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Please note that the latest news does not always appear at the top of the page. Look out for regular updates during the current month. Dated items are now removed after the event during the month in which they appear. The version number changes with every update |
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Great Christmas Gift For only £25 
How about a Christmas gift like no other? A gift for anyone who likes organ-keyboard music - or for someone who enjoys the very best of live entertainment?It costs only £25 and is the deposit for the Sand Bay Keyboard Cabaret weekend next year (15th-18th October 2010). The Sand Bay Leisure Resort is near Weston-super-Mare and is just off the M5 motorway. The resort has recently one an award by the travel industry for being one of the best in the UK. Of course, you can make the gift extra special by paying for it in full and in one go - it's only £149 HB. It is going to be the event of the year and starts off with a sherry reception and ends with a celebration drink - all included in the price. The varied programme will include the Ian Griffin X Factor - based on his appearance as Musical Director on HTV (Wales) in a programme called 'Friday Night Live' when a panel of celebrities judged talent from Wales. At the Sand Bay version one of the judges will be Scott Paige, Group Entertainment Manager for Martyn's Leisure Resorts. With the very best of keyboard cabaret entertainment celebrating 30 years of organ-keyboard festivals in the UK., it will be the finest gift it is possible to give anyone. And it's so easy to arrange - just telephone the Sand Bay Leisure Resort booking office: 0845 88 00 211 (local rate). Watch this space for more news about the most exciting event of 2010. 14.11.09 |
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Best selling Albums/Books at Organ1st During last month - October 2009 1...(CD) Robert Wolfe - You're My World 3...(DVD) Nicholas Martin - At The Wurlitzer Organ Of The Opera House, Blackpool 3...(DVD) Nicholas Martin - Highland Cathedral 4...(CD) Phil Kelsall - At The Worthing Wurlitzer 5...(DVD & CD) OKEY Keyboard Festival Live 2007 (Released in 2009) 6...(CD) Nigel Ogden - Plays Hammond (Celebrating 75 Years of the Hammond Organ) 7...(CD) Nicholas Martin - Marching & Waltzing 8...(2CD) Ken Griffin - At The Organ (Drifting & Dreaming) 8...(CD) David Ingley - A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening 10...(CD) Penny Weedon - The Penny Picture Show Please note that this list many differ to the one on the Organ1st website because the above includes all their mail, telephone and Internet sales, compared to only the Internet on their website. Details of the CDs, DVDs and books - including some audio samples, are on the Organ1st website. Organ1st CD Shop for your postal and on-line shopping - including links to Organ1st Radio The November programme is now on-line for your listening pleasure. Updated 1.11.09 |
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News Flash More For Less Sand Bay - Weston-Super-Mare Keyboard Cabaret Weekend 15th - 18th October 2010 30th Anniversary Event
Due to popular demand, the Sand Bay Keyboard Experience for 2010 will be held in the venue's ballroom (as it was this year) and NOT in a special function room with limited numbers, as previously reported.The event will be advertised as The Sand Bay Keyboard Cabaret Weekend in view of the successful varied programme this year. The big news is that because of the numbers able to attend, it is possible to reduce the HB tariff from £159 to £149 and also to lower the deposit from £50 to £25. It will be a special event to celebrate 30 years of electronic organs-keyboards in the UK and also to mark the 30 years that Jean Martyn has been in show business John Mann, who played at the very first festival, has been invited along for the celebrations, which will include a sherry reception and a bucks fizz party on the Sunday night. Every evening will include a cabaret spot that will make the event totally different to all other keyboard events held in the UK. Another feature will be Ian Griffin's guest spot when he will introduce talent he hs discovered in his travels - talent that is worth listening to. A young lady that he discovered some time ago is now in the chorus line at a famous London theatre and another believes her appearance on ITV's 'Stars In Their Eyes' was down to Ian's ability in playing for her in sessions prior to the show. With prizes galore, it will be a notable addition to the programme. Ian did something similar on ITV-Wales some years ago when he was the musical director on a show called: 'Friday Night Live' when a panel of celebrities judged the contestants. The Keyklix Klan with Andy Oakley will again be exclusive to Sand Bay - although it must be said that they have made several appearances at organ societies with standing ovations at each event. Every guest will receive a memorable gift to mark the special 30th Anniversary event. The revised prices depend on early reservations and therefore everyone is advised to book up for the weekend as soon as possible. The telephone number of the booking hotline is: 0845 880 0211 (local rate). The Sand Bay Leisure Resort has just won another award from the travel industry and is one of five venues owned by Martyn's Leisure Breaks - part of the Hollybush Hotel Group. Holiday Selection - Martyn's Leisure Breaks 20.10.09 |
