Saturday, June 28, 2025
Teesdale Mercury
  • News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Art & Leisure
  • Buy your paper
  • Buy our photos
  • Digital edition
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Art & Leisure
  • Buy your paper
  • Buy our photos
  • Digital edition
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Teesdale Mercury
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Night of nostalgia with the Heavily Brothers

by Teesdale Mercury
February 21, 2020
in Art & Leisure
Night of nostalgia with the Heavily Brothers

IN HARMONY: The Heavily Brothers

FANS of singing siblings The Everly Brothers will be pleased to hear their harmonies are the inspiration behind the next live music night at The Pinfold Club, in Boldron.

Musicians and singers Andy Brewster and Jim Blenkhorn, have been performing together, as the aptly named The Heavily Brothers, for the past four years.

Based in Darlington, the duo are no strangers to Teesdale and have built up a following after a string of performances at venues including Butterknowle and Staindrop halls.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mr Blenkhorn said: “Playing and singing with Andy is a joy for me.

“I have not had so much fun musically since those wonderful times in the Concordes.”

For three years in the mid 1960s Mr Blenkhorn, along with friends Doug Yates, Phil Kershaw, David Coulthard and Roger Tyrrell, entertained the masses up and down the country with their band the Concordes.

ADVERTISEMENT

In fact the first paid gig he played was at St Mary’s Parish Hall in Barnard Castle.

He said: “We played many times in the parish hall and dances were advertised a lot in the Teesdale Mercury. I loved playing there.

“We were exceptionally lucky in the Concordes. We had one ace musician in Doug Yates and a fantastic lead vocalist in Phil Kershaw.

“Roger and I lived a few doors apart and used to play along to Shadows records on a Sunday morning.

“We got on well together and were all keen to learn what we didn’t know already.”

The five piece band rehearsed in Gainford and learned as many pop records as possible to ensure they had enough material to perform at least 40 songs an hour.

Mr Blenkhorn added: “We were exceptionally lucky in the Concordes. We didn’t back the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, but we played with just about everyone else.”

After turning professional, they found themselves driving up and down the country to gigs and although they were attracting crowds of 1,100 screaming fans, the travelling took its toll.

The Concordes disbanded in 1965 with members pursuing professional careers in other arenas.

However more than 50 years later Mr Blenkhorn, after a successful career as a transport consultant, says he couldn’t be happier to be performing again.

The Heavily Brothers will be on stage at the Pinfold Club on Saturday, February 22.

It’s free entry and doors open at 7pm.

Mr Blenkhorn added: “People seem to like the sound we make and that’s good enough for me.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

A matter of opinion at debating contest

Next Post

Stage is set for concert to help save the Pittuck Mural

ADVERTISEMENT
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Most popular

Business cooked up during Covid celebrates fifth birthday

Business cooked up during Covid celebrates fifth birthday

June 23, 2025
‘I’m just doing my job’ – Woman honoured with BEM

‘I’m just doing my job’ – Woman honoured with BEM

June 25, 2025
Barnard Castle FC prepare for premier division campaign

Barnard Castle FC prepare for premier division campaign

June 24, 2025
Barnard Castle will get permanent banking hub

Barnard Castle will get permanent banking hub

June 26, 2025
Could you be the Teesdale Mercury’s next sales manager?

Could you be the Teesdale Mercury’s next sales manager?

June 26, 2025
Plans for campaign to lower speed limits in villages

Plans for campaign to lower speed limits in villages

June 27, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

15C Harmire Enterprise Park
Barnard Castle
Co Durham
DL12 8BN

Email: [email protected]

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190

VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • Art & Leisure
  • Business
  • Country Life
  • Features
  • News
  • Sport
  • Test Drive
  • Digital edition

Useful links

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Buy your paper
  • Photosales
  • Digital edition
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Art & Leisure
  • Buy your paper
  • Buy our photos
  • Digital edition
  • Contact

© 2024