ROAD TRIP! The Midlands Series (2/4)

8/3/2025

ROAD TRIP! The Midlands Series (2/4)

A Musical Road Trip in England and Wales!

Starting at Mike and Lisa’s home and studio in the village of Cockshutt, Shropshire and moving north to Llangollen Wales, Chester and then into Liverpool and back…

On my recent trip to visit to the U.K., my hosts MIKE and LISA of B.F.G. took me on a 2nd road trip the day after we feasted on all things Manchester.

After the incredible day on July 11th (see the post from July 13, 2025) we started by travelling from their Midlands home in Shropshire to observe B.F.G. insider PHILL DANN perform in a choir in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 at the LLANGOLLEN MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti sang at this Festival in 1955 at the age of 20. This has been memorialized on a hill just outside the Festival Grounds.

Then it was off to explore the walled city of Chester.

CHESTER, U.K. 🇬🇧-
Population approx 100,000

It was too hot to sit outside and submit voluntarily to being baked, so after exploring the ancient Roman amphitheatre pictured below, we retreated to a fine Churrascurias for some Brazilian BBQ and frosty beverages in air conditioned comfort.

Refreshed and refueled, we were off again (with Lisa behind the wheel) to Liverpool in the early evening to meet up with B.F.G. guitarist ELLIOT WHEELER.

ELLIOT was also in one of my favourite bands, THE DANSE SOCIETY 🇬🇧.

We caught up to him as he was finishing up with his day job. He was kind enough to sit and chat indie music for two hours.

We talked about his time with DANSE SOCIETY, and his role with B.F.G.

He told me how he discovered B.F.G. by locating a copy of the single “Western Sky” but is still looking for the debut single “Paris/ Amelia,” (sorry mate- mine is not for sale!).

We shared factoids about bands we both love such as MAGAZINE and CHAMELEONS.

After that deep dive into into all things indie, we headed back to CHEZ B.FG. for a lengthy session of late night music in their studio at the end of three sleep-deprived days of music and fun.

I got to hear a number of new B.F.G. tracks and some other treats. I am very excited for these soon to be released songs.

Now for some released music.

First, here is a DANSE SOCIETY track selected by ELLIOTT. “Sometimes” was released in 1982. It is a perfect blast of post- punk energy. Enjoy.

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/5XYCe2ek8lMcTQXYDgQAGG?si=D08-rQlcSB2GudQ9NW0cWQ

(SONG 1163)

Then we feature the massive B.F.G. hit “Amelia” (honoured by rex way back at Post #100 in April of 2022) performed live on World Goth Day. MIKE and ELLIOT are featured stage right (to the viewer’s left.) I should have asked ELLIOT how he survived wearing a leather jacket! Get ready to have this song consume you as it has consumed me for 39 years.