The Notting Hillbillies – The Story So Far

1986

31.05.86 – Mark sat in on a gig at The Grove, Leeds, with long time pals Steve Phillips and Brendan Croker.  Price of entry to the gig was £1 and the three split £66 pounds between them. Many wrongly see this as the birth of the Notting Hillbillies.

01.06.86 – Mark and Steve play a gig at The Fenton, Leeds. They get paid £40, £20 each.

Mark agrees to produced a Steve Phillips/Brendan Croker album.

 

1987

Recording of the proposed Steve Phillips/Brendan Croker album commences at Mark’s old studio in Notting Hill, London. Guy Fletcher is brought in and the project evolved into what becomes the Notting Hillbillies.

 

1988

12.02.88 – Mark, Steve Phillips, Brendan Croker, Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher give an impromptu performance at the Le Papillon Restaurant, Corbridge, Northumberland.

 

1989

06.03.89 – Mark and Alan Clark are guest at a Brendan Croker & The Five O’Clock Shadows gig at Pontefract, Yorkshire

11.06.89 – Mark is special guest at Brendan Croker and ‘The 5 O’Clock Shadows gig at Leeds Polytechnic. Steve Phillips opens the show.

Summer ’89 – The Steve Phillips/Brendan Croker project finally coalesces into the Notting Hillbillies Over drinks in a local wine-bar Ed Bicknell is told, “We’ve formed a band and you’re the drummer”.

 

1990

early Feb.90 – Mark, Steve Phillips, Brendan Croker and Marcus Cliffe, perform the first ever Notting Hillbillies gig when they play a short set at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London. The show, compared by actor Richard Gere, was a fund-raising event on behalf of Amnesty International. Among those on the bill were Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Mark is talked into appearing on their TV show.

mid-Feb.90 – Six weeks rehearsals begin at Nomis for the first Notting Hillbillies tour.

03.03.90 – The Notting Hillbillies perform three songs live at the Paramount Theatre, London, during recording of BBC TV’s The Late Show UK, Bewildered, Setting Me Up and The Next Time I’m In Town. On attempting to leave the Paramount Theatre the band has to retreat back inside for several hours sheltering from Poll Tax riots

05.03.90 – release of the Notting Hillbillies’ Missing …..Presumed Having A Good Time

28.03.90 – BBC TV broadcast of The Late Show featuring the Notting Hillbillies performing three live songs recorded on 3 March at the Paramount Theatre, London, Bewildered, Setting Me Up and The Next Time I’m In Town

02.04.90 – Following six weeks of rehearsals at Nomis the Notting Hillbillies commence 43 day, 41 gig (plus an extra gig thrown in at the Mean Fiddler, London) tour of Britain. Paul Franklin, pedal-steel, joins the band

24.02.90 – The Notting Hillbillies play acoustic numbers on Radio London’s Mary Costello Show

15.03.90 – BBC Radio 2’s Wally Whyton’s Country Show features acoustic numbers by the Notting Hillbillies

24.04.90 – In the wake of the Lockerbie air disaster, the Notting Hillbillies play an unscheduled, low key show at the Rex Cinema, Lockerbie. The 500 tickets available are an immediate sell out

 

NOTTING HILLBILLIES, 1990 TOUR

Mark Knopfler, Ed Bicknell, Guy Fletcher, Steve Phillips, Brendan Croker, Marcus Cliffe and Paul Franklin.

