The festival took place at the Old Town Bowl on Saturday 28 August.
The event was in aid of Prospect Hospice in tribute to music scene legend Dave Young, the former owner of The Vic and 12 Bar, who tragically died earlier this year from cancer and was cared for at the hospice.
Tony Hillier’s poems can be found below:
The first was written after hearing the news of the premature passing of Music Impresario and Mentor, Dave Young, 6 June 2021
Music Man
Dave Young
Always young
And among
Swindon Greats
Stick out your tongue
Defo among
a life of song
Whacky Wensdaze
Partying hard
Playing Carry Okey dokey
At it’s own game
Brought Vic fame
piled on its rep
for gigs let rip
from Music Man
with cheekie charm
backed up by
talent and tech skill
and a strong will
of kindness
like Shuffling and Praising
and roof raising
12 Xmas bands
like Costellos for one
and a thousand and one
and more
musicians and fans
Dave the True Rave
Forever brave
served music with love
Music Man
The next two poems were a product of inspiration from the ‘My Dad’ festival, written on 28 August 2021:
Young Thud
“Do you know these guys?”
“Yeah. That guitarist there is my dad”
The pre-teen girl glowed.
He’s a punk man. She’s heavy metal
And that girl over there luv’s ska
And there you are
A Swindon Bowlful of Musical Cherries!Who did that? You did that Dave
You did that Vic and 12 Bar
You raised the bar. You raised it.
You raised it, we stood at it. Stood @bar.
Created music and dances @bar
There you are Dave.
Thud!
(THUD is an original band with bluesy intent.
Vocals - John Kane Bass - Martin DiRuzza Drums - Terry Marshall Guitar - Shed Judd
Formerly Fake Walnut Dash, THUD is the latest incarnation from some familiar faces on the Swindon music scene)
In the Company of Young Thieves
Jon ‘new haircut’ Buckett
Keyboard King. Respect.
Wouldn’t play with rubbish
Six King Thieves of Music
play their hearts out
hearts in plectrums and Leks’ drumsticks
hearts in every key change
capo and shakin’ tambourine
Swindon Bowl crowd awed
Awed with respect and deep joy
Deep joy, touched by Dave
Thieves touchingly performed for Dave
We all here are touched by Dave
Deep joy merged with sadness
remembering Dave ‘12 Bar Vic’ Young
No notes missing with
Gaz Brookfield and the Company of Thieves
Missing Dave
Backstage Dave
Backstage
Backstage, a place Dave knew well.
So well.
He knew front stage and on stage too
But his big heart and huge talent
was always backstage
Lighting, vocals, set list and mixer control
He knew them like the back of his hand
Putty in Dave’s hands, sweat on his brow
All worked out and meshed together
Issues ironed out like a Bowie sharp suit
Bands felt held; safe in Dave’s hands
He had it covered. Cover bands to cover costs as
Dave treasured originals, nurtured novices, passed too soon
Yet today, in some ways, he still backstages our lives.
(Tony at the ‘My Dad’ festival)
Tony Hillier can be contacted via poemogram@hotmail.com