First gig at Malostranska Pivnice for friends of the Prague Castle Orchestra, followed by a trip to the mountains for a festival in Lety.

Staying in luxury at the Cechie Hotel, the Hot Rats feasted on good Czech beer and food and benefitted from some good sound work by George.

On Saturday they headed off to the mountains...

Here the band had the difficult job of following a Tyrolean oompah band that was into it's second hour of waltzes, but the Hot Rats came out triumphantly - fuelled by Pig's Blood soup with pearl barley and blood sausage.....

Onto the evening and a great gig in the village of Jilove at the Florian Restaurace - an upstairs venue with a fireplace 20 feet long!

The band were joined for the finale by Josef and Radek from the Prague Castle Orchestra for a rendering of Monti's Czardas and Rehradice.

.The big gig at the Malostranska Beseda (see poster above)was sold out by 8.10pm on Monday - including the Prague G.I.T.S. - and featured concert pianists, accordion players, the Prague Castle Orchestra and the Hot Rats topping the bill.

Here's what Prague G.I.T. Andy Newman thuoght, "Like I mentioned earlier I was lucky enough to see Doug Hudson and his 2 pals (Ian & Mike) - aka "The Hot Rats" playing at Malostranska Beseda (Old Quarter, Prague) in conjunction with the Prague Castle Orchestra!! (3 man band as well)The hall was packed - over 120 people there - and thanks to being on Dougie's "guest list" we had a table reserved for myself and 3 work colleagues who also went along.Their music was a mix of irish folk and punk jazz (whatever that is) and so was very easy on the ear and perfect accompanyment for a few cheeky bottles of Pilsner Urquell!The final 2 songs was a free-for-all with Doug (Guitar/vocals), Ian (Jazz violin), Mike (Bass Guitar), Joszef (flute/vocals) and Radek (accordian) joining together and playing a couple of traditional Czech and Russian folk tunes.Managed to have a chat with Doug afterwards - along with his lovely girlfriend (Nicole) - and bought a couple of CD's which the girls in the office have been going crazy about for most of this morning.So that's it really, if you ever get a chance to see them then i'd say "go for it" as you won't be disappointed - and knowing Doug, there will always be a bar nearby should the music not appeal to your personal taste!"

The last night saw the Rats at the Golden Pear in Novy Svet near the Castle in a restaurant frequented by Bill Clinton, Maggie Thatcher, Ted Heath and every world politician invited by Czech PM and folk fan Vasclav Hadek!!!!

Here's Mike's view of the tour, "It was surreal in many ways as you walked through the dimly lit streets by night and just trams to litter the roads by day, the only way you could get run over would be to walk in front of the tram after getting off. It was almost like going to a huge Dickensian filmset with prices to match at 18p per pint and under £2 for a decent meal. The audiences were bemused for the first two boistrous Celtic offerings but then they seemed to be animated if by some unknown catylyst followed by a lot of back slapping at the end of the gigs and lively CD sales.

I think the HotRats have started something in Prague which could become a desirable part of their culture."
And Ian's view was, "Personally I have to say this was one of the most enjoyable tours to Europe I have been on. Superb hospitality, fabulous scenery and great reactions at the gigs. From the first gig for the Orchestra's friends to the last at the tiny restaurant in "Novy Svet" the atmospheres were warm and inviting. What a wonderful excuse to visit the most beautiful city in Europe. Can't wait to do it again !"

Celtic folk meets seaside restoration

At a marvellous location in the bay of Herne

Wherein observant folk discern that Eastern Europe isn't far away

Here today the dances are traditional

With calling so positional to match the music to the dancing feet,

Made complete by bass, guitar and fiddle strokes.

And at long last the blokes are dancing too,

Between a drink or two of course, for this is thirsty work!

The Hot Rats do not shirk their task, so in amongst the steps

They take us out to Russian Steppes in song,

Along with reels and standards from the world of folk

As at a stroke, and in the Bandstand oh so very grand,

The band performs a virtuoso presentation.

A Day Trip to Broadstairs Folk Week

Having played the Broadstairs Folk Week as an artist in 2002/3 it was a huge buzz for me to return to Broadstairs as a regular punter to just enjoy watching some music. So I headed down the A2 in a heavy thundery downpour with a good friend in search of a fun day out. We weren't to be disappointed.