April 1990

02.04.1990     Assembly Rooms Tunbridge Wells UK
03.04.1990     Civic Hall Guildford UK
04.04.1990     Hexagon Theatre Reading UK
05.04.1990     Civic Hall Aylesbury UK
06.04.1990     Corn Exchange Cambridge UK
07.04.1990     Apollo Theatre Oxford UK
08.04.1990     Hippodrome Theatre Bristol UK
09.04.1990     Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone UK
10.04.1990     Congress Theatre Eastbourne UK
11.04.1990     Dome Theatre Brighton UK
12.04.1990     Guildhall Portsmouth UK
14.04.1990     Guildhall Southampton UK
15.04.1990     Arts Centre Poole UK
16.04.1990     The Academy Plymouth UK
17.04.1990     Plaza Leisure Centre Exeter UK*
18.04.1990     Riviera Centre Torquay UK
19.04.1990     Leisure Centre Newport UK
20.04.1990     Apollo Theatre Manchester UK
21.04.1990     Royal Court Theatre Liverpool UK
22.04.1990     City Hall Sheffield UK
24.04.1990     The Rex Cinema Lockerbie Scotland
25.04.1990     Pavilion Theatre Glasgow UK
26.04.1990     Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh UK
27.04.1990     Town Hall Middlesbrough UK
28.04.1990     University Newcastle UK
29.04.1990     Opera House York UK
30.04.1990     City Hall Hull UK

* originally scheduled to be at Verbeer Manor, Nr Exeter

May 1990

01.05.1990     Ritz Theatre Lincoln UK
02.05.1990     Astoria Ballroom Leeds UK
03.05.1990     Astoria Ballroom Leeds UK
04.05.1990     Assembly Rooms Derby UK
05.05.1990     University Of East Anglia Norwich UK
06.05.1990     Town Hall Birmingham UK
07.05.1990     Festival Hall Corby UK
08.05.1990     University Of Essex Colchester UK
09.05.1990     Mean Fiddler London UK (extra gig)
10.05.1990     Town & Country Club London UK
11.05.1990     Town & Country Club London UK
12.05.1990     Town & Country Club London UK
13.05.1990     Dominion Theatre London UK
14.05.1990     Dominion Theatre London UK
15.05.1990     The Maltings Snape UK

 

1993

03.07.93 – Mark, Brendan and Steve, play acoustic benefit gig at the Town & Country Club, Leeds, UK, on behalf of the Kirkstall Valley Association.

06.07.93 – The Notting Hillbillies, with Alan Clark on keyboards, open the ‘Swan Hunter Benefit Concert’ at Newcastle’s City Hall. A number of  fans miss the band as they didn’t realise they would be the first act to perform:

set list:

Calling Elvis
So Far Away
Your Own Sweet Way
Run Me Down
Why Worry
Railroad Worksong
I Feel Like Going Home
Setting Me Up

 

1994

03.07.94 – The Notting Hillbillies play a charity gig at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

 

1996

07.02.96 – The Notting Hillbillies play a private show at Mossimon’s Restaurant, London

29.09.96 – The Notting Hillbillies play a charity gig on board the new Queen Elizabeth II ocean liner. Surprisingly, no food/drink was provided in the cramped dressing room and there was no PA provided

30.09.96 – The Notting Hillbillies play at the City Hall, Sheffield

Set List:

Run Me Down
One Way Gal
Blues Stay Away From Me
Will You Miss Me
Why Worry
Your Own Sweet Way
Railroad Worksong
Bewildered
Mystery Train
Setting Me Up
I Feel Like Going Home
Wild Theme (acoustic version)
The Next Time I’m In Town
Nadine

 

 

1997

NOTTING HILLBILLIES UK TOUR, MAY 1997

Mark Knopfler/Ed Bicknell, Guy Fletcher,
Steve Phillips/Brendan Croker/Marcus Cliffe

13.05.1997     Assembly Rooms Derby
14.05.1997     Theatre Southport
15.05.1997     Barbican Centre York
16.05.1997     Swan Hunter Shipyard Newcastle
17.05.1997     Redcar Bowl Redcar
18.05.1997     King’s Theatre Glasgow Scotland
19.05.1997     Albert Halls Stirling Scotland
20.05.1997     Empire Theatre Sunderland
21.05.1997     Auditorium Grimsby
22.05.1997     Symphony Hall Birmingham
23.05.1997     Shepherd’s Bush Empire London

Typical set list:

