WELCOME TO THE EK1 ARCHIVE AND NEWSDESK

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC IN EAST KENT - THE GIG GUIDE AWARDS

2008-11-16T13:24:00.003Z

STOP PRESS!

Denny - EK1 singer and front-man - has been nominated for a special award by The Gig Guide.

DENNY BARTER
FOUNDER AND FRONT MAN OF EK1
Denny founded EK1 over 20 years ago and still has the same enthusiasm and hunger for gigging today. EK1 gig every week around East Kent and are as popular today as they have ever been.

The other nominees are:

SEAN BAKER
Founder of the 'Lounge On The Farm' festival and the Farmhouse venue in Canterbury.
The Gig Guide thought that Sean has made a lasting contribution to music in Kent by creating a unique festival and venue.

DANIEL MORRIS
THE DM AGENCY
Daniel works tirelessly representing many of the bast-known bands in Kent and is a fierce supporter of Kent music.

FRANK AND PHILIP THORLEY
THORLEY'S TAVERNS
The Thorleys have introduced live music to many of their pubs and bars and are active in promoting live music in Thanet and East Kent.

SHANN LEE PARKER
THE DIVA OF EAST KENT
Shann returned to East Kent in 2007 after many years in Spain.and has hit the local music scene with a bang!

www.mrgig.com
THE DADDY OF MUSIC WEB-SITES
Still essential reading for local music lovers. An inspiration to us all in music publishing.

More information as we receive it!

HARTSDOWN COLLEGE 50th ANNIVERSARY

2008-08-01T08:14:00.005+01:00

Hartsdown College in Margate culminated their celebrations of fifty years' teaching the Isle's children with a reunion party.

The revelry on July 19th 2008 saw more than 100 old boys and girls taking a tour of the school in the afternoon before 500 former pupils partied the night away.

Local band EK1 provided the music and ex-students travelled from as far away as Australia to meet old friends and teachers.

Principal Andy Somers said: "The party was absolutely fantastic and everyone was delighted to meet up with old friends. The music was superb. Ek1 really got everyone up and dancing by the end of the night".

Report by Thom Morris in The Isle of Thanet Gazette, July 25 2008

CONGRATULATIONS, DAN!

2008-07-10T21:28:00.005+01:00

Congratulations to our guitarist Dan. He has just completed his studies at Canterbury Christ Church University and has been awarded a First Class BA Honours Degree in Music. Fantastic news!

MAKING A DAY SO SPECIAL

2008-04-20T12:25:00.007+01:00

Becky emailed us some photographs taken at her recent wedding reception. She writes:

Thanks again for all of your efforts in learning our first dance and Tequila. It made our day so special.

So many of our friends have said we have set the bar too high to beat with future weddings!

Thanks to both of you, Becky and Mark, for joining us and playing so superbly!

THE MARTIN COX THANK YOU! FUNDRAISER FOR THE PILGRIM'S HOSPICE

2008-01-28T20:43:00.000Z

What to say? This was a fantastic night. EVERYBODY played and sang wonderfully. The hall we all performed in was as packed as a sardine can with people who were having a ball.

The best way for this gig's raison d’être to be summed up has to be in Martin's own words. Here they are.

Hi everyone. My name is Martin Cox and I was one of the founder members of EKone some 23 years ago. EKone is a bit more than a soul/funk band. It literally is like a family and through the years and various line-ups will always be part of my life.

I am fortunate in playing with the band whenever I want to after leaving some 10 years ago. I think that is a thing that has evolved over the years. The point is friendship and the joy of playing with great musicians.

I play saxophone and in January 2006 was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was an awful blow to me and my family and throughout my four week stay in hospital the whole band were there for me texting me and visiting me. It was a great support for my family as well as myself.

When I left hospital, I was in a wheelchair and was given a life expectancy of three months to a year. I was discharged on February 27th 2007 with a fight on my hands but by April 13th the band had organised a charity benefit gig along with other friends and I was on the bill. I played about 29 minutes to my own backing tracks sitting down and then I joined the band towards the end of their set. It was a magical night for me and a sell-out. We all raised a staggering £2,800. The feedback from people was amazing and people said that we would all have to do another one. I then thought to myself that I don’t really know what the future holds but put it to the back of my mind.

Well we are a year down the line now. I have responded to the treatments. I can walk now and have done quite a lot of gigging with this wonderful band. In short I would say that this has been my medicine.

