The dominoes game at the start of the show

 

 

 

The band play "Streetfayre" as an introduction to Hackett's Golden Gallopers.

 

 

 

The end of the show

 

WALTZERS & WONDERS!
(The Wakes is in Town!)
A suite of songs to celebrate the English experience of the Fairground over half a century, composed by Ian Carter with some additional material by Sarah Matthews and John Tams.

In the early 80’s, Chesterfield born Ian Carter wrote a musical show – ‘The Wakes is in Town’ for Muckram Wakes, the internationally acclaimed acoustic folk band he was in with John Adams and Keith Kendrick. The show was inspired by a song ‘The Pulling Down Song’, written by John Tams - ex ‘Albion Band’ and ‘Home Service’ member, Actor and Musical Director at the National Theatre, and ‘Hagman the Rifleman’ in the highly popular TV drama series: ‘Sharp’s Rifles’. John himself worked with a travelling fairground as a teenager and was a founder member of the original Muckram Wakes in 1970 for whom he wrote the song inspired by his own experiences.

Sadly, before the show had reached the touring stage – ‘Muckram’s’ disbanded and Ian’s songs were shelved and, tragically, left to gather dust.

Nearly 30 years later, Ian’s timely return to our shores (after several years of globe-trotting in pursuit of a sensible living) coincided with an initiative by Keith to put together a large project band to produce stage shows highlighting traditional and new songs of England but with an emphasis on his home county of Derbyshire and the Midlands in general.

Keith invited Ian, along with Alan Squires (another old colleague), Sylvia Needham, Howard Mitchell and the four members of popular Derbyshire band ‘Cross o’ th’ Hands’ (John Adams, Michelle Short, Sarah Matthews and Doug Eunson) to complete the ensemble.

It wasn’t long before the light dawned and we realised that Ian’s ‘Fair Ground Suite’ would be a perfect first project and Hail! the cobwebs were quickly blown away!

After more than a year of immensely hard work and preparation by all concerned, an accompanying new CD and with clearly, a healthy future ahead, the resulting show staged its World Premiere performance at The Derby Assembly Rooms as part of The Derby Folk Music and Arts Festival on the afternoon of Saturday 25th October 2008.

Don’t miss THE COOLEST SHOW ON EARTH!