The Swinging Sixties!

This Blog is all about that decade of music that chances are, your Nan & Grandad will love, maybe your own parents depending on your own age of course? All of our entertainers on Ents Capital UK  will most likley have been in a venue somewhere, be it Hotel, Club, Social Club or maybe a small pub; and hear somebody shout out "Do you do any Beatles ??"
Either that or the elderly lady who has been sat at the back of the room, seemingly not enjoying your performance; will finally get up mid set, march towards you and say "Do you do any Patsy Cline, Cilla Black or Aretha Franklin?"You know her request is serious and you have only one response!


 With this you dig out that absolute classic backing track or disk and get it in quickly! Well all of us at Ents Capital love those classics sixties songs too, and this is what that lady in the club, who interupted you remembers!

The 1960's was the era in time when everything changed. The sixties decade was the most incredibly exciting, influential, and vibrant period of popular music in the 20th century. Imagine your parents or Grand Parents meeting up at the local village club, this was their time!


Much of society who loved it will argue with you all day that the sixties and it’s music, was the only time that mattered and nothing else will ever beat it or come close! It doesn't matter what you try and convince them with or throw in your set from today, they will not be swayed.

The funny thing is, some people who weren’t even born in the 60s will agree with them too!

The whole decade and every day belonged to the sixties .  Many people, including that elderly lady in the club;  still feel the essence of it adds a dimension to our lives today. In the sixties, the youth of the day were liberated from the wartime hardship and the strict attitudes and rules of the fifties.  The skirts kept getting shorter, hair kept getting bigger or longer and the boots stood taller and finished even higher! The fashion and especially the music changed all the rules! Maybe this is why some of the elderly of today will still misbehave?

The songs also sent out a message to the establishment and the people. Protest songs with hidden messages and the words put to the music gave everybody a message that the people could all would sing along to.  Flower Power , The birth of Festivals, Free Love and the Summers of love leading the way! The Glastonbury fans and the youth of today who go to such events, should be very thankful for these Summers of Love.

It was an era that was full of bright colour and images, the Artists as bright as ever; with fans copying the fashions of their latest icon! There are so many Bands and Artists from the sixties that everybody has heard of, still with fans to this day.



When it came to bands there was none bigger that The Beatles of course, well maybe the Rolling Stones pushing close?

Sixties music was so popular and so huge that if copies are released today, they tend to score top ten hits! None more recent than late great Cilla Black who sadly passed in 2015, her album scoring a top 20 position all these decades on. Cilla was mostly known by people for her career in TV, but above all she was a fantastic singer. She was the nations sixties queen, especially to the people of Liverpool; and it was fantastic the TV drama was replayed again with Sheradin Smith doing a wonderful job playing Cilla and her rise to stardom!.



The sixties has also influenced many recent films and musicals. Hairspray in the West end and as a film, and Mike Myers on the Austin Powers films.

So next time someone yells out and you hear "Do you do any sixties?" or if you ever see that elderly lady marching towards you mid set, you will know what she will ask, what she is thinking and just why you will perform it so brilliantly...................The swinging sixties will live forever! .................................. Groovy baby Yeah!!

To view more of our Sixties or Tribute acts click
Visit www.entscapitaluk.com and search in our 60s Music or tribute Artists & Bands section

Guest Blog From "Adjacent2 Duo"

Hi Guys!

Wow - our first blog!! So where to start?!
Well, suppose we should introduce ourselves, “we are Adjacent2! but we do have real names as well ...” - hold on - this is starting to sound like the introducing line after our first song!




The best way to sum us up is a couple of gals from Folkestone who have been best friends for 16 years & singing together as Adjacent2 for 11 - yes 11 good long years! We love what we do & most of all have fun doing it, with some pretty good feedback over the years!




(Within reason) We sing anything, anywhere & have clocked up several thousand miles on the poor old cars, laid our heads in many a questionable accommodation & had some hilarious warped stares from the unsuspecting public at service stations across the country who have clearly never seen anybody with rollers wrapped in a headscarf before!? Oh - then there was the pink hair ... but thats another story!

For the most part, our time is taken up by chasing traffic & rainbows, planning pit-stops & most importantly, deciding what to eat to avoid certain ‘Hangry’ (Hungry/Angry) outbursts when chasing said traffic & rainbows ...




