Pleasure Boat Entertainment and Live Music
It's not non-stop raucous bands that deafen you at the Pleasure Boat. We specialise in using local talent and entertainment, not just noise (though those who have seen the Muddy Broad Blues Band in rehearsal may disagree!).
February 2012
Our Entertainment programme is always displayed on a blackboard in the bar. (There's a copy on the right!)
this month it starts on Friday the 3rd. Once again, the Proper Jobbies invite you to make a proper mess of singing all their old favourites.
On the 17th there's another "safari night" in the village. That's what we're calling it! Trek all the way from Hickling Barn after their showing of the Rowan Atkinson comedy "Johnny English" and we'll be hosting a special British Comedy Quiz and Chips night. Well, it makes a change from fish, doesn't it?
We've a special double helping of music on the third weekend. There's a welcome return of Lucy DeLuna after her performances last month. Whoopee! She'll be with us on Friday 24th. Then on Sunday evening, the 26th, the Muddy Broad Blues Band will attempt their first public performance.
That just about leaves us room to mention the first show in March. Why? It's the Proper Jobbies again! You knew it had to be. We're calling it their Spring Special, but we don't know why yet!
Wassailing
We held a special Wassailing event on 21st of January. According to our esteemed landlord, it's a Pagan tradition!
He defined this way: "Basically, an apple tree will be planted, followed by a blessing and Eric Morecambe-style dancing about with lit torches outside - then its in the pub with a plentiful supply of flavoured, mulled and heated local ciders from Russell's brewery at Martham."
Google's definition: Drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.
All we know is that The Pleasure Boat at Hickling held an evening of Wassailing on Saturday 21st January 2012 followed by folk music by The Direbolics (though the poster in the bar described their music as "Skiffle"!).
Find out what it was really all about in the Gallery section!
The Proper Jobbies
Appear on the First Friday of the Month
The Proper Jobbies are a motley collection of locals who play an assortment of instruments including the home made and obscure.
The Proper Jobbies
If the audience doesn't seem to know the words Glenn will distribute song sheets. The Proper Jobbies repertoire is derived from anything from Music Hall to traditional rounds and folk songs and even modern pop songs.
Often the evening is led by Adrian on his accordion, with the rest of the band making up the chords as we go along on ukulele or guitar with a whole lot of added percussion from home made instruments. This band is constantly seeking the ideal replacement for the traditional tea chest bass.
Exceptions to this general format for the night will be solos from ten year old Archie, on mandolin, or Bodhran. He's a real wizard with the second of these instruments, the traditional Irish hand drum.
In these days of karaoke, it's much easier to encourage members of the audience to take the microphone and they'll frequently be guest singers invited to take the vocal lead.
Most nights will end in full crowd pleaser mode. For the Proper Jobbies that means Glenn insisting on no "Nah, nahs" until the right moment in "Hey Jude", David doing a rendition of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band number "Jollity Farm" which requires everyone to make weird animal noises and, top favourite, Adrian leading "The Music Man" in which the entire audience is required to act out the playing of musical instruments in an ever-extending chorus. The idea is to get as many in as instruments possible before someone sings out "I can play the Archers", when everyone sings "La-di-dah" to the radio soap opera tune or, better still, "I can play the Dam Busters" when apart from singing the famous march tune you expect to see outstretched arms, fingers wrapped round round the eyes to look like pilot's goggles and much machine gun noise.
Other Regulars
Silver Lining - Dave and Carole
Silver Lining is Carole and Dave, two locals who entertain with a mix of music.
Lucy de Luna, in her days with 2 Tone
Open Mic Sessions
Sundays 7pm onwards
During the afternoon in the summer we hold Open Mic sessions on the patio overlooking our gardens. In the autumn we move the event indoors and to the evening.
Recently, every slot has been taken up with our house band in rehearsal. They need a break! The audience needs a break! Come and help us out!© 2012 The Pleasure Boat Inn, Hickling