On Saturday 19th January 2008, EKone and myself carried out another benefit gig for the Pilgrims Hospice. It was named ‘Thank You!’ and it was our way of thanking everyone for their support on the first one and for my part to say thank you for all the support over the year. Along with EKone we had three other acts. On The Run, Two Bro and Luke Jackson. It was a great night, each band making their stamp on the evening with their brand of music. Yes - It was another sell-out and I think what made it so special was that there were other bands on and it gave the audience a full evening of quality entertainment. We had Phil Moore as the MC. Phil used to come to the gigs in the early days and here he was still being actively involved in what the night was about. I can’t thank all the musicians and friends enough for making this night so wonderful and raising £3,895 for the hospice. There is a recording of this night which has made the event even more spectactular which will be availble to everyone.

My love and thanks to everyone who was involved and let’s hope in the future we can do this again.

Martin Cox
Saturday 26th January 2008

PUBLICITY FOR THE MARTIN COX 'THANK YOU' GIG WHICH IS NOW SOLD OUT

2008-01-12T16:12:00.000Z

EK1 IN FIRST EDITION OF NEW LISTINGS MAGAZINE FOR KENT

2008-01-04T06:14:00.000Z

THE GIG GUIDE

DEC 07, JAN 08

ISSUE ONE

FEATURING EK1

A new printed listings magazine for groups and gigs across Kent has been launched. The aim of its creators is to reach people who don't have access to, or can't cope with, online gig listings.

The first issue is 32 pages long in colour with gig listings. EK1 and Bad Manners are the major featured artisti in the launch edition. I've scanned the pages containing an interview with Denny, our lead singer below.

Enjoy!

Bryan

DECEMBER 2007

2008-01-01T16:45:00.000Z

EK1 NEWS IN DECEMBER 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 TO YOU ALL FROM EK1.

The band have a busy December schedule, and there is a very special event on the horizon in mid-January, 2008...

THE MARTIN COX PILGRIM'S HOSPICE APPEAL, SATURDAY 19 JANUARY 2008

We are very pleased to be playing with and for Martin at this cancer care fundraising gig along with other acts at the Broadstairs Pavilion.

OCTOBER 2007

2007-11-01T16:44:00.000Z

EK1 NEWS IN OCTOBER 2007

ELTON JOHN WEBSITE – eltonjohn.com

FRIDAY 05 OCTOBER

EK1 feature in three ways on the Elton John official website this week.

The band were the first of about fifty Kent-based musicians to perform at a charity event at the Archer, Whitfield in August. (See the news item below). The event raised £700 for the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Bryan (EK1 keyboard player) and Andrew Brind (landlord of the event venue) approached Elton John's management to make them aware of this event, and they could not have been more supportive. Bryan was invited to Elton John's offices in London and was greeted warmly for two hours by the pianist's web manager and former Press Secretary, Laura Croker. For an avowed Elton John fanatic, to visit his keys-idol's mission control made for a spectacular day.

David Orwell (EK1 web designer) has the poster designed for this special event – which was described as professionally produced by Elton John's management – displayed on the Rocket Man's website.

Click here to view the article.

EK1 now include Honky Cat and Rocket Man, prepared for the charity event, in their function set. Both numbers are very well received by their audiences.

SEPTEMBER 2007

2007-10-01T16:43:00.000+01:00

EK1 NEWS IN SEPTEMBER 2007

THE EK1 ANNUAL PARTY
BROADSTAIRS PAVILION

SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

What a roaring success! EK1 played for two and a half hours to a large hall full of followers of the band who rarely had the chance to sit down. We were joined throughout by Andy Doble on second keyboards, and there were guest appearances by our sax playing buddy Matin Cox on several numbers, and by Alan Faulkner, lead singer of The Counterfeit Notes, who sang Signed Sealed Delivered with Denny. The band thanks you all for helping make the night such a great success. Here's to September 2008.

EK1 NEW LIVE CD – TEN BY SIX

The band's new live CD was delivered in time for the Annual Party gig, and copies were sold to raise money for cancer charities. Around £200 will be added to funds destined for Macmillan Cancer Support and a local hospice in Kent. For more information about the new CD, CLICK HERE.

SATURDAY 01 SEPTEMBER

We were pleased to welcome Paul Booth on dep saxophone for our gig at The Firs club.