Over the years we have had the pleasure of performing at a huge variety of venues, of our most memorable and heart warming evenings has got to be visiting the Royal Chelsea Hospital & entertaining and getting to know the amazing residents there.

So far this year we have visited; Folkestone, Deal, Dover, Cheriton, Lydden, Shepherdswell, River, Gravesend, Nottingham, Devon, Margate, London, Isle of Sheppey, Dorset, Weymouth, Essex, Norfolk, Bracknell, Hayling Island, Isle of Wight, Whitstable, Hastings, East Sussex, West Sussex all several times over.
Next stop - The Royal Oak in River, Kent - a lovely friendly local pub ..


Can’t wait to tell you all how it goes ... or if your in the area feel free to pop along & say hi!

Danielle & Maria
Adjacent2



You can also read and comment on this Guest Blog from Adjacent Duo at www.entscapitaluk.com

View Adjacent 2 Duos Listing at Ents Capital UK Ltd and find out how you can hire them by clicking HERE

Shure for Shure

I would never sing through anything else for Shure!!

After leaving home at the age of 18 in 2004, I was embarking on my adventures as an entertaining vocalist in a team of 7, I decided that I needed a microphone of my own that I could set up for myself and not have to worry about adjusting the shared microphones every time someone else used them.

My parents bought me the gift of my very own Sennheiser and after a little while of using it, the microphone itself developed a rattle and constantly interfered with the others. As we had our own on site technician he took it away and sent it off to Sennheiser for a repair, after a week or so I received a phone call from the technician to say that Sennheiser had sent it back as they would not touch it as it was a fake.

From that moment I was microphone less!!! How would my viewing public hear my voice? How could I entertain?

After a few months my parents came to the rescue and purchased a brand new Shure SM58, making sure there was a full guarantee and warranty. Whilst it was pricey I can safely say I have never looked back and it has to be the most reliable microphone I have ever used. In fact, nothing else since.

My Shure Mic and I have entertained 1000s of people UK wide!

I had one occasion whilst singing when I caught the microphone and it flung across the stage, catching my lip in the process, it came down with a bang and I thought that’s it another broken microphone. Luckily for me this mic is so durable I picked it up carried on,  and to this day, even with a dent in the head, it has continued to serve me well for the last 12 years. I still haven't had to replace him!

 My Shure SM58 has travelled around every where with me, many gigs at Holiday Parks, Social clubs and Hotels etc.

We have been in many changing rooms together, many caravans, questionable over night  accommodation  and travelled many miles. There he is by my side in the car.

He travels in his box that I also got from Shure, with his easy assemble wires and connections; always waiting for next time I get him out and we entertain the public together!

My Shure SM58 creates a beautiful sound for me the vocalist, yes I am good but I trust my Shure Microphone will help me be heard clearly and not fail me. For my
Shure SM58, what is his reward and reminder we are a team? That's easy, the many kiss shades of lipstick he has picked up from me in the past, where I've sung into and will continue to sing into him!

If any one asked me to recommend a microphone it would be Shure for Shure!!!

Me Sharing some love with my Trusted Shure!

 If you would like to find out more about Stacey Christopher, see her performance videos and stunning images, go to Face Book and type

"Stacey Christopher Female Vocalist" in the search bar.  There you will find her.

Go and Like her Facebook page, leave some comments and she loves to reply to any fans!

By Stacey Christopher, Ents Capital UK Ltd

Entertainer Score Cards, Agree or Not?

So this is something that Ents Capital UK Ltd feels quite passionate about, doesn't fully agree with yet understands why it is sometimes in place. It seems that more and more Social clubs and working mens clubs seem to be introducing these score cards. Have you seen them or been rated? These cards seem to be designed to allow certain venues and their regulars decide if they want an entertainer to return or not? However many entertainers may strongly disagree with such a practice and feel that these venues simply don't pay the money to warrant such a pressurised environment for any entertainer. It would be understandable if the decision was being made by a major cruise liner company?

The feeling being that the venue and it's customers concerned, should support and enjoy every entertainer who has sometimes travelled a long way to entertain them. Travelled a long way to entertain a sometimes half full or near empty venue and be paid peanuts at the end of the night for every effort made. That's peanuts before the petrol and agency fees have been paid?

