The History of the Tarka Line Jazz Train This event is hugely popular and now in its 7th year. Steve and the All Star Jazz Band started this tradition with the rail authority to promote the use of train travel and live jazz. Steve is the face of the Tarka Line Jazz Train and the picture seen on our home page (commissioned by the rail authority and taken by Jan Gent of Jingle Jangle Design) is being used nationally as its promotional image . It was created in 2003 with a special train pulling out of Barnstaple railway station and arriving at the Mare and Foal public house in Yeoford. The idea was that the band would play acoustically on the platform as jazz revellers arrived. Once on board they could listen to the band travelling to the destination, where band and jazzers would be met by a hotel representative and guided to and from the hotel/public house. Little did we know our first Tarka Line jazz promotion in 2003 had Lucy Pinney on board from the Sunday Times newspaper. She introduced herself during our break and said she was doing a review of the event and sure enough in the following week`s edition of the Sunday Times newspaper 15/03/2003 we had a very positive write- up.A summary can be seen on the recordings page of our website and the full article can be seen on the Sunday Times website. A year later on the 9th of June saw another historic moment for the Steve Tucker All Stars and the rail authority. Booking office phones were going mad all afternoon with prospective All Star fans wanting to book tickets for the evening Tarka Line Jazz Train event. The platform in Barnstaple was filling up with so much with jazzers extra carriages/units had to be ordered from h.q.to cope with the large number of passengers. A very successful and safe evening was had and a picture was taken for national press release on Eggesford station on the return journey. We enclose a copy and a press write- up is on the band section on the band website. Another Steve Tucker All Star Jazz Band Tarka Line jazz train event was to become a very moving emotional evening, the evening of the 8th of July 2005. The band were scheduled to perform on the jazz train from Barnstaple on the 08/07/05, the world awoke on the 07/07/05 to see and hear of the horrific news of a co-ordinated suicide attack on London`s public train transport system during the rush hour killing 56 people and 700 injuries. Was this the right time to be blasting out rousing happy jazz tunes on a train ? The phone at the band`s office was hot with press and jazz fans wanting to know if the event was going to take place. It was a very tough decision to call and the general decision was life must carry on and we all must not let this terrible act of defiance affect the future. The band played but toned down the act and performance with foot-tapping bluesey numbers and stirring gospel anthems. Due to the huge popularity over the years of the Tarka Line Jazz Train Steve and the boys have arranged this event to be staged every last Sunday of the month all year round. The rail authority arrange seasonal Friday night events where bands still play on the train, but the All Stars, due to the growth of popularity and size of the band, piano arrangements and vocals etc, now arrange and welcome train travellers at the very picturesque Fox And Hounds Country Hotel in Eggesford Devon for a traditional Sunday lunch. The Steve Tucker All Star Jazz Band 2010 Tarka Line Jazz Train times from Barnstaple, North Devon leave at 11.10 arriving at Eggesford at 11.42, or 13.19 arriving at venue 13.46. Return train times from Eggesford back to Barnstaple are 14.40 arriving 15.10, or a later departure of 16.40 then back in at 17.10. Train times from Exeter Central are 11.37 arriving at Eggesford at 12.37, and back to Exeter from Eggesford departing at 15.43 or 17.49. There will be a representative from the band at the venue reminding you of your departure times. It is worth checking train times as sometimes they do change: This is a very popular event and booking a table reservation for Sunday lunch is strongly advisable please telephone the venue on 01769 580345 or visit their website: www.foxandhoundshotel.co.uk For train timetable: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484950.
PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
HAPPY GOOD TIME JAZZ FOR YOUR SPECIAL WEST COUNTRY EVENT
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