Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra are an incredible six-piece band from Newcastle who will be raising the roof at String Jam Club at the County Hotel Selkirk on Saturday 7th April with songs that will still be playing in your head for a long long time. Playing their own unique brand of Western Swing, Blues, Gypsy Jazz and Country, or “North Eastern Swing” as they’ve coined it, and noted for their exuberant performances, they will definitely get the joint jumping. Influenced by early 20th century American music, with the addition of “razor-sharp” solos, great arrangements and original songs, their music harks back to a golden age whilst staying perfectly modern. The songs are penned by head honcho Rob Heron, a crazy fool for country music and a full time dandy-cowboy. His songs are full of character, satire, and good old fashion hollerin’! Their highly acclaimed third CD 'Something Blue' has been getting fantastic reviews. "Newcastle’s finest swing-honkytonk-rockabilly band” (fRoots) “Hank did it like this. So did Sinatra. So did Tom Waits. So did John Lee Hooker. Mix these influences with a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm, a real passion and an ear for detail, sheer authenticity, and a good slug of both Scotch and Bourbon, and you might find that the results are very much to your taste. They are certainly to mine.” (Mark Whyatt, Folk Radio) "That’s one hot band right there!” (Huey Morgan, BBC Radio 2) "Rob Heron evokes the spirit of Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt with a quintet that shuffles and boogies with panache. Infectiously good-humoured” (Uncut) "Amazing musicians who play with both passion and a sympathetic regard for the history of the genre.” (Maverick) Saturday 7th April at String Jam Club, The County Selkirk, 1-5 High St, Selkirk, Scottish Borders TD7 4BZ. Tickets £14. Book by phone 01750 721233 for collection on the night. Or buy online from Eventbrite (booking fees apply). Doors open 7.30pm, starts 8.00pm, ends approx 11.00pm. 15% off hotel restaurant meals for ticket holders 6-7pm (please book table in advance.) We look forward to welcoming you to "the Borders haven of acoustic music."

Best experienced live, Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra are “Newcastle’s finest swing-honkytonk-rockabilly band” (fRoots) & we can't wait to welcome them. Many thanks to the Southern Reporter for this great full page gig preview of Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra at String Jam Club at the County Hotel Selkirk on Sat 7 April. Tickets 01750 721234 or Eventbrite.

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra are heading to String Jam Club at the County Hotel Selkirk on a 'High Speed Train' Sat 7 April for a night of western swing, blues, country & ragtime. Don't miss this superbly entertaining 6 piece band. Tkts 01750 721233 or Eventbrite. https://youtu.be/j_zhhdCyh9I

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Our String Jam Club guest on Sat 12 May is the very special folk artist & guitarist Ewan McLennan. This is Ewan's second visit the the club & we're really looking forward to seeing him again. Not only is he an accomplished traditional singer, but also he is a highly regarded songwriter & an exceptional guitarist. Tickets £12, on sale now from the County Hotel Selkirk 01750 721233. Will be up on Eventbrite shortly.

Next top-notch headline act at String Jam Club County Hotel Selkirk is ROB HERON & THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA on Sat 7 April. We are so looking forward to it! "That's one hot band right there!" (HUEY MORGAN, BBC RADIO 2) "Rob Heron evokes the spirit of Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt with a quintet that shuffles andboogies with panache. Infectiously good-humoured." (UNCUT MAGAZINE) “Amazing musicians who play with both passion and a sympathetic regard for the history of the genre.” (MAVERICK MAGAZINE) "On this, their second album of skewed Texas swing, gypsy jazz and hot, humorous country blues they’ve added reeds and horns for a big, thick sound, but their spontaneous combustion is always unstoppable.” (SCOTSMAN ON SUNDAY)

