Rain failed to dull top line-up of Rox performances

Next was Lauren Halliday who appeared solo on Stage two at last year's festival. Adding a full band line up to her set made her songs richer and emphasised her song writing ability.

Hymaglobin were on stage next and with two members of their band missing, they made a huge effort to compensate for their missing colleagues and managed to please their growing local group loyal fans.

It seems like only yesterday that Golden Boulder first appeared at Rox and founder members Chris and Elliot were only about 10 years old and seemed no bigger than the guitars and drums they played.

Now, some five years later, they demonstrated just how far they have come and captivated a large section of the crowd.

With the addition of Nick on base they proved to be an extremely tight unit and excellent musicians which secured the loudest appreciation from the audience so far.

By now, the sun was shining down on the stage and bands were having to cut their sets slightly short to make up for the earlier lost time.

Soul Intention produced a colourful toe-tapping set of soul classics which went down extremely well and paved the way for another Rox stalwart band; Dropzone. Once again they delivered a note perfect fusillade of classic rock which took the main stage into the early evening as the sun continued to shine and the crowd levels continued to rise.

What can you say about The Golgi Apparatus who seem to have the simple notion that 'if it doesn't move - play it' as instruments of all shapes and sizes added their unique sound to a set full of quirkiness and mirth with bag pipes thrown in for good measure!

By contrast, Nakedium hard rock sounds went on to deliver a bunch set of original material which went down equally well with their travelling fans and the locals. Judging by this set, these guys could go all the way!

With her new album 'Duchess' having just been released, Debbie Bonham proved to be one of the most popular acts of the day. Taking time between sings to say 'hi' to friends and family, Debbie produced a set full of the soulful blues sounds that her voice is unmistakably suited to.... superb!

The Feel are another bunch of local lads who know how to cover some classic rock songs and get the crowd moving. Things were warming up nicely and the audience in the Royal Norfolk arena must have now been approaching 3,500 and the atmosphere was really amazing with the flags flying and the aromas of exotic (and not so exotic!) foods wafting around the ground.

It was like having a 'Reading Festival' in your own back yard but all for free!

The penultimate band provided the surprise for the evening. Dan Tyler, lead singer with The Difference had held some open auditions in schools in the Bognor area earlier in the year and students from Michael Ayres School, Edward Bryant School, South Bersted School and Year 7s from BRCC found themselves thrust in to the limelight.

These potential rock protgs found themselves leading a great band of musicians in front of the capacity crowd on the biggest stage Rox has erected to date yet none of them were phased; not even little Luke who played lead guitar for two of the numbers.

What an inspirational experience for these youngsters and what a great idea - something that you'll only find at Rox!

The Gary Grainger All Stars Blues Band finished off Saturday night with some great blues tracks and the crowd were still calling for more as the 11pm curfew fell and everyone seemed happy as they all dispersed quietly into the night leaving the Rox volunteers to gets stuck into clearing the grounds and battening down the hatches on stage to combat the rain forecast for later in the night.

Come Sunday morning, it was clear that rain was going to be a potential problem throughout the day and with gusting winds coming in from the sea, the start to the day's proceedings were delayed once again as waterproof screening was rigged to the top of the stage just in case the worst should prevail.

And so it was that Roger Clayden's classical trio began day two. The sound of classical music resonating throughout the arena seemed perfect for a Sunday lunchtime as a number of people were already arriving and getting settled for the day.

The Rox workshops have continued to be held on Saturdays at the Westloats Youth Club throughout the year and The Rox Stars were on stage next showing exactly what young people can be achieve with a little help and determination.

It is hard to believe that the young people in this band had little or no experience of playing a musical instrument until some months ago, such was their ability to not only play but also the confidence with which they performed to the audience.

The Mark Handley Band were next on the bill and Mark chose a good set of self-penned acoustic material which even had the crowd howling like werewolves during a little interactivity.

The Jet Black Heights had to pull out from the line up but were more than adequately replaced at short notice by The Renegade Cowboys who, complete with Stetsons, played a set of South American style rockers.

The backstage crew must have been delighted to hear singer Pete Keen announce the last track on time - little did they know it was to be the full eight minute version of Lynryd Skynryd's 'Freebird'!

Banjaxed brought yet another musical style to the party with their Banjo led Country rock which had more than just a few toes tapping and hands clapping.

The Poopahs funk style added a further dimension to the day with song structures that showed an intelligent use of dynamics and superb musicianship.

By now it was clear that the rain that had been spitting for a while was going to get heavier and the wind was also picking up a little.

Bognor's Big Swing Band didn't let this curb their enthusiasm as they launched straight in to a Glen Miller classic complete with a great couple dressed for the occasion performing some great dance routines on the front of the stage.

Internationally reputed tenor sax player Bobby Wellins was a special guest of the band and once having overcome the problems with the wind unsettling the sheet music, he gained the crowds appreciation and just applause.

The audience had now thinned or taken shelter near the bars, food outlets and under hotel balconies but a good number of music lovers stayed to hear Graham Neil's Band of Wolves.

Graham Neil has been playing the circuit both at home and abroad for many years and if anything his guitar playing simply gets better with the experience.

Acoustic duet Fancy Toys played a great set of original material which managed to extract more music lovers out of their temporary shelters and back to the arena paving the way for Bigtopp whose infectious Ska music had the crowd dancing and smiling which coincided with a break in the clouds and even a little sunshine which befitted their hugely enjoyable set.

As dusk fell over the Royal Norfolk Hotel, the Headline Band for the whole weekend received a rapturous welcome as they took to the stage. Hugh Cornwell, 'the legendary voice of the Stranglers' wasted no time in giving the audience exactly what they'd come to hear as they tore in to the Stranglers first ever UK hit 'Get a Grip on Yourself'.

From then on in the crowds returned to the arena to hear a perfect selection of tracks between the new Hooverdam album and classic Stranglers songs.

At one time the band went in to an unrecognisable melee of sound before the unmistakeable bass riff cut through for 'Peaches' which went down a storm (which was quite ironic as the rains over Bognor had now reduced to a few spits and spats).

By the end of the set, the audience were well away and there was no way that Hugh Cornwell and hi cohorts were going to get away without doing an encore and they duly obliged with an extended version of the Stranglers classic cover version of 'Walk on By'.

That was it. The lights went down on the 18th Rox annual festival which was kept alive by all of the bands and artists from both stages, the superb sound technicians, lighting crew, stage-hands, the team behind the scenes and of course all of the fantastic volunteers...... roll on 2009!

Robin Parker

Leading member of Rox

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