World-famous ska, rockabilly and country-skiffle band from SE London

The night we met Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall

It was always a big debate in the band as to whether we should go out of our way to entertain the upper classes. After all, it was the 1980s and our thing was usually to support workers through benefit gigs – the miners, the ambulance workers, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, CND, Anti Apartheid, the Artificial…

Forest Hill Billies A-Z

Forest Hill Billies A-Z A for Amanda on washboard and vocals, Alan on drums, Albany Empire, Acoustic stage Glastonbury B for Bill on the bass, Britanny, ‘Bad to the Bone’, ‘Big Black Cat’, Brighton Busking Festival, Belgium tour, brass section, Bo on posters, Brest En Couleurs, busking, backdrop lost in France, and ‘Billies of course…

Radio F.A.T. – The Billies first songs

Back in 1983 Matt had a cassette recording of a Californian radio station, Radio F.A.T. , based in Gilroy, which was playing country-swing, country and bluegrass. We listened to it incessantly and during a cold winter on his first trip to Canada, Matt transcribed the lyrics of several of the songs on the tape, including…

Famous for our flyers

The early 80s saw the dawn of the photocopying revolution. High street copy shops like Prontaprint were springing up everywhere and we would often spend an afternoon on their premises cutting and glueing master sheets together

The night Sigue Sigue Sputnik supported us

Transmusicales is an annual music festival held in Rennes, Britanny, with the final evening showcasing up-and-coming British talent. In December 1985 it was The Forest Hill Billies’ first gig in France. That year the line-up included Doctor And The Medics and The Fine Young Cannibals.

The Forest Hill Billies in France

Transmusicales in Rennes was a big breakthrough for The Forest Hill Billies in France, which led to many more tours in the 80s. A Year later we played Printemps de Bourges, replacing James Brown who couldn’t make it, so we were lucky enough to play between The Pogues and Johnny Clegg.

The unforgettable ‘Billies Tour of Belgium

After a hectic schedule in March 1986 and a few gigs in early April, on Thurs 17th April we played Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues and finishing at 3am, we immediately packed up the VW Van and headed for the Channel en route to Brussels for the ‘Billies Belgium tour. We had a couple of contacts there,…

Beware the big bad wooluf

‘It’s The Wooluf’ In the wild days of The Forest Hillbillies we had a kinda punk instrumental called ‘It’s The Wooluf’ – it got faster and cycled thru a few keys at the end which was fun (this clip from a gig in Paris a million years ago). But the Andrews brothers and fellow saxist…

Great nights at Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues

The Forest Hill Billies were familiar faces at Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, London’s longest running one-nighter club. The club was founded on the 3rd of July 1980 by Gaz Mayall, the eldest son of Blues legend John Mayall and, until a recent change of venue, it took place at Gossip’s on Dean Street in Soho in…

The Jackie Magazine Photo Shoot

A friend of Amanda’s was working as a freelance photographer and got us a two-page feature in Jackie Magazine called ‘City Limits – In London’ along with some copy about things to do and see in London. It came out on July 5th 1986 (Issue 1174) but by the look of the backgrounds the photos…

The Forest Hill Billies

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.

The Forest Hill Billies Live

Detour
Forest Hill Billies
Lewisham Town Hall 1986

      Detour

Pan American Boogie
Forest Hill Billies
Rockscenes, France 1986

      Pan American Boogie

Whisky
Forest Hill Billies
Lewisham Town Hall 1986

      Whisky

Big Black Cat
Forest Hill Billies
Rockscenes, France 1986

      Big Black Cat

It’s The Wooluf
Forest Hill Billies
Lewisham Town Hall 1986

      It's The Wooluf

Food Poisoning
Forest Hill Billies
Rockscenes, France 1986

      Food Poisoning

Wine
Forest Hill Billies
Downham Festival 1985

      Wine

Love ‘Em And Leave ‘Em
Forest Hill Billies
Rockscenes, France 1986

      Love 'em And Leave 'Em

More about the Forest Hill Billies

“”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