Please enjoy these memorable photos of Cera Impala Music with her band The New Prohibition at String Jam Club last week, taken by Hainingside Gallery - The Imagery Of M. A. Fitch. What a magnificent show this gig was. How do you begin to describe something so unique as 'CERA IMPALA & THE NEW PROHIBITION'? Not only was this hillbilly noir, but this was also hillbilly incandescence (if there is such a thing) emitting sheer light & exuberance. Her gentle breathy vocals belie the power within, and at times they soared with such joy & sense of freedom that it created a palpable energy in the room. That voice which can be as soft as a kid glove, can pack a punch that will knock you over. The word 'quirky' has been used to describe Cera, but it doesn't quite do Cera justice. Downright original is the whole point. This woman is an artist & that was evident to the very last note. Who else could have succeeded in getting the String Jam Club audience to whistle like birds, to create an audio landscape of Spring birdsong for one of her songs? It may be a bit unusual in terms of audience participation, but it sure as hell worked & was beautiful. Cera's song, Killin Floor, inspired by the great Skip James classic, led unexpectedly into an uptempo Balkan-esque instrumental break, a radically creative yet seamless addition to the arrangement. A personal favourite of mine was the Hoagy Carmichael cover which was perfectly & effortlessly executed, so much so that one could imagine Hoagy sitting up there in the gallery, looking down with a big grin on his face. Overall the musicianship could not be faulted. With perfect pitching, understated yet solid & lyrical arrangements, the exemplary playing of Dr Dirk on fiddle & Joel 'Jello' Sanderson on upright string bass was spot on, complementing Cera's knockout banjo playing & outstanding songs perfectly. All three played together as one, tight as a tick, yet it flowed so easy & naturally. The Swing in the jazzy numbers really Swung (note the capitals!) They were right on it, solid as a rock, and Cera's songs were so varied and absorbing, and so deserving of the huge applause & calls for encores at the end. For those who missed her, I would urge you to go buy her latest album 'Tumbleweed.' It cannot fail to impress but I have to say that seeing her live, she is even more impressive: the sign of a great artist. It's an energy thing, you can only pick it up in a live setting. We have met Cera at the club before in different guises, once with the famous Bevvy Sisters & also as a member of the excellent Dark Green Tree who supported Boo Hewerdine here two years ago. So it was a delight to welcome Cera Impala back, this time in her own right, fronting her own band, centre stage, up where she belongs. Pure magic. With thanks to everyone who helped last night, especially Sam Mundy - Musician who opened the night with an excellent and distinctive set of original Americana-tinged material. Fast gaining a name for himself, do remember he is launching his new EP at Eastgate Theatre in Peebles in May. Thanks to Dottle of Sound Station Studio for his excellent job on PA as ever, Hainingside Gallery - The Imagery Of M. A. Fitch for these wonderful photos, Hans Waltl of Borders Chartered Certified Accountants for his help with promo, Winnie, Kathy & Ken for door & raffle duties, George for lighting assistance, and of course Will & Trond & all their staff at the County Hotel Selkirk who do such an excellent job looking after us. We appreciate everyone’s help. Sincere thanks to all who came to swell the crowd, proving that live music of this quality is to be savoured and supported. You are all breathing life and light into the club and into the world-class artists who play for us. It’s an honour and a privilege to bring you all together. So please keep coming & tell all your friends what they are missing! Biggest thanks go to Cera, Dirk & Joel – you were the greatest, and we’ll see you again the next time round.

Tickets are now available on Eventbrite for Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra at String Jam Club at the County Hotel Selkirk on Sat 7 April (booking fee applies). Remember you can also book by phoning the County on 01750 721233 with your credit/debit card & collect your tickets on the night. Tickets £14. Rob & the guys are tremendous, & we're going to have a ball! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rob-heron-and-the-tea-pad-orchestra-tickets-44254657873?aff=eac2

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, a superlative 6-piece band, are appearing at String Jam Club at the County Hotel Selkirk on Sat 7 April. £14 book from 01750 721233, for collection on the night. “Amazing musicians who play with both passion and a sympathetic regard for the history of the genre.” (MAVERICK MAGAZINE) https://youtu.be/j_zhhdCyh9I