I remembered seeing a great band called the Hot Rats on the pier at Broadstairs the year before. So when looking at my programme notes I noticed that their lead singer/guitarist Doug Hudson was doing a lunchtime gig at Harpers Wine Bar. I thought I'd be in for just a regular gig with a guy doing some covers and original songs on a guitar. But what a shock I was about to receive

On entering the bar I saw a flier on the window detailing Doug's prowess as a worldwide touring comedian. He's performed in every corner of the globe from Dubai to Siberia. Doug started of course with the 'Wild Rover' in German - apparently Borussia Munchengladbach supporters (- 1977 v Liverpool remember?) have adopted it at their home games. The translation didn't appear completely pure and the bar maid was obviously very lavish in her appreciation of some gold sovereigns! Then Doug told us how he'd had taught Russians to play cricket on the 56 stops of the Siberian Railway and subsequently been asked to call barn dances on a band's Russian tour.

Next up a song about sheep shearers fighting other sheep shearers in the 18th century battles in the lowlands of Europe. Actually quite a lovely song which showed that as well as entertaining everybody with his repartee Doug's actually got a sweet voice and also has quite considerable prowess as a musician. Then some lyrics put to Mozart's 40th symphony about throwing up, beer and curries! To finish off with the fantabulous 12 drinks of Xmas which I won't attempt to describe but had the whole audience in hysterics. FIVE WHITE WINES! Doug ended up on the floor but resurrected himself for a version of Pavarotti's 'Nessen Dorma' with the lyrics changed to admonish the masters' failings and assets. He was close to the top C at the end!

As my friend and I supped up it was clear that we'd been in the presence of a living legend. A complete one-off. Doug is a very talented performer - a Kentish Billy Connelly. Also if you're ever in these parts his band the Hot Rats are also quite an outfit with a great violinist Ian Cutler. They're also touring France and the Czech Republic this summer. By the way if you ever go to Gillingham FC - guess who's on the PA - yep its Doug!

Andy Smythe

BEER NAMED AFTER HOT RATS

The Nelson Brewery has borught out a new beer - Folk Ale - and the Hot Rats are featured on the beer pump logo!

The Nelson Brewery is based in the Dockyard at Chatham and has links with many local pubs who are involved with music.

Drop into the Barge in Gillingham and you will see the new pump boasting the Hot Rats snapped at Broadstairs Folk Week.

Not, of course, that the band are averse to a drop of the Real Ale, themselves.

Plenty of it was sampled at the Puzzle Hall Inn in Sowerby Bridge where the Rats featured in Joe Stead's Birthday party.

The band included John Watcham, Tom Leary, Guido Rincon and Tim on banjo and they lead the musical finale of a show called 'Leap'to around 2000 people.

Back at Dougie's bed and breakfast, the newly styled morris musician found himelf in a bathroom converted for the disabled. After using the toilet he was curious to see the effectiveness of the flushing mechanism when a metallic pipe swung around from under the rim and squirted a jet of water into his face.

Was this the only automatic bidet in Sidmouth?

A LOOK BACK AT 2005

As ever, with January and February, it started fairly quietly with a couple of French gigs, Dougie's One Man Show in Broadstairs and then March took off with the usual run of St Patrick's Week 'do's'.

Easter was spent in Norfolk with a couple of gigs at Cromer and Weasenham and then the Rochester Sweeps came with plenty of good music and fun.

May had some great festival gigs at Cromer on the Pier and Ostend at Anchor with Sowerby Bridge the following month. July was French influenced with Dunkerque festival and Gravelines before a trip down to Dorset and back to France again.

August was triumphal with packed concerts at Sidmouth and Broadstairs festivals, September had the beer tent rocking at Faversham Hop Festival and in October the band left for Australia.

Great fun down under before sailing off to the Herring Festival in Etaples and the usual Christmas run at Leeds Castle culminating with Ian and Doug exhausting the champagne in a Caledonian spree on New Year's Eve.

Not a bad one!

A TYPICAL HOT RATS SET LIST - SUMMER 2006