERIES' LIVE AT THE BREWERY TAP (See Below)
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BREAKING NEWS! - SPIDER STACY & ANDREW RANKIN PLAY WITH THE DEAD RABBITS - SOLD OUT!
The Pogues Roll Into Town For The First Randall Rootz Festival
ORGANISERS of the inaugural Randall Rootz Festival have revealed that
members of world famous punk-folk band, The Pogues, will take centre
stage at the three day event.
Drummer Andrew Ranken and whistle player Spider Stacy have confirmed
that they will play on the opening night of the festival at The Brewery
Tap, in Westgate, Peterborough, on Friday, August 17.
The two will play with Pogues tribute band, The Dead Rabbits, who are headlining on the night.
The Randall Rootz Festival has been organised in memory of talented
city percussionist Mark Randall, who sadly died from cancer in
February. Mark (34) played drums with The Dead Rabbits, which inspired
the festival committee to ask Andrew Ranken to play the festival in
tribute to Mark.
Mr Ranken said: "“We would love to be Dead Rabbits for the day and can’t wait to play Peterborough for the first time.”
Spider Stacy's decision to join in the festivities was an added boost for organisers.
Mark’s partner, Pat Murphy, said, “This is a great coup for the Randall
Rootz Festival and gives us enormous credibility to be able to bring
such big names to the city at our first attempt at putting on a
festival in Mark’s memory. He would be so proud.”
The Dead Rabbits will be supported by Angry Man on the Friday, and
proceeds from the festival will go to Sue Ryder Care at Thorpe Hall,
where Mark was cared for in his final weeks.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, August 18, the festival continues in the
Charters' beer garden, next to Town Bridge, with music starting at
midday and running until the early hours.
The family-friendly day is free and open to all, with face-painting and
story-telling for the kids, and live music from many of the acts that
Mark was involved with.
The acts confirmed to play include Groove Cartel (soul/funk), King Kool
(garage/rock), Flaming June (folk), Chris Watson (jazz/rock), One Eyed
Cats (rock ‘n roll), Pooks Hill (alternative folk), The Surgens
(twisted country blues), Holyman Jones (soulful blues) and The Gansters
(ska & reggae).
The festival will wind down on Sunday, August 19, with an Irish folk jam held at Charters throughout the afternoon.
Festival committee chairman Andrew Whittaker said a special Randall
Rootz Beer will be provided by Oakham Ales especially for the festival,
which will also feature a mini beer festival at Charters.
He added: "We wanted to create an event that everyone will remember. We
aim to start this new festival for Peterborough as we mean to go on,
with lots of talent on offer and money raised for a very good cause."
Tickets for the Friday night entertainment will go on sale in July and
cost £10 - all of which will go to Thorpe Hall Hospice.
All acts taking part in the festival are performing free of charge.
So
as you may all already know, the Rabbits are playing on the 17th August
on the opening night of the first ever Randall Rootz Festival at the
Brewery Tap in Peterborough.
In the lead up to the
festival, The Dead Rabbits have announced a number of comeback shows,
beginning at the Riverside Festival in Stamford on the Boomerang Stage
on the 7th July at 3pm approx, and then on to Thurning Feast, near
Oundle, on the 25th July and also at The Scarlett Pimpernell in
Haverhill, near Cambridge, on the 4th August.
Its great to be back and we are really looking forward to playing
again, it would also be fantastic to see some of the old faces at these
gigs.
Also, watch this space for some big Rabbits news in the coming weeks.
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17/04/2007
Following the recent death of our friend and Dead Rabbits drummer, Mark
Randall, the band have decided to carry on and are currently looking
for a new drummer to replace Mark, of you are interested or would
simply like more info then please contact thedeadrabbits@hotmail.co.uk
or phone Michael on 07742 000241.
