The Sid Worth Memorial Tribute Gig.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 13th May 2006.

Reviewed by Martin Stapleton / Pictures by Suzy Cook.

Today would have been Sid Worth's 55th Birthday. A gentleman who helped and guided so many local bands and musicians, since his passing in September 2002 his friends and colleagues have set up a trust fund in his memory with the aim of carrying on the great work Sid did in this area. In fact, at the end of tonight's gig I witnessed a young lad personally thanking one of the trustees for a donation they had made to help his band.

Mr Rob Vernon acted as M.C. for the evening as he introduced four very diverse bands for our enjoyment. The diversity of the acts was perhaps reflected in the audience tonight, which really cut across the age groups.

The gentle acoustic sounds of STRANGER make for a perfect start to the evening, as Jess playfully remarks that she could win a Cilla Black lookalike competition tonight, although she may have to work on her scouse accent. Their set, as always, is marvellously entertaining, and much like the next band Fifth Quarter, they are as popular and well received whether it is an easy going Sunday afternoon in the bar or a full-on manic Saturday evening upstairs.

The talent, skill and musicianship of FIFTH QUARTER should now be known to every local music fan. So young, they belie their tender years to bring home the sound of The Blues. In the audience, men perhaps old enough to be the bands grandfathers watch open mouthed and awestruck at the sheer feeling, emotion and raw power that the boys produce. They really are something special.





You may remember that some weeks ago some of us were fortunate enough to witness an appearance in the bar of an all girl three piece band called JOANOVARC. Those who saw them couldn't stop thinking and talking about them and tonight they return and they do not disappoint as they practically raze the room with an electrifying performance that ends with a huge demand for an encore.





'Give It Up for Joanovarc' Rob shouts and everyone dutifully does. Our appetite and thirst temporarily sated, we look forward to the next performance from the 'Arc girls.
As the evening draws to a close and DJ Pete Burridge plucks out a raffle ticket and one lucky punter walks away with a brand new guitar (kindly donated by the headliners tonight - Ed), it was time to welcome the final act, London's FILTHY ANGEL. Could they possibly follow that last band? Well, to be honest, no, but they are solid and tight and produce a set of good old fashioned 'Cock Rock' that gets the mini-mosh pit going. At the end they invite all the other bands to join them on stage to cover a Sex Pistols song.





So there you have it - the fifth fund raising extravaganza and everyone goes home happy. A sum of over £500 has been raised - to find out more about the Sid Worth Memorial Tribute Fund, visit www.swmtf.org.uk