Last Orders perform The Lakes of Ponchartrain on Vaguely Sunny - Isle of Wight Rock anthology CD, price £10 p&p

Last Orders, John Newman, Donal O'Riain, Richard Goode (back), John Mansell, Sue Mason

Last Orders

'I wanted to play Irish banjo. I'd heard Barney McKenna from the Dubliners. I played it for six months and found out I had tuned it wrong. Sue, Mark and myself had always been involved with folk clubs. Richard came to sing with us, we learnt Irish tunes. Donal came along one lunch time. Both our tapes were recorded in Volker Cats Studios. Bual an Bothar means 'Hit the road'. They come off the yachts at Yarmouth and they love it. We're doing St. Patrick's night at the Bugle. Donal got the bookings in Ireland. We played in what was the equivalent of hotel bars right down in Kerry. It was lovely. Donovan lives down in Dingle. Ron Penney is there playing with Noel Redding.' - John Newman quoted from Isle of Wight Rock - music anthology (1995)

Last Orders perform the traditional song Lakes of Ponchartrain on Vaguely Sunny, Isle of Wight Rock anthology CD so as to feature both the marvellous Irish fiddle and whistle music they are renowned for and also to acknowledge the contribution to Island music of John Newman whose vocal compliments the music perfectly.

Since this recording was completed John has left Last Orders so like many of the recordings on our first CD this captures the band at a particular time. Last Orders continue to play around the Island and performed for our charity concert last year for the Isle of Wight Society for the Blind. A CD of that concert should be avaialble this year. Last Orders performance at Medina was magical and included a young Irish dancer slip jigging in front of the audience.

Donal O'Riain and John Mansell also team up with Paul Armfield in the Gypsy jazz trio called Tzigane. Their CD is excellent and has been acclaimed by no less an authority than Ian A. Anderson at Folk Roots

Listening to John Newman singing Lakes of Ponchartrain reminds us of all those superb nights at the Chequers in Rookley where John ran the folk club and sang Dylan, Donovan and traditional songs. Pete Turner still has an excellent tape of a night at the Chequers if anyone is interested.

Last Orders perform The Lakes of Ponchartrain on Vaguely Sunny - Isle of Wight Rock anthology CD, price £10 p&p