Resin resonate at MTV gig

Resin - the Benfleet heavy alternative rock band - will be appearing at the MTV Sound Republic gig in 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London on December 22.

They'll have new vocalist Gareth Thomas on board and claim it's the most important gig they done to date - particularly as the place is rumoured to have a few celebs and record label bods sipping mineral water on the night.

Recent gigs at London venues such as Dingwalls, Borderline and Cairo Jacks have gone down a storm, thanks to the band's links with Talent Scout, a pre-A & R organisation who help give that first step up into the music business ladder.

A coach will be picking up punters from out here in the sticks. At the Victoria Circus roundabout in Southend at 5.30pm and Tarpots Corner bus top in Benfleet at about 6pm.

Travel cost is £10 and its a small price to support a local band get big.

For more information contact Dave on 01268 458442 or Jim on 01268 755409 or check out the website on http://i.am/resin

Blues fans anything but blue

Blues fans in south Essex have the chance to get the festive season off to a start with a swing this weekend - when two of the county's most popular blues bands join forces in Southend for what the promoters are billing as The Ultimate Rockin' Blues Party.

Friday night's festive show in Riga Music Bar, at the Cricketers in Southend's London Road, features Texas blues outfit the Rockin' Armadillos, plus good-time bluesmeisters the Groove Doctors.

A number of special guest appearances are also on the cards as part of the show, which follows the Armadillos' successful Riga double-header with Red White and Bluesey earlier in the year.

Doors open at 8.45pm and admission is £6. For details, call 07768 016116.

In the Pink

Need I remind you those cool cats at the Pink Toothbrush have a corking couple of gigs coming up?

On Thursday night it's David Devant and his Spirit Wife, with support by Kidkhula and Blandest, while on December 28 you have the big man of northern soul - Edwin Starr - doing his thang.

Yes, War, what is it good for? Stop Her On Sight - SOS, Contact and 25 Miles. Classic floor-fillers all.

Edwin has been making appearances worldwide since as far back as 1956 with his first band The Future Tones. Recently he's appeared on TFI Friday with Chris Evans and featured on the Utah Saints' single Funky Music. A consummate professional, he can teach the young pups something about stage presence.

Tickets for Mr Devant are just £5 and the doors open at 8pm, while Edwin, who will appear as part of the Scooterist, Northern Soul and Motown night, is just £10.

Tickets are available from Fives Records in Leigh and Rayleigh, Adrians Records in Wickford, Metro Records in Southend, or pop along to the Toothbrush in the High Street, Rayleigh or call 01268 770003.

Groundhog day

The Groundhogs are back courtesy of the South Essex Rock and Blues Society (SERABS) to play the Riga Music Bar, in London Road, Westcliff on Thursday night.

SERABS chairman Mark Chatterton said: "It's been a great year for Serabs with our membership growing from nothing to almost 80 members within a year. We thought it would be a great way to say thank you to all our members by bringing back the Groundhogs who played our very first gig."

The band were formed in the 1960s after Tony McPhee saw Cyril Davis play at the Marquee Club in London. They've supported the likes of John Lee Hooker, Champion Jack Dupree and Memphis Slim.

Moving away from blues and into rock during the 70s won them a whole new generation of fans, but after touring with the Rolling Stones in 1975 they split. But the 1990s brought them back together and several studio and live albums have since been released.

Expect to hear classics such as Cherry Red and Split Part 2 on the night.

Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are just £6 from Five Records in Leigh, Honky Tonk Music in Southend or £7 on the door or call Mark on 01702 715172.

The Groundhogs' Tony McPhee

Title

Quick reminder for Southside, the excellent soul, blues and funk band who will be hitting the Grand Hotel in Leigh on December 23.

The Leigh-based band are a lively nine-piece - although they're losing their trumpet player Paul Eastcosat who is starting a new life in sunny Spain in January, but they're gaining a new lad in the shape of Nige "the shirt" Turner.

Sultry singer Jo said: "We are working on a lot of new material for next year so this could possibly be the last time you will hear some of the old Southside favourites."

Tickets are just £4 on the door and those same doors open at 8.30pm.

By Carl Eve

Reporter's e-mail: carl.eve@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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