Blackpool tower at night just around the corner is blackpool walkabout
On Thursday May 14 the Radio Four news was running a story about a Youtube viral advert for Blackpool which compared the town with Paris. Apparently there are shots of the Blackpool Tower which leave the viewer thinking they are looking at the Eiffel Tower and shots of the sea front where you are tricked into thinking it is the Seine you are gazing upon. The local cuisine is eulogised in a sequence where a foxy French lady suggestively asks for “Le Hotpot.”
The similarity was lost on me as I arrived in Blackpool the same night to be met by lashing down rain and a swell which left the North Sea looking dark and grey. That initial disappointment soon dissipated though as I entered the warm welcome of the Blackpool Walkabout where the DJ , Jim Brown, was spinning some chart sounds (Lady Ga Ga /Pussycat Dolls/Kings Of Leon etc etc) to a packed dance floor full of hens, stags and locals. At 11pm Jim picked up the Mic and introduced onto the stage “Freak Out-Probably the best cover band in the North Of England.”
Blackpool Walkabout has been open several years now. It sits on the site of the original Funny Girls bar overlooking the sea front at the North End of the promenade (down the bottom of Queen Street.) They have always booked the best cover bands from around the UK on a Thursday night and that format of great party DJ followed by top quality cover band playing anthems from the 60s to current day has kept Walkabout Blackpool busy through Summer and Winter as other bars in town have opened, and in many cases, closed.
Walkabout attracts a mixed age group crowd of young to old. It’s the place where the locals go to be entertained but its also the place where stags and hens and visitors in the know head straight to for a great night of dancing and singing.
Freak Out took to the stage on Thursday and ripped the place apart. With the first half of the first set dedicated to pleasing the girls on the dance floor they concentrated on the classic funky material that they play so well. Classic older tracks like Superstition and Play That Funky Music intermingled with songs by Justin Timberlake. They played their incredible version of Billie Jean which uses the mash up technique beloved of DJs but not used very often by bands and includes the rhythm and bass line from Billie Jean with the vocal line from Bon Jovi’s “Livin On A Prayer” over the top. Its musical, its clever and, more importantly, it has the whole Walkabout Bar dancing and singing. The band drop in the theme from the Fresh prince Of Belle Air which proves a real crowd pleaser and then finish the first set with some great indie rock classics including Mr Brightside and Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out.
In the bands break Jimbo (for that is what we call Mr Jim Brown) plays some more great girlie RNB and then there’s a bit of a spontaneous out break of break dancing which makes for a new focus for everyone in the bar. Two guys clear an area near the back of the pub and begin a break dancing display which is world beating. I am not kidding when I say these two could compete on Britain’s Got Talent and get through to the final with no problem. They transform a little area of the bar into a New York style dance off with top spins, full body back flips, head stands, side spins and the rest. Apparently these two are regulars and this is not an unusual occurrence. Its bloody brilliant and an added bonus to a great night.
When Freak Out take to the stage for their second amazing live set with songs like Chelsea Dagger and Queens “Don’t Stop Me Now” the audience are all in such a good mood that the atmosphere is just brilliant. After the band come off stage DJ Jimbo takes it through to 2am with a mixture of dance, RNB, electro and party that is unbeatable.
Freak Out are one of the best bands in the North of england
If you are visiting Blackpool you need to check out the Walkabout. On Thursdays you get the best cover bands in the UK. There is free entrance to the venue on Thursdays and it’s the only night club in town offering live entertainment. In the Vegas Of The North you would need to pay up to £20 to see a show in one of the Pier Theatres or other large entertainment venues.
If you are a U2, Oasis or Take That fan in Blackpool (or planning a visit over the next few months) you are in for a special treat as we have the UKS best tributes to these tremendous bands lined up at the end of the following few months.
The band line up for the next three months is as follows
May 21..Magic Bullitz
May 28..Achtung Baby U2 Tribute
June 4..Brainscape http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Brainscape
June 11..The Deadbeats (Home town boys with a triumphant return to the Walkabout venue)
June 18..Made In The UK http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Made+in+England
June 25..Oasisnt Oasis Tribute
July 2..Union Jack http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Union+Jack
July 9..The Deadbeats
July 16..Lucas http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Lucas
July 23..Freak Out (make sure you do not miss this great band reviewed above) http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Freak+Out%21
July 30..Take That 2 (Take That Tribute)
Besides the great Thursday night entertainment in the Walkabout we have fantastic DJs throughout the week including Douge E http://www.lmmuk.com/band/DJ+JonEe with his great action packed party Fridays and his Monday night party games night and Fergie with a chart, dance, electro, RNB and party set on a Saturday. On Tuesdays you’ll find Jonee http://www.lmmuk.com/band/DJ+JonEe playing the great tunes that made him a favourite with the Ministry Of Sound team.
Saturday Afternoons its your chance to try out on the Rodeo Bull and join in with the fun and mayhem with your hosts Doug E and Jonee.
Get down to Blackpool Walkabout this Summer-The best entertainment in Blackpool. “Le Hotpot” indeed!
LMM our promise is that we will not sell you a donkey!Go to www.lmmuk.com for top quality entertainment
ALL LMM ACTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE AT WEDDINGS ,PARTIES AND EVENTS PLEASE SEE www.lmmuk.com or call 08454 900515 for details.
