Letting the good times rouler at Rye

A benefit gig raised nearly £1,000 for repair works to the venerable Rye Community Centre in Conduit Hill. A heaving audience danced all the way to the bank with the Cajun sounds of the Hotfoot Specials.

And as the money came in, thanks to a very generous sponsorship of the gig by the George in Rye, the audience who bought tickets, and enjoyed possibly the best night of the year so far in Rye, and the band itself, you could almost smell the frying of shrimps at Rye Community Centre as the venue became the main centre of Cajun culture not just in the SE of England, but this side of the Atlantic!

Before the gig started, the audience was in high anticipation – laissez les bon temps rouler! And they weren’t disappointed. The Hotfoot Specials hail from East Sussex but their hearts are forever in the Louisiana swamps. Chris Murphy, the leader and singer who plays the melodian, is the genuine article - US born. He is joined on violin by Kirsten Hammond, with Don Stewart on guitar. Grant Allardyce on the drums, with help from mighty metallist Mary Murphy - on triangle. By Andy Stuart.