by Matt D’Arcy

Let’s rock ‘n’ roll…!

For probably the first time since Vale da Telha was just a blueprint in an architect’s office the area is to host a genuine rock ‘n’ roll show, courtesy of our own Brian ‘Rockindad’ Jutsum.

Brian has arranged for Lisbon rockers Wine-A-Billy Rollers to perform at the Restaurante Vale da Telha on the Pines Roundabout on Sunday, January 31.

The band, which mostly plays around Lisbon and Porto, is known to Brian who has been to see several of their shows in the capital and further north.

He was so impressed with their authentic rock ‘n’ roll he thought the old rockers up here who recall the music of the 50s and 60s would also enjoy them.

And, as a result, Brian has booked the band to appear here on Vale da Telha, 24 hours after he appears as a DJ alongside them at the Bafo De Baco in Loule.

The Wine-A-Billy Rollers, whose show is as much visual as it is musical, comprise Pedro Teixeira (vocals and guitar), Ruben El Pavoni (upright double bass) and Rui ”Tex” Gomes on drums, all of them having been active in the rock ‘n’ roll scene for more than 20 years.

They play a mix of rock ‘n’ roll and rock-a-billy music first popularised by the likes of Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochrane, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Burnette, Bill Haley and Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as some of their own original material.

The doors for the show open at 7.30pm, with Brian Rockindad dee-jaying from 8pm, after which the band will perform from 9pm to midnight.

So, with apologies to the original lyrics…

Nine, ten, eleven o’clock, twelve o’clock rock

We’re gonna rock and jive ‘til midnight’s gone

Put your glad rags on and join me hon’

We’ll have some fun before the clock strikes one

We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight.

You don’t have to dig out your blue suede shoes, but, as Carl Perkins sang:

Well, it’s one for the money,

Two for the show,

Three to get ready,

Now go, cat, go.

Admission is only €4 if you buy your ticket in advance or €5 on the night. The tickets will be on sale at the Restaurante Vale da Telha from Monday January 11^th, when it re-opens, or you can contact Brian directly to reserve your tickets either of these two ways:

e.mail djrockindad@gmail.com

or message Facebook Brian Rockindad

https://www.facebook.com/elvis.rockindad

Remember, as it’s not exactly a large venue it’s probably wise to secure your tickets early.

So…

Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans

Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans

Well, roll my breakfast ’cause I’m a hungry man

[Chorus:]

I said Shake, rattle and roll

I said Shake, rattle and roll

I said Shake, rattle and roll

I said Shake, rattle and roll

Brian explained why he thought a rock ‘n’ roll, rock-a-billy show could be a success here on the West Coast, saying: “We first started the Red Hot Rock ‘n’ Roll Clube in Loule here on the Algarve just over a year ago and it’s gone really well.

“A lot of people are still nostalgic for and still enjoy this music. But equally there are large numbers of younger people drawn to it as well, and the Wine-A-Billy Rollers put on a fantastic visually exciting show, packed with energy.

“I thought it was about time we brought it to this neck of the woods—and, who knows, if it turns out to be a successful experiment then we can repeat it.”

You can see the Wine-A-Billy Rollers with Brian here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dACF78uZ2w

and you can also get a taste of their music and their style at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsITZwTw4pE

So, get ready for January 31—because there could be A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!

Now, let’s get down real low one time now

Shake, baby, shake

All you gotta do, honey, is kinda stand in one spot

Wiggle around just a little bit, that’s when you got it, yeah

Come on baby, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on

*          *          *          *

According to Wikipedia, Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and blues, leading to what is considered “classic” rock and roll. Some have also described it as a blend of the bluegrass style with rock and roll.

The term “rockabilly” itself is a portmanteau of “rock” (from “rock ‘n’ roll”) and “hillbilly”, the latter a reference to the country music (often called “hillbilly music” in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the style. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie woogie, jump blues and electric blues.

But really, it doesn’t matter what style of music you enjoy and dance to, just as long as you have a good time.

So, reserve your tickets, get out there…and enjoy!

by Matt D’Arcy

Vale da Telha has become the latest stopping-off point of the Royal British Legion as its footprint in Portugal continues to grow,

A number of Amovate members were among the guests at the Legion’s Christmas charity lunch in the Hotel Vale da Telha on Thursday December 3.

The Portugal branch of the Legion has been holding regular lunches and dinners across the Algarve for a number of years.

And now, thanks to their recent expansion onto the Algarve’s west coast the Legion was able to hold a Christmas fundraiser here in Vale da Telha, attended by some of their more recent recruits who joined following a visit earlier this year by branch chairman Jacquie Collins and secretary Bob Collins, her husband.

The lunch raised €438 which is to be divided equally between the Branch and the Poppy Appeal.

Mrs Collins welcomed the newer members along with some more established members from across the Algarve’s southernmost area who had travelled over to meet their new colleagues.

Mrs Collins said afterwards: “It is really wonderful that, as the Legion approaches its centenary in just over five years time—May 15, 1921—it continues to attract new members who appreciate the value of our armed forces and the wonderful work they do to protect us.

“We know there is a big expat community here along the length and breadth of Aljezur Camara, particularly up here on Vale da Telha.

“So, it is an absolute delight to be able to follow the introductory lunch we held in April at Pont’a Pe Restaurant in Aljezur with this one here in Vale da Telha.”

The Army, Navy and Royal Air Force were all represented at the Christmas lunch by retired military personnel, some of them from Vale da Telha itself.

In some cases they were meeting for the first time and enjoyed swapping—sometimes literally!—war stories and reminiscences of their service.

In fact two former servicemen, who had not met before, discovered that they had served at the same time in the Middle East months apart some 50 years earlier, not just under the same commanding officer but in the same quarters!

And to make the coincidence even more incredible it transpired that back in England the daughter of one of them now lives in the same house where the other man lived as a boy.

The RBL’s Western Algarve organiser Sue Howe, who helped Vale da Telha residents—and RBL members—Leni and Phil Eves to set up the event, commented:

“Not only was this first lunch here on Vale da Telha highly successful as a fundraiser it was also a wonderful success from a social point of view, both of which fulfil our raison d’être.

“We are happy that this will lead to more similar events here on the west coast as the RBL in Portugal continues to grow.”

**Anybody interested in joining the Portugal branch of the Royal British Legion should contact Jacquie or Bob Collins.

Membership costs £20 or €24 per year and anybody wishing to “enlist” should contact Bob and Jacquie by e-mail on: rblportugalchairman@hotmail.com or on the telephone numbers 910983129 for Jacquie and on 918217197 for Bob.

ENDS