Celebrating The Forest Hill Billies – Since 1984
Ska, rockabilly and country-skiffle from Forest Hill, SE London
Since their formation in Forest Hill, South East London in 1984 and their first gigs at Glastonbury Festival of that year, the Forest Hill Billies have been through many transitions, strengthening their reputation with a unique sound that gets their audiences raving.
Adopting diverse styles such as ska, rockabilly, jazz, country, skiffle and tex-mex and gigging extensively throughout the 1980s, they created their own unique sound, keeping themselves at the forefront of the British live music scene.
Exciting and dynamic
Powering into the 1990s with a ska and country set combining aspects of rock, reggae and soul the Forest Hill Billies continued to fill venues wherever they played.
A diverse and powerful sound
Powerful vocals are backed by a tight rhythm section with driving washboard, punctuated by a dynamic and highly-skilled horn section.
Solos from keyboards, lead guitar, blues harp, accordian, violin, sax, trumpet and trombone fill the set and make each performance exciting and unique.
A strong, committed following
With a talented and varied line-up ranging from seven to fourteen members, The Forest Hill Billies have never failed to get their audiences dancing.
They have always had a strong, committed following who encourage the band in their musical diversity, keeping them current and exciting. Their reunion gig at the Hope Festival in 2014 delighted their fans old and new.
‘Billies LIVE!
Some classics from the early 1980s
Spread the word!..
Read more..
“”Ska” – Jon Preston
Gaz and Duke Vin’s Rockin’ Cruise to Amsterdam with legends of the Jamaican music scene
The night we met Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall
Forest Hill Billies A-Z
Radio F.A.T. – The Billies first songs
2014 Hope Festival and the ‘Billies 30th anniversary
Famous for our flyers
The night Sigue Sigue Sputnik supported us
The Forest Hill Billies in France
The unforgettable ‘Billies Tour of Belgium
Beware the big bad wooluf
Great nights at Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues
The Forest Hill Billies have performed at
Glastonbury Festival, Printemps de Bourges, Edinburgh Festival, Dominion Theatre, Albany Empire, 100 Club, Gaz’s Rockin Blues, Transmusicales, Rockscenes, Brixton Academy, Dingwalls, Town and Country Club, Cricketers, Up The Creek, U.L.U., The Fridge, Hope Festival, Lambeth Country Show, Brighton Polytechnic, Bristol University, The Theckler, The Venue, The Royal Albert, The Duke, Amersham Arms, Lewisham Theatre, Zap Club, Oxford University, MJC Paris, and many, many more venues..
The Forest Hill Billies have performed alongside
The Pogues, Little Bob Story, Lee Perry, The Specials, Desmond Dekker, Fergal Sharkey, The Trojans, Bad Manners, The Gladiators, Glen Tilbrook, Johnny Clegg, Edwin Starr, the Woodentops, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Billy Bragg, The Flying Pickets, The Jivin’ Instructors, Maria Muldaur, The Deltones, Violent Femmes, Microdisney, Shrew Kings, and many more..
The Forest Hill Billies have been seen and appreciated by
Serge Gainsbourg, Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, Robbie Coltrane, Lee Perry, Buster Bloodvessel, Shane McGowan, Maria Muldaur, Michael Eavis, Gaz Mayall, John Peel, Fergal Sharkey, Paul Merton, Bamber Gascoine, Julian Clary, Jacqueline Delaunay and 1000’s more..
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