91Èȱ¬

23.02.08 | South Street arts centre | Reading | 8pm | £5 on the door | In aid of the Berkshire Cancer Centre at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

Eleven bands are getting together to pay a musical tribute to the life of Reading musician Garry Jones, who died of throat cancer in August 2007 aged 54.

Garry's career as a bassist spans 35 years, starting off in various Merseyside bands before moving to Reading in 1975 to join Broad Street Rumour.

In the 80s his New Wave band El Seven were signed briefly to United Artists. It produced 1980 single Radio Tokyo, which topped Melody Maker's independent chart.

Garry Jones

His skill as a bassist led him to back Chuck Berry, though his versalitity as a musician meant he was equally at ease backing New York's jazz-rock singer Annette Peacock.

JonesFest is a tribute to Garry, the music he loved, and the music he wrote, and it features many of the musicians he collaborated with during his life-time.

The Jonesfest Performers (in no particular order):

CLAYSON & THE ARGONAUTS

Band fronted by performer, writer, biographer and 'talking head' on countless TV 'music moments' programmes, Alan Clayson. Garry was a friend and fellow Argonaut.

BIDGIE REEF & THE GAS

Roger Winslet and Pete Brookes, with the other fiveÌý members of The Gas, in a one-off reunion in memory of their former bassist and friend.

TERRY CLARKE

Described as 'the new Van Morrison' by the Daily Express, and a friend of Garry for many years.

COUNTRY & WESTERN LIBERATION FRONT

Featuring Steve Rolfe, a friend and a fellow musician from The Lost Weekend – Vince Power, Mean Fiddler's "band of 1985".

DENNY MILLS aka Mr Lordy Self-Righteous

Friend and fellow musician from Scatman PX, Reading's most anarchically brilliant band of the mid-90s.

NINA LANE BAND

Featuring Alan Barwise, friend of Garry since 1964, and Nina, with whom Garry performed his last gig.

TIM HILL

Saxophonist, improviser and band leader, who, like Garry, worked with the legendary country-blues guitarist Mike Cooper in the 1980s. The results of his various collaborations have appeared in radio, TV and film productions such as Pride & Prejudice.

OFFTHERADAR

Featuring Tim Milbourne, a friend, and according to Garry, the 'second best bassist in Reading' (Garry being the first, obviously!) Tim will also act as stand-in for Garry's bass playing talents in El Seven on the night.

ROOTDOGS featuring Mark T.

Garry was the first bassist in the original 1990's version of Rootdogs.

PUNK BARBERSHOP

Featuring Neil Dunnett, friend of Garry, and formerly of Cuckooland, (championed by Radio 1's Steve Lamacq and Reading festival openers in 1995); and more recently, Coma Brothers.

EL SEVEN

Re-forming for a one-off reunion, and featuring John Townsend, Garry's friend and a fellow musician since 1969. El Seven topped Melody Maker's independent chart in 1980.

A web site has been set up in Garry's memory, and will include music, photos, and other contributions from friends, colleagues and fans of his music: