The Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club
at South Mill Arts Centre
1-3, South Road, Bishops Stortford, Herts.
CM23 3JG
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Previous Performances – Who
played when |
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A
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ACOUSTIC CLUB
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At a recent Acoustic Club evening this photo was taken celebrating two
very important ladies who have been very much part of the history of the
Acoustic Club
Jess Brett & Annie Compton The Godfathers of the Acoustic Club
The Late Keef Jackman & Drew Bonnington |
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ACOUSTIC CLUB STORTFORD – A HISTORY Keef
Jackman and Drew Bonnington started the Acoustic Club in April 2002 as they
both had a desire to play blues music acoustically and had no stage to do so!
Initially, it was held once a month, with an open mic for all styles of
music, any acoustic instrument, and any level with Keef’s partner Annie
carrying out the door function. |
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With Drew
taking a back seat, Keef & Annie ran the club successfully for 10 years
creating a weekly night that was very much an important part of the local
music scene. It was expanded and the format was set with a Showcase Act being
supported by 9 acts. During those early days a number of performers came to
call the Acoustic Club their first home. Players who gained Internationally
renown:- George Ezra, Surie, John Gomm, Sam Smith, Matt Cardle to name a few
but there have been so many!! |
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In June
2012 Keef and Annie made the decision that they would like a break from
organising the Club and handed the reins over to Jess & Neil – 2/3’s of
the fabulous band The Huxleys who were in the business of Music Clubs. They gladly
inherited the club to run alongside their regular Hertford open mic nights.
They installed Hertford guitarist and songwriter Luke Silver as Host and M/C
with Rob Daniels as resident sound engineer. |
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The Club
continued with a vast range of players and headliners as Jess introduced us
to many of her musical friends from around the world whilst continuing with
local performers. |
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In 2014,
with a thriving music shop and school and teaching business in Hertford and a
growing young family, Jess and Neil could no longer dedicate the time
necessary to the Club. At this point Geoff and Bill became the next
inheritors of the Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club |
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Since
then, Geoff and Bill have been able to steer the club from almost closure to
being stalled for 15 months during the pandemic via a relocation to the other
end of Town during the closure of the Half Moon for refurbishment. Because of
the refocussing of the Horn at the Half Moon into the wonderful music venue
it is, we have changed days from Thursday to Wednesday. Also, to suit other
requirements we now run every other week. |
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Geoff and
Bill have expanded the scope of music to include differing formats featuring
the traditional evening of a Showcase Act supported by 8 support acts, 6 x 4
and 4 x 6 acts with either 6 acts with 4 songs or 4 acts with 6 songs and
finally Concert nights with a major headliner and one or two supporting
artists. |
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In 2020 BP
(before the pandemic), we had planned to have outdoor concerts in the
Courtyard and more special nights with headline acts, with album launches and
supporting tours of the very top players. Unfortunately COVID put paid to 18
months of planned music. It took until
mid-2021 before we were able to restart music and once things were back on an
even keel we got back on those priorities as well as our involvement in BISH
BASH!. The Bandstand Acoustic stage was the centre of peace and tranquillity and
we featured 16 hours of live acoustic-ish music with 33 headline acts
and 65 musicians (some played twice or even 3 times. To find
out who played in 2021 and when CLICK HERE 2021 Complete |
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We continued
the recovery during 2022 and rebuilt the audience but there were some of our
favourite acts stopping performing. Covid caused so many players to
reconsider what they were doing but despite this, we ran a full programme and
with audiences slowly getting back into the habit of Music on a Wednesday. To find
out who played in 2022 and when CLICK HERE 2022 Complete During
2023 things at the Horn at the Half Moon went from bad to worse. The first
was that, following a serious incident outside the Pub, the Licensing
Authority closed the premises for 8 weeks. This caused us no end of issues
the most trying was the cancellation of the gig by SuRie, which had been long
planned and was at very short notice. We managed
to work around the closure of the Pub and we found temporary location at the
South Mill Arts Centre. This temporary move was very popular with the players
and audience alike. However once the pub was reopened we happily moved back
to the Horns at the Half Moon. Disaster
almost struck again when at the end of October, the Management, who had
installed a new manager to run the premises as part of the re-opening,
decided that they no longer wished to run the pub and surrendered the lease.
