The Best Guide for the Dagenham Area

The Famous Potatoes

The delicious Famous Potatoes serve up a tasty blend of toe-tapping tunes to the people of Romford when they make a welcome return to  the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch.

A high-energy mixture of bluegrass, country, gospel, swing, folk and Cajun is promised by this eight-strong multi-talented Essex band, who play an astounding 14 instruments between them!

Hailing from Leigh-on-Sea, the group consists of Keith Baxter (trombone, mandolin, banjo, percussion), Richard Baxter (melodeon, lead vocals, saxophone, mouth organ), Nigel Blackaby (bass guitar, double bass, vocals), Paul Collier (drums, vocals), Melanie Derbyshire (recorder, percussion, vocals), Tony Littman (guitar, vocals), "Prof" Paul McDowell (accordion, piano, vocals) and Charlie Skelton (fiddle).

Set up nearly 30 years ago with four albums under their belt, the Famous Potatoes have packed in about 1,500 performances at a whole variety of events, ranging from the glittering Lord Mayor's Show to busking amongst dustbins - it really is all about the music for these sonorous spuds!

Hugely popular on the barn dance and folk circuit, they have also played the 100 Club in London's Oxford Street and festivals up and down the country and even in Europe. These include the Leigh Folk Festival, the Greenbelt Festival, the Kent Country Music Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, the Trowbridge Village Pump Folk Festival and Norway's Skjǽrgǻrdsgospel (Seaside Gospel Festival).

TV and radio credits include The Generation Game, The Big Breakfast, Songs of Praise and BBC Radio 1, 3 and World Service shows.

The Potatoes describe their style as "soil music" - because it's earthy! Whatever it's called, it's fun, fast and very popular - the perfect way to round off a weekend. If you've never liked vegetables before, these Potatoes will definitely change your mind!

The Famous Potatoes perform in the
Queen's Theatre Foyer, Billet Lane, Hornchurch on
Wednesday 2 December at 8pm.
Tickets cost £8.50.
To book, call the Box Office on
01708 443333. To listen to recordings by the Potatoes, visit
www.famouspotatoes.co.uk or
www.myspace.com/thefamouspotatoes

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