An Illuminating time in Matlock Baths.

  Matlock Baths Illuminata & Market.

  Well I was as happy as a dog with two tales as I wandered into Matlock Baths, I've never seen so many Tea shops and Fish'n'chips shops this far from the sea, the town is an amazing Victorian resort and the perfect setting for....The Steampunk Illuminata and Market. Actually the Illuminations have been going on since 1897 but this was the first Steampunk event to be held in the town.
    Kicking off on Friday night among the advance guard of Steampunks was Mr Dale Rowles and Herr Axle Boldt, they played a great set of cover songs including classics such as Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" and Canned Heat's "On the Road Again".

Axle (as I believe most of you know) is 6 feet 8 inches in height, he then played a drum kit built for a 4 year old, it was a sight not to be missed and he played it very well, we even got a drum solo!!

    At 10.30 it was time for Gladstone, on they came with their new mascot James and after dedicating the first song to Tina Sharpe and Mike Bower they were off into "The Madness of Tilly Matthews", the set included old favourites like "Night Creatures", "The Ballad of William Winter", "Twisted Lip" and "The Curse of Tutankhamun". "Jack Hall" went down very well with the audience participating in clapping along to the song as did the new composition by Ms Amy Teacake "Purple Reefer". But as is the way with these things time did sprout wings and fly, all too soon they were playing their customary covers of TMTWNBBFN "Boilerplate Dan" and of course "God Save the Queen", with the shouting of "MORE" they performed "For Whom the Bell Tolls" then it was time to go, suddenly the band disappeared into the night, Cloud landed about 10 miles away with Tina, the Sanders family took in Mr Dave Evil (which was brave!) and Ms Teacake, Paul Shovel Hands and Spook ended up with Cas & David Sharpe who produced an amazing Chilli and rice...mmmmm.

Gladstone meets Professor Elemental.

    Next day the crew of Gladstone could rest and enjoy the delights of the Steampunk market, wandering around stalls stacked with the most ingenious and highly crafted goods imaginable along with dancing from Demolitia Tribal and her Boudicca Revival, in the evening we were treated to the fantastic Professor Elemental who had everyone laughing with his tales of Tea, Monkey Butlers and Being British!! To top the night off we had a riproaring set by BB Blackdog, much head banging and paw stomping later we headed off back to Cas & David's this time with all five Glastones and Professor Elemental and so ended a remarkable weekend our thanks go to ALL of those who organised this event, we can't wait for the next one. I must thank Cas Sharpe, David Broadbent http://www.facebook.com/DavidBroadbentPhotography and Amy "Teacake" Bradford for the photographs, most kind.

This is Sherlock's Dog signing off......TTFN Gladstonians.

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Spook, Teacake, Shovel Hands and Mr Evil with James!