The Cavern Club

The Official Website of Strange Fashion

Site designed and maintained

by Perry Ridley

A coach-load carrying Musicians, friends, family, and fans met at Blackheath and headed up the M1 and M6, with the destination being Liverpool . Arriving in good time gave everyone a chance to sample the Liverpool atmosphere, especially the thriving area around where the Cavern Club is situated. We unloaded the equipment and took it into the Club, down the 30 steps. You walk in there and you just sense the History of the place. Yes it is a rebuilt version of it on the original site, so is not as it was, but nevertheless it is still special – making the hair on your arms tingle.

The three bands soundchecked from 6pm in preparation for the evening, and the doors opened at 815. A healthy turnout that included many others making their own way in addition to the full coach assembled for the first act, Mad Dog.

Mad Dog are three young guys Tom, Matt, & Rob based in Dartford . We first met them just before Christmas 2004 when we played a Gig together at Miskin Hall, Dartford and have stayed in touch. We have participated together for the ‘Shards' CD recently released – doing 2 Gigs for the launch, and another one together one week before Liverpool at The Command House in Chatham. They are a band with a very powerful sound, plus great performance. They did a fantastic 45-minute set coming on at 8.30 that set the standard for the evening to come. We are sure that they, as well as The Turns will go onto great things.

Strange Fashion took the stage at 9.30. Our 45-minute set comprised of the following songs. Eye Off The Ball / Spotlight / Shopping Can Be Fun / Umpire / Lucid / World Of Change / Production Line / Surrender (Cheap Trick) / Tough Guy / Been There, Seen It, Done It. We had to do well to continue the evening's high standard, and we did not disappoint – despite still operating as a four-piece unit. We seemed to thrive on the atmosphere and rise to the occasion.

A quick turnaround saw The Turns on at 1030. By this time some of the others in the Club had heard the other bands and had ventured into our area of the Club – making a healthy crowd. The Turns played a superb set, but were unfortunately hit with a couple of minor disasters, firstly having problems with the Drumkit, then Adam Green breaking a string. Nevertheless the guys are stars in the making and put in a corker of a performance to bring a memorable day to a memorable end by covering the Fab-Four's ‘I Saw Her Standing There'. The three Bands then took to the stage together to receive a rapturous round of applause from the audience.

Our thoughts on The Turns are well documented. We have gigged with them many times and have become great friends as well as fans. We have a great respect for them, as they do with their elders (Strange Fashion). Adam, Bradley, and Joe are smashing guys and we love playing with them. They are on their way to bigger stages, and no band wants to see them succeed more than us. Hopefully Mad Dog are on the same road. Just don't forget the old boys that gave you your chances!

After we had al-fresco dining, sampling a late-night Liverpool Burger that finally digested near Watford , then loaded the Coach and headed home - reaching Blackheath at 6am . We were all well and truly knackered, but everyone agreed what a great trip it was and was well worth it.

What did you do on Live 8 Day, July 2005 –
we played The Cavern Club, Liverpool!