Click here to see Paul playing with us at the Firs Club.

Paul has played with the band before and would be happy to join us again when his schedule permits.

Check out some of his releases on his website below:

http://www.paulboothsax.com/

SUNDAY 02 SEPTEMBER

Our friend Andy Doble joined us at the Clarendon Hotel on second funky keyboards.

Click here for photo.

Andy will be joining us for the gig at the Broadstairs Pavilion on Saturday 29 September.

http://www.thelovejunkies.co.uk/

SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2007, 8.00PM
EK1 ANNUAL SUMMER PARTY
THE PAVILION, BROADSTAIRS
A very busy annual event. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets £10 in advance.

Email the address below to arrange to reserve tickets.
ek1band@googlemail.com

AUGUST 2007

2007-09-01T16:42:00.000+01:00

EK1 NEWS IN AUGUST 2007

SUNDAY 26 AUGUST 2007
ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING CONCERT
THE ARCHER, WHITFIELD, DOVER

EK1 are heavily involved with many other well-known bands, singers and musicians from across Kent to perform versions of many of Elton John’s Greatest Hits throughout the day to support the aims of the EJAF.

EK1 and other bands include two Elton John numbers in their normal sets in the afternoon. In the evening, musicians and groups swap bands and combine in one-off line-ups for a concert performance of a large number of EJ’s songs.

Entrance free throughout the afternoon and evening, but fundraising donations are requested.

Click the link below for the aims and achievements of the Elton John Aids Foundation.

www.ejaf.org/

SATURDAY 25 AUGUST 2007

QUEX FEST 2007

QUEX PARK, BIRCHINGTON

EK1 play at this outdoor music festival which also features Ben Mills, Fat River Band, Jive Aces, Hullabaloo, The Umbrella Men and other quality musicians and groups over two days (25 and 26 August). Seventeen bands in all to play.

Adult one day pass £24

5 – 16 one day pass £12.50

Adult two day pass £40
5 – 16 Two Day Pass £18.50

Click the link below for more information about Quex Fest 2007.
www.quexfest.co.uk/

WEDNESDAY 01 AUGUST AND WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2007, 8.00PM
BROADSTAIRS BANDSTAND OPEN-AIR CONCERTS
BROADSTAIRS BAY CLIFFTOP

EK1 play two evening outdoor gigs in August on this historic bandstand. Fantastic family atmosphere guaranteed before the superb fireworks displays across the bay. Bring umbrellas - just in case.
Entrance free on both nights.

Photographer David Fenwick took these shots of EK1 at the Broadstairs Bandstand in Summer 2006.

MAY 2007

2007-06-01T16:41:00.000+01:00

EK1 NEWS IN MAY 2007

SATURDAY 26 MAY 2007
DEMELZA HOUSE CHILDREN’S HOSPICE BLACK TIE BALL
PFIZER UK, SANDWICH

EK1 play by invitation as sole act at this prestigious fundraising event and help to raise funds for Demelza House of over £4,000 in total on the night. Some four part harmonies added by spirited fundraisers joining us onstage are a highlight of the night!

SUNDAY 06 MAY 2007
EPILEPSY FUNDRAISING DAY
THE ARCHER, WHITFIELD, DOVER

EK1 join a number of local bands for a fantastically varied all-day charity concert to help raise money for the Archer’s established fundraiser for Epilepsy-related research/charity groups. Free entrance. Over £1,400 raised in total for the pub’s charitable causes by all bands on the day.

APRIL 2007

2007-05-01T16:40:00.000+01:00

EK1 NEWS IN APRIL 2007

FRIDAY 13 APRIL 2007
THE MARTIN COX BENEFIT CONCERT FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT
THE PAVILION, BROADSTAIRS

EK1 play exclusively for this fundraising event. The concert is moving and memorable on many levels. Great friend and original EK1 sax player Matin Cox opens the show on solo sax, and joins the band for the best part of the second set onstage. Previous bandmembers Martin Seaman (tenor sax) and Lawrie Bolton (keyboards), plus our preferred dep sax player Amanda Cornock and Andy Doble (keyboards and raffle master) join the band with for solo spots. Over £2,800 is raised for Macmillan Cancer Care in ticket sales in a single night, and a DVD is made to raise further funds.

Photographer David Fenwick took these photographs of EK1 and friends playing live on the wonderful Martin Cox Macmillan gig night.