The joint will be jumping with Western swing, Gypsy jazz, hot country blues, ragtime hokum, Americana & a whole bucketload of great songs from this superbly entertaining and acclaimed band, Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra. Saturday 7th April 2018 STRING JAM CLUB presents ROB HERON AND THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA The County Hotel 1-5 High Street Selkirk TD7 4BZ Tel: 01750-721233 Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra don’t care what genre you choose to put them in – western swing, country blues, ragtime hokum or whatever else– as long as you understand that they’re 100% sincere and 100% immersed in this stuff. This is no lazy pastiche, no dressing up box. They live and breathe this music and want you to get immersed with them. The Tea Pad are five years into a remarkable story that began with four friends studying folk and traditional music at Newcastle University and now sees them playing clubs and dancehalls and festivals the breadth of the British Isles and into mainland Europe (there was even a brief trip to India last year). Based on Tyneside but with members hailing from Orkney to Warwickshire, the Tea Pad sound draws on myriad influences – from Bob Wills to Django Reinhardt, George Jones to Cab Calloway – yet ultimately sounds like nobody else, that North Eastern Swing style that’s utterly their own and changing all the time. Across the three wonderful albums – 2012’s “Money Isn’t Everything”, 2014’s “Talk About The Weather” and now the new “Something Blue” – the band have constantly added new flavours to their sound: Heron in particular is a vinyl obsessive, always fired up about some new passion – calypso or boogaloo or whatever this week brings – and that eclecticism feeds into their songs, with the new album adding gospel and rockabilly to the Tea Pad palette. The band tour the way bands should – widely and endlessly – winning friends and fans at each new show. They played 150+ shows in 2015, including well-received performances at festivals like Glastonbury, Bestival, Wilderness and Towersey Folk Festival. They’ve appeared twice on Radio 4’s Loose Ends, and had their music played by everyone from Marc Riley to Huey Morgan. “Something Blue” was released on Tea Pad Recordings on June 3rd 2016. The Tea Pad are Rob Heron (vocals and guitar), Ben Fitzgerald (guitar), Tom Cronin (mandolin and harmonica), Colin Nicholson (accordion) and Ted Harbot (double bass). "That's one hot band right there!" (HUEY MORGAN, BBC RADIO 2) "Rob Heron evokes the spirit of Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt with a quintet that shuffles andboogies with panache. Infectiously good-humoured." (UNCUT MAGAZINE) “Amazing musicians who play with both passion and a sympathetic regard for the history of the genre.” (MAVERICK MAGAZINE) "On this, their second album of skewed Texas swing, gypsy jazz and hot, humorous country blues they’ve added reeds and horns for a big, thick sound, but their spontaneous combustion is always unstoppable.” (SCOTSMAN ON SUNDAY) Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra Website https://teapadorchestra.co.uk/ High Speed Train https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=81&v=j_zhhdCyh9I Live at the Quay Sessions https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=81&v=j_zhhdCyh9I Cats and Chickens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f44bdL1Wo0 Tickets £14 available from the venue by phone 01750-721233. Tickets will be reserved for collection on the night, or you can pay on the door, subject to availability. Online ticket sales via Eventbrite. 15% discount off County Hotel restaurant meals for ticket-holders 6-7 pm on gig nights. Advance table reservation advised by phoning 01750-721233. DOORS OPEN 7.30 PM ENDS 11.30 PM (approx) Why not treat yourself to a delicious meal in the County Hotel's restaurant? Ticket holders are eligible for a 15% discount 6-7pm on gig nights (book your table in advance 01750 721233) ---------- STRING JAM CLUB NOW IN OUR 21ST YEAR OF HOSTING LIVE MUSIC! "The Borders haven of acoustic music." (The List) Voted 2nd best gig in the UK (The Guardian) Club of the Year Nominee - Scots Trad Music Awards 2007 Magic happens in small spaces. We welcome everyone who loves music! --------- TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Email us at: thestringjamclub@gmail.com stringjamclub@vixenrecords.com -------- Thankyou to our sponsors: Vixen Records, Sound Station Studio, Borders Chartered Certified Accountants, Hainingside Fine Art Photo Gallery. And thanks to all our supporters who help to keep music live in the Borders!