Also, there is a music fesival presently being organised in memory of
Mark by his family, friends and fellow musicians at which the Dead
Rabbits and special guests will be appearing. The initial Randall Rootz
festival is provisionally pencilled in for August, with our band aiming
to be gigging again in the weeks proir to this, before appearing at the
festival on the Friday night.
RANDALL ROOTZ FESTIVAL 07
PREPARATIONS for a music festival in memory of a talented city musician are underway.
Friends and fellow musician of Mark Randall have joined together to
organise the unique event - the committee has already been formed and a
title chosen for the festival. The Randall Rootz Festival will feature
a raft of talented musicians, from a variety of genres, from across the
country and further afield, and many of whom Mark played with over the
years. Although the line up and dates for the event have yet to be
finalised, organisers say it the first Randall Roots Festival will be
held this August, with live music at The Brewery Tap and at Charters,
on Town Bridge.
Organisers say they were inspired to organise the festival by Mark
because of his dedication to developing and supporting the music scene
and musicians in Peterborough.Spokesman Andrew Whittaker said: "The
festival will enable us to build a lasting event in memory of our
friend Mark Randall."The Randall Rootz Festival will feature all those
things which were important to Mark, music and the arts, community,
green initiatives and family and friends."We're very excited about the
festival, which we will work to ensure is an annual event on the city's
calendar."
Mark died from cancer at Thorpe Hall on February 17 at just 34 years of
age.A talented percussionist, Mark played with bands of every genre,
including urban acoustic outfit Angry Man, Irish folk band The Dead
Rabbits, Cuban band Malecon, Zanzara and Chris Watson's Outsiders and
Latin Knights. Mark also organised the popular Folk Rootz Festival,
which ran until 2001, and saw artists from across the world converge on
the Embankment to perform. The Randall Roots Festival aims to continue
where Mark left off.
We are hopefull, and confident Dead Rabbits fans will give this
festival their full support to turn it into a memoreble and annual
event.
Mark Randall Memorial
17/02/2007
It is with great sorrow that we must let you know that on Saturday
17/02/07, our friend, and Dead Rabbits drummer, Mark Randall passed
away following a short illness. He was 34.
Despite having known for a while that Mark was seriously ill, there
really aren't words which convey the sadness and loss felt by us all
when the news came through that evening.
In his time in the Rabbits, Mark became much, much, more than our
drummer, primarily he became a good friend, but also he was our
organiser, negotiator, promoter etc etc.... it was a task I never
envied him when you consider what a lazy, drunken and disorganised
rabble make up The Dead Rabbits!! But, he always managed it somehow, in
fact he excelled at it, he was central to everything the band achieved
in the last years. And for that, I think I can safely speak for us all
when I say, Thank You, Mark.
Outside this band, he was a key figure in the music scene in this area
over many years, involved with, and sometimes organiser/instigator of
several events and festivals, and of course, countless gigs. Also a
true music fan and very accomplished musician, whether with us, Angry
Man or others, or simply taking in the bands in the venues around town
or at festivals. The scene in these parts will be poorer for having
lost him.
For those fortunate enough to know Mark, and count him as a friend, he
is someone who will be missed forever by a great many people, but also
remembered with great affection, always.
With this in mind, our thoughts are with Janet, Pat, TeeJ, Hal and Sol at this difficult time.
Although quite possibly the calmest most composed person I have ever
met, Mark was at his most upbeat and chirpiest, in the time I've known
him, in the hour or so immediately after we played a gig, and that is
largely down to you lot....... the people who turned up and made these
occasions what they were, in particular the Peterborough Beer Festival
appearances of 05 and 06. So I'd just like to say thank you to those
who came to see us play, it means a great deal to us all.
And should any of you so wish, it is possible to donate to the Woodland
Trust as was Mark's request, online at www.dedicatetrees.org or by post
to Woodland Trust, Freepost, Grantham, Lincs. NG31 6BR, or
alternatively, to 'Sue Ryder Care Thorpe Hall', Thorpe Road, P'Boro,
PE3 6LW, the hospice who cared for Mark during his last weeks.