This resulted in yet another shutdown of the pub and because the SMAC was not
available, we were delighted to move to the Belgian Brewer. To find
out who played in 2023 and when CLICK HERE 2023 Complete Due to
those ongoing issues in Stortford Town Centre and the obvious advantages of
being primarily located at the South Mill Arts Centre, from 11th
January we located to the SMAC for our 2024 season. It is such
a wrench to move on a permanent basis from the Half Moon – we have been there
through thick and thin for over 20 years – but circumstances change and we
either change or fade into the background. 2024 was
an absolutely belting year with not only an uninterrupted year – when the
SMAC was not available we located to the Belgian Brewer. As well we started
the Acoustic Bash a 2 day celebration of local talent in the Bandstand. To find
out who played in 2024 and when CLICK HERE 2024 Complete So onwards
to 2025. A full year with hope an enthusiasm for a year of some wonderful nights
in prospect, Spring, Autumn and Winter Concerts, 2025 Acoustic Bash as well
as our usual range of Double Headline Showcases as well as Star Showcases and
Young Players Nights To find
out more click here PROGRAMME 2025 Geoff and
Bill |
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SOME VERY SAD NEWS
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The
history of live acoustic music in Bishops Stortford would not have reached
its heights had it not been for the dedication and sheer hard work of Keef
over many, many years. His list
of achievements is both long and distinguished. He was a prodigious performer
as a member of many bands back in his younger days but as he grew older, his
love for acoustic music and the attachment to the ukulele grew. He was a
prolific songwriter in his own right producing many songs on contemporary
subjects as well as the wishful fantasies that songwriters conjure from their
imagination. Along with
Drew Bonnington, he founded the Acoustic Club at the Half Moon in 2002,
initially as a monthly blues jam but this idea very quickly developed into
the Acoustic Club as we know it today. Along with his partner Annie they
developed the Club into one of the most prominent stages for players to
perform. The format of allowing any age to play gave openings for so many
performers. The list of those who took early steps at the Acoustic Club is
impressive to say the very least! George Ezra, Sam Smith, John Gomm Dave
Sutherland all came to The Half Moon and performed under the steady and
encouraging eyes of Keith and Annie. Of course
we have a whole list of local players who took their first musical steps and
remain local heroes today – Tom Ryder, Joe Hazel, Bella Chipperfield, Joe
Chipperfield, Charlie Turner all took their first steps under Keef and Annies
tutelage and continue to be such forces within music. The
Acoustic Club was not only his passion but it was the stage that created and
developed The Bishops Stortford Ukulele Society (BSUS) one of the first
community ukulele groups that encompassed every level of performer united in
one passion – playing music. Keef and
Annie were so ingrained in almost every musical venture that was developed in
and around Stortford. The Stortford Music Festival was founded as a day of
live music and over the years this has developed into the pantechnicon that
is now Bish Bash. Keith gave a huge amount of time to Woodfest, the weekend
in Hatfield Forest where not only did he play but spent ages as MC and sound
tech. His enthusiasm for music knew no bounds. Keef would be as happy doing a
1 hour Spot, a 2 song opener to start the evening or a whole night
encouraging young players to “Give it a go”. Over the
past couple of years Keef had suffered from serious ill health. He had moved
to Yorkshire a few years ago and the last contact we had with him was that he
was playing ukulele on a narrow gauge, tourist railway in and around Hebden
Bridge. Keef was
one of those rare people who did far more for others than for himself. His
enthusiasm, drive and personality engaged with people and fostered a genuine
love for the live music we honour today. Keef
passed away on 6th December after a short illness and everyone who
knew him was heartbroken by the news. |
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