The Sorrows in Europe October 2016

The Sorrows in Europe October 2016 
By Pete Clemons

They say you can’t keep a good band down. And that is true for Coventry band The Sorrows who incredibly, and after more than 50 years, are still packing in the audiences.

As has happened in previous years, October 2016, saw The Sorrows once more invited across to Europe. This time, to perform at two sell out gigs.

The Sorrows line-up included local legend, Dave Gedney, on guitar alongside Mark Mortimer on 5 string bass guitar, Nigel Lomas on drums, Brian Wilkins on lead guitar and harmonica and, of course, vocalist and frontman Don Fardon.

German band Beat Revolver supported The Sorrows on each of the nights and the itinerary for the weekend went something like this:

Friday 7th - The guys flew from Birmingham to Dussledorf, Germany. At Dusseldorf airport they were picked up from airport. From there they were then given a tour of Dusseldorf old town that included a trip down the Rhine. Lunch at the Golden Einhorn followed. Then it was onward to the first gig of the weekend. This meant crossing the border and into in Belgium for the evening performance at a club called La Zone in Liege.

Saturday 8th – And yet another full day had been arranged. After lunch the band were treated to a sight-seeing tour of Liege. They were then driven, back across the German border to Cologne. After dinner The Sorrows then played their second gig of the weekend. This time the venue was the Sonic Ballroom, Cologne.

Sunday 9th – After a sightseeing tour of Cologne which included the cathedral the band were treated to their final touch of hospitality when they had a lunch at the Fruh Brewery, Cologne. Then it was back to Dusseldorf airport for their return onward flight back to Birmingham.

The Sorrows returned home with far less baggage than they went out with as they totally sold out of merchandise and souvenirs.

The following weekend the band was on stage once again, this time at The Albany Club, giving their time and full support to a charity event.

Sorrows at the Albany Club 2016

As 2017 kicks off The Sorrows are still receiving plenty of offers of work. Early in February they were back on stage at the Prince of Wales hotel in Southport alongside Merseybeat bands The Fourmost and The Undertakers for yet another sold out event.

The Sorrows set list today still includes classic tunes such as No No No, You Got What I Want, Teenage Letter, Find a Cave and of course Take a Heart. But the band will also find the time to let Don cut loose with songs he had success with as a solo performer such as I’m Alive.

And The Sorrows are not just a band turning out the songs for the sake of nostalgia. This current version of the band, are certainly fired up, and deadly serious about what they do. And that is to tear up the stage and create a great sound.

And the audiences, particularly it seems in Europe, are just lapping it up.