September 2000 - Nine Below Zero

A year on from our first gig, ticket sales were no problem this time and a week before we were feeling quite smug - then came the petrol crisis! As things got worse during the week there were doubts whether the band would make it - they had enough diesel to get to Ripley but not to reach their next gig on the Sunday. Fortunately Peter had a tank full of the stuff on his farm - as Dennis said on the night "Up the farmers!".

NBZ made it from St. Albans but the P.A. firm we had booked didn't make it from Harrogate - on Saturday lunchtime we learned they would not be turning up. Special thanks to NBZ soundman John Stephens and local man Rick Lawson for getting the show on.

The band were on great form and another superb night was had. Ripley hasn't seen such excitement since Oliver Cromwell called at the Castle in 1644.

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June 2000 - The Aynsley Lister Band

Having seen Aynsley a couple of times at Colne Andy and Peter were convinced this young and talented artist would go down well at Ripley. He agreed to do a solo spot before bringing on the band thus saving the cost of a support act and this time we thought we had a chance of balancing the books.

Then we realised the gig clashed with a vital international football match between England and Germany and even our relatives were refusing to attend. Having considered screening the match in the hall before the gig we decided to press on regardless and were rewarded with a decent turnout and another great night.