More worryingly it seems that these decisions and score cards may be completed by whom ever the duty manager or Steward is and whom, with respect;  sometimes doesn't really have any entertainment knowledge what so ever? In some cases it seems that these score cards are completed by the punters or club members who an entertainer is never going to please in the first place. You always will get the mix of tables who absolutely love what an entertainer does, will dance and join in, against the table in the corner who are determined to just sit there and only came out for a game of bingo in the first place!
Those hard to please people who decide to sit at the table nearest the speakers and then scowl at you because the music is too loud! What happens if the score card is handed to them at the start of the night? Most entertainers will tell you the same. You can go to one venue one week and have an absolutely brilliant time. Everyone joining in, bouncing off you and the entertainer can drive the long distance home feeling really good about a performance well done. But then go to another venue the following week or maybe even night after, do the exact same set, and have not one single response from anyone. No matter what they do or try, the public are detemined to just sit there and stare longing for the half time game of bingo or open the box!  A big stage and an unappreciative crowd can be a lonely place for any entertainer. No matter how lovely the venue may be, sometimes the saying "You are only as good as your audience" really comes into effect. Hopefully the Steward of that specific venue understands and has previous Entertainment knowlege. Maybe they have managed for a major Holiday Park Company and are on the entertainers side.

Are these score cards ever going to be a true reflection of any entertainer? If they are going to be common practice maybe more formal and correct questions should be asked, similar to the entertainer cards the well known holiday parks and hotels use. Unlike the photo example above maybe they should be outlined as follows?
Did the entertaner arrive on time?, Did the entertainer set up and sound check on time?, Did the entertainer have appropriate stage attire, even a change? Did the entertainer provide a wide range of entertainment well suited to the venue's customer? Did the entertainer engage with everybody?
Nine times out of ten an entertainer has a passion for what they do and really enjoys using their talent to make people smile. The answer would be yes to all of the questions above. The smile and passion continuing on stage no matter what suprising area was provided to get ready in! These too can be a massive variation for eny entertainer. The image below will be a familiar sight to many entertainers!

Would it be good if the actual entertainers had a score card about the venue they have just performed at?
Was the Steward welcoming? Was there help offered to carry any equipment to and from your vehicle? Was there a clean, warm and private changing area provided for the entertainer? Did the Steward introduce you by pronouncing your name correctly?............ How many venues would want to have an entertainer score card in place then?

But on the other hand are these score cards a good thing? Would the make any seasoned entertainer up their game? For example an agent may have many many acts on their books although never have actually seen them perform. Does the score card allow the Clubs and venues identify a really good new act, or well known act who's reputation and name is well deserved. Many of these social clubs are used by local people who enjoy a cheaper night out, their finances not great and Saturday night out at the local club is their big night out that week. However in comes the leggy blonde who has won a few Karaoke competiions banging out Mariah Carey ballads and now thinks she is a pro; even performing in the same clothes she arrived in and can be found drinking heavily at the bar during the half time interval. OK extreme example I know, but you know there are, or may have seen poor entertainers who paint a bad picture.
Remember many agents will not have seen all of the acts they send out recently. Maybe for years, maybe at all! Does the public of that venue deserve to be entertained or not, by a poor act or do they deserve to see that quality act who makes every effort for them again and again?  Any score card would show and identify to an agent the better acts they have and maybe stop sending venues the bad ones?

Some entertainers won't worry if these score cards are in place or not as they will pride themselves on never having a bad report anyway and enjoy many many repeat bookings at the same venues. I guess the fact of the matter for most is this. Score card or not any entertainer has to be professional in this game. Being your best regardless of the venue is vital. For the case of singers, presentation, song choice to suit the audience supercedes voice as long as it's in pitch. The 1000s of entertainers across the UK are not global super stars and the venue's punters haven't paid to see their concert.
These are Social clubs and working mens clubs where the people have come to primarily meet friends. have a drink, maybe a bit of bingo and generaly be entertained with something they are familiar with. Love or hate these audiences and maybe these score cards. Without these venues there would be no work for entertainers?
Daniel Kacey,
Ents Capital UK Ltd

View more of our blogs at our website on our blogs page!
www.entscapitaluk.com