Firstly, I just have to say a massive thank you to my fellow Bounty Hounds for yet another blistering night of fab folk rocking at the Red House, Stanningfield. Solid as a rock! And a huge shout too to our fantastic hosts, Neil & Amanda, they certainly know how to throw a party!

Amanda & Neil outside their pub in Stanningfield

As a prequel to St Patrick’s Night, Guinness hats were donned, the theme was green, and many, many pints of stout were murdered alongside two guest beers, Hound Dog & Birthday Piddle!

The Bounty Hounds had prepared a cunning set of tunes and songs appropriate to the night, with a couple of old Irish favourites thrown in especially for the occasion. Whiskey in the Jar finally made it into the set (please see previous post - Shaun’s Baptism of Fire) and, along with Irish Rover, renaming Harvest Home to the Cork Hornpipe, and a couple of Waterboys songs, we just about got away with the “Irish Night” billing!

The Bounty Hounds raising the roof at the Red House
(check out the scaffolding next time you’re in Stanningfield!)
Photo by Bob Atkinson

We launched into our first set with fantastic audience feedback right from the start - the St Patrick’s Night party had begun! And what a night it was! Special mention must be made of the two lovely line dancing ladies in green - nice one girls! Gill and her friends were up on the floor too, along with various members of the local crowd. Anthony & David were charming, while Sasha & Sophie “pico chattted” the night away …

St Patrick’s party time at the Red House
Photos by Gill Bosley & Bob Atkinson

We rocked and we rolled, we jigged and we reeled, and I can honestly say it was a “right rum do”. Thanks again to Amanda & Neil for having us. Hopefully we’ll be back again soon!

And if you’re appetite is whetted … you can have more Bounty Hounding tonight for St Patrick’s Night proper, at the Pot Black Snooker Club in Bury St Edmunds. Way hay and up she rises - see you there!! That is if Shaun makes it back in time from his VIP visit to the O2 to see his brother’s band Fanfarlo supporting Snow Patrol!!! There Shaun, I’ve said it!

Oh what a night! Yesterday evening the Bounty Hounds ventured forth once more to distant realms, the “other side of Mildenhall”, although home turf for Kev. This was the next installment of our Suffolk pub gigs tour, and our first time at the Rose & Crown. The first thing that struck me, apart from being billed as the Bounty Hunters (oops), was the perfect raised area for the band to use. A smart little stage opening onto a good sized room, with plenty space for us and for our audience.

Lovely stage area full of Bounty Hound kit

By the time we opened the first set with High Germany the bar had filled with friendly looking locals and a posse of regular Bounty fans. So I’m thrilled to announce that we didn’t disappoint! The sound was good, thanks to Guy’s JBLs, the monitors were working well for all of us, the rhythms were tight, and very soon heads were nodding and feet were tapping.

The good vibes continued throughout the evening, people were dancing, and I reckon I can speak for all the Hounds when I say it was a thoroughly top night. We didn’t have to fish for an encore either - the crowd really did call out for “MORE”! We gave them a test run of Whisky in the Jar in preparation for St Patrick’s Night and we just about got away with it … hee hee!

CDs were sold, we got a booking for a private party and the positive feedback was immense. So a big thank you to the Rose & Crown, to our stalwart supporters and to everyone there who allowed our folk to rock!

P.S. These are my new gigging shoes!