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Lively Forum at Sand Bay about players who do not play live A large number of guests attended the morning forum at the recent Sand Bay Keyboard Experience in which several controversial subjects were discussed with the panel that included: Paul Carman. Chris Stanbury, Elizabeth Harrison and Matthew Bason. The question of players not playing 'live' was discussed and one player (not at the event), has since telephoned us to say that he is unhappy about the article appearing in our magazine section. He said that, in his opinion, it appears to be directed at him. All we can say is that the article has opposing views with the right of anyone to respond to it. No doubt the discussion will continue for a very long time with some people (and players) having very strong feelings about it. If the player concerned would like to express his views we would be delighted to print them. We think that is only fair that he should be able to do this and put the record straight as far as he is concerned. Our discussion page on fake players Read what others say! 20.10.09 |
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'By Royal Appointment' Jean Martyn to play at St.James' Palace On returning home from her appearance at the Sand Bay Keyboard Experience, a thrilled Jean Martyn telephoned to say that she has been invited to play at St.James' Palace sometime during the next few weeks. Next year will be her 30th year in show business, which will be celebrated by a party at the 2010 Sand Bay event. In her informal session at this year's Sand Bay Keyboard Experience, she told the audience that she nearly decided to remain a school music teacher with her list of qualifications. The change in direction to show business has enabled her to travel the world and meet many star celebrities, including the famous James Last when she played in his orchestra. 20.10.09 |
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Turkey & Tinsel Cabaret Weekend 2010 3rd December 2010 The Sherbourne Hotel - Dorset With The Keyklix Klan Although it's a year away it is filling up fast. Yes, it the long awaited Turkey and Tinsel weekend break with The Keyklix Klan - probably the most entertaining keyboard based trio in the world. If there is anything better we would like to know about it. The weekend is only £159 HB. The telephone number of the booing hotline is:- 0845 880 0211 NOTE There are only 52 places left. 20.10.09 |
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Alan Ashton's November's selection Click for month's selection I came across this clip from the Pathe News Library which someone has posted on You-Tube, and decided to feature it because when I worked for Granada TV in their Manchester Film Dubbing studio, we had a Mellotron the same as this, but instead of it being filled with music tapes, it held Sound FX. For instance, if the Dubbing Mixer wanted to put some Countryside atmosphere over a particular section of film: maybe to enhance that which the sound recordist had ( or had not ) been able to record on location, he simply 'played in' the appropriate Mellotron tape from the keyboard. He could then build up a customised sound track by selecting any number of bird songs, wind through tree's, thunder etc. The same applied to Town or City noises: police car sirens ( even the old Z Cars police bells ) buses, overhead planes, workmen etc. In effect it was an instant Sound Effects Library holding thousands of unique audio possibilities. The In the clip with David Nixon you do get a couple of brief opportunities to see the cassettes holding the actual reels of tape...which were all self rewinding. They did need constant replacement because like all old reel to reel format, began to deteriorate in sound quality. Even so, despite the gimmicky nature of the musical version demonstrated here, this instrument gave a pretty good account of itself the era in which it was designed. Stick with it to the end to hear the professional player. .................. Alan The brightest & best organ music? Listen to ORGAN1st Radio at www.ORGANISTS.co.uk Updated 1.11.09 |
