APRIL - Cov Band
Often rehearsed and played at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club in Queen Victoria Rd. C. 1969 – 71. Although they
had their own unique sound and wrote their material, their sound was akin to early Fairport Convention. Cover versions included Sandy Denys “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” and James Taylor’s “ on my Mind”.
The band played both rock and folk venues and the Warwick University Arts festival. Their manager was Stuart Urquhart of .
Their blurb sheet says; -
A COMPLETE NEW CONCEPT IN MUSIC TODAY
“We really like what APRIL are doing. Their approach to music is really original and their sound is a full and complete one.” Magna Carta
What is so different about APRIL’s
approach to music? Basically the way they get such a beautiful mellow sound
with an unusual electric line up.
Bill Jackson – Vocals / guitar / recorder / piano
Mick Thompson – 12 & 6 string guitars / steel guitar /
vocals
Ron Lawrence – 8 string bass, guitar / vocals
Gary Richardson – Assorted percussion (including congas / bongos / claves / drums)
Pat Lawrence – Sound balancer extraordinary
“April are an ultra-contemporary group turning in their ideas and music towards a folk influence. 80% of their material is original and so is their approach to material written by others. As can be seen from their line up, the group comprises a great variety of instruments (& effects) which go together to form a very interesting show, with good music the aim in mind.”
……….
Group had split up by March1971 as we had them booked for the Umbrella
club and it was cancelled.
Ron Lawrence later played bass with 80’s band Sniff & the Tears along with lead guitarist – Loz Netto.
APRIL (Electric Folk) were the hosts every Tuesday and supported acts such as Cliff Aungier & Gerry Lockran at the Swan Folk & Kontemporary Klub, Yardley Birmingham during this period.
They also supported band Tea & Symphony at the Coventry
Arts Umbrella .
Also down to
play Club Caroline –
Walsgrave (Pete Waterman’s venue) March
1971. I think this was cancelled along with the Umbrella
gig owing to the split. They also played the Walsgrave
with East Light. 1971
Warwick University Arts Festival saw them playing a folk concert (Saturday
March 6th) with Jeremy Taylor and Jo-Anne-Kelly.
They played The Village (Colin Campbell) sat.
Ron Lawrence went on to play bass for the 80's band Sniff and the Tears - playing on their forst Album - Fickle Heart along with Coventry guitarist Loz Netto - Here is the first Sniff and the Tears Line up - Paul Roberts - vocals and acoustic guitar
Loz Netto - guitars
Mick Dyche -
guitars
Chris Birkin - bass
Ron Lawrence - bass
Luigi Salvoni - drums
and percussion
Alan Fealdman - keyboards
Keith Miller - synthesizer and
string machine
Noel McCalla - backing vocals
Jim Nellis - backing vocals
Trevor remembers April from the Covnetry Arts Umbrella Club c1970. Bill Jackson has a fantastic voice - he could sing Sandy Denny's Who Knows Where the Time Goes with such feeling. In charge of organising the band nights and rehearsal room allocation, Trevor got to sit in on many of their practices. They had their own sound within the Folk rock ambit and it was a magic sound. The combination of congos - Ron Lawrence's innovative bass playing (he played an 8 string bass - sometimes using a violin bow!), Bill Jackson's voice that penetrated you soul. It was sad when they split up. Ron Lawrence and his wide Pat lived outside of Cov in a cottage at Shilton which Trev and Al Docker moved
into after they left, continuing it's musical vibe. Ron Lawrence and BillJackson from April used to come through to rehearse with a new Cov super group - Runestaff with ex Indian Summer players Paul Butterfield and Al Hatton and Al Docker on Drums. Unfortunately the band split up before they ever got around to doing a gig. Trevor was again privelged to hear them rehearse, this time in his own home! Same they never got to gigging - such great musicians.
< April performed at one of Pete Waterman's gigs at the Walsgrave in 1970. Trevor did door duty for this and sold tickets - here is one preserved for posterity -
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Comments
Hi there , not quite sure what to say but my Dad is Michael Thompson From the group April.
I would be gratefull if you could let me know where you keep all this wonderful stuff as Id like to see it in the flesh. Dad found this website and I was so amazed to read it all. Is there any chance I could have a copy of anything as he has nothing from his band days and I would love to surprise him with somthing. Thanx.