JUMPIN HOT CLUB 40th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION REVIEW
“ What was on display brought back many very happy memories, and the way you recognised and engaged with me and with many others of those present Graham, brought home your 40 year commitment – a commitment which has enabled me and my brother and many others to experience roots music from all over the world. That is very much appreciated and I know I speak for my brother as well when I offer a heartfelt Thank You. Cheers, and long may you continue.” John Barfoot
“I chatted with you on Wednesday. I travelled back home with great memories in my head and a big smile on my face and in my head. Thanks to you and Adam” . Bill Barfoot.
“I talked to an older couple who made their weekend trip around the exhibition. They talked about going down The Bridge Hotel cellar & all those early shows 30 years ago, as if it were yesterday. However they also said that they haven’t been to a Jumpin Hot Club gig for years… so it just shows you that great memories really last –“ Mel the doorman
Juan Exhibition review
The eagerly anticipated Jumpin Hot Club 40th anniversary exhibition of photographs, posters, flyers, vintage footage on a big screen and much more , curated & archived by Graham with many designed by his wife Berni Anderson on the old type set (Letraset) not involving a computer, marked out 40 years of the best roots music in the North East , and was hosted in St Marys Heritage Centre Gateshead, last week. Many visitors came with loving & caring memories of the downstairs basement of the Bridge Hotel being ” as hot as a sauna & absolutely rammed every week” during those times & others had found memories of the young vibrant sound of Newcastle during the eighties down the cellar bar with Pop Dick & Harry, The Sureshots and Martin Stephenson etc , whose secret appearances funded a trip to Paris according to Adam & ended up with Graham playing Double Bass on stage , Adam shouting Geordie encouragement & they are still friends to this very day.
All these memories were recalled at the exhibition. Many stating all the great shows missed , were the thing they will remember now too. As local bands were especially chosen for the Anniversary exhibition showcases in the wonderful acoustic surroundings of St Mary’s church in Gateshead, we had two nights of awesome roots music. The unique blue eyed soul /funk of Gateshead’s Smoove and Turrell as an acoustic quartet headlined the opening event with Georgia May & Tommy Arch in blistering form too. The second night local bluegrass giants The Often Herd showed us just why they have been booked for The Grand Ol Opry in Nashville next year…. I know , isn’t that’s just incredible. Shippy too simply had to join in the grand finale playing a few songs with Nev Clay and Cath , and he said that he loved putting a 11 hour shift at the exhibition on the last day of proceedings, & didn’t really want to go back home !!! Plenty of musicians, also turned up to have a look at the daytime exhibition , while I was helping out during the afternoons with two members of Howlin Wilf & The Vee Jays, Australian – ( J’Hot Club stalwart) Gypsy Dave Smith, Lee Bates, Joe Paterson, Wendy Smith of Prefab Sprout fame , Gary Chaplin founder of punk band Penetration and even members of Prelude enjoying all the archives. I’d say it was a total success as an exhibition , a celebration per say and in a stunning Heritage centre, easily the cultural event of 2025.
Juan Fitzgerald