ABB set for farewell concert at New Milton’s Forest Arts
AFTER almost 40 years of gigging and five albums together, ABB are set to play a farewell concert at New Milton’s Forest Arts.
The group started life in 1988 as The Average Blues Band, but later abbreviated to become ABB.
Over the years the band has released five acclaimed albums of original songs, and nearly hit the top 30 in 2000 with their single You Ran My Heart Away, after extensive UK-wide play, including from Terry Wogan and Ken Bruce.
They have also performed two live sessions for BBC’s Paul Jones Blues Show and appeared at many of the nationwide blues and R&B festivals. ITV’s Homes Under The Hammer also used one of their instrumentals as a theme tune.
Original band member John Holmes, from Hordle, said: “After 37 years together, and four of the original five members still on board, surely ABB is one of the longest running bands in the UK.”
In 2006 the group lost its original drummer Geoff Jasper, but the remaining members carried on, with various replacements over the years. In the 1990s ABB incorporated a brass section, and included guests on occasions. John said: “Through good times and bad the band kept going, always on a semi-professional basis, but their aim was to present a professional show.”
However, four members of the band are now over 70, and two decided it was time to retire from live performance. So a farewell show has been planned to mark the ABB story with a number of prominent guests set to join them including the original brass section.
The ABB farewell concert takes place at Forest Arts on Friday 13th June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 in advance or £10 on the door. To book visit: https://www.forest-arts.co.uk or call 01425 612393.
