New Model Army - Bradford - Live lounge at Utopia

Acustic EP - 1985

It's another one of those 'when I was a lad' moments! As a young and impressionable teenager I remember my first encounter with New Model Army. Back in 1985 Lea, my brother had been down to Rock Off in Bradford and bought 'Better Than Them - The Acoustic EP' because he liked the cover! And so it started. Both Lea and me instantly connected with the post punk rawness and Slade the Levellers story telling. We quickly got copies of 'Vengeance (1984)' , 'The Price (1984)' and 'No Rest For The Wicked (1985)'. These records still remain part of my psyche to this day.

New Model Army had already been through a bit of an upheaval, their original Bassist Stuart Morrow had left the band and had been quickly replaced by Moose Harris. We first got to see the band on the Ghost of Cain tour in October 1986 at the Communal Building within the Bradford Uni campus. Tickets cost £3.50! 

Over the years I've seen NMA dozens of times, I lost interest after the Impurity Album, times we're good I struggled to relate to the bands direction, however recently I've re-engaged with the band. Certainly the banking crisis has created a synergy between my thoughts and some of the modern NMA songs.

So to the gig...

New Model Army (Poor Quality Image)

It's been a long time since NMA did a gig in Bradford, we've seen them a couple of times recently at the O2 in Leeds. The Live Lounge is a new gig venue, something that Bradford really needs. Only a small venue but this made it even better, I've not seen NMA in such a small place before. It was also our first chance to see the new bassist Ceri Monger in action.

There wasn't a support band, however Slade did a half hour acoustic set, kicking off with Notice Me, all good! After this the band soon started and kicked off with Get Me Out, they then worked through a couple of hours of music. I 'had a jump about at the front' to 'Christian Militia' and really enjoyed the evening. The usual antics with all the standing on shoulders, waving arms about routine and slam dancing at the front.

It was a nice thought by Slade to dedicate 'Green and Grey' to the late Rob Heaton and Tommy Tee.

The evening was over all too soon, I would have liked to have heard Vengeance, but there's always a next time!!

Youtube Videos from the Gig.

Notice Me

Get Me Out

Green And Grey

Vagabonds

Frightened

Here Comes The War

No Rest

I Love The World

The Hunt

Ballad of Bodmin Pill

Nothing Dies Easy

Olympic Torch visits Halifax

Frank with the lit torch.

Went down to 'The North Bridge' in Halifax with the kids today to watch the Olympic Torch Relay. It was very busy, the streets were packed with hundreds of people. Everything was running a bit late but eventually the whole entourage rolled down the hill from Shibden park. The torch was somewhat overshadowed by the Sponsorship buses which added all the razzmatazz to the whole event.


Frank Chislett who runs with Andrea at the Halifax Harriers carried the torch over North Bridge. The kids liked the whole occasion and pushed through to the front to get a better view of everything. I had to remind them that it was a 'once in a life time' event. I certainly won't see the Olympics back here in the UK in my lifetime, wonder if the kids will?

Walk along part of the Hebble Trail Below Halifax

We had a spare afternoon and decided to go for a quick, short local walk. Andrea trains with the Halifax Harriers and sometimes runs along the section of the Hebble Trail between Halifax and Salterhebble. It's quite a hidden place, close to busy roads, but amazingly quite and tranqil. I've never walked along the track that follows the old canal up into Halifax. The canal was built in 1828, had 14 locks and closed in 1942. It's now filled in and a cycle path has been constructed in it's place. There's more information here about this remarkable almost forgotten canal!

Jack and Finlay by the Canal

We parked in the Halifax Registry Office car park and headed into the bottom of the valley, over the railway and down into Phoebe Lane Industrial Estate and made our way along the cycle path. Considering where the path runs it's surprising how peaceful and quiet everything is. We soon arrived at The Watermill pub, and continued onto the Canal Basin. There was a Barge coming through the locks so we stood and watched all the activity.

We headed back to the Watermill for a drink before retracing our path along the valley bottom and back to the car. It was only about 3 miles of walking, and we'd explored somewhere that I didn't even know existed!

Jedburgh Camping

We left Dunston Hill and headed up the A1, stopping at Sainsburys in Kelso for some lunch. It was a nice drive down to Jedburgh and we arrived mid-afternoon. The site was on the edge of town so we walked along the river to have a look around. The weather deteriorated and it started raining! We trudged back to the van and had some tea. The kids were happy as we now had electricity so the TV was working.