Run Me Down
One Way Gal
Blues Stay Away From Me
Your Own Sweet Way
Railroad Worksong
Why Worry
Will You Miss Me
Calling Elvis
Bewildered
One Sided Love Affair
Cannibals
Are We In Trouble Now
Meet me In The Bottom
Setting Me Up
I Feel Like Going Home
Wild Theme (Local Hero)
The Next Time I’m In Town

 

1998

09.07.98 – The Notting Hillbillies play pre-tour charity gig at the Imperial War Museum, London

18.07.98 – The Notting Hillbillies play a set at a Music Festival held at the Buddhists UK HQ at Taplow Court. Paul Brady and Shola Ama also perform

Set List:

Run Me Down
One Way Gal
Your Own Sweet Way
Railroad Worksong
Why Worry
Water Of Love
Hobo’s Lullaby
Calling Elvis
His Latest Flame
Bewildered
Setting Me Up
I Feel Like Going Home
Nadine
The Next Time I’m In Town

NOTTING HILLBILLIES @ RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUBS, 1998 UK

Mark Knopfler/Guy Fletcher/Steve Phillips/Brendan Croker,
Marcus Cliffe and Ed Bicknell.

10.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham UK

11.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham UK

13.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham UK

14.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham UK

15.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham UK

16.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham UK

20.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

21.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

22.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

23.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

24.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

25.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

27.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

28.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

29.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

30.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

31.07.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

01.08.98 Ronnie Scott’s London UK

Special guest, 24th July, Lonnie Donegan performing Frankie & Johnny and Corina Corina

Typical set list:

Run Me Down
One Way Gal
Good Rockin Tonight
Your Own Sweet Way
Railroad Worksong
Why Worry
Rope Stretching Blues
Hobo’s Lullaby
Meet Me In The Bottom
Denomination Blues
K C Moan
Just Can’t Be Satisfied

INTERVAL

Blues Stay Away From me
Calling Elvis
His Latest Flame
I Still Miss Someone
He’ll Have To Go
Bewildered
Mystery Train
Are We In Trouble Now
Setting Me Up
I Feel Like Going Home
Nadine
The Next Time I’m In Town

23.09.98 – After finishing the 1998 Ronnie Scott’s gigs, the Notting Hillbillies play a secret gig at London’s Hilton Hotel at which Ed Bicknell is presented with a Manager of the Year Award.

 

1999

NOTTING HILLBILLIES @ RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB, LONDON

19.07.99 NHB Ronnie Scott’s London UK
20.07.99 NHB Ronnie Scott’s London UK
21.07.99 NHB Ronnie Scott’s London UK
22.07.99 NHB Ronnie Scott’s London UK
23.07.99 NHB Ronnie Scott’s London UK
24.07.99 NHB Ronnie Scott’s London UK

Guests during the 1999 Ronnie Scott’s gigs – all nights = Chris White, Dave O’Higgins, Bobby Valentino. Chris Barber (all nights except 19th) and B J Cole (21st)

Typical set list:

Run Me Down
One Way Gal
Good Rockin Tonight
Your Own Sweet Way
Railroad Worksong
Why Worry
Water of Love
Mississippi Blues
Rope Stretching Blues
Hobo’s Lullaby
Meet Me In The Bottom
K C Moan
Just Can’t Be Satisfied

INTERVAL

Blues Stay Away From me
Calling Elvis
Cool Drink Of Water
Mystery Train
Tomorrow Night
House Rockin’ Boogie
Are We In Trouble Now
Setting Me Up
I Feel Like Going Home
His Latest Flame
The Next Time I’m In Town

2002

‘Mark and Friends’ perform four charity shows, three at Shepherds Bush Empire (July 23rd/24th/25th) and one at Beaulieu (July 28th). Among the guests are John Illsley, Jimmy Nail and Jools Holland (24th only). Robbie Macintosh joins Mark, Guy Fletcher, John Illsley, and Danny Cummings for a set of Dire Straits numbers and Brendan Croker, Steve Phillips, Danny Cummings, Marcus Cliffe, and Bobbie Valentino join Mark and Guy, playing Notting Hillbillies numbers.