u3a

Bishop Auckland & District

String Band

string band playing in a church
Status:Active, not currently accepting new members
Leader:
Group email: String Band group
When: On Wednesdays
2nd & 4th Wednesday 10 am - noon and see Events for gig dates and times
Venue: Witton Park Village Hall

Now we are seven! We have been joined by new u3a member Crispin Martindale. So the lineup is currently:

Janie on drums

Adrian guitar/ mandolin/ ukulele

Crispin bass guitar

David lead vocals/percussion

Gerald lead guitar/backing vocals

Gordon keyboards/vocals

Mike guitar/backing vocals

We play and sing pop/rock, country and some folk music with the emphasis on 60s, 70s and 80s classic pop and rock. Our group members play guitars (acoustic & electric), bass, keyboard, drums, harmonicas, ukulele and mandolin. Kazoo and flute have also been seen. We have an excellent vocalist. It is about fun and the buzz of playing in a band and keeping our musical skills going. Also about trying to do justice to wonderful songs from our youth.

At present we have seven regular members. We've practiced and played about 200 songs over the last 5 years so we have a considerable repertoire. Most of us are self-taught musicians but we are committed to getting our sound as lively and authentic as possible. We've played all sorts of pieces so far including Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison, Meet Me On The Corner by Lindisfarne, Gimme Some Lovin' by Steve Winwood, Hi,Ho, Silver Lining by Jeff Beck, Lyin' Eyes by The Eagles, Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley, Urban Spaceman by Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks and Hey Jude by The Beatles.

Last year we acquired a 1000 watt PA system and mixer desk which enables us to get a well-balanced sound and cope with playing at larger venues. We have now played over a dozen gigs raising about £1500 for our main charities which are the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Families Association (SSAFA).

If you'd like us to play at an event please contact me, click Gerald to send an email or phone 07802 705284 .

We do not charge for our charity gigs and are happy to consider performing for charitable events within a 20 mile radius. We would also consider playing for weddings or private parties but a fee would be payable. Let me know if you have an event at which we might play.

We now have a performance name for the band. It is ' Third Age Rocks ! ' This will, we hope, give us a stronger public image when we play to non-U3A audiences."

Upcoming Events

25th October 2025 - St. Mary's Church Cockfield - Fundraising event

10th December 2025 - Whickham u3a Christmas Party (Private event)

16th December 2025 - Bishop Auckland Town Hall - our u3a Christmas Meeting

News from the u3a String Band - Third Age Rocks!

Upcoming Performances

10th May 2025 - Memorial Hall, West Auckland - Charity Fundraising event

25th October 2025 - St. Mary's Church, Cockfield - Fundraising event

10th December 2025 - Whickham u3a Christmas Party (Private event)

16th December 2025 - Bishop Auckland Town Hall - our u3a Christmas Meeting

Here are some photos and videos from the String Band. We hope you remember some of them.

Videos of the band - Click on Link to view

Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-RiY333gVu8xYvZtTGwWs-bfqxkoSxdd/view?usp=drive_link

Norwegian Wood - Beatles https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-bmfMQde99DzEaxPuzgwwxcAr00NsfUf/view?usp=drive_link

Lyin' Eyes - The Eagles https://drive.google.com/file/d/19k6Ju2h84ndnVY0OyO3-KsQbS1SP3FZI/view?usp=drive_link

Crocodile Rock - Elton John https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aN7A8NDCT8YtHqkMuqtw_bWn8FHi9gNB/view?usp=drive_link

San Francisco Bay Blues - Eric Clapton https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vWz28lr7Lhd8q28Vq9pZVYoEoRe_e9o2/view?usp=drive_link

Love Hurts - Everly Brothers https://drive.google.com/file/d/106oNynWS9nzGm0sy_rVb6hfsiN__p4oH/view?usp=drive_link

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison https://drive.google.com/file/d/10-yek_B-iPlcuErLr36n86PFmrXNl57F/view?usp=drive_link

You've got to hide your love away - Beatles https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ZuZnpRB6CMMayM_VeruD7OpkoggD1lJ/view?usp=drive_link

Where do you go to, My lovely - Peter Sarstedt https://drive.google.com/file/d/10YhnVBK9bEfyxq0soQXFJkqDGEoymS-r/view?usp=drive_link

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