HOLLAND MINI TOUR
14th -16th SEPTEMBER 2003

Wilberforce undertook their first ever live appearances outside the UK with a 3 day mini-tour of the Netherlands. Dates included the Sound Garden, Amsterdam (14th Sept); De Gloppe, Leeuwarden in North Holland (15th Sept); and the Sappho Cafe with Amy Abdou (16th Sept).

Apparently the tour nearly didn't happen after Mark accidently spilled a boiling kettle on his foot (left). As Helen recalls: "I made him go to the emergency ward and get immediate attention, otherwise the whole of the tour would have been cancelled because of a sick foot!" After 6 weeks of extensive rehearsals in Abbey Wood, the band flew in to Amsterdam early on the 13th September. Thanks to fellow musician Amy Abdou, Wilberforce had a place to stay and dates to play. The set was expanded to over 75 minutes to include 5 songs never before played live and the debut of a Helen song in the act.



Wilberforce hit the Sound Garden the following night. Mark: "I noticed the sound guy had a mixer at the end of the bar. Then we found out why! He was also the barman!! One minute it was " Just need to take the guitar down...", the next "what can I get you?" "It wasn't our favourite gig. People talked all the way through it, the sound was crap, and we were accosted by drunks!"

For their next date the band took the train 150 miles to the northern town of Leeuwarden. With only themselves to carry the equipment, travelling began to take its toll. Mark: "I think being roadies as well as being the band, it kicked in when we got to Leeuwarden just how much we were taking on..."

However, De Gloppe proved to be a much happier affair. Mark: "Rick (left of picture) was the owner and put us up in a hotel, fed us, paid us well, and made us feel like stars!!! "We also benefitted from a great sound, a roomy stage, and drinks on tap. So we were very happy!" It was the band's favourite venue so far in their live history because, according to Helen "... the people seemed nicer and more supportive".

As Wilberforce learnt, some songs went down better than others, with "This Is The Song They Tried To Ban" being a particular crowd favourite. Mark: "I wrote the song years ago and loved it, but didn't use it until this tour where Helen gave it a new lease of life!

"We do an unusual version of "Rubber Bra" and because it's different to anything else, when we played it in Leeuwarden, the audience went into a stunned silence!"

How does Helen find working with her partner in the band? "I find that the master of the band (is) perhaps a little bit of a perfectionist and that clashes with my own strong stubborn ideas as well!" And Mark on Helen? "I think when it comes down to it, we know each other so well that playing together is second nature which is a rare thing to find."

After the warmth of Leeuwarden, Wilberforce returned to Amsterdam as support for Amy Abdou at Sapphos Cafe. Helen: "The audience was talking all the way through, it was really hard work and there was no connection at all." Mark: "The only people listening were a lesbian couple. We were hampered by playing at the end of a long room, having no PA which meant Helen couldn't play her violin."

So what did Wilberforce think of Holland and the Mini-Tour? Helen: "I thought Dutch people were lovely. I liked Holland. I was deeply moved by their charity and kindness!"

Mark: "We learnt a lot. It was what I call a "proto-tour", just to see if we could pull it off. And I think we did!"

Though she admits to being nervous for all three gigs, Helen sayes: "Well, like Miss World, I get to travel and meet people. I suppose it gives you a goal in life."

Unfortunately after returning to Britain, Helen discovered her keyboard had been smashed. Helen: "The luggage handlers took my keyboard and threw it down a shute from a very high level, and it arrived with great speed onto the conveyor belt... smashed up."

GIGS

GIGS ARCHIVE

MINI TOUR TOP

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