The legendary Raglan Mudsharks are having a special Mudshark Rescue Services Fundraiser on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 at the Raglan Club, Bow Street, Raglan, 6.30 to 11.30 pm.
Not only will celebrated local bluesman Midge Marsden, now living in Auckland, put in an appearance on the night but so will another six of the early band members – Dave Maybee (guitar & vocals), Sid and Freddy Limbert (bass, vocals & drums), harp wizard Peter Skandera and Gary Verberne on guitar.
For the fundraiser all will be playing for free at the Raglan Volunteer Rescue Services Fundraiser. Dave Maybee says that the music, food and auctions promise to make it more than just a gig, he says, with 400 tickets only up for grabs from early May. The Raglan Club is providing its facilities (for free) and making a generous donation of its own.
Dave Maybee says he was approached to organise a gig to help Westpac’s annual Chopper Appeal, but decided to raise funds for all Raglan’s volunteer rescue services – Westpac Air Ambulance, the Fire Brigade, Coastguard, Surf Life Saving and St John Ambulance.
“They all do a lot of fundraising themselves,” adds Dave, resident here for 30-odd years and who along with fellow Mudsharks formed a central part of TVNZ’s historic hour-long documentary Raglan by the Sea. The celebrated doco preceded the successful Heartland series also hosted by Gary McCormick, who is himself an honorary Mudshark.
Next month’s fundraiser will be the Mudsharks’ fourth reunion in recent years. Their gigs have alternated between the club and the pub, but this latest one will be the first on a Saturday rather than the usual Monday.
Dave and fellow musician Sid Limbert – who’s recently returned to live in Raglan – started the Mudsharks as a duo. The band played at Raglan’s Harbour View Hotel almost every second Monday night from early 1981 through to the end of 1989. These amazing nights became affectionately known as Mudshark Mondays, and were free to all comers, who as the reputation grew, turned up from all over the place.
Sid Limbert, and Dave Maybee had played together in several lineups though the mid to late 70′s, namely, Smokestack, Golden Slippers Band, and early incarnations of The Midge Marsden Band. Sid and his family returned to Raglan in 1980 from the U.S.A. to find Dave had moved to Raglan, after a bit of a chat they decided they should do a gig at the pub. So talking to John Humphries, the pub owner, it was decided an early week night might be good, as the locals, set in their ways, may not take to it right away. The first line-up was Dave, Colleen Ralph, (then Dave’s partner) and Sid, there were acoustic guitars, mandolins, and a very makeshift sound system, complete with a yard broom duck taped to the floor, for a microphone stand. A few locals showed up, some of the older crowd, who called the “Settlers Lounge” home, and some of the new faces in town, people who had left the city and moved to the coast.
The night went well enough to try it again, next time double the amount of people, and Clarrie Cresswell, Saxophone legend from the 30′s, 40′s and 50′s sat in and had a lick with the crew. So it went on, each gig maybe or maybe not, adding another guest, drawn from a long list of Mates from the past. Bill and Heather Amos from Kawhia, piano and fiddle, Paul Kunac, was the first Drummer, and with Drums, out came Amplifiers, and Electric Guitars, and Bass. Ray Chaber on Dobro, Mike Farrell, Guitar virtuoso.
About that time, Midge Marsden moved to town permanently. Midge added a new depth to the band, with his Rich Harmonica playing, vocals, and a great personality on stage. Sid had been touring in Midges band since the late 70′s, and the touring Band often stayed in Raglan to rehearse and take time out, so there were some great players, who just loved the chance to sit in and just have some real fun. Neil Reynolds, on drums, Liam Ryan, Keyboards, Ritchie Pickett, Piano, and other things, Pole O’shea Hendrix Guitar, Ta Rutherford, Kev Thomas, Hammond Gamble, Sam Hunt, Dave McCartney moved to town, and often had Graham Brazier in tow.
The list went on, and so did the fantastic gigs, every second Monday night, all through the 80′s, One night The Mudsharx had a private gig, a 21st Birthday, and the Drummer couldn’t make it, so Sid’s Son Freddy Limbert then 8 yrs old did his first pro gig with the Boys, and went on to do many more.
The Mudsharx went on to become a legend around the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and even Auckland, the word was out “Mudshark Monday” at the Harbour View Hotel. They became a national identity when the one hour television Documentary “Raglan By The Sea” was played on TV and Gary McCormack, himself an honorary Mudshark, presented a wonderful program which truly captured, not only each member in the Band, but the very spirit of Raglan, at the time. The doco was such a success the TVNZ “Heartland” series was born.
Saturday the 19th at the Raglan Club will once see this well-known line-up, with their special guests. As usual anything could happen and who knows who else might turn up, it’s going to be a special occasion, and should not be missed, if you’re looking for a good old “shake, rattle & roll” – don’t miss it.
The latest Saturday night gig kicks off with local musicians yet to be confirmed, but only after Raglan’s Colin Chung has taken over the club kitchen and supplied finger food for patrons at $5-10.
A silent auction in which people bid for accommodation packages will be ongoing, while $1-2 electronic raffles and other big auctions – with local stock agent auctioneer Chris Leuthart – will be run from when doors open at 6.30 and inbetween the Mudsharks’ sets.
Doors open at Raglan Club at 6.30pm, Saturday May 19. Donations of goods and services to auction can be made by phoning Marise or Maxine at Westpac 825 0602, or Craig 027 4405636.