Sunday 08 September 2024.

A nice a couple of days watching some big names. BOOGIETOWN FESTIVAL is held at Apps Court, Walton on Thames, Surrey . Saturday 07 August 2024. KC & The Sunshine Band Bananarama Lisa Stansfield Soul II Soul Sunday 08 August 2024. Boy George & Culture Club The Jackson's Village People ABC Incognito Tunde from The Lighthouse Family ------------- Around 10,000 folks here each day, so not too big. The weather forecast was grim, but no rain at all. A middle aged crowd for this retro festival. You can bring your own food into this festival. Saturday... SOUL II SOUL on stage at 5pm for 60 mins Jazzie B and his full collective play a good set. Great to hear ' Keep on Moving' and ' Back to Life'. LISA STANSFIELD on stage at 6.30pm for 60 mins. Eleven on stage , creating a nice big sound . Great to hear ' This is The Right Time' and ' Been Around the World'. BANANARAMA on stage at 8.05pm for 55 mins. The two girls still in a playful mood as usual . Lots of big singalong hits played in their good set . KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND on at 9.30pm for 85 mins. I was blown away when KC performed at Koko in 2017, which was his first UK show for 18 years , and tonight is another totally stunning show. Fifteen on stage including four man brass and four female dancers/backing vocalists , and band in matching snazzy jackets . KC (Harry Wayne Casey) is now 73 and is a big chap like Meat Loaf , and puts on a full set of showmanship just like Meat Loaf. He is doing many dance routines and sweating lots , buts it's great to see So many great hits got everyone dancing..... Full set list played .. Opening band medley of KC hits (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty Boogie Shoes I'm Your Boogie Man Yes I'm Ready (Barbara Mason cover) Please Don't Go Keep It Comin' Love Do You Wanna Go Party Queen of Clubs Rock Your Baby ( George McCrae cover) ( written by KC) Give It Up Drum Solo / Band intros and solos That's the Way (I Like It) Get Down Tonight I Gotta Feeling snippet / Please Don't Go Sunday... TUNDE from The Lighthouse Family did a good set , including ' Lifted ' and ' Ocean Drive'. UK British Funk legends INCOGNITO played their best tracks from their 19 studio albums . ABC arrived on stage at 4.15pm for their 60 mins. They were the highlight of the day for me. So many great hits played by Martin Fry and co. 'All of My Heart' is a song , that is sooo good. Full ABC setlist played tonight... When Smokey Sings Show Me (How to Be a) Millionaire Viva Love Poison Arrow King Without a Crown That Was Then but This Is Now Vanity Kills The Night You Murdered Love Be Near Me Tears Are Not Enough All of My Heart The Look of Love THE VILLAGE PEOPLE on stage at 5.45pm for 60 mins . They still feature six members dressed like the outfits they wore back in the day. Only one original member , who was the main singer ( The NY Cop) . Some big hits played including , ' Macho Man', ' Go West' , ' In The Navy' and 'YMCA'. Lots of dance routines, and very enjoyable. THE JACKSONS on at 7.35pm for 60 mins. I think still two original members from The Jackson Five are here, including Tito. A great set featuring all their big hits and a couple of Michael Jackson hits in tribute to him. BOY GEORGE & CULTURE CLUB on stage at 9.10pm for 75 mins . Three originals but not drummer Moss. They opened with a Rolling Stones cover and closed with a T.Rex cover and in the middle was all their hits, including ' Karma Chameleon ' , ' It's A Miracle' , ' I'll Tumble 4 Ya' , Everything I Own' , 'Time' and ' Do You Want To Hurt Me ' .Boy George looking good and with lpenty of playful banter with the crowd. A really great couple of days at this festival. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Friday 06 September 2024...7pm to 10.30pm... PRESS NIGHT for the opening of DUVALE'S at Riverside East , Thornton Street , Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park , Stratford , London E20. Surrounded by green space and the River Lea in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, enjoy 360° views from their rooftop terrace & bar as well as their outdoor yard - a space to watch DJs and screenings whilst savouring street-food. They use locally sourced, sustainable ingredients with a low carbon impact. Taste them in all-day classic dishes from our Café, evening menu dishes at their residency DUVALE'S and two street-food vendors. For drinks, indulge in hand-shaken cocktails and local craft-beers in the Riverside bar, rooftop terrace or outdoor yard. Their inclusive spaces are perfect for group bookings and larger parties, they can host any occasion. See what they are about with their events programme of family-friendly activities, DJ sets, screenings and more. ------------ We walk past all the noisy restaurants in the Stratford Shopping Centre, and we arrive at the much more peaceful DUVALE'S which is just yards from the entrance to The London Stadium. They will have a reduced menu on big event days as gets very busy here, but tonight it's just perfect . We have several delicious dishes to share and some great cocktails. Parmesan Croquettes Stracciatella Heritage Beetroots Chicken Schnitzel Flat Iron Steak with Truffle Fries Hake Fillet Bread and Butter Pudding Tiramisu The staff were great , and one of them was a lovely young chap from Limerick , so we chatted all things Irish . A great evening , and well worth going here.

Posted 7th September 2024