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End of June Report on High Peak CWC.
Well, we have come to the end of another month at the High Peak Country and Western Club and we've been having a great time.
We started off well with Andy Gates at the 'Waterloo' on the 5th. He seemed to be already known to some of
our members, and the usual repartee between audience and singer soon began. Dolly promised to bring him the words of the 'Time Share' song (!?) next time he sings - I can't wait!
Andy Gates was a good entertainer, singing quite a variety of songs.
Our singer on the 12th was the famous Bob McKinlay. He looked well and was in sparkling form.
This meeting was at Sterndale Moor Social Club and his first remark was how pleased he was to be there, indicating that
the venue hadn't been easy to find. (He obviously hadn't been visiting the map on our website!)
He presented a variety of well-loved Country songs in his distinctive voice. One of his own songs he sang was
'Restless', which now has a line dance, choreographed to it. (Unfortunately we couldn't remember the steps. Must practice.)
Along came Travis Logan on the 19th, again at Sterndale Moor. He hails from Chesterfield, but has a good Country
and Western drawl. The lady members are always pleased to see him as he is young, tall and muscular, with a deep voice somewhat reminiscent of Elvis.
Not only did he sing a lot of very popular Country songs but he had also learnt two Western ballads.
The one I particularly remember was 'The Ballad of Bill Thaxton.' In it a blind ranger, Bill, shoots dead the notorious
gunman, Sundown. Our own Sundown re-acted suitably to the words, and the audience awwhhh'd in sympathy as he finally kicked the bucket.
Our last singer of the month was Les Spear. He had travelled from Bristol and proved to be very sociable. The audience liked his music, which was out and out Country, very pleasant to dance to, or just to listen to.
At one point he was mobbed by our tiny cowboys from Planet Country and Western, (blame Buckshot), but he managed to
survive. In fact once again both audience and singer had a good night.
Today I shall write about the American trilogy.
This is enacted to a song in three parts recorded by, among others, Elvis Presley.
At the front of the room stand three women holding the flags of variously, the Southern American States, Britain and the
United States of America. Facing the women stand any cowboys and soldiers who want to take part.
As the song unfolds there are various positions that those taking part can adopt as the flags are raised and then
lowered.
At the end all of the flags are raised triumphantly. Finally the person conducting the Trilogy calls for a three shot
salute for 'the dead of the North, the South and the Native American Indian.'
This ceremony is quite impressive, as all in the room are silent as it takes place. Only when the men of the Trilogy are
dismissed does applause break out.
I must admit that I don't know the origin of this ceremony. Perhaps someone visiting the website could enlighten me. I believe that the ceremony is not performed in America.
(I shall describe the Mexican Trilogy on another occasion.)
Adios 'till next month,
Mrs Rusty.
P.S. If anyone would like to add to, or to comment on, what I have written they can do so on our comments page.
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