by Sam Hawcroft
A high-energy fundraising gig is set to take place in Hull city centre this weekend in support of Withernsea’s Blue Light Weekend and the Parachute Regiment Charity.
The Drum & Cymbals, a live music venue in Whitefriargate, will host a special Motörhead tribute night headlined by Withernsea band the Alternative Solution – featuring none other than Blue Light Weekend air show director Dave Walker, better known to many as Para Dave, on vocals.
Backed by a father-and-sons trio, the Alternative Solution promise an explosive mix of punk and rock’n’roll delivered with what Dave calls “stimulating intensity”. The band is known for putting on a show that’s loud, proud and full of passion – much like Motörhead themselves.
Support on the night comes from Hull singer-songwriter Keith Newby, who will perform an acoustic set from 4pm to 7pm before the Alternative Solution take to the stage.
The gig on Saturday, June 28, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the formation of Motörhead – the iconic rock outfit who played Hull City Hall on June 22, 1983, as part of their Another Perfect Day tour. A live recording from that show was released to mark the album’s 40th anniversary.
Helping raise funds on the night will be Camerons Brewery, which is donating a 100-pint keg of its Overkill beer – named after Motörhead’s classic 1979 track – with all sales going to Blue Light Weekend. The brewery is also installing a dedicated Overkill pump at the Drum & Cymbals and making a further donation.
Para Dave, who recently added to his collection of Motörhead tattoos, said: “Come and rock out and make it a night to remember. It’s all about raising awareness for some really good causes. Camerons donating the beer is a great gesture – it’s great to see people pulling together.”
The venue’s owner, Robert Jackson, took over the site 15 months ago, following the closure of the former Telstar pub during the pandemic. After a full refurbishment – including a new frontage that bears little resemblance to its predecessor – he reopened it as a tribute to the original Drum & Cymbals, which once stood on the corner of Upper Union Street and Osborne Street. It closed in 1956 and was later demolished.
Rob said: “We wanted to bring live entertainment back to the city centre – and it’s working. We’ve had a live act on every weekend since we opened and there’s a queue of bands wanting to play. It’s one of the busiest live music bars in town.”
The venue’s walls are plastered with posters from Hull’s musical past – from the Beatles to Bowie – reflecting a commitment to keeping the city’s gig heritage alive.
“It’s music from the 60s, 70s and 80s – because that’s what people want to hear,” Rob added. “The younger ones know it from adverts, and the older ones remember it from growing up. There’s something special about it – you can’t buy it.”
Built in the 1830s, the building itself offers a unique ambience, with Rob keen to stress that the venue offers a safe and welcoming environment for all.
“A lot of people still think the city centre is just full of hassle – but the Old Town is changing,” he said. “It’s somewhere you can come and have fun, relax and feel safe. We’ve got security inside the venue and the atmosphere is brilliant.
“This gig will be something really special – for Hull, for Blue Light Weekend and for Motörhead fans everywhere.”
The gig will take place on the Cymbals side of the venue – located at No 3 Whitefriargate – which is separated from the Drum side by an internal door. While the Drum bar is expected to be busy with the usual Saturday night crowd, the Cymbals side will be dedicated to the live music.
Admission is free and all are welcome.