It was a year ago this week that I drove a carload of hungover boys and battered instruments to a dockyard in Oxford, where a beautiful barge awaited to begin the River Rat Pack tour. There I was acquainted with a fine group of fellows who would become my trusty steads for the week ahead as we cruised down the river, stopping off at sleepy towns to inject some musical mayhem into their otherwise quiet village life. The days and nights merged into a marathon of adventures, jam sessions, serenades and hoe-downs which I was honored to be part of.
On board last year were: Beans on Toast, Mumford and Sons, Josh Weller, Nat Jenkins, Derek Meins, Six Nation State, Naked and the Boys, with appearances along the way from The Golden Silvers and Jay Jay Pistolet.
The good news is that the River Rat Pack is returning this year - due to set sail on September 1st and we have another superb line-up of new talent, including Smokey Angle Shades and Wild Wolves. I for one, cannot wait.
Listening to: 'Oh Swing it' - Jimmie Revard & His Oklahoma Playboys
