Bayou-degradable

The Balham Alligators

In the British summer of '83, two years since the riots in Brixton and Toxteth and a few months before striking miners would be ploughed into the fields around Orgrave Colliery, The Balham Alligators were born. 

An often beer-drenched law unto themselves, beautiful losers in an ugly, contrary and irascible way, their anarchic story covers a period spanning thirteen years of peerless performances, personnel changes, death, notoriety and legend.

 

The band came together by chance at a London pub in 1983, and the original line-up consisted of Geraint Watkins, Robin McKidd, Kieran O'Connor, Arthur Kitchener, and Gary Rickard.  They played a hybrid blend of musical styles, including Rock 'n' Roll, Blues, R&B, Celtic Folk, Swamp-Pop, Country, Swing, Cajun & Zydeco.

 

They had a fearsome reputation on and off stage on the London R&B circuit and festivals like Cambridge and Glastonbury; and by the latter half of 1995 had completed the recording of their third album, "Gateway to The South," before finally packing it in and going their separate ways.

Some of the best of their studio and live recordings  have been gathered into this double album CD anthology which comes complete with a 16-page fully illustrated booklet

 THE BALHAM ALLIGATORS WERE:

GERAINT WATKINS  - vocals, keyboards, accordion
ROBIN MCKIDD (d. 2015) - fiddle, guitar, vocals
GARY RICKARD (d. 2010) -  guitar, vocals
PETE DENNIS  - bass
ARTHUR KITCHENER - bass
PAUL RILEY - bass
KIERAN O’ CONNOR (d. 1991) - drums, percussion
BOBBY IRWIN (d. 2015)  - drums, percussion

 

GATOR AID on “Gateway to The South” was provided by:

 

RON KAVANA  - guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion
BILL KIRCHEN - guitar, trombone
STEVE DONNELLY - guitar
PETE THOMAS  - drums
NICK PENTELOW  -  baritone sax, clarinet
MARTIN BELMONT  - acoustic guitar
THE PANIC BROTHERS  - vocals

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Bayou-degradable

In the British summer of '83, two years since the riots in Brixton and Toxteth and a few months before striking miners would be ploughed into the fields around Orgrave Colliery, The Balham Alligators were born. 

An often beer-drenched law unto themselves, beautiful losers in an ugly, contrary and irascible way, their anarchic story covers a period spanning thirteen years of peerless performances, personnel changes, death, notoriety and legend.

 

The band came together by chance at a London pub in 1983, and the original line-up consisted of Geraint Watkins, Robin McKidd, Kieran O'Connor, Arthur Kitchener, and Gary Rickard.  They played a hybrid blend of musical styles, including Rock 'n' Roll, Blues, R&B, Celtic Folk, Swamp-Pop, Country, Swing, Cajun & Zydeco.

 

They had a fearsome reputation on and off stage on the London R&B circuit and festivals like Cambridge and Glastonbury; and by the latter half of 1995 had completed the recording of their third album, "Gateway to The South," before finally packing it in and going their separate ways.

Some of the best of their studio and live recordings  have been gathered into this double album CD anthology which comes complete with a 16-page fully illustrated booklet

 THE BALHAM ALLIGATORS WERE:

GERAINT WATKINS  - vocals, keyboards, accordion
ROBIN MCKIDD (d. 2015) - fiddle, guitar, vocals
GARY RICKARD (d. 2010) -  guitar, vocals
PETE DENNIS  - bass
ARTHUR KITCHENER - bass
PAUL RILEY - bass
KIERAN O’ CONNOR (d. 1991) - drums, percussion
BOBBY IRWIN (d. 2015)  - drums, percussion

 

GATOR AID on “Gateway to The South” was provided by:

 

RON KAVANA  - guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion
BILL KIRCHEN - guitar, trombone
STEVE DONNELLY - guitar
PETE THOMAS  - drums
NICK PENTELOW  -  baritone sax, clarinet
MARTIN BELMONT  - acoustic guitar
THE PANIC BROTHERS  - vocals

BUY IN OUR SHOP

Available in:

CD and Digital Download

FEATURED STREAMING PARTNERS:

REVIEWS

There's not a bad track. Those with fond memories of the Balham Alligators will love this release and those who never saw them back in the day will wish they had. 5 out of 5 Stars. ~ Country Music People
5 out of 5 Stars ~ Maverick

SPOTLIGHT

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