What a magnificent show last night at String Jam Club! How do you begin to describe someone so unique as Cera Impala & The New Prohibition? Not only was this hillbilly noir, but this was also hillbilly incandescence (if there is such a thing) emitting sheer light & exuberance. Her gentle breathy vocals belie the power within, and at times they soared with such joy & sense of freedom that it created a palpable energy in the room. That voice which can be as soft as a kid glove, can pack a punch that will knock you over. The word 'quirky' has been used to describe Cera, but it doesn't quite do Cera justice. Downright original is the whole point. This woman is an artist & that was evident to the last note. Who else could have succeeded in getting the String Jam Club audience to whistle like birds, to create an audio landscape of Spring birdsong for one of her songs? It may be a bit unusual in terms of audience participation, but it sure as hell worked & was beautiful. Cera's song, Killin Floor, inspired by the great Skip James classic, led unexpectedly into an uptempo Balkan-esque instrumental break, a radically creative yet seamless addition to the arrangement. A personal favourite of mine was the Hoagy Carmichael cover which was perfectly & effortlessly executed, so much so that one could imagine Hoagy sitting up there in the gallery, looking down with a big grin on his face. Overall the musicianship could not be faulted. With perfect pitching, understated yet solid & lyrical arrangements, the exemplary playing of Dr Dirk on fiddle & Joel 'Jello' Sanderson on upright string bass was spot on, complementing Cera's knockout banjo playing & outstanding songs perfectly. All three played together as one, tight as a tick, yet it flowed so easy & naturally. The Swing in the jazzy numbers really Swung (note the capitals!), they were right on it, solid as a rock, and Cera's songs were so varied and absorbing, and so deserving of the huge applause & calls for encores at the end. For those who missed her, I would urge you to go buy her latest album 'Tumbleweed.' It cannot fail to impress but I have to say that seeing her live, she is even more impressive: the sign of a great artist. It's an energy thing, you pick it up in a live setting. We have met Cera at the club before in different guises, once with the famous Bevvy Sisters & also as a member of the excellent Dark Green Tree who supported Boo Hewerdine here two years ago. So it was a delight to welcome Cera Impala Music back, this time in her own right, fronting her own band, centre stage, up where she belongs. Pure magic. With thanks to everyone who helped last night, especially Sam Mundy - Musician who opened the night with an excellent and distinctive set of original material. Remember he is launching his new EP at Eastgate Theatre in Peebles in May. Thanks to Dottle of Sound Station Studio for his excellent job on PA, Hainingside Gallery - The Imagery Of M. A. Fitch (photos to follow), Hans Waltl of Borders Chartered Certified Accountants for help with promo, Winnie, Kathy & Ken for door & raffle duties, George for lighting assistance, the County Hotel Selkirk our ever helpful hosts, and to all who came to swell the crowd. Please keep coming & keeping music live in the Borders! See you next month (Sat 7 April Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra. On sale from The County 01750 721233 shortly). Thank you Cera, Dirk & Joel!

TOMORROW! One sleep to go & this is one you most definitely don't want to miss! CERA IMPALA & THE NEW PROHIBITION at String Jam Club at the County Hotel Selkirk tomorrow Sat 10 March. With support from Sam Mundy. Tickets £12 tel 01750-721233 (book by phone, collect on the night) or Eventbrite or pay on the door. We can't wait to welcome Cera & we look forward to seeing you for another night of fantastic music. Doors 7.30 pm.