Love Junkies on Tour: Part 2 Guernsey

Love Junkies - Guernsey 19th June, Dave, Rachel, Marcus & Chris

Did you know the Love Junkies travel? If the last two gigs have been anything to go by this would seem to be becoming a habit. Have van, will travel, etc. And so it was, on a Thursday night in June, driving from St Albans via Folkestone via Lyme Regis to Weymouth and then getting the very early Condor Ferries to St Peter Port on Friday, Dave managed to land the gear on Guernsey. 


All in all a 16 hour driving marathon (with just a few hours kip) to get the gear to quite the most fantastic wedding venue and marquee we've seen. The wedding of Charlotte and Frederic was arranged in advance and booked via our agents, Function Junction. Rozz was unable to do the gig because of her fear of Turboprop aircraft and Hydrofoils (though don't be put off, she's okay with 747's and the Channel Tunnel) so cue Rachel on vocals, our regular dep. The rest of the band lined up as usual.

On what must've been the sunniest weekend of the year, The Love Junkies first visit to Guernsey, the World Cup and a couple of nights in a really sweet little hotel, La Colinette (great food, wow!) well, what a peach of a gig. This was also a fantastic chance to kick our feet up and relax. Well for Dave anyway who took on the driving duties and transported the PA with help from Suzy. Marcus, Chris and Rachel flew over from Gatwick on Saturday. The get in was really helped by one of the friendliest co-ordinator's we've ever met. With the help of his quad bike and roadying skills we were well looked after. Thank-you Simon, from all of us.

The wedding, kicked off finally at 9pm. We were hidden behind a curtain which was dropped to reveal the band and chess board dance floor. Glitter ball as well - nice touch! Bride and Groom got onto the dance floor and we kicked off. Which was just as well as Marcus was holding back a sick bug and had thrown up moments before the gig. Not that we'd shared that, some things are best kept backstage...  he managed to make it through the night though, hats off mate!

Not to mention the French guest, who kept on pestering us to let him 'plug in my iPod'.

So we like Guernsey, actually we really like Guernsey and despite the drive would be more than happy to go back. It wasn't until 1am on Monday morning that Dave finally got to get to bed, but what a chilled weekend. Love it.

Moving the gear by Quad Bike

Sark and Herm from the North coast of the island

Love Junkies on Tour: Part 1 Southern France

Rozz and Jimmy - It's a funny old game...

Ah June, and the first part of our European Sojourn. Chateau De Massillan, near Uchaux, France the wedding of Victoria and Oliver. And did we mention meeting Jimmy Greaves to boot?

The Bride and Groom had seen us at a friend's wedding at the Royal Chace in Enfield a few years ago and had decided that The Love Junkies, just had to be the band, no compromises. Olly's dogged determination that we were the band for him and Victoria for their special day, lead to us being booked two years in advance.

So, the administrative and organisational rollercoaster of booking hotels, hire cars, train tickets, channel crossing, etc began. Although, it's not quite as much work as we make out, there is another dimension to gigging overseas and we are happy once the paperwork is over and we can actually get on with playing and enjoying the opportunity.

Marcus and Rozz brought the gear through the channel tunnel whilst taking a few days holidays for their troubles. Chris and Dave came down on the Saturday via Eurostar, TGV and then hired a car from Avignon. Got some great downtime to explore and enjoy, especially around Orange itself which was marveeeeeellloous and had lots of culture and cool roman stuff, like.

We were really happy to do this one in the end and wouldn't hesitate to get back to France. Even given the long haul. Good luck to Olly and Victoria. You are great people.

Funniest moment: The mayor pitching up to, er, complain about the noise from the Chateaux and receive his baksheesh.

Nicest moment: Meeting a real legend (Jimmy Greaves) and not being disappointed.

Stage at the Roman Ampitheatre, Orange. Note lack of Love Junkies equipment

The venue. Chateau De Massillan, near Uchaux, France

Rozz, Marcus & Chris at the Chateau

Rozz and Marcus, Coke ah...

Just booking in with the Agent, Chris, Orange

Big hand for the band, yaboosucks to the M25

Sunday. It was a day that had we known what was waiting for us, could've struck fear into all of our hearts. As it was though, I am able to write this knowing that our duties despatched, The Love Junkies rose through the storm to deliver.

With Rox and Marcus taking a well earned break in France, Chris and Dave were prompted to come out with a little bit of Dunkirk spirit and put together a slightly amended band line-up. A line-up we should add that not only held its own, but kicked some musical arse.

Rachel Lowrie - cue our new Love Junkies vocal superstar

Cue, new vocal dep, Rachel Lowrie. Armed with a BMus degree and a jazzy, soulful voice Rachel took on the challenge of The Love Junkies set with aplomb and gusto. It didn't go unnoticed that the crowd were chanting her name and begging for autographs after the gig. A fantastic effort Rachel.

With the ever affable Chris, swapping his bass for the now comfortable drum stool and Andee P taking up the sub frequencies, Andy on keys and Dave on guitar were the only five piece members in their regular places. Add to this poor old Andy's malaise from his recent brush with the medical profession and we were up against it.

No matter. We rocked... and souled... and discoed... and, you get the picture.

The venue, Stoke Place, Stoke Poges (cue 'Stokey Poges' comedy references in faux Scots drawl) was round at just the wrong junction of the M25. You know, that junction that is seemingly close but is actually, as proved by the lines of stationary traffic, impossible to reach. For those folk from the south, four hours in traffic was their reward.

Hence, the hassle. For once, and this is so rare, the wedding ran to time. Which unfortunately meant that we were unable to get the equipment up as quickly as we would've liked. So our hats off and gratitude to our newly weds Howard and Kirsty for being so chilled and understanding.

Unsure if this punctuality is now part of a new wedding trend. Hmmm, hard to tell. If so, we will pass the word around the wedding function band grapeline ;-)

Not that the traffic would ever care. Hell, you just gotta hate the M25 sometimes.