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Exclusive Report Major Changes and Improvements at Sand Bay ....planned for 2010 at award winning leisure resort We can reveal that holidays at the Sand Bay Leisure Resort near Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, have been a remarkable success story over the years - thanks to Martin Jenkins and his dedicated sales team. The venue is the home of the impressive group sales office of Martyn's Leisure Holidays, part of the Hollybush Hotel Group. Unseen by holiday guests, a group of glamorous young and well spoken English girls operate the call centre and take reservations over the phone for five holiday venues. The telephone is now the most popular way of booking holidays, explained Martin, who has been with the company for fifteen years. "Sales have increased year by year since the holiday centre was bought from Pontin's," he added with a proud smile. In 2010 the resort is due for a major refurbishment with additional accommodation to increase its capacity from 550 to 700. The front of the resort will have more car parking space for the bigger crowds. The increased numbers will still enable the staff to maintain the happy holiday atmosphere that has existed over the years, resulting in guests returning time after time. Many competitors cater for thousands, so the projected figure is small by comparision. Additional function rooms will enable groups to have their own exclusive event while retaining the central cabaret and dancing hall, which is also going to be refurbished, as a necleus. The owner, Martyn Harrison, believes that investing in the site will give holiday guests even better value for money, especially for special event groups, including those from the organ-keyooard world, who will have even more facilities during their stay. 2010 Brochure now available:- Visit Martyn's website 20.9.09 |
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Exclusive Report John Mann - Return visit to Folly Farm 1st May 2010 
Following his first visit to Folly Farm earlier this year, John Mann, will be making a return visit on 1st May 2010.John Mann was delighted to be the first star player to play the Folly Farm Wurlitzer organ that was once installed at the Gaumont, Manchester and later at the Granada Studios tour complex. Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire, is a family leisure and adventure complex that can be compared with the Thursford Museum in Norfolk and the once famous Turners Merry-go-round, Northampton, that closed in July 2004 - both homes of Wurlitzer pipe organs from cinema installations. 24.9.09 |
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Pontin's Blackpool Keyboard Cavalcade's Northern Venue Site to close Pontin's Blackpool, the venue for Keyboard Cavalcade's annual northern event, is scheduled to close, according to a report in the Blackpool Gazette. The suprise news will mean a loss to northern organ and keyboard ethusiasts who have attended events there since around 1989. The venue combined many shows with the Blackpool Tower Ballroom with its famous Wurlitzer theatre organ. The Gazette reports: "While other Pontin's sites have boomed this summer, with visitor number up by as much as 20 per cent, they were down eight per cent in Blackpool. Pontin's Blackpool is due to close on October 2 when the current lease expires Earlier, Pontin's chief executive Ian Smith reportedly bemoaned a lack of investment in Blackpool over the last 10 to 15 years. Landowner and Blackpool Tower boss Trevor Hemmings's Northern Trust company (who apparently own the freehold) wants to build houses on the prime site." It is a fact that multi millionare Trevor Hemmings, now in his 70's and ranked at 46 on the Sunday Times rich list with a wealth of £700 million, controlled the Pontin's empire since the 1960's after selling it and buying it back to sell it a second time to a consortium in March 2008 for £46 million. Before then he sold several Pontin's sites for housing developments. It was Trevor Hemmings who Cled Griffin contacted in 1979, resulting in Pontin's first electronic organ festival at their flag ship Barton Hall venue in December 1980. Report in Blackpool Gazette dated 11.9.09 How the festivals started The Story of Barton Hall 11.9.09 |
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Sand Bay - Weston-Super-Mare - 2009 Great Summer Season Martin Jenkins, the sales manager of Martyn's Holiday Breaks, the the firm that owns the Sand Bay Leisure Complex, reports a record breaking summer season. Martin believes it is because less people are going abroad because of the credit crunch. Another factor is that Sand Bay provides the best possible value for money when it comes to leisure breaks. Many former Lyme Bay customers are also enjoying the service and entertainment since the Seaton site was bought by Tesco last year. Relatively close to the M5 motorway, Sand Bay is easier to get to than many other similar venues. 1.9.09 |
