The Real Ale and Jazz festival has been and gone for its 20th year. Hard to believe we’ve been going so long.

On Thursday evening record numbers came through the gate to enjoy one of the few sunny summer’s evenings we have had and listen to Richard Leach and the 7 Stars of Jazz, and the Jive Aces.

As people started leaving on Thursday evening the deluge began. It rained and it rained and it rained and all we could do is watch the site flood until the rain stopped. Thanks must go to all those who helped on Friday afternoon work hard to drain the site as much as possible and prepare the access routes so that we were able to open on Friday evening. We were able to offer our full range of drinks and food. Unfortunately the bands were not able to travel to the site in time because of the conditions but we managed to find a local band, (called “Colours” for those of you who have been asking), who provided an alternative programme of modern and classic pop tunes. We are sorry for those who didn’t get the jazz they were expecting but pleased we were able to offer a programme of music that proved popular with a spine tingling rendition of Hey Jude to finish the evening - we couldn’t get you all off the dance floor! Over 800 of you still braved the elements to come and enjoy our Glastonbury spirit wearing a fetching range of wellies.

On Saturday, apart from a few storms things began to return to normal. We continued to drain the site and around 1500 people turned out on Saturday Night to drink us out of beer and enjoy Susan Valliant Spear and the Rascals of Rhythm and that perennial favourite Bob Kerr and His Whoopee Band who got the biggest cheer of the whole event and gave us a rousing finale.

We are sorry that the unseasonable monsoon weather disupted the festival on Friday and if anyone’s enjoyment was diminished as a result but we did as much as possible to offer you the best festival we could in the circumstances. After several glorious summers it is a shame a deluge hit our anniversary year. We do not intend to offer a refund for Friday evening as we managed to open the festival with all facilities operational, we managed to provide live music despite the bands not being able to fulfil the programme through no fault of our own and the risk of inclement weather is taken when purchasing tickets for an outdoor festival in advance, to take advantage of the discounts on offer.

Next year will be our 21st year, and as with all comings of age a new younger committee will be planning next year’s offering after several stalwarts will stand down after our September de-brief. We would like to thank those members of the committee who have worked so hard to provide you with fabulous entertainment each year. The festival is entirely organised by volunteers from Reading Hockey Club who work on it alongside their other commitments. Some have been involved for all 20 years and they can now enjoy a well deserved break. We hope to see them back next year enjoying the festival from the other side of the bar, just as we hope to welcome all of those who attend this year, all of those who couldn’t make it and hopefully welcome some new faces.

The dates for next years festival are Thursday 17th, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July 2008.

Just to confirm that the festival is on tonight (Saturday 21st) and that we will offer the full music programme as planned. The bands are on route so we hope we can offer you a fun filled evening of ale and jazz. We’ve mopped up the site and we are drying out but the ground is still soggy underfoot in places. We would advise wearing wellies or some other sturdy and waterproof footware - there were some very fashionable welly combos on show last night.

On Thursday night we had some great music from Dave Leach and the 7 Stars of Jazz and the Jive Aces. Last night due to the bands unable to make it through the weather we managed to find a local band who offered a range of their own compositions and some modern classics from the Beatles to the Killers. Something a little different to our usual jazz but we are grateful they were able to step in at the last minute to provide you with some entertainment.

Tonight we are featuring Susan Valliant Spear and The Rascals of Rhythm. The Rascals are fronted by two wonderful musicians in Mike Wills and Tony Blincowe who between them play enough reed instruments to start a shop (or possibly a museum)! They carry on the great traditions of Jimmy Noone, Mezzrow / Bechet, Wilber & Davern, even Wally Fawkes & BruceTurner! The drumless rhythm section of Dave Moorwood - acoustic guitar, Perry Lock – piano, Roger Davis – bass, “provides a backdrop… as springy as a trampoline and uncluttered as air” (Digby Fairweather).

Songs are handled by Dave himself and by American Susan Valliant Speer, a versatile and dynamic performer with roots in the classic blues of Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter et al, and the great vaudeville tradition, as exemplified by Sophie Tucker.

Not a band to categorise easily, you will hear music by Jelly Roll, Fats, Duke and many of the great tunesmiths of the 20’s and 30’s.

The second band featured tonight is a return of regular favourites Bob Kerr and His Whoopee Band

100% Music + 100% Fun = 200% Entertainment. There are two kinds of people in the world: those who have seen Bob Kerr and his Whoopee Band and those who have not…

If you remember the hit song “Winchester Cathedral” in the 1960s, you will know the playing of Bob Kerr. More than just a funny band, Bob and the boys present a complete visual show of “Musical Mayhem” in true “Spike Jones and his City Slicker” Style. They will amaze you with their musical ability and split second timing, playing more instruments than you can count on several hands. Their brilliant sense of fun and quick fire humour has the audience falling about from start to finish.

The show is a complete variety of musical styles from the 1920s to the present day nothing is sacred. A show of unashamed nostalgia, honest fun and great musical entertainment. They have been described as a cross between Spike Jones, The Marx Brothers and Monty Python.

We look forward to welcoming you this evening.