The Lanton Loop

The weather had improved slightly by morning so we decided to go on a bike ride. There are lots of routes around Jedborough and many of them avoid roads so it was ideal for the kids so we decided on 'The Lanton Loop'. Not long after setting off it started raining again. Finlay was not happy and after initially protesting about the hills and the rain he stopped and wouldn’t ride his bike. The route was circular so Andrea and Jack continued on their bikes and I pushed both my and Finlays bike round the rest of the route. 


The weather was really bad and Finlay cried and moaned all the way back to the van. The ride really was too long and difficult for Finlay. We had a shower and settled in for the evening.

Wet, Wet, Wet!

No more bike rides! Thursday we headed out in the van to Jedforest Deer and Farm Park for a day out. It was pretty good, old fashioned but great for the kids. It's easy to get close to all the animals and there's a good adventure playground for the kids. It does feel like a working farm, some people might be put off by the unkempt nature of everything, but it is a real farm, not an all out tourist attraction.

There was a Powerfan freefall pole and I dared Jack and Finlay to have a go. Jack climbed three quarters of the way up it before bottling out, Finlay got to the top of the ladder and jumped off. So I had to have a go. I confidently climbed to the top and then through about the harness and the attachment, hoping everything was connected up correctly I jumped off. A great adrenalin buzz. I would have been much more confident if I'd have had a second go. I'm still able to do stuff my kids dare not do!

Finlay on Jack Bike

Bridge over River Teviot

Go Kart

Back at the camp site and the kids had fun trying each others bikes out. Finlay rode Jacks bike, he was really funny, such a little guy on a big bike! He had fun and enjoyed the challenge.

Monument Walk

Last full day at Jedburgh and we decided to go for a walk, the weather was okay but we knew it would start raining as the day went on. We decided to walk up to the Waterloo Monument on top of Peniel Heugh. It's a very prominent tower and it looked like an interesting goal. Part of the walk follows the St Cuthberts Way. Again we were jinxed by the weather and as we climbed away from the River Teviot it started raining. We got to the monument and quickly headed back under the cover of the trees, had a few sandwiches that we'd packed and headed back. We got wet through again!!!


Saturday saw us return home, it was supposed to be Senior TT day on the Isle of Man, but the weather caused disruption and the race was cancelled so there was no radio commentry for the drive home.


We'd had a good week off, at Dunstan Hill the weather was good but at Jedburgh we saw way too much rain. We had large bags of really wet clothes, and even I ran out of dry cloths, boot and coats! Better luck next time.

Dunstan Hill - Northumberland Camping

Jack riding along, Lost!

Set off early on Saturday morning and headed up the A1, we listened to Max Radio Manx TT 365 as we drove along, John McGuinness won the Superbike race. We soon were above Newcastle and headed down the narrow lanes, after a few wrong turns we found the camp site. I'd booked late and we were on a Grass pitch with no electric hookup, if it rained bad we'd have to be towed off!


After tea we decided to walk down onto the beach. It was about 10 minutes walk. The kids loved the beach, they we're jumping down through the sand dunes and leaping about. We walked around the golf course close to the beach and back to the camp site. A fish and Chip van had arrived on site, so it was an easy tea.


Sunday we decided to ride the bikes, we headed south to Craster. Again the kids loved the freedom and ran around on the rocks and Harbour wall. We had a drink and some lunch at The Jolly Fisheman pub. Jack really enjoyed looking around the little village. Andrea bought some Kippers from the local Fishmonger. We headed back past the camp site and into Embleton. A playground kept the kids amused while Andrea found a local shop and bought some bits and pieces.

We stopped for another drink at The Greys Inn, out the back the locals we're having a Jubilee Weekend and  there was a demonstration of sword skills. Finlay was transfixed, he went off on his own and got sat right at the front. He was mesmerised by all the sword fighting. Once the demonstrations had finished everyone was invited to hold the weapons and wear the Amour. Again Finlay got involved. He really enjoyed holding all the swords. Jack got involved but wasn't that bothered. I wish Finlay concentrated like this at school!

Dunstanburgh Castle

We headed back to the camp site, but I got everyone lost. I then got a puncture and had to push my bike for miles. It made a 5 minute bike ride into a an hour and a half ordeal. 


The kids had made friends on the camp site and spent the evening riding their bikes and playing in the playground.


Monday was a beach day and we took it easy, the weather was nice so we relaxed in the sunshine, we moved on to Jedburgh on Tuesday.