The Wildest Cats In Town / Pontin’s Holiday Village, Kessingland
When a young sprite that helps us put The Stool Pigeon together asked if I was going to any festivals this year, I said, “Yes, I’m going to a rocking little weekender on the Suffolk coast.”
Words Mickey Gibbons
Photography Mickey Gibbons
When a young sprite that helps us put The Stool Pigeon together asked if I was going to any festivals this year, I said, “Yes, I’m going to a rocking little weekender on the Suffolk coast.”
“Ah, Latitude. Me too.”
No, sonny, not Latitude. If you ever wanted to wipe out 98 per cent of The Guardian’s readers in one sweet little napalm strike, aim for Latitude. And, while your there, hit Aldeburgh too.
I was heading 20 miles north, near Lowestoft, to Pontin’s Holiday Village, home to The Wildest Cats in Town Rock’n’Roll Weekender, which is put on by promoter Richie Gee. Mr Gee has been organising classic rock’n’roll concerts for decades, bringing legends over from the US to perform in front of huge crowds of immaculately dressed Teddy boys and girls. Most are now grandparents and it’s humbling to think of them stepping out 50 years ago in these clothes and giving birth to word ‘rebel’.
The classic Butlin’s-style seaside holiday camp, with its cavernous sprung-floored ballroom, was the perfect venue for such a spectacle. British favourites Matchbox, Porky’s Hot Rockin and The Rhythm Aces got the crepe soles tapping, and I saw a wedding party on Saturday drink Newcastle Brown Ale all night while waiting to see their favourites, Crazy Cavan, play. They weren’t disappointed.
The weekend’s highlight for me began with a 15-minute set by Texan Chris Casello, who played that Fender with such attack and virtuosity it brought a tear to my eye. Casello then moved aside and joined the backing band for fifties Sun Records legend Johnny Powers. His voice still hits the spot and he couldn’t leave us without playing his hit ‘Long Blonde Hair’ twice, Casello filling Powers’s guitar shoes for the lead solos with humility.
I can’t wait until next year. I’m actually going to dance. I’m taking jive lessons and ironing my drapes already.