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Elizabeth Harrison Thanks well wishers after accident Following an accident when she broke her right wrist, Elizabeth Harrison wishes to thank all those who sent her their 'get well' wishes. Elizabeth also wishes to thank all the players who have deputised for her. This has been done by swopping dates, which means that she will just play in concerts at a later date than planned. Elizabeth says she hopes to be back to normal for the Sand Bay Keyboard Experience in October. 1.9.09 |
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Coming to Sand Bay 16th - 19th October 2009 The following video was recorded at Lyme Bay, which is now replaced by Sand Bay - owned by the same leisure holiday group - Martyn's Leisure Holidays. The new October weekend at Sand Bay is ideal for those who prefer a long weekend of keyboard/electronic organ music. |
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Beer Wurlitzer News Update of whats's happening at Beer All Wurlitzer theatre organ enthusiasts know that the Congregational Church at the fishing village of Beer in East Devon is now the home of the first Wurlitzer pipe organ to be brought into the UK. The following video briefly highlights its history. More details can be obtained from the following website:- www.beerwurly.co.uk 1.9.09 |
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New website addition New Guestbook for visitors We are pleased to report that we have become more interactive and now have a visitors guestbook for leaving messages for everyone to see. If you have anything to say, or want to get something off your chest, then you now have the opportunity to do so. There is also a FEEDBACK facility for leaving messages for the editorial team. It's all on our new website extension. New website extension Updated 1.9.09 |
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Keyboard Komedy Weekend for next year 19th-22nd March 2010 New venue: Devonshire Hotel, Torquay. LATE EXTRA.... There is now a waiting list for vacancies. Why not add your name to it - you may be lucky in the event of a cancellation. See full details Updated 1.9.09 |
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Forthcoming Special Events and Concerts Details of all forthcoming concerts and special events can be found through the following links:- Organfax monthly concert listing ORGANfax club directory If your society does not have its own website and presence on the Internet, then ORGANfax will be pleased to make one for you - please enquire via the contact link:- Contact ORGANfax NOTE... The modernised Organfax website, introduced this year, allows players and organ society and clubs to update their own website. This can easily be done with no specialised knowledge. If you are a secretary or a concert organiser it is worth you looking into this. Revised 1.9.09 |
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BOOKING NOTICE NEW Sand Bay Keyboard Spectacular 16th - 19th October 2009 
The Lyme Bay Keyboard Experience is moving to Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare in North Somerset for a weekend of glorious electronic organ-keyboard entertainment with the most varied programme ever devised for music lovers. The special event is under the direction of Cled and Ian Griffin (right) and the team that introduced home organ festivals to the UK in 1980.
The host and presenter is Andy Oakley (left), Britain's most talented comedian and entertainer. The programme includes concerts, masterclasses, dancing and cabaret plus a ladies craft section for making greeting cards. It will be a weekend to suit adults of all ages.The refurbished site includes an indoor swimming pool and all the leisure activities associated with the long established leisure resort run by Hollybush Hotels under the new brand name of Martyn's Leisure Breaks. The full board weekend is at the remarkable low price of £129 per person with optional cancellation insurance of £4, which means you can book with no worries whatsoever. There is also a group booking facility with arranged transport for organ societies and keyboard clubs. There is a choice of menu for all tastes with meals served to your table. The comfortable en-suite accommodation includes coffee/tea facilities and television. For the car traveller there is secure free on site parking. It's easy to book - just telephone the reservations hotline: 0845 8800211 (local rate) or reception: 01934 428200. A £30 deposit will secure your place - remember, it's wise to book early for this extra special event. You will not find another similar event in the UK that can beat this one on price and value. Reprinted 1.9.09 |
May-June 2009 Jan-April 2009 A review of 2008 December 2008 Page 1 part 2 for 2008 news Page 2 for more news Page 3 for more news Return to top of page |
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