Weekend Warriors at the Boat Club, Friday 20th May 2011

The traffic hummed as it crossed Trent Bridge, bound for destinations unknown, near and far. The wind blew along the River Trent, cutting into the faces of the rowers as they dipped their oars into the water for one last effort, lifted their boat from the water and sent a silent prayer of thanks for their safe return to the haven of the Nottingham Boat Club. The Boat Club now lay empty and desolate!

Then, first in ones and twos, then groups, then droves, adoring fans, high on expectation, made their way to the Stage of Dreams. Instruments checked and tuned, voices honed and all soundchecks complete. The stage now set for Weekend Warriors. The crowd grew, sipped their beers, excitement and anticipation rose as the first group appeared. Ace Inhibitors – no newcomers to this environment – engaged the audience and prepared the way for the novices, who watched nervously in the wings!

First, The Fear Project and then Indigo Reef gave everything they had. Many new to this music scene rocked and cajoled their fans into a frenzy. The crowd hung on to every note, every chord, every nuance and demanded more of their new-found idols. More, more, more demanded their fans …. But there was no more.

Now, only memories are left, tales to recount, exaggerate, tell children and children’s children of that balmy night in May when mere mortals reached for the very edge of immortality.

The crown dispersed and the wind blew in the faces of revellers and their new-found heroes. Stars shone in the night sky, joined tonight by the new, bright stars of the Boat Club.

And the traffic, less intense now, hummed its way across Trent Bridge, bound for destinations unknown, near and far!

Last ever Weekend Warriors meeting 22/03/2011

We finally have a date for the last ever Weekend Warriors

The 22nd March at 7.30 at  The Test Match will be the meeting to tell people about WW and how it works. The gig at The Boat Club is on 20th May at 8.pm with the Soundcheck the evening of the 19th.


the last ever Weekend Warriors

This will be the last in the current way we do the Weekend Warriors, though we are already thinking of how to change and develop the  concept for the better.

In terms of this one we are collecting names at the moment of people interested to start in late March with a gig
at the Boat Club in May – all dates still to be arranged. Register interest at shop@guitar-bass.com or phone Guitar Base on 0115 9744864.

Look forward to seeing you there.

keepin it real

There has always been great interest in the Christmas number one in the Hit Parade.

At one time, records (which are the black, round plastic ways of recording) that may have been in the charts for weeks could have ended up as the No1 for Christmas, usually someone famous!

As I write this an ‘unknown’ from a hyped up TV programme has surpassed all others to reach the No1 position and next year no doubt thousands of other people will queue for hours to show their talents, hoping to win and possibly get a big hit at Christmas.

Yet deep in the tranquility of sleepy West Bridgford, a large number of people have already taken the plunge in Weekend Warriors showing their talent for singing, playing guitar, drums, keyboard, bass, etc, and playing to massed audiences at the Boat Club, packed full of adoring fans.

No rejects here. Raw talent, honed to perfection for an unmissable night of music and song. Thrill to the beat!

And who are these talented performers? It could be you!

Join Colin (I did it my way) Hyland and the rest of the team for the final (yes, you read that right, the final) Weekend Warriors…

Get your name down and join in the fun by calling Guitar Base on 0115 974 4864 or email shop@guitar-base.com for our last ever Weekend Warriors, starting March 2011.

Keep your eye on our website for details or watch out for posters in-store.

‘To think I did all that, and may I say, and not in a shy way,
Oh no, oh no not me, I did it the Weekend Warriors way’

Thanks to all our customers and friends and have a great, healthy, musical 2011.

Colin

Dave Shaw

Guitar Base staff were sad to hear the news of the death of Dave Shaw. Dave was a great supporter of Guitar Base and was involved with the very first Weekend Warriors, in a group called Hard Drive. An accomplished keyboard player and guitarist, Dave also made his own guitars. He will be sadly missed, not only for his music, but also for his encouragement of others in music and also the community. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.

Weekend Warriors Gig at the Boat Club, Friday 21st May 2010

There are times when challenges occur, when people have to rely on raw talent and nervous energy. Churchill, in one of the darkest periods of our history, gave this famous quotation… “Oh yes!”

And oh yes there were nerves and tension and talent in abundance as the Weekend Warriors Roadshow, the culmination of six weeks of blood, sweat, tears and practice, reached its climax at the Nottingham Boat Club.

Nerves tingled, the crowd mingled, as one by one Rough Cut, Guinness for the Drummer, The Somethings and Wasp Factory gave their all to a rapturous full house of adoring fans who clung on to every note, every chord, every nuance, every movement in the heat of the Boat Club night!

They climbed the stairs to the stage as mere mortals in the footsteps of Hendrix, Splinter Cell and Fleetwood Mac and came down 30 minutes later as the very gods of rock themselves.

“More, more, more,” chanted the fanatical fans, but there was no more as their excited idols trod the long and winding road back in the cooling, balmy West Bridgford night air.

A night over – but never to be forgotten. A lifetime’s ambition; to be remembered for a lifetime…

GREAT BLAST FROM THE PAST
Louis Leone

BRILLIANT EXPERIENCE, GREAT CROWD
Andrew Brown

EXCITEMENT & A WONDERFUL SENSE
OF ACHIEVEMENT…

Erika Price

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO
WEAR COWBOY BOOTS…

Pete Ball

The pics were so good we had to make a huge gallery to put them in.

Click on any pic to view it bigger, save it if you want, click it again to go back to the gallery


2010 Weekend Warriors at The Nottingham Boat Club

Forget the Arctic Monkeys, Rolling Stones and the Kaiser Chiefs and dance to a new tune as Wasp Factory, The Somethings, Guinness for the Drumer and Rough Cut strutt their Weekend Warrior stuff at The Boatclub on Friday 21st May 2010 @ 8:00pm.

Once again the Nottingham Boat Club hosts the Final Gig, as after 6 weeks of practice the groups play in front of a live audience of friends, family and previous Weekend Warriors.

Do they have the X Factor or the Factor 15 sun lotion? Look out for the photo’s of the Final Gig which will be posted here shortly after its happened.

Weekend Warriors


ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN A BAND BUT NEVER MADE IT?

JOIN WEEKEND WARRIORS


Join a band with other mature musicians (over 30′s?) who used to play in a band, played at home, or always wanted to audition but never dared.

You will be placed in a band based on instruments played and musical tastes, choose a name, practice 5/6 songs and play a gig for family and friends, at the world famous Nottingham Boat Club.

For 6 sessions you will practice for this life changing event, with studios provided and everything origanised for the gig including tickets and posters.

Turn up, Tune up, and rock the night away!

News & Dates

The next course starts 13th April 2010

Initial Meeting

Date: 13th April 2010

Venue: The Test Match Nottingham

Rehersals

Venue: Subway Studio’s Nottingham

Gig

Soundcheck: 20th May 2010

Gig: 21st May 2010

Venue: Nottingham Boat Club

How do I join?

Please ring, email or call into Guitar Base.

0115 9744564

shop@guitar-base.com

Testimonials

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Weekend Warrior Gigs

If you are a Weekend Warrior bandwith gigs locally then please advertise them here. Also contact Guitar Base with details and posters if available.