Dave Waight at The Sun in The Wood

Last night, 46 invited guests and sundry locals, enjoyed a top evening's entertainment with guitarist, singer/songwriter Dave Waight.

Dave is a muli-instrumentalist, session musician and with his partner runs a recording studio on the Isle of Wight.

I had arranged for him to come to The Sun in The Wood, Newbury (technically Ashmore Green, Thatcham), after hearing him by chance at the Spyglass Inn in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight last September.  It took a bit of organising but it was fun.



It was great to see old friends, new acquaintances, some of the Newbury Smile Studio team and their partners, friends from my Jack O'Newbury BNI days, as well as my own family.

Judging from people's reactions on the night, Dave did not disappoint. Several were already clamouring for more before the night was over, asking when he could return to The Sun in The Wood. Well that depends on Dave and our generous hosts Maggie and Darren at the venue and of course the locals.

In fact not just the locals. One guest wants to book him for a private party, others who had come from Maidenhead for the night, were asking would he go there too. ( He said yes by the way). So they need to find a venue and enough bums on seats to make that work.

Dave's warm manner and great vocal range (despite, he told me at the bar, having a sore throat)  and fluent percussive guitar style, mixed his own takes from James Taylor to Prince, taking in an odd Beatles number, together with many others including his own material, kept everyone happy on a cold and windy Feb 1st.  I'm sure we only got to hear a part of his full repertoire but there is only so much that can be done in a couple of hours.

Dave plugged into his Marshall amps will have to wait (really sorry about the pun) for another occasion!

As he left to catch the last ferry back to the IOW ( "not very rock n' roll", he said) everyone was saying- next time he has to stay over so he can play longer .. well again the ball is in your court Dave!

My thanks to everyone who came as promised, including my daughter travelling out from Hackney, my darling wife for putting up with me, to Maggi and Darren from The Sun in The Wood for having faith in me and being more than generous to those who chose the bar grazing options.
I do have a short video that I'll upload later

Thanks Dave and to your entourage who made the evening a great success - a blast in fact!

Richard C.